Google is constantly changing the rules of the game, updating the algorithm responsible for ranking the websites. The SEO methodology used in 2023 is useless or a least partially useless in 2024.
Google tries to update the algorithm incrementally, and most of the time introduces new ways to rank the websites, encouraging web designers to create better content and engaging websites with a more friendly user experience, and by the other hand banning spam practices for example.
The use of AI content creators is today officially considered spam. However, do not be confused with using AI tools that interpret content (text or images) to improve the cataloging tasks on a website and the productivity of editing content.
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Some people understand SEO as only part of other factors that contributes to ranking a website in a search engine, and some others consider SEO as the global strategy to obtain the goal of ranking a website. With new Google rules and newly available software, we should re-think what SEO is and how we implement it on our websites.
In ai4k.eu we understand SEO as the configurations done in the website and in Google tools that make a website searchable and this is included by default in all our Website Plans. Additionally, we offer Bundle SEO Theory product which is a SEO / SEM strategy to position your business keywords on the Google search engine.
Today we talk about SEM (Search Engine Marketing) as well, which is when we pay Google Ads for example to rank the website for some keywords. Or when we pay an influencer to promote our product. Furthermore, there is the link purchase, which may be considered a black SEO practice, but unfortunately is still essential to get results in a short time in search engines.
Google is trying to improve the way the search algorithm interprets what is “good content” and what is SPAM but it is not totally there yet. That means if your website checks all the Google guidelines your competence may still beat you with thousands of backlinks. In that case, the only way to position the website may be through SEM.
SEO vs SEO and SEM Strategy
A website is shown on the search engine results page (SERP) after a process that is described in our definition of Website Design.
The Google bots (or Google spiders) visit every web on the planet in what we know as Discovery. Google marks the website as a candidate for another process called Crawling. Then bots crawl the web, which means taking the needed information for cataloging that web in the index.
If the website is not configured correctly, those 2 first processes never happen.
Then there is a third process called Indexing. This is when Google inserts all the website URLs in the main catalog (Google Index). The website is in a list of 2 billion websites.
If the website is not configured correctly the next step may fail.
The fourth step happens when the search engine algorithm sorts the websites using the secret and changing formula: the Google Ranking Factors. It is secret because Google sells keywords, and no matter how many guidelines are documented by Google, the algorithm interpretation of what is “authoritativeness” for example, or any other factor, is never explained or disclosed, and that is the heart of the matter.
Google Ranking Factors in 2024
Ranking a website is a complex task, remember that we are trying to beat an algorithm that is changing, sorting, and re-sorting constantly billions of websites using artificial intelligence. The 4 processes mentioned above are the compilation of what SEO experts say today and our own experience. It may be more processes between these 4 or sorted differently, however, we believe that is the simplest way to explain it to a general audience.
We also redefine or update some concepts to improve the learning of our readers and in connection with our transparency commitment. We redefined what is a website and what is SEO, attaching the purpose to the first and adapting to the new Google Ranking Factors in 2024 guidelines the latter.
