From algorithm updates to new AI and mobile website optimization features, Google spent the past few months unveiling new technologies and processes that are sure to set new standards for 2019.
As a business owner that’s looking to score some wins through digital marketing platforms, it’s best to stay on top of the latest Google headlines so that you can stay ahead of the curve.
So, if you’re curious about what you can expect for 2019 from this tech giant, here are some of the biggest headlines you may have missed last quarter on Google.
Algorithm Update Confirmed
Google will update its search algorithms regularly throughout the year. Though most tend to include minor changes, this quarter’s “March 2019 Core Update” is expected to make more significant modifications.
Confirmed by Google’s Public Liaison of Search, Danny Sullivan, the update will focus more on highlighting quality content. Sullivan also noted that “changes to [its] system are benefitting pages that were previously under-rewarded.”
So, what does that exactly mean for you and your business?
As with any update, rankings are bound to fluctuate. However, the changes that were rolled out will have more long-term effects for a website. Again, the update will focus even more on website and content quality, so if you haven’t started creating quality content for your site, now is the time to start.
Test My Site
With more people choosing smartphones and tablets as their go-to devices for Google searches and web surfing, your business needs a fast, mobile-friendly website to connect with customers. In February, Google announced a complete rebuild of their Test My Site tool to help companies and website owners to see just how their sites perform on a mobile platform.
The tool, which was originally engineered to test the speeds of individual mobile pages, can now provide speed ratings for the entire website. It can also tell you if its load times are fast, average, or slow. On top of that, companies can see how their speed test compared to previous evaluations as well as site speeds of others in the industry.
With this tool, as well as all the information you can get from it, you’ll have a basic understanding of just how mobile-friendly your website may be and what you can do to help improve it.
Enhanced Spam Filter
Gmail spam filters work wonders for keeping inboxes clutter-free, but Google made them more effective this quarter with a bit of help from TensorFlow, their open source machine learning framework.
Overall, TensorFlow has helped Google block 100 million more spam emails each day for all 1.5 billion active Gmail users since the new filters were put in place.
Most importantly, however, the technology is personalized to the consumer’s preferences. With the ability to identify patterns in large data sets, machine learning can pick out important emails that may look like spam from those that are actually junk mail. So, if a customer is subscribed and clicking through your business’ newsletters and emails regularly, it’s less likely to end up in the dreaded spam folder.
Google Assistant Available for More Devices
Smart home technologies are surging in popularity. In fact, according to a survey from NPR and Edison research, 21% of people ages 18 and older in the U.S. own at least one smart speaker. But as a top innovator of the tech industry, it’s no surprise that Google’s looking to expand Google Assistant accessibility to even more devices.
During Google’s showcase at CES 2019 in January, the company announced Google Assistant for Google Maps, messaging services, and appliances from Whirlpool and GE for enhanced consumer convenience. Above all, it unveiled Google Assistant Connect, a new platform that allows device developers to implement Assistant into their products in a more cost-effective and easier way.
The possibilities seem to be endless with this new platform; the example provided at the convention showed Assistant Connect working with a smart speaker to continuously show traffic and weather updates on a display. It can also be programmed to respond to voice commands.
With the news of Google Assistant Connect and the company’s vision of bringing Assistant to even more devices and technologies in the future, we may be seeing advances in online search as well as changes to how content is created for voice search in the future.
It’s Time to Get Ahead of the Curve
In one way or another, each of the updates, new features, and changes Google implemented or announced this quarter might affect your business’ performance online. With that said, it’s always best to stay ahead of the curve.
Whether you’re looking for a way to create more quality content for organic search wins or you want to find a way to get your emails past the new spam filters, it’s best to team up with an integrated ad agency and a digital team that essentially lives and breathes Google. So, get in touch with the digital marketing experts at Stream Companies! We’ll help you stay a step ahead and optimize your site to cater to the latest Google updates.