Authorship: Google giveth and Google taketh away
Looks like Google’s taking away something else…
Bottom line: Should you continue producing content now that Google Authorship markup is dead? Is blogging and guest posting still worth it, even if you won’t see your shining face next to the search results page?
The answer: Yes.
Many writers freaked out when they heard the Google Authorship news. These folks wrote great content, went through Google’s somewhat confusing Authorship instructions and built a nice author platform on Google+. Heck, some writers wouldn’t have even joined Google+ if it wasn’t for the Authorship benefits.
Now these folks feel scammed – especially writers who were riding the Authorship wave. One person said the announcement was “devastating” to web writers.
To that I say “Hogwash” (and how often does one get to say “hogwash?”)
If you’re freaking out about Authorship, relax. I know it’s frustrating that it’s suddenly gone (although we did have some warning.) But that doesn’t mean that you stop creating commanding content. Besides, although Google may not support Authorship anymore, Author Rank is not dead (as Danny Sullivan explains in this post.)
To those new to the web writing world, know that Google (and content marketing) existed long before Authorship. People have always written articles to establish themselves as subject matter experts. In the old days before Google, we wrote for print trade publications to establish expertise. Before Authorship, we still blogged, created ebooks and wrote white papers. The byline is still alive and well.
To paraphrase the Talking Heads, today’s content marketing world is the “same as it ever was.”
The reality is, Google giveth and Google taketh away. We used to have keyword search data and now we don’t. Authorship markup was in our lives for a short time – and then it disappeared. The only constant in SEO is that the field (and the rules) are constantly changing.
Despite what Google is doing this month, the important thing is to keep writing. Build your author platform. Get your name out there. Build your brand.
Because although Authorship may have gone away, good content never goes out of style.
Get out of your own head and work with a freelance writing coach instead! Pay by the month or by the minute. Learn more!)
Heather,
Your post has some great points and is so true! It remains that content is king, right? It’s just that the delivery system may have changed.
Having written that, do you think there are plans for something that will fill the “void” or deliver more for authors than what they thought Authorship did?
Thank you,
Elizabeth
p.s. – And, yes, “hogwash” doesn’t get used often enough! :)
Hi Elizabeth!
I’m glad you liked my use of “hogwash.” :)
Per your question, this very interesting blog post just hit the streets today…
http://www.stonetemple.com/google-author-authority-in-search-gets-personal/
Heather,
I was highly annoyed as I spent a whole day figuring out the coding (lost income as a result). I was thrilled to see my picture in search results for a few months; then I was downgraded and my picture disappeared, though authorship remained. What a waste of time.
I miss seeing people’s images in search results. It brightened the pages … especially when mine was there!