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- The Latest Google Ranking Updates You Need to Know About 📊
The Latest Google Ranking Updates You Need to Know About 📊
Google's latest changes to their ranking document might change the way you think about SEO and your site.
Shane Barker
November 21, 2024
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Disclosure: This content may contain few affiliate links, which means if you click on them, I will get a commission (without any extra cost to you).
Hey there!
This week, we’re diving into Google’s latest updates to its ranking systems guide. The update clarifies that Google looks beyond page-level content. It also evaluates site-wide signals to determine page rankings. This newsletter will explain what this means for your website and how to optimize for both on-page and sitewide SEO.
What you'll find in this week's newsletter:
Key updates to Google's ranking systems guide
The difference between on-page and sitewide SEO
Shane's actionable tips for better SEO results
The featured tool of the week
Must reads on the blog
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Google’s New Focus: On-Page and Sitewide SEO
Google recently updated its ranking systems guide to clarify that it considers the content of individual pages and sitewide signals when ranking search results.
As stated in the updated guide:
“Having some good site-wide signals does not mean that all content from a site will always rank highly, just as having some poor site-wide signals does not mean all the content from a site will rank poorly.”
This means Google considers both page-specific signals — such as keyword use, quality of content, and metadata — and broader sitewide factors, such as overall content quality, security (e.g., SSL certificates), and reputation.
Understanding On-Page vs. Sitewide Content
On-Page Content
This refers to everything on a specific web page — your keywords, title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and the overall quality of the written content. On-page SEO is crucial for helping search engines understand what a particular page is about.
Sitewide Content
Sitewide signals relate to the overall health and quality of your website. This includes your site’s trustworthiness, user experience, and how frequently you produce useful, high-quality content. Spammy AI-generated content may influence your sitewide signals as Google now actively monitors and downgrades content that doesn’t help users in the search engine rankings.
Shane’s SEO Tips: Optimize for Both Page and Domain Levels
On-Page SEO Tips
Use targeted keywords: Ensure your target keyword appears naturally in your title, headings, and throughout your body content.
Optimize metadata: Write engaging meta descriptions and clear title tags that match search intent.
Quality content: Your content should directly answer user questions and add value beyond the basic information available elsewhere.
Sitewide SEO Factors to Focus On
Content quality across all pages: Avoid generating scaled content that feels spammy or duplicates value. Instead, focus on producing original and helpful content.
SSL Certificate: Ensure your entire site is secure with an SSL certificate, which is crucial for user trust and search rankings.
Regular content updates: Frequently update your site with high-quality blog posts or resources that match your users' needs.
Avoid spam signals: Google’s recent crackdown means spammy backlinks or AI-generated content could hurt your entire site’s rankings — not just a single page.
The combination of excellent on-page optimization and strong sitewide health will position you well in search results, especially as Google continues to refine its focus on quality content across domains.
Google’s recent updates emphasize the importance of having both great individual pages and a high-quality site overall. By paying attention to both on-page and sitewide factors, you can ensure your site thrives in search rankings.
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Looking for more in-depth strategies and exclusive content?
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If you have any specific questions or topics you'd like us to cover in future newsletters, please feel free to reach out. We'd love to hear from you!
To your content marketing success,
Shane Barker