If you are a regular visitor and reader of forums, you’ll have noticed the storm of protest from webmasters and website owners about the google update to their algorithm, code-named ‘caffeine’. Google doesn’t say it’s an update to their algorithm, but we know it is. Google’s algorithm is their computerised process of ranking websites in the index and displaying the results or SERPs (search Engine Results Page).
Nobody is quite sure when the changes started. Today’s video is from Jimboot and was made in November. So, the changes have been ongoing for several months. But google reports, on their blog, that most of the changes promised are now live and working. Google’s official description of caffeine is the next generation architecture for web searching. They tell us it’s the first step to increasing their search engine index size, speed, accuracy and comprehensiveness.
The changes are all ‘under the hood’ so you shouldn’t notice. But many webmasters are noticing, and I’ve noticed subtle changes. Webmasters are complaining of their sites dropping in the rankings and more blog posts, twitter results and videos appearing in the search results pages. I’ve noticed there are more blog posts and videos appearing. I’m not complaining. But then I wouldn’t!
In the video Jimboot tells us what webmasters are saying and talks about changes to the page rank figures. You can’t see this figure unless you have a google bar browser plugin. I think he and I agree on one thing. Every time google makes a significant change to their search algorithm, there’s always plenty of movement in website positioning. Given time, it will settle down.
I reckon the winners will be sites with great content.
