Search Engine Optimisation History is like a Sci-fi.
In the movie Terminator, an AI System gets too smart and too greedy.
The machines rise up and conquer the world.
Humanity’s last option is to go back in time and try to stop it all from happening.
Here in the real world, we’re far from creating sentient supercomputers. But we do have talking phones, and some self-driving cars.
Could there be a real-world SkyNet in the works?
My money’s on Google. Google’s approach to relevant search results changed the internet landscape forever.
Quick! Before Siri can figure out the difference between “I want spaghetti” and “Call my Aunt Betty,” let’s go back in time!
Here’s a brief history of Google and the search engine optimization we worry about so much today:
The Rise of Search Engines (1994-1999)
1994: Jerry Wang and David Filo, from Stanford University, create Yahoo while still in school.
1996: Two more Stanford University students, Page and Brin, build and test Backrub.
This new search engine ranks sites based on relevancy and popularity. (Spoiler alert: Backrub eventually gets bought and renamed “Google.”)
1999: The first-ever Search Engine Strategies (SES) conference takes place.
Google Rising to Power, and the Spam Explosion (2000-2004)
2000: Yahoo makes a career-ending decision. They partner with Google and agree to put “powered by Google” under all their organic search results.
Soon, Yahoo’s largest competitor takes all their public interest and becomes a household name.
2003: Google releases Adsense — which gives ad publishers money for letting Google display targeted ads to customers.
This, unfortunately, led to an eruption of shady tactics, like “made for Adsense” sites.
2004: Google starts improving results for local geographic searches.
Now, when you search “restaurants” you’re given info relevant to where you currently are.
Google and other search engines started using even more user data to tailor content around this time.
Google Fights Back with Better Search Engine Optimisation (2005-Present)
2005: The creation of Nofollow tags help real businesses separate themselves from spam.
2006: Google acquires Youtube for $1.65 Billion. (Today, Youtube is the second most used search tool in the world!)
Google also launched two impactful SEO tools in 2006: Google Analytics, and Google WebMaster Tools.
2009: Google makes an algorithm change called Caffeine to increase search speed. But this change also incorporates social media posts into page results.
Now, marketers have to take a keen interest in websites like Twitter and Facebook to help their web influence.
2010: Google Instant is rolled out. This is the technology that creates suggestions before you’ve even finished typing.
2011-2015: Google continues to roll out algorithm updates like Panda, Penguin, and Pigeon.
Finally, by the end of 2015 Google starts rewarding pages with mobile-friendly options.
Each year, Google continues to work to improve both the user and business owner experience.
Who Handles your SEO?
A bombardment of spam has inspired Google to crack down on cheap spam tactics–HARD.
You do still need to make sure you include relevant keywords and phrases to help your website’s ranking online. But too many keywords and backlinks today will actually hurt your ranking, or get you put out of your online business altogether.
Staying up to date with all the different variables that can affect your page ranking (besides keywords and backlinks) is a full-time job now.
Don’t risk your income with haphazard search engine optimization gimmicks.
Contact us today to get proven advice from professionals.
