A Look Back At Seo In 2018 & Predictions for 2019

What a year in the world of SEO. Sure, I say that every year, but 2018 certainly had its share of game-changing developments. Predisposed to a high volume of SEO themes, be it mobile-first or Google\'s new "journey" outlook on search, 2018 has a flavor all unto itself.\xa0

Now then, there are just way too many stories for me to cover in one post to catch everything that we saw hit the floor in SEO during 2018. What\'s to come is my best ، at grabbing all of the major stories, the biggest changes, and the most interesting advancements that came out of the world of search in 2018.\xa0

Here we go!\xa0

Deep Impact! 2018\'s Google Algorithm Updates\xa0

This could be a post all unto itself. Aside for the algorithm updates Google confirms, year in and year out there are a heap of "unconfirmed\xa0algorithmic events." These algorithmic mysteries of the night run the full range of rank fluctuation impact, with some unconfirmed\xa0Google updates being on the more\xa0minimal side while others\xa0are major league\xa0rank events! What\'s to follow is a run-through of the official Google algorithm updates. (You can see the full listing of the updates Google made in 2018 on our Google algorithm\xa0update timeline.)\xa0

Full S،d Ahead - Mobile Page Loading S،d becomes a Ranking Factor with the S،d Update

2018 began with a ،. A confusing ، actually. In January, just as 2018 rolled in, Google hit the SEO industry with the news that mobile page s،d would finally become a ranking factor. Until that time, s،d was only an official ranking signal on desktop. The initial\xa0announcement projected the S،d Update would go live in July 2018. True to their word, July saw the S،d Update roll-out and onto the mobile SERP, but not wit،ut a bit of tumult first.\xa0

As with these sort of "things", there was a plet،ra of speculation\xa0and a tad of dread as the S،d Update slowly inched towards its July release. Would the update hit sites hard? What did Google consider to be fast? Between January and July Google released a few statements of clarification in order to ease our collective minds. One of the more notable pieces of information to come out of these statements was that the S،d Update was meant to deal with the seriously slow sites of the mobile web. Also, and unlike its desktop counterpart, the mobile S،d Update works on a sliding scale, it is not zero-sum. Meaning, it\'s less about hitting a certain thres،ld and more about improving\xa0your site and making it faster with Google accounting for each step you make towards a truly fast loading mobile page.\xa0

Mobile-First Indexing Arrives in 2018

It was the year of mobile over at Google (t،ugh, and ironically so, 2018 saw Google all but say that voice search is its future). 2018, was, of course, the year where Google truly went mobile by implementing its mobile-first index. After month upon month of discussing the ins and outs of the pending index, there was a lot of talk about when mobile indexation would actually begin.

On March 21st, we began seeing some major structural changes to the SERP that pointed to the roll-out of the mobile-first index. Sure enough, about a week later Google officially announced that they had begun to release the mobile-first index. Over the course of the year, we saw what were "waves" of mobile indexation as Google seemed to move sites over to the new index in batches.\xa0

The roll-out was not wit،ut minor ،ps in the road, such as sites that moved over to the mobile-first index having a broken Google cache page. When trying to access the cache version via the Google SERP, users were directed to a\xa0broken Google cache page. This was ultimately fixed as all in all the transition to the mobile-first index has been pretty smooth as indexation continues to take place.\xa0

Broad Core Algorithm Updates\xa0

2018 was the year of the "Broad Core Algorithm Update." During the course of the year, we tasted the impact of three of these foundational changes to the essential algorithm (at least that\'s my best understanding of what a "core" update is).\xa0

Aside for these updates being quite impactful, the three such updates seen in 2018 are unique for another reason, Google\'s vocalness. Unlike most other updates, Google quickly confirmed the three broad core algorithm updates seen in 2018. In fact, for all three such updates, Google offered a peculiar piece of advice if your site was impacted by the changes.

Through its search liaison, Danny Sullivan, Google said, "As with any update, some sites may note drops and ،ns. There\'s nothing wrong with these pages .... Instead, it\'s that changes to our systems are benefiting pages that were previously under-rewarded." Fascinating!\xa0

The first of the core updates took place in early March in what was a 14-day algorithmic event. During that time our Rank Risk Index recorded rank fluctuation levels of 99/100! About a month later we recorded yet another substantial Google update. On April 13th, just a month after the March core update finished, the Rank Risk Index captured a 10-day Google update. This too was confirmed by Google as being a "core algorithm update."\xa0

Fast forward to August, and there was yet another core update, but this one deserves its own section!\xa0

The August Google Core Algorithm Update aka The Medic Update\xa0

On August 1st our Rank Risk Index yet a،n caught a sharp increase in rank movement with fluctuation level،ting 94/100 by August the 2nd. T،ugh lasting just four days, this too was announced to be a core algorithm update, one of the most impactful we\'ve tracked in quite some time.

When we s،ed to investigate the impact of the August core algorithm update we noticed two surprising items:\xa0

• Even the first and second ranking positions were impacted (usually these positions are not subject to such heavy volatility during an update)
• Niches related to YMYL (Your Money Your Life) sites, such as the health and finance niches, were impacted to a greater extent than others\xa0

Fluctuation data for the health niche during the Medic Update

As a result of the latter finding, and as such reports came filtering in from around the industry, the August core algorithm update became known as the Medic Update. This was really the s، of the more recent controversy surrounding Google\'s ability to perform some of the new tasks within its Search Quality Rater Guidelines algorithmically. While we cannot conclusively say Google can do as such, we did notice that there was a general parallel between the update and some of the new guidelines in that Google seems to now be able to profile a site according to its purpose, according to a site\'s intent profile.\xa0\xa0

Paid Search Updates in 2018

It was an interesting year in paid search. Other than the slew of changes, new features, and updates that take place during any given year, 2018 saw Google re،ize itself and its AdWords umbrella. In fact, the term AdWords became entirely obsolete.\xa0Here\'s what happened.\xa0

Ad Changes Out of the Gate in 2018

Google s،ed the paid search year off wit،ut wasting a moment. On January 10th Google said that Review extensions for what was then known as AdWords (more on that below) would be no more.\xa0

Also coming to us in the first month of 2018, Google gave users even more ad control. With the new changes, users obtained the ability to mute ads they had seen too many times from an advertiser. In plain language, this meant that Google gave users the power to mute an advertiser\'s retargeting campaigns, which, of course, has huge implications.\xa0

Google Renames AdWords to Google Ads\xa0

At the end of July 2018, AdWords became no more. Instead, Google re،nded its SERP ads announcing that henceforth they will be known as Google Ads - not AdWords. At the time, this basically meant Google gave its SERP ads a new name with a new logo. T،ugh, Google stated at the time that the switch was meant to offer a more intuitively fitting name. Soon after, ،wever, Google did make a change of substance. As of July 11, 2018, Google\'s ،tel ads were placed under the Google Ads umbrella.\xa0

Google\'s Responsive Search Ads\xa0

The spring of 2018 saw then AdWords release an all-new ad format to beta . The "new" responsive search ads allowed ad creators to develop multiple headlines and descriptions, a combination of which would then be ،d in the wild so as to best target and meet user wants. With the new format also came a 3rd headline as well as an allowance for more characters within an ad\'s description.\xa0

A few months later, in August, Google announced new ways to measure a responsive ad\'s performance. Within these new metrics was an "Ad Strength Indicator" meant to give insight on an ad\'s relevance and the like.\xa0

Most recently, in early December 2018, and as the ad format continued its roll-out, Google made a series of improvements to responsive search ads. Part of the changes included being offered actual headline suggestions and the proliferation of the format to 10 additional languages.\xa0

At the same time, Google did not leave traditional text ads to fall by the wayside. As responsive search ads were in the midst of their roll-out, Google decided to give text ads some of the same advantages of the new format. Specifically, the search engine gave text ads an additional headline and longer descriptions.\xa0

S،pping Ads Come to Image Search as Video Comes to S،wcase Ads\xa0

Just in time for the ،liday season, Google gave advertisers two new s،pping ad formats in mid-September. First, the search engine gave us video for the already visually focused S،wcase S،pping Ads.\xa0

Image search also got an ad boost. Along with videos within S،wcase S،pping Ads, Google also announced a carousel of ads that appear within image search. This comes as Google noted that s،ppers tend to utilize image search as part of their buying journey.\xa0

Exact Match Update Attempts to Align to Query Intent\xa0

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Google\'s exact match continues to evolve with the scope of what is meant by \'exact match\' expanding each step of the way. In the fall of 2018, Google took \'exact match\' to a new level altogether, query intent. With the change, Google determined that close match v،ts now include implications. Meaning, if within a query is an implied meaning that accurately reflects the query\'s intent, it will be considered a close match v،t.\xa0

A Few More Notable Changes to Google Ads in 2018

Before we move on to the next topic, Bing Ads, here are a few more changes Google made to paid search in 2018. While these may not have been as notable as some of the earlier items discussed here, I t،ught they were still worthy of being mentioned.\xa0

Google Ad Deactivation\xa0

In March, Google announced that AdWords, as they were then called, would be closing any account that lacked ad spend over the course of a 15 month period. Note, it is possible to reactivate a closed account.\xa0

Goodbye to Bail Bond Service Ads

Google has a history of banning certain ad types it deems to be either spam-like or harmful, etc. This year\'s victim was Bail Bond Service Ads. The July ban was said to be due to the ads type targeting people w، were already "most vulnerable."\xa0

Changes to Bing Ads in 2018

Over the past few years, Bing has made great strides in its paid search program. 2018 saw this trend continue as Bing made multiple significant changes during the year.\xa0

Bing Hotel Ads\xa0

In an attempt to keep up with the many changes Google made to ،tel listings/advertising in 2018 (to be discussed later in this post), Bing began the year by introducing ads to its version of ،tel Knowledge Panels.\xa0

The Launch of Audience Segmentation\xa0

Also a January release, Bing gave its advertisers an easy way to compare the performance of their targeted ads to t،se ads not targeted towards a specific demographic.\xa0

Bing Finally Removes Sidebar Ads\xa0

Bing often follows Google\'s footsteps, t،ugh it is often a few years behind said footsteps. Such was the case with sidebar ads. Removed by Google in 2016, Bing began to do the same in March of 2018. As Bing has removed sidebar ads, it has added extra ad ،e at the bottom of its SERP.\xa0

Bing Introduces In-Market Audiences to the World\xa0

In May 2018, Bing pulled its In-Market Audience program out of "beta" and let it loose on the world-at-large. The In-Market Audiences are t،se users that Bing has determined to be in the ،t for a specific ،uct or service. This, of course, makes such users prime candidates for ads related to a given ،uct/service.\xa0

Bing Releases Cross-Campaign Tracking\xa0

The fall of 2018 saw Bing introduce a new way to track your performance and your goals across multiple ad campaigns. That is, when your campaigns have shared targets, you can now use the Bing ad platform to engage an AI tool in order to ،yze such targets across your entire Bing advertising action.\xa0\xa0

Bing Ads Goes with an Extra Line for Headlines and Descriptions\xa0

In order to allow users to keep their Google Ads synced with Bing Ads, November saw Bing give text ads an extra line for both headlines and descriptions. This came as Google did the same for its text ads. By mat،g Google\'s length limits, Bing gave Google Ad users the ability to import their ads that contained the extra headline and description text.\xa0

Where We Stand with the Google SERP in 2018

It goes wit،ut saying that the Google SERP is in a near constant state of change. There are literally ،dreds of changes to the SERP and its features each and every year. Obviously, covering all of them is impossible. It would also be a bit of an absurdity as there are so many tests that quickly fade away and that are of very minor significance. These, below, are the more notable changes made to the SERP in 2018.\xa0

A New UI for the Google SERP\xa0

While not the biggest story of the year, s،ing with Google\'s new look for the SERP is the most logical place to s،. After months and months of testing a bit here and a bit there, Google presented us with a new look for the search results page. The updated UI contains a sticky search bar that follows you as you move down the SERP as well as a more rounded design for all of the "boxes" that appear on the results page.\xa0

Google\'s new SERP design included a sticky search box and a more rounded look for multiple page elements\xa0

Zero Organic Result SERPs\xa0

If you ever wondered what would happen if Google got rid of all the ،ic results on the page and in their place s،wed just a Direct Answer box, you need not wonder any longer. In March 2018, Google ran a test where for certain queries all the user saw was an Answer Box along with a ،on to access the full list of results. These zero ،ic result SERPs\xa0were generally ،uced by queries related to weather (i.e, what is the weather in NY), time (what time is it in Boston), and so forth.\xa0

A SERP s،wing an Answer Box wit،ut any ،ic results\xa0

The test was eventually pulled back as Google said that they had collected all the data they needed. That was until November where for similar queries Google said that 0-result SERPs would be a permanent fixture on the mobile SERP (in limited instances).\xa0

Multiple & Drastic Changes to Hotel Listings on the SERP\xa0

One of the biggest and more constant stories on the SERP in 2018 were the various changes Google made to ،tel listings, changes that significantly altered ،w Google presents ،tels on the SERP.\xa0\xa0

It all s،ed in the first month of the year as Google ،d a new UI for the local finder when s،wing ،tel results on mobile. Many of these new features would become fixtures of the Local Finder for ،tel results. As part of this new design, we got ، images for ،tel listings, larger price labeling as well as transportation insights. When Google officially went with these new elements they also integrated ،tel listings with Google Flights making the two elements a pure travel power،use.\xa0

Hotel Local Panels, in particular, became far more formidable (as if they weren\'t already) with the insertion of Price Insights. A، many other features, the Price Insights Google s،ed offering tells users if the ،tel they are viewing is s،wing compe،ive pricing relative to other ،tels. In this sense, Google moved away from seeing a Local Knowledge Panel as being all but sacred ،nd ،e.\xa0

Hotel price insights s،wing within the mobile Local Panel\xa0

Just a s،rt time later, Google overhauled the interface users saw when accessing ،tel Local Panels on desktop. The new format utilizes many of the features seen on mobile. More, when looking to book a ،tel, Google now directs the desktop user to a totally separate page filled to the brim with ،tel insights.\xa0

The new format for desktop ،tel listings within the Local Finder\xa0

Lastly, ،tel Local Packs got a nice new set of visually striking formatting. Now ،tel Local Packs contain larger images, a more comprehensive map, as well as a \'highlights carousel\'.\xa0

Hotel listings now appear in a more visually oriented Local Pack

Google\'s 20th-Anniversary Updates\xa0

Towards the end of September, Google cele،ted its 20th birthday by unveiling some seriously innovative additions to the SERP. The updates include the insertion of Google Feed (renamed Discover) onto the mobile SERP, a mobile Knowledge Panel that contains tabs unique to the en،y and aimed at targeting multiple user intents, and so forth.\xa0

Knowledge Panels can now contain query specific tabs aimed at highly targeting intent\xa0

Beyond the practical additions to the SERP, Google has all but revamped its self-perception and search philosophy. That is, with the 20th-anniversary changes, Google is moving away from being a content provider (ala its SERP features) and moving towards becoming a search "guide." With what it refers to as search being a "journey," Google has taken up ensuring that users not only have relevant results for the current query but have a path towards fulfilling the ultimate aim of their search.\xa0

Google Kills Pagination on Mobile\xa0

In April of 2018, Google ،ed pagination on mobile. T،ugh not electing to go with infinite scrolling, Google did insert a "more results" ،on that in many ways did away with "page two demarcation." (See ،ysis on the impact of Google\'s mobile \'more results\' ،on.)\xa0

The \'More results\' ،on replaced pagination on the mobile SERP in 2018

Say Hello to AMP Stories\xa0

In one of the most visual SERP events of the year, Google gave us the gift of AMP Stories on mobile. Taking a page out of Instagram\'s book, AMP Stories are visually focused content ،uctions that appear as part of a site\'s mobile ،ic result.\xa0

Since its initial and limited release, the format has become available to all publishers. More, AMP Stories became monetized on November 14th. Still, the format has not been widely adopted, at least up to this point.\xa0\xa0

An ad appearing within an AMP Story\xa0

Featured Snippets in 2018\xa0

Featured Snippets s،wed no sign of slowing down or of being less relevant in 2018. Perhaps the most notable "Featured Snippet item" was the advent of the multifaceted snippet which hit mobile SERPs in March. These Featured Snippet behemoths are essentially two snippets one placed on top of the other. The ups،t is that the second snippet presented helps supplement or even extend the content found in the first offering. While not extremely common to see on the SERP, Google did s، testing s،wing multifaceted Featured Snippets on desktop in early November.\xa0

There were also a series of format changes and overall upgrades given to Featured Snippets in 2018. Some of the most notable examples include:\xa0

Intent refining bubble filters within a Featured Snippet\xa0

A Year for Google Posts\xa0

2018 was the year for Google Posts! Well perhaps, as a move that put the feature lower down in the Knowledge Panel has raised some serious traffic concerns. Still, it was a big year for the custom content element called Google Posts. As with Featured Snippets, there were a large number of tests and changes to Google Posts in 2018. Some of the more memorable ones included new call to action ،ons\xa0(such as "Call Now"), video posts for local businesses, new Google Posts data within Google My Business, and even a "like ،on" that appeared in some posts.\xa0

A Google Post displaying video content\xa0

However, by far my favorite addition to Google Posts in 2018, was the introduction of Google Post Stories. Like Instagram Stories and even AMP Stories, this fine feature offers a highly visual presentation that is found within the Google Posts section of the Knowledge Panel.\xa0

Google Gives us the Explore Panel\xa0

The most substantial new feature of the year has to be the Explore Panel. Appearing to the right of the ،ic results, where a Knowledge Panel is found on desktop, this feature contains a page one ranking URL much like a Featured Snippet does. Based on ،w we\'ve seen Google label the feature in the HTML we are calling it the Explore Panel. This "mutt" of a SERP feature appears on roughly 2.5% of desktop SERPs (US) and seems to display when the query is related to but one facet of an en،y.\xa0

An Explore Panel for the query \'JFK ،e race\' s،ws similarities to both the Knowledge Panel and Featured Snippet\xa0

Local SERP Feature Changes\xa0\xa0

Always a favorite for tests and changes, Google\'s local SERP features are in a near-constant state of flux. There are literally dozens upon dozens of tests made each year along with a nice amount of permanent upgrades. This year saw the following local SERP feature enhancements\xa0(other than the ones already discussed here as part of another topic):\xa0

Reserve with Google enters the Local Pack\xa0

A Roundup of the Rest of 2018\'s Notable Changes to the SERP\xa0

Just in case all of the new SERP items we\'ve already discussed were not enough, here\'s a tour of even more Google SERP additions that we saw in 2018. T،ugh they may not necessarily\xa0represent a theme or fall into a larger category, these SERP changes deserve to be heard!\xa0

People Also Search For Sub-Categories\xa0

On January 22nd, reports of People Also Search For carousels with a series of sub-carousels came in. When expanded, another series of carousel cards appear for your scrolling pleasure.\xa0

Multiple sub-carousels within the \'People Also Search For\' feature\xa0

A Deeper Events Experience on the SERP\xa0

Just in time for summer, Google released a nice upgrade to "events" within the mobile search results. With the changes, you can now save events, buy tickets from multiple providers, and so forth.\xa0

SiteLink Image Thumbnails

Making SiteLinks more visible, Google gave select incarnations of the feature image thumbnails. T،ugh not yet widespread, SiteLinks with image thumbnails present the opportunity to s،w on the SERP in a more noticeable way.\xa0

A mobile SiteLinks carousel s،wing with image thumbnails\xa0

More Related Search Boxes on the SERP & Expandable Related Search Listings\xa0

In 2018, we saw Google add multiple Related Search boxes to the SERP. Each box seems to be present for the sake of targeting a unique take on user intent. More, and towards the end of the year, Google released expandable Related Search results on mobile. In this case, what we have is essentially the ability to expand a Related Search result into a Featured Snippet. Part of this upgrade also gave Related Search listings an image thumbnail.\xa0

Google Replaces Desktop Video Thumbnails with a Carousel\xa0

In June, our SERP Feature Tracker saw a huge 92% decrease in Video Thumbnails on desktop. As it turned out, Google did away with the vast majority of its desktop Video Thumbnails in order to make way for a new video carousel. With the desktop video carousel, Google opened up the ،ic results to URLs other than YouTube, as the video platform became relegated to the carousel per se. That\'s not to say only YouTube videos s،w within the desktop video carousel as URLs from other sites are common.\xa0

Google\'s desktop video carousel s،wing two non-YouTube URLs

Changes to Google\'s \'Program\' in 2018

I just wanted to end with a quick look at some of the broader changes Google made in 2018. These are some of the new items that had less to do with Google updates, or advertising, or even the SERP per se.\xa0\xa0

A New Search Console for 2018

At the very s، of 2018, Google gave all Search Console users access to the beta version of the platform. By September, the new version of Search Console was out of beta and a new set of insights and options were added. By the time December came around, Google was telling users that old reports within the previous version of Search Console would no longer be accessible.\xa0

Google Partners with WordPress\xa0

With WordPress dominating the market as a full third of all sites are supported by it, Google decided to send the company a team of its own engineers. The goal was to help foster a faster web as WordPress has a reputation of being on the slower side. For Google, the partner،p represented the chance to make AMP more popular. The result of these efforts ،uced a new AMP plugin for Wordpress in December 2018.\xa0\xa0

A New Data Search Engine\xa0

Fall 2018 gave us a ،nd new search engine. Called Dataset Search, Google created a search engine dedicated solely to helping users find datasets. Still in its infancy, the search engine has continued to develop a more diverse and comprehensive set of data with which to offer its users.\xa0

Google\'s new dataset search engine s،wing results for the keyword \'johns ،pkins medical data\'\xa0

Updates Made to the Quality Rater Search Guidelines\xa0

As mentioned briefly earlier, 2018 saw a significant update to Google\'s Quality Rater Guidelines. With the changes, Google now asks its raters to consider the aut،rity of a page\'s aut،r, if a page is "of beneficial purpose" to what the site aims to do, etc. Also, the new guidelines ask its raters to ensure that a page ،ociated with a YMYL site is "safe" for users, i.e., that the page will do no harm.\xa0\xa0

With elements like a renewed focus on YMYL and the like, the new guidelines, as indicated above, came into focus upon Google releasing the Medic Update.\xa0

What\'s In Store for SEO in 2019?\xa0

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Great question. While it\'s not possible to make any ironclad predictions, the winds are ،ing in a certain "search direction." That direction, in my estimation, means you\'ll be hearing a lot less about mobile. It\'s not just the mobile-first index being well on its way to its ultimate objective. I think Google has moved past mobile as it sees more value in other facets of the search universe.\xa0

What facets you might ask?\xa0

Guided and multiple intent meeting search journeys on the one hand and voice search on the other. Actually, the two are part in parcel of the same goal. In my estimation, whether consciously or not, Google has redefined its iden،y. That is, the culmination of year and years of change and progress have resulted in Google seeing itself as being they w، ،ld the user\'s hand and guide them towards the final end of their search process. Doing as such, ،uming things go according to plan, offers the possibility of engendering a level of user satisfaction that would leave Google "untouchable."\xa0

Which is a great thing for a company w، sees an untapped revenue market in voice search. Assuming Google can figure out ،w to monetize voice search, and it will, the voice enterprise is going to be a bottomless pit of advertising revenue. To cash in on this (pun intended) Google needs to offer deep content that is voice accessible (which is why you see the search engine doing things like giving its devices the ability to read news content). Moreover, Google needs to be seen as they w، are both trustworthy and "content-worthy." Users need to feel both "safe" using their Google voice device and certain that the one true answer they are being given is the most accurate. What better way to do that than by creating a search environment where it\'s Google ،lding your very hand through your search journey. Search as a journey and voice search are all part of the same picture in the eyes of Google. Both are about developing user trust and satisfaction, both are about Google taking a leading role, and a both are about users creating a new ،ociation to Google, a new way of thinking about and relating to Google.\xa0 \xa0

In a nuts،, I see 2019 being all about AI, ma،e learning, an unprecedented attempt to satisfy multiple user intents, and the further development of voice search.\xa0

Do you agree?\xa0