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Google Hummingbird Introduction

Officially launched on September 26, 2013, Google Hummingbird has made its mark on the online world. With updated algorithms and improved technicalities, Hummingbird is providing users a much more personal and intimate search engine result.

Compared to the Panda and Penguin updates, Google Hummingbird has made more impact on the search engine results. Unlike the previous search process, where results were mostly dictated by the keyword entered, Hummingbird provides the result based on the entire query placed by the users.

What is Google Hummingbird?

Before proceeding further with the functioning and features, it will be better to learn the basics of Google Hummingbird. Launched in September, Hummingbird is actually a codename used to identify a change in the Google algorithm.

The update was so named because of its similarity with the bird in terms of accuracy and speed. To improvise the search results, the update mostly emphasized on everyday language queries based on the meaning and context of the keywords with which people make the searches.

Instead of showing the homepage of different websites matching the keyword searched, Hummingbird delves deeper into the websites and find the page that is most accurately suited with the keyword.

Hummingbird update is often considered as a logical improvisation of the Knowledge Graph that has been a previous project introduced by Google. Hummingbird is a combination of the unique search capabilities of Google along with the invaluable data received from Knowledge Graph.

Instead of identifying information just based on the targeted keyword, Hummingbird focuses on the entire phrase or keyword used for the search and tries to offer a more rational result.

While Google introduces time to time updates for helping the users, the search engine optimizers, as well as online marketing professionals, try to figure out the ways in which it will affect their work process. Many are often doubting whether Hummingbird will bring an end to the much-discussed process of search engine optimization and make the Page Rank tool, a thing of the past.

Well, Hummingbird is only intended for providing better results to the users and there is nothing about banning SEO. Page Rank is still considered to be an important aspect of measuring the success of any website. Search engine optimization is still valuable.

Yet, just focusing on the keyword is no longer enough. The content should be informative as well as original or else the site may get blacklisted by the search engine.

How do Hummingbird works?

Google Hummingbird update has completely changed the way people have been using this search engine. A complete standout from Panda and other previous updates, Hummingbird has a definite pattern of working. To know the secret of the accuracy of Google Hummingbird, it is essential to know how this algorithm works.

Hummingbird actually works based on different features and semantic searches. Therefore, to understand the functioning of this algorithm, it is important to learn the features. 

Features of Google Hummingbird update

Getting familiarity with the features of Google Hummingbird can help in understanding the algorithm in a much better manner.

Conversational Search

Unlike focusing on the individual keywords, Hummingbird mostly relies on the entire queries and process the search depending on the implications of the words used for searching. That is why the search process is often referred to the conversational search and is better done with long-tail keywords.

For instance, instead of searching on gas stove functions it is better to type how gas stove functions when using Google Hummingbird. When getting a site optimized for Google these days, it is always better to target long-tail keywords as these have higher conversion rates compared to the short ones.

By targeting long-tail keywords on the pages, it becomes easier to appear on the SERP when users look for information using conversational search. You may also like to know, Hummingbird prefers a string of keywords that has a minimum of three words to five or even more words, instead of breaking the phrase into different small parts.

Yet, to generate more traffic using long-tail keywords, the phrase should be added in the normal flow of writing and must not be inserted forcefully. 

Mismatch In Results

Google Hummingbird update is rightly considered to be one of the most important updates launched by the search engine giants. Before the introduction of Hummingbird, many websites could easily rank on the top searches of the major search engines just by highlighting the targeted keywords and without giving much importance to the information on the website.

However, with Hummingbird, the content of the site and its relevance with the targeted keyword has become a priority. Providing irrelevant content or duplicate content can now get the site blacklisted as Hummingbird delves deeper into the site and find the relevant content for the user.

Not only blacklisting but also Google uses different methods to penalize websites, which provide wrong information to the users. For instance, a website using a targeted keyword on how to prepare for college graduation needs to provide relevant tips and details regarding the topic instead of just listing the names of different colleges in the city.

Human Search

There are several features on which Hummingbird relies on its operation and observing the pattern of human search is one of them. Anyone who has been using search engines from the yesteryears knows the difficulty people faced while using Google as it did not have enough knowledge that it has currently.

It was the lack of information about different subjects that made people search extensively on any topic for accessing the required information. Ease of searching has improvised from time to time and the latest algorithm Hummingbird has offered significant ease by focusing on theme-related topics and synonyms

Hummingbird not only tries to understand the meaning of the keywords used for searching but also has pointed out several mistakes people make while searching for information on Google. With Hummingbird, the search engine has become one more step closer to its effort of having human intelligence.

With the advent of hummingbird Google no longer search for the Prime Minister of the United States of America even if the user enters the wrong keyword. Instead, it searches for the President and makes the user aware of the appropriate search term on the SERP page.

Local Search Listing

This is also another important feature implemented by Google Hummingbird for offering users better search results. Instead of focusing on the broader area, this new algorithm gives importance to the businesses located near the user searching for it.

To get enlisted in the local search listings businesses just needs to make online entry of the name, address as well as the phone number of the business. By providing the appropriate details, it will allow Google to find the best-suited results for any search, which in turn will help the business in increasing their sales.

For instance, anyone searching for a restaurant in Dallas will be provided with the name of the eateries located close to his place rather than scattered throughout the whole city. To get any business optimized for local search listing, it is essential for the owner to claim the business online and use the appropriate description as well as meta-tag for highlighting.

Locally structured data mark and mentioning the business in different online directories is also essential. Apart from online optimization, offline works also matter as a business with better reviews is preferred than the ones with negative feedback from the users.

Recheck Anchor Text

Even though the World Wide Web has undergone multiple changes in recent years and several updates have been introduced to provide a better experience to the users, anchor text still is an integral part of any search engine optimization process. In case, anyone is not quite sure of anchor text, it needs to note that the term refers to the clickable portion on any website that helps in connecting one page to another.

As Hummingbird scans different pages for finding accurate information related to any search, it is essential for the website owners to recheck the anchor text. The clickable keyword should provide exact information to which it has been linked, else it may get rejected by the search engine and may also earn a penalty.

For instance, an anchor text denoting Presidents of the United States should provide information on the past Presidents of the country and the current one. It should not be something related to the Senate or the Senators.

Structured Data Mark Up(Knowledge Graph)

Structured Data Mark which is better known as the Knowledge Graph is a project of Google that is available for a significant period of time but had never been put to use on a large scale. The project was actually intended for highlighting the connections between different things, people and places before offering any results to the searcher.

Results offered by Knowledge Graphs are more knowledgeable as well as complex than the ones generally offered by the search engines. That is why these are often said to be processed by human beings and not by any algorithm search.

Google searchers though generally do not relate much to the Knowledge Graph, yet it is more popular among the ones, who want to get intricate search results for the queries placed. Often used by the researchers and marketers, it is also a great source for the writers as it provides detailed information on any topic.

In case, anyone is wondering how to search the knowledge graph, it is important to know that the knowledge graph is the pictorial carousel that appears on the top when any search term is typed on the search box.

Voice Search

Apart from understanding the inner meaning of the keyword and identifying the results in a better manner, Hummingbird also focuses on the context as well as the intent of the user while making any search on the web.

For instance, when you are searching for Restaurants in Venice, it is quite obvious that you will not loads of information just discussing different popular foods of Venice, instead you will prefer detailed information on the restaurants where you can savor the food. This is what Hummingbird does.

It combines human intent while making the search and the conversational language while placing the search. Also, it notes the geographical location of the searcher and offers the best results to the searcher. Voice search has actually made the dream of using semantic search come true. 

Autocomplete Search- Last but not least, to reduce searching time and make the search properly focused on the intent of the users, Google now offers different options to complete the search automatically. Just hit the search term best suited with your query and get the results in less than a second.

For example, you are looking for the best restaurants in New York City, you will just have to type the best restaurants and different options will automatically appear in the search box. The auto-complete search feature of Hummingbird has helped Google reduce search time without compromising the accuracy of results.

How to check the algorithm has been hit your site?

Google Hummingbird is often blamed for negative ranking of different websites and many also raise doubt that it will make SEO a thing of the past. However, it is not actually so. Google Hummingbird is not used for deranking sites or affecting the SEO of any site.

It is used for offering better results to any query placed by the user and in the process may make a negative impact on the ranking of the site that does not offer accurate information. In case, your site has been hit by Hummingbird, it is essential for you to find the flaws and get it corrected.

Once your site provided accurate information and has everything in place, it will easily get a positive move in terms of ranking.

To keep your site on the top searches of the search engine, it is essential to figure out whether the site has been hit by the new algorithm. Checking the account of the Google Webmaster regularly is essential to know whether you have been hit by the update.

Any website, which has been penalized by the search engine for not abiding by the updates will get a corresponding note in the account. The note mentions the reasons for penalizing. Read the SEO news updates frequently so that you can keep track of the changes introduced by the search engine giant and find whether your site has been hit by the same.

Last but not least, you should read the Terms of Service layout by Google very carefully. The terms should be checked at intervals and website owners must ensure that their site does not violate any of the terms mentioned by the search engine giants.

How to recover from the update?

The knowledge of getting hit by any Google update is the prime factor when it comes to the revival of the site. The earlier you are informed about your site being hit by the algorithm, the better are your chances for recovering from it. Delay in taking the right action may get the site completely blacklisted by the search engine and you may have to start afresh.

To recover your site from any update, keep yourself aware of the latest updates and find the areas in which you lack. As soon as you have identified the areas in which you need to lack, start working on it and get it fixed. Never make any kind of unethical practices on your website just for increasing its ranking as these types of practices may get you penalized.

There is nothing to be disappointed if your site has been penalized by Google as in many cases, penalties are not actually as harsh as it sounds. It is only intimidation for re-prioritizing the site according to the latest algorithms.

Re-check the SEO techniques that you use for the site and ensure that it is according to the latest updates. Stop practicing the SEO techniques, which are no longer in sync with the current algorithm and use the beneficial ones to recover your site.

Join different forums and track different SEO news to learn about the best measures for dealing with any update. Last but not least, you should always give importance to the extent of any penalty on your website and set measures accordingly.

Understanding the extent of penalty will help you understand whether you need to change only a few keywords targeted to your website or you need to change the entire set of keywords used. Never rush when recovering from an update hit as rushing through the process may make a negative impact on the site.

Conclusion

Google has always tried in easing the life of people by offering them better search results and every update is introduced only for simplifying the search process. The hummingbird update is also the same. The algorithm used in this update is based on the researches of several years and does not intend to kill the process of search engine optimization, instead it intends to make it even more focused.