Google is in the process of revamping its official SEO Starter Guide, with the goal of offering more streamlined and simplified advice to modern website owners. This significant update to Google’s SEO Starter Guide, a valuable resource for SEO professionals, was announced during the latest episode of “Search Off The Record,” a podcast featuring members of Google’s Search Relations team.
Originally launched several years ago, the SEO Starter Guide was designed to provide fundamental insights into enhancing a website’s visibility within Google Search results. Gary Illyes and Lizzi Harvey have indicated that the existing guide is due for an overhaul and will undergo substantial changes as part of this update.
Primary Resource For Aspiring SEO Professionals
Despite its extensive content, the current SEO Starter Guide, containing over 8,000 words of guidance, continues to be one of the most frequently accessed resources on Google’s Search Central website.
Lizzi Harvey expressed her surprise, saying, “This is the third most viewed page, which is interesting to me because I would have thought maybe people read it and then they move on.”
Notably, the guide consistently maintains high rankings in Google search results for prominent keywords such as “SEO,” drawing a substantial amount of traffic.
Considering the guide’s widespread popularity, any alterations to its content and recommendations could have a significant impact on how new website owners approach SEO. Certain strategies may be given less emphasis or possibly omitted altogether.
Goodbye Technical Jargon, Hello General Concepts
One of the primary objectives of this overhaul is to make the content more accessible and straightforward, particularly for individuals who are new to website development.
The guide, renowned for its extensive readership, is undergoing a transformation to become more concise and relevant. Lizzi Harvey mentioned that the current draft stands at approximately 3,000 words, emphasizing the aim to eliminate redundancy and outdated information.
Gary Illyes stressed that the revised guide will place greater emphasis on general SEO principles rather than delving into technical intricacies. For instance, it will emphasize understanding the significance of page title tags without requiring manual HTML code editing.
These changes mirror the growing popularity of content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and website builders such as Wix. These tools automate a significant portion of the technical SEO tasks, enabling users with limited coding skills to optimize web pages effectively.
Dispelling SEO Myths and Reinforcing Best Practices
In the course of the episode, the hosts addressed the recurrent assertion that “SEO is dead,” a statement that occasionally circulates within the industry.
In contrast to this assertion, the enduring popularity of the SEO Starter Guide and the positive feedback it receives serve as clear indications of a sustained and strong interest in SEO. Lizzi Harvey emphasized this point by stating, “It is our top-viewed guide after the home page,” effectively debunking the myth and underlining the continued importance of mastering SEO for achieving online success.
A Leaner Guide for a Modern Audience
The choice to simplify the SEO Starter Guide signifies a transition towards a more concentrated and user-centric approach.
Given the prevalent issue of information overload, the updated guide’s primary objective is to offer concise and meaningful guidance without inundating readers.
Lizzi Harvey clarified, “I don’t want to have ten different places where we’re doing… like saying the same thing in varying ways,” highlighting the commitment to clarity and efficiency.
The podcast divulged that the revised guide would place a strong emphasis on enhancing the user experience and catering to practical needs. This entails simplifying intricate subjects and ensuring that the guide remains accessible to newcomers while continuing to provide valuable insights to experienced professionals.
In Summary
Google is anticipated to unveil a fresh iteration of its SEO Starter Guide in the near future.
The forthcoming guide is poised to offer crucial insights into contemporary search engine optimization best practices, simultaneously eliminating outdated recommendations.
This updated version is expected to become a pivotal resource for both novice and seasoned SEO professionals, offering valuable guidance for enhancing website visibility within search results.
Original news from SearchEngineLand