Google talks RankBrain/AMP/HTTPS/Penguin during SMX

Google gave some interesting info tidbits this smx about how they are using RankBrain.

1) RankBrain is now the 3rd most important factor is deciding rank and its not going away. It effects most the serps daily now, and unfortunately unlike pagespeed and other factors has NO score or telemetry for webmasters to see. Its based on machine learning AI, so it will grow stronger with time and adapt to SEO strategies on the fly. This is probably why so many of you keep asking if there is an update constantly, things can change daily without any update.

2) AMP is going to get BIGGER and more important. Google is pushing AMP and frankly I'm thinking that the smart SEO's will start to abuse this bias by Google.

3) Google doesn't know the the F the new Penguin is coming out. Pretty pathetic.

4) If you aren't HTTPS yet, you should think about it. Google made a cryptic comment about migrating over sooner rather than later. So if you aren't HTTPS, well... why not?

If you missed out check this article on Search Engine Land, it explains all this: http://searchengineland.com/key-takeaways-google-ama-rankbrain-panda-penguin-bots-252506

-ThopHayt

Interesting article. I think in the next few years the only way to maintain SERPs are going to be to provide quality content that people love. There's a reason why some of the biggest authority sites have spent 0$ on off page SEO.

1 There is no way to optimize for RankBrain: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-no-rankbrain-score-no-seo-22282.html

2 AMP is not a ranking factor (yet). PageSpeed on the other hand...

3 I'm not worried about Penguin because I don't build shit links

4 Totally agree, https and even http2 should be on a list of priorities for webmasters.

HenryHavoc said:

Interesting article. I think in the next few years the only way to maintain SERPs are going to be to provide quality content that people love. There's a reason why some of the biggest authority sites have spent 0$ on off page SEO.

Click to expand...

Well you're mostly talking about news and niche authority sites. A LOT of huge e-commerce have done SEO. Didn't Overstock.com even get slapped over SEO a few years back? So IMHO as long as links are a part of Google's equation then there will be plenty of incentive for webmasters to do SEO.

-ThopHayt

ThopHayt said:

Well you're mostly talking about news and niche authority sites. A LOT of huge e-commerce have done SEO. Didn't Overstock.com even get slapped over SEO a few years back? So IMHO as long as links are a part of Google's equation then there will be plenty of incentive for webmasters to do SEO.

-ThopHayt

Click to expand...

That's true. Expedia got hit hard too not too long ago too. I think we're going to slowly see backlinking become less of the equation, and using more metrics from users who visit the site (how long they stay on the page, the % of people who share the content, % of people who come back, CTR etc). Right now anyone can build backlinks, and anyone can spam a site or a competitors site in hopes for a ban. You can't fake good content and user engagement (well you can, but I believe google is constantly making their algorithm better so it won't reward the fakes)

HenryHavoc said:

That's true. Expedia got hit hard too not too long ago too. I think we're going to slowly see backlinking become less of the equation, and using more metrics from users who visit the site (how long they stay on the page, the % of people who share the content, % of people who come back, CTR etc). Right now anyone can build backlinks, and anyone can spam a site or a competitors site in hopes for a ban. You can't fake good content and user engagement (well you can, but I believe google is constantly making their algorithm better so it won't reward the fakes)

Click to expand...

I think right now Google takes those user metrics to compare with the backlink profile of a site. If a site has tons of backlinks, but too little traffic and poor user engagement metrics then its a signal to Google that that site is more likely to be manipulating links. While if a site with good traffic, and high engagement builds the same links it will get rewarded more, because it looks more natural that a successful site like that would have earned those links.

-ThopHayt

I think that the update did not affects all languages.
My Site has not changed in the update
my site: https://pagearabic.com

alraiah said:

I think that the update did not affects all languages.
My Site has not changed in the update
my site: pagearab

Click to expand...

Posting your site URL here is not smart

interesting

Most the e-commerce site use seo. Now-a-days anyone can build backlinks and anyone can work with seo. If a site got good traffic will be rewarded. Now anyone can Spam competitors site without their knowledge.

Relevant.