SEO Is Done When Google Stops Changing Things and All Your Competition Dies

What a wonderful world it would be if succeeding on the web meant hitting publish on a website, sitting back, and watching the traffic and leads flow in.

Many spend countless hours perfecting the design of a website — the layout, the colors, the logo — but pay little attention to search engine optimization. Still, a great many others check off items on an SEO checklist, then never make another SEO decision again.

To have even a chance of succeeding on the web, nearly every aspect of a website launch should have SEO in mind. And then, it needs to be an ongoing concern for the life of the site. In fact, SEO is only “done” when people stop searching, Google stops changing things, and all your competition dies.

Until then, we must make continuous, strategic decisions about our websites. We must take into account things like the nine search changes Google averages each day (and growing), a million competitors for every separate keyword, and technology and content upgrades that, if not done, make our website irrelevant.

That’s why the secret to SEO success is longevity. Let’s look next at why.

• Nine improvements to search per day
• Millions of competitors
• SEO is about longevity 
• FAQ: How can I ensure long-term SEO success for my website?

Nine Improvements to Search per Day

In 2018 alone, Google “ran over 654,680 experiments, with trained external Search Raters and live tests, resulting in more than 3234 improvements to Search.” That’s an average of nine changes per day.

It’s a stark contrast to the mere “hundreds” of changes to search we were so used to hearing about for years.

We’ll never be able to peek behind the scenes for a majority of those 3,234 updates. But when they are significant, we track them. Many have created lists of known algorithm updates such as here, here and here.

And then, of course, the types of changes Google makes vary from the smallest tweaks to major infrastructure changes. Some start out as minor updates that happen from time to time, and others impact the core algorithm.

But as we know, every change can have an impact. Many professional SEOs spend untold hours dissecting these changes and determining how they should influence their strategies — as they should be.

Millions of Competitors

You can’t do a Google search these days without finding endless pages of results. Even “hamster sweaters” return about 1.8 million. Needless to say, whatever you’re doing, there is competition.

Now, look at a target keyword set. How many results are you competing with to get on Page 1 of the search results for each keyword? After all, we know, and data supports that Page 1 is all that matters.

Image credit Backlinko

Add to that the fact that for many, keywords will have a local component. And so you now have to be an expert in local SEO and everything that comes with that.

Not to mention all the other search verticals that show up as elements on the SERP for one keyword. And by the way, we now need to master or at least keenly understand each element and search vertical on Page 1 of the search results to be competitive.

Image credit: Searchmetrics

Neverending Maintenance

An unmaintained site is a doomed site. This is true in both the technology that’s driving it and the content that’s on it.

On the back end, the long list of considerations for SEO includes things that might impact the speed of a site. Think about servers, content delivery networks, and AMP (how about a 15 percent increase in SEO traffic when reducing user wait times by 40 percent?). Common challenges with content management systems include duplicate content, pages that are hard to crawl, and general disorganization.

Keeping up with the latest technology that impacts SEO is a full-time job in and of itself. Unmaintained sites will not find favor in Google’s eyes.

In fact, in its Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines, Google has this to say:

Some websites are not maintained or cared for at all by their webmaster. These “abandoned” websites will fail to achieve their purpose over time, as content becomes stale or website functionality ceases to work on new browser versions. Unmaintained websites should be rated Lowest if they fail to achieve their purpose due to the lack of maintenance.

As Google points out, content is a key factor in maintenance. Find out how Search Engine Journal was able to increase pageviews from 910,000 to 1.9 million in two years by maintaining its current library of content.

When we maintain both content and technology, we are well on our way to achieving expertise, authority, and trust with Google.

SEO Is About Longevity

In my 24-plus years in SEO, I have only had to reinvent and recalibrate about 24 times. The only thing that is constant in search is change. If you are good at the game, you win. If you do not adapt, then you die, but SEO does not. SEO is forever.

Some worry about having to recalibrate every year as changes accelerate more and more. That’s fair. But the issue of recalibration is not as hard as some think. If you are good at what you do, think two years ahead and anticipate the big changes now.

What do you think? Let’s start a conversation in the comments section.

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FAQ: How can I ensure long-term SEO success for my website?

Attaining long-term SEO success is of utmost importance for website owners and marketers. Search engines continue to update their algorithms while users’ expectations keep changing; taking an integrative approach when approaching SEO should be prioritized. Here, we’ll guide you through the essential elements of securing enduring success in search engine optimization.

1. Quality Content is King

The foundation of any effective SEO strategy is high-quality, relevant content. Create content that addresses your audience’s needs, offers value, and maintains a consistent posting schedule. Engaging content not only attracts visitors but also keeps them returning.

2. Keyword Research and Optimization

Keywords are the compass of SEO. Research and strategically implement relevant keywords, meta tags, and headers throughout your content. But remember, it’s not about stuffing; it’s about relevance and user intent.

3. Mobile Optimization

With most online searches conducted on mobile devices, ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Google’s mobile-first indexing prioritizes mobile compatibility in rankings.

4. Page Speed and User Experience

A slow-loading website can deter visitors and harm your SEO efforts. Optimize your site’s speed and provide an intuitive user experience to reduce bounce rates.

5. High-Quality Backlinks

Acquiring reputable backlinks from authoritative websites is a crucial long-term SEO strategy. Foster relationships within your industry to secure valuable backlinks.

6. Regular SEO Audits

Conduct regular site audits to identify and fix technical SEO issues like broken links, duplicate content, or crawlability problems.

7. Evolve with Algorithm Changes

Stay updated on search engine algorithm changes. Adapt your strategy accordingly to maintain your website’s visibility and ranking.

8. Local SEO

Optimize for local search by claiming your Google My Business listing and ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across directories.

9. Content Diversification

Explore various content formats like videos, infographics, and podcasts to engage different audiences and keep your content fresh.

10. Social Media Integration

Leverage social media platforms to promote your content and engage with your audience. A strong social presence can indirectly boost your SEO efforts.

11. User Engagement Metrics

Monitor user engagement metrics like click-through rates, time spent on a page, and bounce rates. Use this data to refine your content and user experience continually.

12. Patience and Persistence

Long-term SEO success doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient and persistent in your efforts, as organic growth takes time.

Dedication, flexibility, and providing value to the audience are crucial for long-term SEO success. Following these strategies and keeping up with industry trends will allow you to navigate this ever-evolving realm of search engine optimization successfully.

Bruce Clay is founder and president of Bruce Clay Inc., a global digital marketing firm providing search engine optimization, pay-per-click, social media marketing, SEO-friendly web architecture, and SEO tools and education. Connect with him on LinkedIn or through the BruceClay.com website.

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