Google Algorithm and Trend Predictions for the Future

It is hard to predict just what the new search engine algorithms will come with, so all one can do is speculate. Still, in a niche that is competitive, it helps being able to anticipate what is coming and reacting to it before other competitors. Predictions could go wrong, but when they go right, those who had them in mind benefit immensely. The enduring theme for many search engine changes is the emphasis on user experience. But this has been a trend for the past few years and is not really a surprise anymore. Here are the more specific possibilities for the next wave of changes;

Rankings by time spent on websites

Some sites have in the past had high rankings, but when visitors click on their links, they do not find what they are looking for. The crackdown on such links is going to be stricter, as Google looks to provide users with as much relevant information as possible. The significance of rankings by time spent will be bigger considering the popularity of video. When one talks of video, they immediately think about such sites as YouTube. However, even small business websites are taking advantage of the videos. With Google filing a patent for a time based ranking system, websites will attempt to boost their rankings with the auto play feature.

Email interaction

This might seem unfair, but in the grand scheme of things, it is well-intentioned. Judging a site by email interaction will not even look at the site behavior. The key will be how people respond to emails sent by the site. If customers or potential customers are unsubscribing or marking emails as spam, that means they do not like or want content from that site or company. This cuts down the tendency to use third party mailing lists that did not come from one’s own work. This will make sure customers are more legitimate.

Improved search results

While this can be classified as a prediction, elements of this are already being seen. Google is already adding new types of content in search results pages, including images, videos, shopping lists, snippets from social media and other web pages. Soon, search engine results pages will become a sort of web page on their own, with the most highly ranked sites being those that have their information displayed on the page.

Driving directions

This is a somewhat fun and creative one. With driverless cars coming, Google is looking at ways to improve its navigation systems and help vehicles navigate the roads in a variety of different ways. Navigation will not always give the shortest way, depending on the traffic situation, and now on the nature of the roads. Smoother roads have vehicles incurring fewer maintenance costs, and Google might be looking to improve its navigation system to have vehicles have the clearest and smoothest paths in the future.