Redefining SEO -“Search Engine Optimization” to “Search Experience Optimization”

Google’s major updates like ‘Panda’, ‘Penguin’, ‘Above the Fold Page Layout’ and other such algorithms have created a huge hue and cry among the webmasters who have been practicing the same old conventional SEO methods.

Search Engine Optimization:

Search engine optimization the strategic approach to increase the traffic on a website by obtaining a high-ranking placement in the search results page of a search engine (SERP) has found extensive usage and implementation. But in the blind race of link-building, conventional SEO professionals have followed over optimization and link-spam methodologies resulting in increase in the bounce rate and reduction in the rate of returning visitors. This affects the reliability of the website and thereby brings down the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) position.

Why Change:

It has been proved that websites which focus on providing better user experience have higher ranking compared to websites which believe only in the process of directory submission, improving pagerank, keyword stuffing etc. Google as a Search Engine implements various algorithms to make sure that users are getting a better search experience rather than low quality web pages due to stuffed keywords or manipulated rankings.

Search Experience Optimization:

It’s time we changed our approach; being better in the eyes of Google Algorithms as well as providing better user experience can make a website perform better in Search results.
Factors which improve the search experience and also the search engine rankings are following search engine guidelines and providing valuable and unique content, tracking the user behavior, better navigation, faster page loading time, Internal linking structure etc. Websites are to be created to address the requirements of the target users rather than for pulling traffic. If your website has valuable piece of content and serves the purpose of the visitor, the user may bookmark it and share it socially and verbally, providing better source of organic returning visitors.

Here’s a video by Matt Cutts (Head of Google Spam Team), about implementing SEO as Search Experience Optimization.

Verdict:

Concentration should be on building websites specific to the user and then implementing Search Engine Optimization to increase organic traffic and websites rank in search engines. Still confused, contact us to know more.