What is Google May Day?
Around the first of May 2010, Google made a rather significant and lasting change in their algorithms for matching long-tail searches, and, to a lessor extent, head keywords (popular searches, or "short-tail" keyword searches.) Web masters have unofficially referred to the second change as "Mayday." (Watch video from Matt Cutts of Google about Google Mayday algorithm changes.)
How Do I Know If Google's Mayday Algorithm Changes Are Affecting My Website?
If you started to see your websites' performance drop towards the end of April and May, you should suspect one of two culprits: Google Caffeine and/or Google "Mayday."
What Can I Do About Google Mayday?
First and foremost - educate yourself.
Google is very up front about what it gives brownie points for and what it frowns upon in search engine optimization (SEO.) I strongly suggest you initially ignore the advice of SEO sites that exist to sell you services and start with the horses' mouth: Google. That way, you will have a reliable knowledge base (Google) to draw upon when reading more about tricks and "secrets" on SEO websites and will be less likely to make costly mistakes.
Here are three resources that can help you understand what works and does not work for getting higher search engine placement:
- Google Webmaster Guidelines For SEO: Google is very clear about what it values and what it will penalize a website for. Many SEO companies try to sell you services that are not in keeping with Google's best practices. Before you decide on any SEO / SEM services, or starting changing meta data and page titles on your own site, take time to understand what it is Google is looking for.
- Google Webmaster Central SEO Blog: Follow the latest news - straight from Google; ask questions, and sometimes even get advanced notice about important upcoming changes.
- Matt Cutts Official Blog: Matt Cutts works for Google and anyone in the SEO business knows him by name. He oversees the anti-spam division and is a key player in helping Google fine-tune many of its best practices and algorithms. Cutts offers advise and tips about how to appease the Google gods.
