Have you heard about the new Google algorithm affecting 10 percent of search queries? It’s called BERT, and it stands for Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers. 

Essentially, BERT helps computers understand natural language or the language humans use to communicate. By doing so, it may show new results for some search queries, which Google estimates will be 1 in 10 searches—a number that has marketers paying attention.

Get transformed as an SEO professional driving sustained growth in your website’s most critical marketing channel with the Advanced SEO Certification Course. Enroll now!

How BERT Works

With its ability to process natural language, BERT better understands the nuances and context of words in searches—similar to how humans pick up on these informational clues during a conversation.

For example, take a look at the before-and-after for the search query “2019 brazil traveler to the USA needs a visa”:

brazil

Source

Before BERT, the Google search algorithm ignored the word “to” and showed results for a U.S. citizen traveling to Brazil. Now, BERT takes a word like “to” into context, and Google can deliver more accurate search results.

Is BERT Replacing RankBrain?

You may remember when Google introduced RankBrain a few years ago. RankBrain was Google’s first artificial intelligence machine that processed new search terms and learned the intent behind search queries. 

The goal of RankBrain is the same as BERT: to better understand search queries as a natural language process and deliver more accurate search results.

However, BERT is not replacing RankBrain, but rather working alongside it to improve the user experience.

How Will BERT Affect You? 

The new search algorithm from Google focuses on better answers for search queries. If you have already been writing your content for the user – and not search engines – then you don’t need to do anything differently. BERT will pick up your content if and when it feels it provides the best answer for a search query.

There isn’t anything you can do to optimize for BERT. However, if it’s been a while since you have looked back at your content, then you may want to do a content audit. Perhaps there are ways you can better answer your customer’s questions, or even find opportunities for Featured Snippets.  

If you monitor your website analytics, you may have also noticed some page rankings have increased or decreased. This is likely the result of the new Google algorithm, and this data can give you clues as to which content you might want to take a look at now.

This is Your Ticket to a High-Paid Marketing Job

Purdue Digital Marketing BootcampEnroll now
This is Your Ticket to a High-Paid Marketing Job

What Does This Mean for Users and Marketers?

BERT signals to search users it’s time to use Google in a more natural way: by asking questions the way someone would in real life. 

For example, instead of searching the term “allergy treatment,” users can type or verbally ask, “what is the treatment for allergies.” 

With these advances in machine learning, marketers should also be aware of the work ahead of them—mainly, developing content that answers these types of search queries.

As time marches on, search algorithms will only become more sophisticated, so it’s critical for marketers to anticipate how user behaviors might evolve as they become more comfortable using natural language to search for information. 

Learn More about Search Engine Marketing

Get the latest digital marketing education with Simplilearn’s Advanced Search Engine Optimization Training Course. You’ll master the many facets of SEO, including the process of organically driving traffic to your websites with keyword management and research, on-page and off-page optimization, link building, URL building, SEO analytics and more, and you’ll acquire extensive project experience to prepare you for managing inbound marketing initiatives.

About the Author

Rob SandersRob Sanders

Rob Sanders is a digital marketing veteran with over 20 years of experience. During that time, Rob has helped a wide range of companies utilize new and emerging technologies to increase sales and profitability. As founder of RSO Consulting, Rob helps clients maximize their digital marketing efforts via SEO, SEM, SMO, and Web Analytics. He is responsible for many facets of the web analytics value chain, from identifying business goals and objectives to developing strategies and translating those into Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Rob also teaches digital marketing and analytics classes throughout the U.S. and abroad. As a contributor for Simplilearn, Rob creates expert thought leadership content on a variety of digital marketing and analytics topics.

View More

Find Advanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Program Master's Program in these cities

Advanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in AtlantaAdvanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in AustinSEO Training Course in Boston, United StatesAdvanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in Charlotte, United StatesAdvanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in Chicago, United StatesAdvanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in Dallas, United StatesSEO Training Course in Denver, United StatesSEO Training Course in Houston, United StatesAdvanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in Los Angeles, United StatesSEO Training Course in New York, United StatesSEO Training Course in Orange County, United StatesSEO Training Course in Pittsburgh, United StatesAdvanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in Raleigh, United StatesSEO Training Course in Rochester, United StatesSEO Training Course in San Diego, United StatesAdvanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in San Francisco, United StatesSEO Training Course in San Jose, United StatesSEO Training Course in Seattle, United StatesAdvanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in Tampa, United StatesAdvanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in Turner, United StatesAdvanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training in Washington, United States
  • Disclaimer
  • PMP, PMI, PMBOK, CAPM, PgMP, PfMP, ACP, PBA, RMP, SP, and OPM3 are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.