Systems, signals and site experience

The most important thing you can do if you’re worried about ranking is to write content that delivers on intent and fulfills EEAT’s aspirations. –Ben Steele, 09:11

Join us to talk about the biggest updates to Google ranking factors this year and what that means for you heading into 2024.

Our Editor-in-Chief of E-Books, Ben Steele, gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what factors really matter now. We have invested more than 200 hours researching and gathering our insights into the signals that have been officially declared as Google ranking factors at a given point in time. Ben breaks down the impact of this year’s BIG updates: EEAT, Google’s redefinition of the site experience, developments around systems and signals, and more.

Listen as Ben and host Loren Baker, two of SEJ’s top SEO experts, talk about Google ranking factors. Discussion for search professionals and marketing managers planning for the next year.

Remarkable:

Suppose you create content that is comprehensive enough to show authority in your experience. In this case, the goal is for content to rise to the top regardless of more manipulative tactics. –Ben Steele, 10:14

When people have asked me what our secret to ranking content at SEJ is, I’ve always told them the “Publish” button because we’ve been building this brand, this company, and this trust for over 20 years. –Loren Baker, 13:48

Google rates links more qualitatively. Keywords are still huge, but the number no longer matters. It depends on the way you use them. –Ben Steele, 10:30 p.m

[03:30] – Google ranking factors 2023: What has changed and what remains?
[10:14] – Keywords and links vs. content and EEAT in today’s search engine optimization.
[22:30] – Google’s qualitative approach to evaluating ranking factors.
[27:39] – Building EEAT for smaller websites to compete with big brands.
[29:42] – Ranking performance of generative AI content after updates.
[37:24] – Long-term success with EEAT and user intent.
[43:27] – Curation as a strategy against generative AI in SEO.
[46:52] – How to access the Google Ranking Factors eBook.

Keep your nose clean and don’t get caught up in the quick-win strategies that are technically spam, because Google has outright said that relevance doesn’t matter when defining it as spam under our guidelines. –Ben Steele, 33:33

Curation is something you can resort to as a small business. There will continue to be a demand for human curation. –Ben Steele, 43:27

You can become a trusted curation source for your audience. That’s one thing language models aren’t good at: being a source of well-curated information you need right now. –Ben Steele, 44:29

These factors from EEAT will be crucial to protect your business from the negative effects of AI implemented by major platforms: the experience and trust. –Ben Steele, 45:53

Resources:

Connect with Ben Steele:

Ben Steele, SEJ’s senior editor, has extensive expertise in digital content. Although he did not initially set out to become an SEO strategist, the skills he acquired for this role, combined with his self-initiated research into digital marketing, revealed his true passion for the field.

His experience in professional theater not only honed his work ethic and leadership skills, but also fostered other invaluable qualities such as creativity.

Now at SEJ, Ben contributes to their eBooks, always providing fresh perspectives and strategic content advice. Through his SEO efforts, he artfully weaves the nuances of human experiences, journeys, and expressions into insightful lessons for others.

Connect with Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/writerbensteele/

Contact Loren Baker, Founder of Search Engine Journal:

Follow him on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lorenbaker
Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenbaker