Google Hummingbird & SEO

byMrDon1

373 followers

Updated 10 months ago

I am certain that there are probably several posts about this, (ParthaB, probably has 10)! Honestly, it was one of his posts that led me here. We work in an industry that rewards the masters and not the mediocre. I strive for the former, versus being part of the latter. Everyone here uses Google, worships what Google wants, and dreams of being on the top page and becoming the go-to authority, not to mention being a "wealthy affiliate".

So I ask you, what is Google Hummingbird?

I didn't know. Stupid newbie, I thought to myself. Something as basic as how Google determines the top pages of their search results. Shouldn't this be basic common knowledge? I am creating this post for myself to better understand the Hummingbird. If you find it useful, let me know. Digging in (using Poe as my assistant today).

Google Hummingbird is the search algorithm that Google uses to provide better search results to its users. When you type a query into the Google search bar, the search engine uses Hummingbird to try to understand the meaning behind your search, rather than just matching keywords like it used to.

This means that Hummingbird is designed to understand the context of your search, including things like synonyms, related topics, and the intent behind your search. It really is trying to figure out why you are asking, versus simply searching for those keywords you typed in. By understanding the meaning behind your search, Hummingbird can provide more relevant search results, even if the exact keywords you used aren't present on the page. Wait a minute, I thought keywords were key. But it is intent. This is a great explanation of why my website "Setting Points" is not higher on the Google page. I am not setting points on a 1950 Corvette. Intent is key over keywords. Glad Yahoo! and Bing, don't use this philosophy. I am number 2 over there and get traffic from curiosity seekers. But Google.... crickets.

When you search for "how to make pizza dough," Google Hummingbird might show you recipes, cooking tips, and other related content, even if the exact phrase "how to make pizza dough" isn't present on every page in the search results.

Overall, Google Hummingbird is designed to make it easier for people to find the information they are looking for, even if they don't know the exact keywords to use. Google automatically assumes that you do not know how to ask for what you are specifically looking for. So it uses natural language processing to think ahead. Guessing that its algorithms (artificial intelligence) have a better handle on what you are looking for than you do.

The key feature of Hummingbird is that it uses natural language processing (NLP) to understand the context and intent behind a query. This means that Hummingbird can better understand the meaning of a search query, even if it's poorly phrased, or in a conversational or informal way.

Another important aspect of Hummingbird is that it focuses on providing search results that are relevant to the user's search intent, rather than just matching keywords. For example, if someone searches for "best pizza places nearby," Hummingbird will use its understanding of the user's intent to show search results for pizza places that are nearby and highly rated, rather than just any page that happens to mention the words "best," "pizza," and "places."

Hummingbird also takes into account the user's location, search history, and other factors to personalize search results. For example, if someone searches for "coffee shops," Hummingbird will show different results depending on whether the user is in New York City, a small town in rural America, or anywhere else on the globe.

Overall, the goal of the Google Hummingbird algorithm is to provide more relevant and personalized search results to users, based on their search intent and context. So intent is key, but what else do I need to know about what Google Hummingbird uses? So I ask...

What else does Hummingbird use to come up with better results? I now know that specific keywords are not the holy grail, but what else goes into the calculations? Some of these factors include:

• Device Type: Hummingbird can detect the type of device being used to perform a search, such as a desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone, and adjust search results accordingly.
• Language Preference: Hummingbird can detect the user's language preferences and show search results in the appropriate language.
• Social Signals: Hummingbird can analyze social signals, such as likes, shares, and comments on social media, to determine the relevance and popularity of a page. Google crawls your social media to provide you with better results. Let that sink in for a minute.
• User engagement: Hummingbird can track user engagement with search results, such as how long someone stays on a page, and use that information to improve future search results.
• Freshness: Hummingbird can detect how recently a page has been updated and prioritize more recent content in search results.
• Knowledge Graph: Hummingbird can use Google's Knowledge Graph, which is a database of factual information about people, places, and things, to provide instant answers to certain types of queries, such as "What is the capital of France?"

By taking into account these and other factors, Hummingbird can provide more personalized and relevant search results to users. Great, I always knew that Google was intrusive, part of the reason that I always tried to avoid using it. Too damn nosy. But continue digging I must.

WTF is Knowledge Graph?

Guess this little learning exercise is going to continue.

Google's Knowledge Graph is a massive database of factual information about people, places, and things. It contains information about things like famous people, landmarks, historical events, and more. The goal of the Knowledge Graph is to provide users with quick, accurate answers to their queries, without requiring them to click through to other websites. Early stages of a Chatbot. Ask and answer.

Hummingbird uses the Knowledge Graph to provide instant answers to certain types of queries. For example, if you search for "who is Barack Obama," Google might display a box at the top of the search results page with a brief summary of Obama's life and career, along with a photo and some basic facts.

Similarly, if you search for "Eiffel Tower," Google might display a box with information about the height, construction, and history of the landmark, as well as some photos and related search queries.

By using the Knowledge Graph to provide instant answers, Hummingbird can save users time and provide them with accurate information without requiring them to click through to other websites. This can be particularly useful for queries that require quick, factual answers, such as questions about historical events, famous people, or scientific concepts.

Bottom Line

The Google Hummingbird algorithm is a search algorithm that uses natural language processing to better understand the "WHY" behind a search query. Hummingbird focuses on providing search results that are relevant to the user's search intent, rather than just matching keywords. It also takes into account several factors, including location, search history, device type, language preference, social signals, user engagement, freshness, and Google's Knowledge Graph to provide personalized and relevant search results.

The Knowledge Graph is a massive database of factual information about people, places, and things that Google uses to provide instant answers to certain types of queries. By using the Knowledge Graph to provide instant answers, Hummingbird can save users time and provide them with accurate information without requiring them to click through to other websites.

In terms of SEO, Hummingbird and the Knowledge Graph mean that keyword stuffing and other outdated SEO tactics are no longer effective. Instead, it's important to focus on creating high-quality, informative content that answers users' questions and provides value. This includes using natural language and conversational phrases in your content, as well as optimizing for semantic search and long-tail keywords.

To rank higher on Google search results, it's important to focus on user engagement, social media presence, and building high-quality backlinks to your website. By creating a well-rounded SEO strategy that takes into account all of these factors, you can improve your chances of ranking higher on Google and reaching more potential customers.

Eyes Wide Open -There is more to it than keywords.