For the first time in its history, Google is letting users try a beta test of its latest algorithm update, which is known as “Google Caffeine.” The name is meant to imply that the search results are faster, but it may also be insinuating that is moving closer to real-time search capabilities so it can more rapidly show results for news events as they happen.
To test Google’s new results, there is a link to Google’s “Sandbox” location which otherwise looks like the standard search interface. The difference for many people will be the relevance of the results that come up. In some cases over the past day, we have seen low quality sites move into positions normally occupied by trusted websites. Google actually allows people to critique these results, so evidently they are adding a human component to their algorithm. If you want to let Google know about results on a particular phrase, look near the bottom of the results page for the link that says “Dissatisfied? Help us improve.”
What’s different about Google Caffeine update? This is a tough question, since the update is being beta tested, so what you see on the test site may not be there when Caffeine goes live. It looks like on-page keywords are getting a bigger response, and several exact URL matches appear to have higher positions. Google may be going for more precision, but it would appear that a complete update may push aside several results currently visible in the test version.
The other side of the update may be problematic for webmasters who are doing SEO for newsworthy topics. Google appears to be giving faster placement to news stories on some topics, so the best optimized site could find itself pushed back by relevant news events in the same keyword field. In this sense, breaking news (which can create a lot of good traffic) is going to get a priority over older content. There is some thought that Google is giving more preference to “freshness” with its real-time approach, but it will take a few weeks of observation to see if this is really true.
How should you prepare for Google Caffeine? First, don’t panic. As long as you are building a good user experience for your customers, and a resource for the general public, then you are more likely to be found. If Google is going to be rewarding keyword content, then you should consider expanding your site to the point that you cover your service or product’s features without going overboard. The current best practices in SEO and link building appear to be working just fine on the test site. As always, Google is trying to stay current by providing the best possible search results for customers, so it is incumbent upon webmasters to have sites that are the best possible match. This is why search optimization agencies like Web.com Search Agency and its industry colleagues make sure that basic SEO principles are in place, allowing for flexibility and quick recovery no matter what algorithm adjustments are made by search engines.
Tags: google caffeine, google update, seo
