Think of a web search engine. The first thing that comes to all of our minds is Google. Some might go as far as thinking of Bing. This comes as no surprise since these are two of the leading search engines the world over. However, one search engine has defeated Google in Russia.
Yandex is a Russian search engine that has not received as much worldwide recognition as Google. However, it enjoys the spotlight in Russia, with over 50% of the Russian population opting to use Yandex for all research purposes.
If for any reason, you might be looking to switch search engines (Google sometimes exasperates us all), even for a brief moment, you might want to give this Russian competitor a whirl. To assist you, here is all the information you will need on Yandex to operate it.
The Russian Search Engine
You can use Yandex like any other search engine. If you have used Google, it will be a piece of cake for you. There is nothing significantly different or complex about the interface. All you have to do is type up your query in the search bar and press enter. Yandex does the rest for you.
Your searches, like in Google, can be anything from words to URLs. Further, features like Yandex videos and yandex.images are there to further assist and focus your web searches.
In addition to that, Yandex also includes features like free mail services and maps. You can easily find these features on the web page interface where the mail tab gives you access to the mail services while the Map tab guides you to a map whereby you can explore your or other location.
Yandex is available and functional on some of the top browsing apps like Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Edge, Chrome, Opera, and more.
Moreover, Yandex also offers certain search customization options to its users. For instance, if you scroll down to the very bottom of the web page and access the setting options, you can filter your searches and the ads shown on the page.
Privacy Policy of Yandex
Yandex is extremely forthcoming about its privacy policy. Yandex collects and uses the user data from their searches and uses the search engine. According to their privacy policy, this is done in order to improve user experience and offer customers appropriate services.
As such, your information is collected and stored on Yandex whenever you enter a search or use any of Yandex features, be it the yandex images or video option, maps tab or the mail service.
Benefits of Using Yandex
Yandex offers several benefits to its users. Its search filters, specific and narrowed results, and other features all add to its appeal. Here are a few features that Yandex users greatly appreciate.
Services
Yandex provides several different services apart from a good search engine. The services it delivers include yandex.images, yandex videos, traffic maps, mail services, music pictures, storage, and more.
Compatibility with Android
Android smartphones and devices are the most common technological equipment, and Yandex is compatible with all android devices. The android mobile market in Russia is more than 70%, and Yandex accounts for 52 percent of the market research.
Algorithms to Target Spam
The Russian web is notorious for link spam. As such, Yandex has pledged to avoid using links in the algorithms they use. Rather, Yandex is focused on metrics such as user experience and the keywords ranking. This means that Yandex will be able to generate even better quality search results.
Excellent Accommodation of the Russian Language
Since the Yandex search engine was created for a Russian audience, it works great in the Russian language. Russian is a complex language, and Google is often unsuccessful in generating appropriate results for searches in the Russian language.
As such, Yandex successfully deals with all challenges that come with the Russian language.
Disadvantages of Using Yandex
Yandex, despite its certain wins, is not perfect. It does bring with it some disadvantages that can be bothersome for users. The top drawback is the privacy policy that supports the collection and storage of user data.
Privacy Issues
Since Yandex openly stores user data, users are at risk of privacy breaches. This means that users need to take extra measures to ensure the maintenance of their privacy.
For example, users who use Yandex are often encouraged to enable incognito mode, which automatically deletes your cookies and history as you close the browser. Moreover, users are also forced to use VPNs to hide their IP address when using Yandex.
Yandex Mail
One drawback of the Yandex mail feature is the lack of proper formatting in the email toolbar. This proves bothersome when drafting emails.
Extensive Content
Yandex comprises a huge amount of content. This proves inconvenient when the search results contain irrelevant content that is distracting. Moreover, this also makes the web page appear cluttered.
Chaotic Results for Searches
When your search results in a large amount of content that is irrelevant to you, it can be very annoying. This annoyance is faced by Yandex users who have to face huge and distracting results to their searches forcing them to filter out the relevant content.
Yandex fails to provide the relevant and precise information needed by the users.
Foreign Language Results
Users complain that Yandex often generates results in foreign language pages like (yes, you guessed it!) Russian. This is bothersome when the search context is entirely different from such results.
Why Optimizing for Yandex SEO Can Be Beneficial?
Make the mistake of simply assuming that this is a Google against Bing battle. Yandex is a must-have if you want to break your business into the Russian market.
Of course, you’ll need to optimize because it doesn’t work the same way as other search engines. They prioritize various elements and concentrate on multiple factors.
Yandex has issues with crawling and indexing JavaScript sites when it comes to technical SEO. Yandex does not pre-render or index single-page JavaScript applications.
Yandex, like Google, can supplement a search results page with unique content result blocks and snippets. However, Yandex allows you to assess your qualifications for various result categories. You’ll be able to detect and optimize the issues that affect your eligibility.
We’ll go into the differences in behavioral aspects and how specific signals affect your search results afterward; nevertheless, it’s important to note that Google and Yandex do not regard the same things equally.
Google may place some weight on user behavior cues, but Yandex is unambiguous. From platforms and conversions to traffic sources and search queries, user signals are essential to Yandex and its users.
When it comes to SEO, Yandex has its distinct frequency, which means that having a good SEO marketing strategy depends on whether you can correctly optimize.
How Can A Site Be Optimized for Yandex?
Understanding the various problems you’ll face while attempting to rank well on Yandex is essential. Remember the following:
Backlink techniques are no match for high-quality content.
When optimizing a page for Yandex, prioritize content above backlink building. Because it is less demanding than Google in terms of the quality of links going to a website, there is no need to put as much effort or money into your link profile. It’s worth noting that Google also attempts to boost sites with higher topic authority.
Geo-targeting is very important.
Because the Yandex search engine prioritizes local results, tailoring your website for regional terminology and search trends is vital. They customize results using machine learning, allowing your website to be found for specific geo-targeted terms. When they perform a local query, this will identify folks from that region.
Using assistance tools
Of course, keyword tools are essential in Yandex, and optimizing pages on the search engine often depends on software solutions. The incredible part is that you can rank well even without costly programs if you understand what you’re doing.
How is Yandex Relevant for Local SEO?
It’s vital to remember that local SEO works slightly differently in Russia. Yandex has allowed users to sort through regional or national search results since 2006. Yandex examines indications such as your website’s IP address, contact information, and domain registration.
What difference does it make? If any of that info needs to be corrected or correctly categorized, you will likely not score highly in local searches, irrespective of your marketing plan. Fortunately, Yandex’s Webmaster service can simplify regional binding.
Russian consumers have repeatedly demonstrated that they prefer to use Yandex for their online search needs. More importantly, attempting to traverse the local SEO terrain without Yandex dramatically reduces your marketing efforts’ effectiveness, especially if you wish to take on with established local firms.
You’ll require the search engine that over fifty percent of Russians use if you aim to dominate local Russian SEO. When optimizing for local SEO, it’s critical to make it as simple as possible for locals to interact. Optimizing for the search engine in question may take some effort, but that is the cost of effective marketing.
Final Words
Yandex functions similarly to the other leading search engines we are all too familiar with. In terms of its performance, it provides results quickly and efficiently. However, there are issues regarding the generation of cluttered and irrelevant content.
Additionally, despite the different features, its privacy issue is a grave concern for many users. Regardless, Yandex is gradually growing and increasing its competition to google, especially in Russia. It may even become known worldwide soon.
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Bethany Wilson 
