On May 29, the SEO community was rocked by a major Google documentation leak of over 2,500 files and 14,014 attributes (or ranking features), providing major insights into how Google evaluates and ranks content on its search platform. Over the last months at Ecomtent we have been combing over the implications specifically for ecommerce sellers. Our findings are as follows:

1. Google Chrome Tracks Every Click: Google Chrome monitors user behaviour across the web, giving Google unprecedented insight into how users interact with websites. For ecommerce sites, this means every aspect of user experience is potentially under scrutiny.
2. User Behavior Matters: Google is paying close attention to how users interact with search results. If someone refines their search, Google may boost the ranking of sites that satisfy that refined search for the original query as well.
3. Focus on Your Core Topics: Google evaluates how focused a site is on its core topics. Stick to your niche and create in-depth content around your main product categories.
4. Image Quality is Critical: High-quality, relevant product images are more important than ever. Invest in professional product photography that clearly shows your items.
5. Short, Quality Content is Fine: You don't need to write lengthy essays on every page. Concise, informative product descriptions and category pages can perform well. Focus on quality over quantity.
6. Google Only Considers Last 20 Versions of a Pages: When updating pages, be strategic. Google only takes the last 20 versions into account for ranking purposes.
7. New Links Better Than Old Links: Consistently building new, quality backlinks is important. Don't rest on your laurels with old links.
8. Traffic from Links More Important Than Authority: It's not just about getting backlinks from high-authority sites - those links need to actually drive visitors to your site. Focus on creating content that people want to click on and share.
9. Titles Should Match Keywords: Ensure your page titles accurately reflect the content and include relevant keywords.
10. Dead Content is Bad: Google evaluates your site as a whole, therefore regularly audit your site for outdated or irrelevant content. Remove or update pages that no longer serve a purpose.
11. Links Need to Work Properly: Ensure all internal and external links on your site lead to the correct destinations. Broken links can hurt your SEO.
12. Bounces Will Kill You: High bounce rates can negatively impact your rankings. Create compelling landing pages that encourage users to explore your site further.
13. Big Links (Usability): Google prefers larger, more easily clickable links, especially on mobile devices. This improves usability and can positively impact your SEO.
14. Google Hates Keyword Stuffing: Similar to what we have seen with Amazon COSMO, Don't overuse keywords in your content. These AI Algorithms are smart. Focus on natural, reader-friendly text that provides value to your visitors.
15. Sandbox is Real for New Sites: New websites may experience a "sandbox" period where they don't rank as well initially. Be patient and focus on building quality content and links.
16. Site Navigation is Crucial: How you structure your site navigation has a big impact on SEO. Ensure your most important categories and products are easily accessible from the main menu.
17. Engagement Metrics Matter: Google is looking at metrics like bounce rate and time on site. Create an engaging user experience that keeps visitors on your site.
18. Google Penalizes Keyword in Brand/Domain Name: Avoid using your main keyword as your brand or domain name. Google may view this as an attempt to manipulate rankings.

Key Takeaways for Ecommerce Sites:

1. Prioritize User Experience: With Google tracking user behaviour so closely, providing an excellent user experience is more important than ever.
2. Focus on Your Niche: Clearly define your product categories and create in-depth, quality content around them.
3. Build Quality, Traffic-Driving Links: Focus on generating backlinks that actually bring visitors to your site.
4. Optimize for Engagement: Create compelling content and intuitive navigation to keep users on your site and exploring your products.
5. Stay Fresh and Relevant: Regularly update your content, build new links, and remove outdated information.
6. Don't Neglect Technical SEO: Whilst this leak focused on content, technical factors like site speed and proper link structure are still crucial.

By focusing on these areas, ecommerce sites can position themselves for success in Google's evolving search landscape. Remember, the goal is to create a site that not only ranks well but also provides real value to your visitors.

To learn how to Optimize for COSMO, Amazon's new AI algorithm, check out this blog, or et your free to see how your ASINs will rank on COSMO at www.amazoncosmoaudit.site.

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