Google Algorithm Update Possum

Key Takeaways

🌍 Google Algorithm Update Possum is a significant update to Google’s local search algorithm.

📍 It was released in 2016 and aimed to improve the accuracy and relevancy of local search results.

🧭 Possum considers the user’s IP address, search history, and device type to determine relevant search results.

🐿️ Possum prevents businesses with similar names or addresses from being penalized for duplicate content.

🗺️ It also factors in the user’s location when displaying search results, providing more accurate local results.

📦 Possum affects the local 3-pack, emphasizing the importance of accurate Google My Business listings.

🗝️ Key takeaways include focusing on location, using advanced filters, and actively managing reviews.

🛠️ To optimize for Possum, claim your Google My Business listing, use location-based keywords, and build local citations.

💪 Recovery from Possum may take time, so patience is key in the process.

❓ Common misconceptions about Possum include its industry-specific impact and focus on spammy listings.

⚠️ Possum penalized SEO practices like fake addresses, keyword stuffing, and poor-quality content.

⚙️ Website owners should avoid creating multiple listings for the same location and focus on local SEO.

🏬 Various industries were affected, but businesses relying on local search results were particularly impacted.

🔄 Possum was distinct as it focused on local search rankings and penalized low-quality content and mobile optimization.

🔍 Google Algorithm Update Possum: Released in 2016, it revamped local search with IP-based accuracy, spared similar businesses from content penalties, and improved local 3-pack results. Key takeaways: location matters, advanced… Click To Tweet

Welcome, fellow digital marketers and SEO enthusiasts! Are you ready to dive into the wonderful world of Google Algorithm Updates? Well, buckle up because today, we’re going to be talking about the one and only Google Algorithm Update Possum!

Now, some of you might be thinking, “Possum? What the heck does that have to do with SEO?” And honestly, we don’t blame you. The name does sound a little bit strange, but trust us, this update is no joke. In fact, it might just be one of the most important updates that you need to know about if you want to keep your website’s search engine ranking high.

So, let’s get started with the ultimate guide on Google Algorithm Update Possum!

What is Google Algorithm Update Possum?

First things first, let’s answer the most important question – what is Google Algorithm Update Possum? Well, in a nutshell, Possum is an update to Google’s local search algorithm. It was released back in 2016, and its main goal was to improve the accuracy and relevancy of local search results.

Before Possum, local search results were heavily influenced by the physical location of the user. This meant that if you were searching for a business or service in a specific area, you would only see results that were physically located near you. However, Possum changed all of that by taking into account the user’s IP address and other relevant factors, such as search history and device type, when determining the most relevant search results.

How Google’s Possum Update Works?

First of all, let’s address the elephant in the room (no, not Google’s Elephant update, that’s a story for another day). You’re probably wondering why it’s called Possum, right? Well, apparently, it’s because this update is all about playing possum. Confused? Let us explain.

The Possum update focuses on local search results, and it’s all about making sure that businesses with similar names or addresses don’t get penalized for having duplicate content. So, if you and your competitor happen to share an address, but you have completely different business names, you won’t get penalized for having duplicate content anymore. That’s where the playing possum part comes in. By pretending like those duplicate listings don’t exist, Google can give users a more accurate and diverse set of results.

But wait, there’s more! The Possum update also takes into account the user’s location when displaying search results. So, if you’re searching for a restaurant in your local area, you’ll now see more accurate results that are closer to your location. No more scrolling through pages of irrelevant search results!

Another important thing to note about Possum is that it also affects the local 3-pack. You know, that little box that pops up at the top of your search results when you search for a local business? Yeah, that one. Well, now it’s even more important to make sure your business is listed correctly on Google My Business, because if it’s not, you could be missing out on some serious visibility.

So, there you have it, folks. The Possum update is all about playing possum and giving users more accurate and diverse search results. And if you’re a local business owner, it’s more important than ever to make sure your business is listed correctly on Google My Business.

Now, if only we could get Google to come up with an algorithm update that doesn’t have an animal-themed name. Maybe we could call it the Unicorn update? Or the Sasquatch update? We’ll leave that up to Google’s animal-loving team to decide.

How does Possum affect local search rankings?

Now that we know what Possum is, let’s talk about how it affects local search rankings. Essentially, Possum has made local search more competitive than ever before. With the update, businesses that are physically located outside of the city limits or even in a different area code can now appear in the local search results for that area.

This means that if you’re a business that operates in a specific area, you need to make sure that your website is optimized for local search. You need to have accurate and up-to-date information about your business on your website and on third-party directories like Yelp and Google My Business. You also need to make sure that your website’s content is relevant to the local area that you’re targeting.

Key takeaways from the Possum update

Location, location, location

As mentioned earlier, the Possum update is all about providing more relevant search results based on the user’s location. This means that businesses that are physically closer to the user’s location will have a higher chance of appearing in the search results.

So, if you’re a local business, it’s crucial to make sure your Google My Business listing is up to date and accurate. Make sure your business address, phone number, and hours of operation are correct. And don’t forget to add photos and videos to your listing to make it more attractive to potential customers.

The rise of the filter

Another significant change that came with the Possum update is the increased use of filters in the local search results. Google now uses a more sophisticated filtering system to provide more specific results to users.

For example, if a user searches for “Italian restaurants,” Google will show results based on the user’s location and other factors such as the user’s search history and reviews. But with the Possum update, Google now uses more advanced filters to provide even more specific results, such as “Italian restaurants with outdoor seating.”

As a business owner, it’s essential to make sure your website and Google My Business listing include all the relevant information about your business. This includes the services you offer, the products you sell, and any unique selling points that set you apart from your competitors.

The importance of reviews

Reviews have always been essential for local businesses, but with the Possum update, they’re now more critical than ever. Google now takes into account the quantity and quality of reviews when ranking businesses in the local search results.

So, make sure you’re actively encouraging your customers to leave reviews on your Google My Business listing. Respond to both positive and negative reviews, and use them to improve your business and customer service.

How can you optimize your website for Possum?

Now that you understand the importance of Possum and how it affects local search rankings, let’s talk about how you can optimize your website for this update. Here are some tips that you can follow to improve your website’s local search ranking:

Claim your Google My Business listing – This is one of the most important things that you can do to improve your local search ranking. Make sure that all of the information on your Google My Business page is accurate and up-to-date.

Use location-based keywords – Make sure that your website’s content includes keywords that are relevant to the local area that you’re targeting. This will help Google understand that your website is relevant to that area.

Build local citations – A citation is a mention of your business’s name, address, and phone number on another website. Building local citations on directories like Yelp and Yellow Pages can help improve your website’s local search ranking.

Focus on high-quality content – Make sure that your website’s content is high-quality and relevant to your target audience. This will help improve your website’s overall search ranking and make it more likely to appear in local search results.

Use schema markup – Schema markup is a type of code that you can add to your website to help search engines understand your content. By using schema markup for your business’s name, address, and phone number, you can improve your website’s local search ranking.

How to recover from Possum?

First of all, let’s take a moment to appreciate the irony of a search engine update named after a creature that plays dead. It’s almost as if Google is saying “Hey, your website might be playing dead too, so let’s shake things up a bit.” Clever, Google, very clever.

But enough about the name, let’s get down to business. If your local business has been negatively affected by Possum, the first thing you need to do is make sure your Google My Business listing is up to date and accurate. That means double-checking your address, phone number, and business hours. You’d be surprised how often businesses forget to update this information.

Next, make sure your website has accurate and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) information across all directories and citations. If you’ve recently moved or changed your phone number, make sure to update all of your listings. This will help Google recognize your business as a legitimate and trustworthy entity.

It’s also a good idea to start building up your online presence through social media and other online channels. This will help improve your visibility and authority in your local area. Plus, it’s a great way to engage with your customers and build up some positive reviews.

Speaking of reviews, now is the time to start focusing on them. Make sure to respond to any negative reviews in a professional and courteous manner, and encourage your happy customers to leave positive reviews for your business. This will not only help improve your reputation but also signal to Google that your business is active and engaged with its customers.

Finally, be patient. Recovery from Possum may take some time, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Keep working on improving your local SEO, and eventually, you’ll start to see the fruits of your labor.

FAQ’s about Google Algorithm Update Possum

What are the common misconceptions about the Google Algorithm Update Possum?

One common misconception about the Possum update is that it only affects businesses in certain industries or regions. However, the update actually impacted all businesses with a local presence, regardless of industry or location. Another misconception is that the update only focused on filtering out spammy listings, when in reality it also aimed to provide more accurate and diverse search results for users.

What are the common SEO practices that are penalized by the Google Algorithm Update Possum?

The Possum update penalized SEO practices that aimed to manipulate local search rankings. This includes using fake addresses or phone numbers, keyword stuffing in business listings, and creating multiple listings for the same business location. Additionally, the update penalized businesses that had low-quality or irrelevant content on their websites, as well as those with poor mobile optimization.

What are the common mistakes that website owners make after the Google Algorithm Update Possum and how can I avoid them?

One common mistake that website owners make after the Possum update is to focus solely on optimizing for keywords and neglecting other aspects of local SEO. To avoid this, it’s important to ensure that your website has accurate and up-to-date information on your business, including your address, phone number, and hours of operation. It’s also important to optimize your website for mobile devices, as many local searches are conducted on mobile devices.

Another mistake that website owners make is to create multiple listings for the same business location, which can be seen as spammy by Google. To avoid this, it’s important to have only one listing per physical location, and to ensure that the information on that listing is accurate and up-to-date.

Are there any specific industries or types of businesses that were affected more by the Google Algorithm Update Possum?

The Possum update affected all businesses with a local presence, regardless of industry or location. However, businesses that rely heavily on local search results, such as restaurants, hotels, and retail stores, were particularly impacted by the update. Additionally, businesses with multiple locations or franchises may have been affected differently, as the update aimed to provide more accurate and diverse results for users searching for businesses in a specific location.

How was the Possum update different from other updates?

The Possum update was different from other updates in that it specifically focused on local search rankings. The update aimed to provide more accurate and diverse search results for users searching for businesses in a specific location. Additionally, the update was more comprehensive than previous updates, impacting both the local search results as well as the organic search results. The update also penalized businesses that had low-quality or irrelevant content on their websites, as well as those with poor mobile optimization, which was a new focus for Google at the time.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the end of our ultimate guide on Google Algorithm Update Possum! We hope that you found this guide informative and helpful in understanding the importance of local search optimization.

But before we go, we have one more thing to say. If you thought that Possum was a strange name for a Google Algorithm Update, just wait until you hear about some of the other updates that have been released over the years. We’ve got Penguin, Panda, Hummingbird, and even a Medic update! It’s like Google is creating its own animal kingdom over here.

But in all seriousness, understanding Google’s algorithm updates is an essential part of SEO. By keeping up to date with the latest updates and optimizing your website accordingly, you can ensure that your website stays ahead of the competition and continues to rank well in search results.

So, go forth and optimize! And remember, if you ever need help with your SEO strategy, you can always count on us to provide expert guidance and advice. We may not be able to outrank every website out there, but we sure can try!