On May 18th, 2017 Google announced its next big feat when they confirmed that they were indeed rolling out Google for Jobs. Now, as we await the stats on this new addition, many are wondering how this revelation will impact SEO.
During the testing phase and before we see the impact of its full launch in its entirety, it is hard to know just how Google for Jobs is going to impact web searches and rankings. However, it is likely to continue to be a competitive and skill-based process to acquire status on the site, just as we have to come to expect with Google.
If you are wondering how your SEO might be affected by Google for Jobs, this post is for you.
Here is our Google for Jobs guide on what you should know!
Google For Jobs: What You Need to Know
Today, most businesses depend on Google’s algorithm to enhance their company’s visibility and increase customer awareness. Staking your claim in Google search results is the name of the SEO game.
Just when you think you have it figured out, Google unleashes a major new announcement. We know that this will effect SEO and marketing. But, how much and what’s next?
The Latest News: Google for Jobs and its Impact on SEO
When you are looking for the latest news, it may be frustrating to sift through all of the Google for Jobs chatter. There is news about what it is, how it works, and what they are posting. But, if you are interested in how it will affect your SEO strategy, you are in the right place.
Here’s what we have found out:
- The Overall Impact on SEO: Most of the companies who list on Google for Jobs, including the major online posting and recruitment job sites, have typically used SEO markup to optimize their listings for some time. Based on what we already know about getting the attention of Google search engines, part of the process of determining their lists on their jobs site will continue to depend on SEO and keyword matching. How Google will incorporate SEO of relevant listings with major job boards presents a challenge, according to some. SEO driven recruitment sites may encounter the most challenges and adjustments, according to one top online recruitment firm executive. Until more is revealed regarding Google’s process for listing and ranking jobs, it may be impossible for industry professionals to know exactly how their websites will be affected. But, SEO provides one way for sites to stay competitive while navigating the earliest phases.
- Changes to the Competitive Landscape: Google claims to be joining hands with many of the major job listing and recruitment sites within their new venture. Google has made statements that it has no plans to compete with the current online recruitment sites and will be including those sites as well as third-party sites in their job listings. While a range of industries have scrambled to figure out how sites will be impacted, the recruitment sites that have generally been job-seekers go-to stand to be facing the most competition. Now, candidates may use Google’s job links instead, which will be the first in rankings. And even though these well-known recruitment sites will be included in Google’s results, they will likely receive fewer visitors and inquiries, since they will no longer be at the top of the web chain. This means that for recruitment sites and any company seeking employees, the competitive landscape just got a little rockier. Particularly for these players, SEO is more critical than ever.
- Changes to the SEO Marketing Industry: While recruitment sites and online job boards may be looking at fiercer competition, SEO marketing professionals may see an overall industry-wide impact as well. On one hand, the influx of competition from Google will open new doors for SEO professionals. Companies who may have gotten by without SEO services in the past might now be interested in how they can improve their rankings. However, the need for top-notch SEO among competitors has never been greater, and run of the mill SEO may no longer be enough to impress clients or get results in rankings. Although SEO marketing professionals are likely to gain a new crowd of clients, they, too, must up their game to stay ahead.
Improve Your SEO Strategy:
To improve your SEO strategy and remain competitive, it might require more diligence than before. But, here are a few recommendations to help you find your place in Google for Jobs:
- Revisit Your Job Title. Make sure that you have a clear and concise job title. Eliminate any unnecessary ID numbers or pitch lines. Make sure your title’s heading is keyword friendly.
- Share detailed pertinent information in your listing. Google will link users with relevant listings to match them based on both the user and listing description. Google encourages companies to make listings as detailed and inclusive as possible to attract more users to their sites.
- Incorporate Job Schemas. Although it may not be clear how job schemas will affect the entire process, it is known that schemas affect rankings. Using the “date posted” schema for example, adds a little clock next to your listing.
- Use proven SEO tactics to increase visibility. This includes using rich descriptions, commonly searched keywords, optimizing web pages with job listings, providing appropriate backlinks, and creating an easy-to-use mobile site. These practices are proven and practical and continue to be the most recommended by SEO experts.
Conclusion:
Google for Jobs is offering job seekers a new all-in-one way to connect to potential employers. The web giant has always played a major part in the role of SEO marketing and this new revolution will be no different. SEO marketing professionals and job listers face new challenges, which are yet to be seen in whole. However, Google’s new addition also will give the marketing industry a new client base and offer new opportunities. Like every opportunity, there is some element of risk and the unknown. But, with the roll out comes an even greater need for understanding SEO and using it to work for you.
Click here for more information on how you can improve your SEO strategy!