Back on July 3, 2014 Google’s Head Of Search Quality And Keeping SEO’s And Website Owners Placated (I don’t think that’s his official title 😉 went on leave. In his blog post on the subject he noted that it was time off to make good on a promise to his wife. He told her when joining Google that he would take time of in 4 to 5 years, that was 15 years ago.
Well, he’s now posted the following to Twitter:
I’m planning to extend my leave into 2015: https://t.co/T5adq50x4L
— Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) November 1, 2014
He has noted that he feels that the current team at Google is doing a great job with search quality which allows him to do so.
This yields two questions we’ll all be asking ourselves:
- With lackluster communications we have received in regards to updates and rollouts as well as questions regarding the quality of the rollouts themselves, what does he view as a good job? And
- Will Matt be coming back and if so … will he fall back into his old position?
Warning … opinion and speculation ahead:
Here are my answers early in the game …
- I’m not going to blame the current team for the updates themselves as there were problems under Matt’s watch as well but the communication has not been the same since he left leaving many of us in the dark. And ..
- No, he won’t be coming back into his same role.
The latter is a sad realization for me and most SEO’s but a likely reality. So buckle up and wait for an announcement as to who will fill the roll. These are very big shoes and I don’t know that there’s a personality that can fill them as well.
i don’t think John Meuller’s done a bad job, but not the same personality.
If fact I think he’s been more available via hangouts and at conferences too, in hanging back and chatting(he certainly did with me Ealer this year)
The Germanic attitude will never be “Cutts-ish”, but that’s not a slight either.
Don’t think arts gone for good.. But it’s fair to say his return is less likely in the same role.
Cheers
Hey Grant.
You bring up some solid points regarding making himself accessible. I suppose it’s more a matter of personality and the way he does – far more subdued and I never quite get the feeling from him that he’s just talking which I did from Matt.
It’s definitely going to be an interesting road ahead. 🙂
Who’s job is it anyway to make conjecture whether Matt Cutts is coming back or not? This is a personal or possible business decision from Google, certainly nothing to be sipping coffee over lol. All companies change, ie.Duane Forrester, and though I think for the most part we all appreciate Matts contributions to the community via web penalties and conference participation who wants to make voice opinions you could possible have no possible idea about, IMHO.
Thanks for the post though..
Hello Stuart, Dave here.
I’m going to view it as my job; or maybe “job” is the wrong word … my enjoyable post to write. 🙂
I take great interest in who’s doing what in the search realm and while deep-dive pieces covering the “how to’s” are important to write, sometimes a personal interest story that can affect the community is just fun to write and of interest to many. Some people don’t care. I assume you’re in that camp. Hopefully you find some of our other posts of higher interest. 🙂
Thanks for commenting !