9 The Crescent, Hassocks, BN6 8RB
Hassocks Community Cycle Hire News Release
14th October 2013
Contact: Toby Wilsdon Embargo: Immediate
07546420166
Help! Hummingbird ate my search ranking
Local Social Enterprise drops from Page 1 to pg 5 overnight
Webmasters the world over will be coming to terms with Google’s recent Hummingbird update and what it means for their sites’ visibility on the web. Designed to improve results for searches based on questions in natural English – “Where can I hire a mountain bike in Sussex?” - rather than using key words, the power of Google means Hummingbird will have significant consequences, with winners and losers.
Among the most harshly affected will be SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprise) and community enterprises with small to non-existent marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) budgets. Social enterprise Hassocks Community Cycle Hire, a not for profit organisation promoting green tourism through mountain bike hire in the South Downs National Park, is a case in point. Having achieved first page results for most relevant search terms – e.g. South Downs cycle hire – after Google’s roll out of its new algorithm HCCH now finds itself on page five and below, depending on the search terms used.
Webmaster Toby Wilsdon said “With almost all of our business coming from our website, this is a real kick in the teeth. We will have to go back to the start and examine our website with a fine toothcomb for keywords and sentences and build relevant links but this on its own may not be enough. It’s only lucky that it’s come at the end of the peak season.”
Businesses like HCCH will now be looking for further imaginative ways of promoting themselves.
ENDS
Notes to editor.
HCCH is part of the Hassocks Community Partnership and was set up in 2010.
Hassocks Community Cycle Hire will be participating in a South Downs National Park event at Hassocks on Friday 18th October, including discounted hire and meals at The Hassocks pub for rail passengers.
HCCH is working with Southern Railway on developing cycling facilities at the new Hassocks Station, potentially including a hire building on the platform.