| Content marketing aside for once, the latest Google update – dubbed Zebra – will have some serious implications on traffic for online merchants. | 
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At SXSW in Austin, Google head honcho on these matters, Matt Cutts, said there will be a large Penguin update in 2013.
Apparently Google’s search quality team is working on a major update to the Penguin algorithm, which he dubbed significant.
Penguin affects the way we do SEO and content marketing for all websites, but now merchants are being singled out for the algo treatment with Zebra.
"We have a potential launch later this year, maybe a little bit sooner, looking at the quality of merchants and whether we can do a better job on that, because we don’t want low quality experience merchants to be ranking in the search results," Cutts said.
Search Engine Journal helpfully explains the full ramifications (what we know), but here is a quick rundown of what Google is likely to be wanting 'good' merchants to have.
So what does it mean? We'll all have to keep improving our websites and content to ensure we stayed at the top. So not much then, just the usual one-step ahead game we have to play all the time to satisfy Google.
Apparently Google’s search quality team is working on a major update to the Penguin algorithm, which he dubbed significant.
Penguin affects the way we do SEO and content marketing for all websites, but now merchants are being singled out for the algo treatment with Zebra.
"We have a potential launch later this year, maybe a little bit sooner, looking at the quality of merchants and whether we can do a better job on that, because we don’t want low quality experience merchants to be ranking in the search results," Cutts said.
Search Engine Journal helpfully explains the full ramifications (what we know), but here is a quick rundown of what Google is likely to be wanting 'good' merchants to have.
- A “view your shopping cart” link that stays on the same site.
- A shopping cart that updates when you add items to it.
- A return policy with a physical address.
- A shipping charge calculator that works.
- A “wish list” link, or a link to postpone the purchase of an item until later.
- A way to track FedEx orders.
- A user forum that works.
- The ability to register or login.
- A gift registry that works.
So what does it mean? We'll all have to keep improving our websites and content to ensure we stayed at the top. So not much then, just the usual one-step ahead game we have to play all the time to satisfy Google.
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