Google’s first major Core Algorithm Update for 2019 was released on March 12. While experts and our team at CP are still researching the effects of the update, initial data appears to show a continued focus on rewarding sites with favorable user signals such as time-on-site and bounce rate.
Websites with longer average time-on-site for visitors and lower bounce rates continue to rank consistently higher than those sites that lag in those areas. This is because visitor habits are signaling to Google that these sites are easy to navigate, and they find the site’s information relevant and useful. You should monitor your own website’s analytics for these two factors:
- Identify any pages with high bounce rates and/or low average time-on-site, and
- Make adjustments to those pages to ensure you are giving users a good experience and the relevant information they want.
YMYL
The Core Update also appears to be causing waves with sites that discuss YMYL keywords. If you aren’t familiar with the acronym, it stands for “your money or your life.” This refers to sites that include information and advice that affect a person’s finances, health and quality of life. Google has made a concerted effort in the past several years to better ensure they are referring visitors to authoritative sites when they are researching this sensitive information. Initial data from this most recent update appears to show a boost in ranking to those sites that show authority in a broad topical focus as opposed to a niche subject. You should keep this in mind as you craft your content plans. Speak to the many areas of the law in which your attorneys are experts. You should also seek to build authority by building backlinks throughout your site, as well as ensuring any additional complementary information is correct and frequently updated.
Please reach out if you have questions or need help designing the most search-engine friendly content plan.