SEO News You Can Use: Google Spam Algorithm Update Complete

Google officially announced on October 18, 2022, that its October Google Spam Algorithm Update had rolled out globally in all languages. Google regularly rolls out spam updates to ensure that Google’s automated systems pick up and filter spam.

The October Google Spam Algorithm Update only took a few days to roll out and was completed just four days later on October 21, 2022.

The good news is that if you’ve followed Google’s Search Essentials guidelines (previously Google Webmasters Guidelines), you shouldn’t have anything to worry about in this spam algorithm update. In fact, it isn’t easy to be flagged as a spammy site by Google.

It is primarily phishing sites trying to get people to reveal personal information or unknowingly install malware. However, this update may also affect sites posing as high-quality sites to move up the ranks on search engine results pages (SERPS).

This is not to say that webpages with low-quality content will be affected by the update. Quite the contrary. This is what Google’s Helpful Content Update is focused on. However, sites with poor security are still vulnerable to spam attacks.

Those affected by the spam update will either see their content moving down in the rankings or deindexing, which could take months to recover.

More SEO News You Can Use

Google Now Only Showing Site Names For Homepages in Mobile Search Results: Google is now only showing the site name in mobile search results for general searches like those for brand names or homepages. Google Search Central made the official announcement on October 14 – providing guidelines and how-to steps on adding structured data for this feature. Search Engine Journal reports that Google no longer shows meta tags for these types of searches; however, it does not apply to search domains or non-branded keyword searches. Google has done this intending to make it easier to differentiate between website names and general search terms. This feature is currently reflected in the following languages; however, it will roll out in all languages over the coming months: English, French, Japanese, and German. For more information on the feature and how to use structured data, visit the Google Search Central Help Doc here.

Google Gives Insights On Image Filenames and Alt Text: In the latest Search Off the Record podcast, Google Search Liaisons reveal the importance of image file names and alt text, as well as how to find the perfect balance between accessibility and search engine optimization (SEO). Although image filenames are not linked to ranking, it does help to determine what the image is of. So it’s, therefore, essential to be descriptive when naming image files as it will help in image searches. Furthermore, Mueller clarified that changing file names of images that have already been crawled or indexed has little to no effect. In terms of alt text, however, its main function is to help individuals who use screen readers, yet, it also lends itself to accessibility. Essentially, search engine bots cannot technically see the images; therefore, the alt text helps to let them know what the image is about too. But it’s important to find a balance between SEO and accessibility, said Mueller. But, one bad practice is to leave the alt text section empty as the screen reader may start reading the file name. For more information on how to ensure that you’re using your alt-text effectively, visit Search Engine Journal or the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) documentation page for guidelines on alt attributes or  tutorial on optimizing the seven different types of images here.

Google Reveals Its Main Insight When It Comes To Geo IP Redirects: GEO IP redirects are generally a rather complex topic; however, in the latest Googlebot video series, Google Search Liaison, John Mueller, highlights what to keep in mind when it comes to “state-based geo redirection on the user’s IP address.” Although this is a relatively in-depth subject, which cannot be fully covered in one video, it’s important to note that web pages are crawled and indexed from one location. This means that a single version of your website will be indexed. Unfortunately, it’s near impossible to determine the location Googlebot will choose to crawl. However, ensuring that your most important information is visible to everyone who visits your site is crucial. Therefore, be sure not to block certain users from certain locations because Google may not index them. For more insights, visit Search Engine Journal or watch the full #AskGooglebot Youtube video.

GoogleMakes Shopping Desktop Searches More Visual: Desktop search results for shopping-related searches are getting a revamp. Google is set on making the shopping experience better for desktop users by showing a more comprehensive selection of images in search results. Individual product results now feature prices and ratings to help users make more informed choices. Now, when you click on a product, a panel showing links to various retailers will pop up in a panel on the right-hand side of the screen, according to Search Engine Land. This allows users to view other relevant choices without losing their initial search results, so you can pick up where you left off. Online shoppers can also search by retailer, brand, type, nearby, and sale items. This feature mainly applies to home goods, beauty products, electronics and clothes.

Google’s Latest FrightGeist Report Shows Top 100 Halloween Search Trends for 2022: With Hallows Eve just around the corner, marketers have found some interesting search trends leading up to the ever-popular holiday. According to Search Engine Journal, Google’s Halloween Frightgeist site reveals the top trends in online Halloween searches – predominantly related to costume ideas. You’ll be able to see both national and local search results. The top 20 results for costume ideas in 2022 are as follows: 1) Witch, 2) Spider-Man, 3) Dinosaur, 4) Stranger Things, 5) Fairy, 6) Pirate, 7) Rabbit, 8) Cheerleader, 9) Cowboy and 10) Harley Quinn, 11) Clown, 12) Vampire, 13) 1980s, 14) Hocus Pocus, 15) Pumpkin, 16) Chucky, 17) Doll, 18) Angel, 19) Batman and 20) Bear. For a full report of the top 100 spooky searches this Halloween season, be sure to check out the full Freigeist report here.

Editor’s Note: “SEO News You Can Use” is a weekly blog post posted every Monday morning only on SEOblog.com, rounding up all the top SEO news from around the world. Our goal is to make SEOblog.com a one-stop-shop for everyone looking for SEO news, education and for hiring an SEO expert with our comprehensive SEO agency directory.