Alright, BFCM promotions are all done and dusted, let’s get back to business.
I just dropped a brand new video tutorial on YouTube. It’s all about gaining Google’s trust – a topic that’s as fascinating as it is crucial for our online success.
It’s not a video about how to get Google’s trust though. I show you how to see whether Google trusts your website or not… in just a few seconds.
After that, most of the video is spent highlighting 12 different websites, large and small, authority and niche, to see what Google thinks of them.
Quick Navigation
Google’s Trust Mechanism
It’s more important than ever to understand where your site stands in Google’s ‘circle of trust’. With updates rolling out left, right, and center, you need to learn the mechanisms that Google uses for its “trust factor.”
Lets dive into the foundational aspects of Google’s trust mechanism. More importantly, seeing WHAT Google uses to substantiate its trust in a website provides key insights into understanding our website’s ranking and online visibility.
The Analogy of Seeking Advice
Just as we rely on trusted friends or mentors for significant life decisions, Google depends on a select list of websites to comprehend and rank new or existing sites.
This trust factor has gained unprecedented importance, particularly with Google’s latest Helpful Content Update.
Unveiling Google’s Perception of Websites
A Simple Yet Effective Technique
The presenter introduces a straightforward technique to determine how Google views a website. By searching for a brand’s name on Google and clicking on the three gray dots next to the search result, you can access the “About this result” panel. This panel reveals the sources Google trusts for information about a website, offering insights into how your site is perceived.
In-Depth Website Analysis
Healthline and ESPN
For large-scale entities like Healthline and ESPN, Google predominantly sources information from Wikipedia.
This underscores the immense value Google places on Wikipedia entries in understanding and trusting a website.
Epic Gardening and Livy Learn
For smaller but successful sites, Google often couldn’t find a trusted external description, instead relying on the site’s own description.
Keep in mind that both of these sites are very successful, garnering a ton of traffic from Google every month. And yet, from a trust standpoint, Google didn’t find any substansive online mentions they could pull from.
This indicates a greater challenge for even very successful sites in establishing external trust.
Weekend Growth and 201 Creative
For newer websites, Google struggled to find external descriptions, highlighting the importance of brand building and online presence over time.
201 Creative has been around for 4-5 years, but has not done a lot of SEO work. Weekend Growth is only one year old and very “new”.
Key Takeaways for Website Owners
- The Value of External Sources: Google appreciates information about a website from external, reputable sources, including Wikipedia entries, business directories, and feature articles.
- The Role of Social Proof and Reviews: Mentions in forums, social media, and review sites like Trustpilot significantly influence how Google views a website.
- Storytelling and Brand Profiles: Feature stories and detailed profiles about a brand or website are crucial in building Google’s trust.
- Challenges for New Websites: Newer websites face a more difficult task in establishing trust, emphasizing the need for strategic brand building and external mentions.
Conclusion
All of this reminds us of the complex nature of SEO and digital marketing. Building a website that Google trusts involves more than just optimizing content and keywords; it’s about creating a reputable presence both on and off your site.
As website owners, our focus should be on developing a holistic online presence, leveraging external sources, and crafting a compelling brand story that resonates with both users and search engines.
