Is Your SEO Strategy Ready for Google's New Algorithm?

Last fall Google released their new search algorithm, and one of their largest changes within the past decade, "Hummingbird." Hummingbird is believed to have affected nearly 90 percent of all queries and dramatically changed the way engine processes user requests.

Google's new Hummingbird comes down to context. If you don't have it, you're out. Google's past algorithms processed user queries according to each individual word in the query.  But now users are more likely to enter in complete questions into the engine and Google wants to understand the context behind the query in order to serve up the best possible results.

What is clear is that there are some adjustments you will need to make to your SEO strategy in order to maintain your position at the top of search engine pages. Here are a few strategies to incorporate into your SEO routine.

Don't do keyword research- Do market research

Google now cares less about whether you've optimized each individual page on your site to a particular keyword and more about whether your page's content answers the question presented by the search user. Instead of spending time trying to find the combination of keyword metrics, brainstorm the questions your users are asking about your business. Then make sure your website's content clearly answers these questions in a way that's easily understood by search engines and provides extra value to visitors.

Incorporate questions into your content

There is no need to go back and rewrite every page on your site to target user questions, instead simply add extra content if you need to, but don't risk messing with content that's already performing successfully.

Unlike with keywords, there is no need to follow a one question per page rule.  Pages can answer multiple questions as long as the content makes sense.

Try to provide your readers with as much information as possible.  Give your readers so much substance that it is worth their time to take an extra step to click through and visit your site. 

The more content, the better

The more content you have, the more questions your site answers, and the more likely it is to appear in search results. The most effective is to add content that answers questions, like "how to" facts, process tutorials, etc.

Think long term about your website. Make it as attractive as possible. Build great content that accumulates high quality, is relevant, and backlinks on its own. And above all make sure it is easy for readers to find information from wherever they are.