New Google "Knowledge Graph"

[JFritton]

So according to CNN an hour ago regarding new Google update:

"With Knowledge Graph, which will begin rolling out to some users immediately, results will be arranged according to categories with which the search term has been associated"

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/16/tech/web/google-search-knowledge-graph/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Does this mean we need to start optimizing for Categories as well as Keywords?

[NoahsDad]

I totally agree.

[glennfriesen]

I totally agree with you, Noah's Dad -- well put -- this isn't a game changing update for sites delivering keyword-rich relevant content.

More than anything else, it seems this KG update will do two things: improve the relevance of search results by better grouping useful information, and add an effect of "serendipity" to the results pages -- a vital characteristic missing from earlier SERPs.

[NoahsDad]

It seems like Google is smart enough to deliver the correct results. I'm sure there is a range depending upon what sort of keywords you are targeting.

But typically there is going to be enough content on your site to allow for Google to understand what the proper categories your site is targeting.

[JFritton]

I agree but I'm worried we are going to see a lot of past work causing false results unless we determine how Google sets categories.  If your main keywords are shuffling you off to a new, but irrelevant category, you might lose a lot of traffic or even get the wrong type of traffic.

[NoahsDad]

I think you continue to do what you have done in the past (assuming you have followed good white hat practices in the past.)

You write good, descriptive, accurate titles that are optimized for the keywords you are targeting on that page, and you write for your readers. It just seems like Google is now going to be smarter at delivering search results to searches. As Rand says often, Google is SMART.  If you focus on creating unique and valuable content that people want to share and link to, Google will continue to find way to deliver that content to those who are searching for it.