End of May 2023, the SEO gurus woke up to massive headlines about a Google API leak. Described as the biggest in the history of Google, the leak revealed over 14,000 potential ranking factors and sparked discussions across the community.
In the SEO world, it’s common for experts to puff out their chests, claiming to be the “guys who know it all.” They boast about their ability to manipulate search engines through a combination of unconventional and borderline tactics to climb the SERPs. But just like the mighty Titanic struck a hidden iceberg, their dominance is about to hit a major snag.
A wake up call? Maybe
The Google leak has served as a wake-up call for the SEO community. It’s a stark reminder that the industry is constantly evolving, and those who refuse to adapt and embrace a more holistic, user-centric approach to optimization may find themselves left behind.
You may be an SEO professional who knows it all by heart, you know: you never inject keywords without context, you prioritize the user first, you fix your website’s technical issues, etc. What does that really mean to you?
Putting the noise aside, the fact is the leak doesn’t provide a magic formula, it has shaken things up for SEOs who may have relied on tactics that skirted the edges of best practices. The leaked documents make it clear that Google tracks a vast amount of data about websites. This data likely informs future algorithm updates, and the focus seems to be on long-term value and user experience. SEOs who previously relied on quick fixes may need to rethink their strategies.
So, what does the Google leak reveal? Probably new strategies, major changes that will impact the SEO world drastically, right? Not really.
In fact, most of the points revealed are not big news for people in the industry, it’s just a matter of reinforcement of what SEO experts suggest. However, taking a look at the main highlights won’t do harm:
Expertise and User-Centric Content Take Center Stage
The leak highlights the importance of expertise and user-centric content. Google favors websites with content created by subject matter experts and prioritizes sites that offer a smooth and engaging user experience. This reinforces the long-held SEO principle of creating high-quality content that genuinely informs and benefits readers.
“Quality” Backlinks Still Matter
Although Google constantly denied it, backlinks remain a vital ranking factor, the leak suggests that Google prioritizes backlinks from reputable sources. This means buying backlinks is a risky strategy, and the focus should be on creating high-quality content that attracts natural backlinks from relevant websites.
User Experience Gets Priority
Some SEO gurus might prioritize tactics that “trick” algorithms into ranking a website highly, even if the user experience suffers. This is a shift towards a more holistic approach to SEO, where creating valuable content and prioritizing user needs go hand-in-hand with ranking well. The leaked documents hinted that Google focuses on mobile-friendliness, fast loading times, clear navigation, and overall user engagement. Websites that prioritize user experience are likely to be rewarded with higher rankings.
What’s after the Google leak?
Alright SEOs, listen up! The recent leak offered a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain, and while it’s not a magic formula, it does give us valuable insights to refine our strategies.
Create valuable content
When creating content, make sure it is helpful to your target audience, is engaging enough, and is finally worth sharing on digital platforms. Don’t just regenerate what’s already on the internet, Dive deep into topics, showcase your knowledge, and establish yourself as a genuine authority in your niche. This attracts not only loyal readers but also Google’s attention.
Build a brand
You may say this is not my job, but trust me it is. Think beyond your website. Encourage mentions of your brand across social media, industry publications, and relevant online communities. This not only signals trust to Google but also helps associate your brand with key entities, boosting your search ranking potential.
Topic Clusters: Your Path to Authority
Single blog posts are great, but let’s take things a step further. Topic clusters are groups of interlinked articles that comprehensively explore a subject from various angles. This in-depth approach cements your website as the go-to resource within your industry and significantly boosts your authority in Google’s eyes.
User Experience is not a Checklist
The leak confirmed what we already knew (or should have!): user experience is crucial. Don’t just tick a box – prioritize it! Make your website mobile-friendly, ensure fast loading times, offer clear navigation, and keep users engaged with valuable content. Both your audience and search algorithms will reward this commitment.
Final say
SEO professionals who have been long in the game know that you can never trust Google blindly-and a leak won’t change that. Why? Because simply it doesn’t reveal a secret recipe to how to dominate the SERPs. The weight Google assigns to each factor is still unknown. Additionally, the leak may not reflect the latest algorithm updates which are in progress whether Google announces or not. SEO best practices have been the same for quite a long now, strategy, test, test, iterate, then test again, and so on.