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Voices of Search // A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Podcast
Enterprise retailers index only 40-50% of their product pages. Joe Doran, Chief Product Officer at Botify, breaks down why LLM crawlers—decades behind Googlebot in sophistication—struggle to render JavaScript-heavy PDPs and confirmation-crawl product data before citing it. Learn why product feeds now demand the same scrutiny as on-page SEO, how OpenAI's Agentic Commerce Protocol reshapes structured data requirements, and why citation rate and crawl volume correlations outperform synthetic share-of-voice metrics for measuring AI search visibility.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Google updated their developer documentation on their crawl budget and there is so much in here. Google made some previously optional recommendations into hard requirements now.They defined HOSTLOAD as "the total amount of time your server spends holding connections open for Google, factoring in both the number of parallel connections and their duration." Which made my benchmark test come up against Dave Smart's server-side delay test which came to the conclusion that Googlebot says for more than 5 seconds.Who is right? Turns out we both technically are because we were testing different things.Googlebot renders for 5 seconds if its not waiting for anything.And the Googlebot can hit pause on the rendering and keep the browser on hold for 30 seconds.One tests for how long the rendering window is actively rendering and the other tests for how long Google will keep the browser on hold.Guess which one kills your Hostload?Mentioned in the show:Carolyn Holzmanlinkedin.com/posts/carolynholzman_technicalseo-googlebot-webrenderingservice-activity-7427330476190834688-tMn_David Smarthttps://tamethebots.com/blog-n-bits/the-5-second-google-render-limit-mythLast week's episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/googleagent-googles-secret-agent-with-a-key-season/id1547082306?i=1000778691905Get on the waiting list for the next cohort of the AI Visibility Mastery 12-month course. We are committed to the success of our members.https://vizzex.ai/ai-visibility-mastery/Wordpress registration HubSpot registrationSymmetry Gate - check the "cost" of your content for AI models to extract informationSubscribe to Confessions of an SEO™ wherever you get your podcasts. Your subscribing and download sends the message that you appreciate what is being shared and helping others find Confessions of an SEO™An easy place to leave a review https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/confessions-of-an-seo-1973881You can find me onCarolyn Holzman - LinkedinAmerican Way Media Google DirectlyAmericanWayMedia.com Consulting AgencyNeed Help With an Issue? - reach out Text me here - 512-222-3132Music from Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/doug-organ/fugue-stateLicense code: HESHAZ4ZOAUMWTUA
Is your website's internal search feature secretly acting as an open invitation for crawling lots and lots? In this episode of Search off the Record, Martin Splitt and John Mueller pull back the curtain on how internal search results pages can turn into "infinite crawl spaces" that trap Googlebot, waste your crawl budget, and spike your database load. They break down the critical technical differences between blocking search pages via robots.txt versus noindex tags, and expose the massive security liabilities of leaving these pages indexable. In this episode, you'll learn: The "Infinite Crawl Space" Concept: How Googlebot treats internal search functions as infinite crawl spaces that can generate an endless loop of new URLs. Server Strain & Performance: Why uncached internal search pages force constant database lookups and ranking calculations, slowing down your website for real users. Robots.txt vs. Noindex: The distinct technical trade-offs of using a broad robots.txt disallow rule versus a robots meta tag or HTTP header noindex. The Spam Vector Threat: How bad actors search for pharmaceutical, adult, or casino queries on your site to piggyback off your domain authority and display spammy contact info in Google's index. Why 500 Errors aren't great: Why serving a 500 server error code to stop bots on search URLs will backfire and reduce Googlebot's crawl rate across your entire website. Category Pages vs. Search Pages: How systems like Blogger use search parameters for tag landing pages and why you should treat valuable category pages differently. Key Takeaways for SEOs & Developers: Fix Crawling at the Source: Do not use the Google Search Console Removal Tool to handle infinite search URLs; it only filters search results temporarily and does not stop Googlebot from hammering your server. Broaden Your Robots Rules: Use one broad wildcard rule in your robots.txt (like /search?) to cover all query parameters, keeping your file maintainable and clean. Build Real Category Pages: Instead of using internal search parameters as makeshift categories, invest in clean, dedicated category pages to help search engines understand your site's hierarchy. Don't Depend on Auto-Systems: While Google's systems try to automatically recognize and deprioritize infinite spaces, it is slow and unreliable—proactive manual configuration is always safer. Chapters 00:00 - Intro & Greetings 00:45 - Defining Internal Search Results Pages 01:26 - How Googlebot Discovers Search Features & Creates Infinite Spaces 04:15 - Crawl Budget, Server Load, and Database Performance Hurdles 07:32 - Solutions: Robots.txt Disallow vs. Meta Noindex 10:09 - The Fallacy of the Search Console Removal Tool & 404 Pages 12:35 - Why You Should Never Serve 500 Errors to Bots 13:56 - CMS Nuances: Tag Landing Pages and Blog Categories 15:26 - Crafting Broad Robots.txt Patterns and Historical Guidelines 18:17 - When (and When Not) to Allow Indexed Search Pages 20:41 - The Spam Vector Threat: Hacked Content, Casino, & Pharma Exploits 25:06 - Taking Proactive Security Measures for Clients 27:04 - Lazy Search Redirection Hack, Outro & Subscribing Resources Mentioned: Google Search Console (Removal Tool) Do you have a legitimate reason for letting search engines index your internal search results page? Let us know in the comments below, or find us on LinkedIn to share your thoughts! Don't forget to like and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform to catch every behind-the-scenes episode from the Search Relations team! Episode transcript → https://goo.gle/sotr113-transcript Listen to more Search Off the Record → https://goo.gle/sotr-yt Subscribe to Google Search Channel → https://goo.gle/SearchCentral Search Off the Record is a podcast series that takes you behind the scenes of Google Search with the Search Relations team. #SOTRpodcast #SEO #GoogleSearch #SearchConsole #SEOTips #CrawlBudget #RobotsTXT #GoogleSearchConsole #WebPerformance #WebSecurity #SearchOffTheRecord
Should you panic when your Search Console indexing report is showing pages that aren't indexed? Is a 404 error code always a sign of a broken website? In this episode of Search Off the Record, Martin Splitt and John Mueller from the Google Search Relations team dive deep into the Page Indexing report in Google Search Console. They unpack why treating this report as a static inventory checklist to "fix" things is the wrong response, how to spot massive SEO-ruining hosting or CDN traps, and why a healthy website doesn't actually need a 100% index rate. In this episode, you'll learn: The Indexing Report Shift: Insights from the Search Console team's Hillel on why you should look for trend lines and systemic patterns rather than treating the report as a giant list of errors. When 404s are Good: Why expected 404 errors are technically correct for deleted content, and how to survive the "boss panic" of numbers that won't go down. The Domain Property Advantage: How setting up a domain property handles canonical shifts, www vs. non-www tracking, and performance data much cleaner. The Site Query vs. Search Console: Why the site: query is an artificial tool that might show old domain moves or hreflang swaps for years, making Search Console your only true source of truth. Hosting & CDN Traps: How aggressive bot protections, hidden interstitials, and "Soft 200" error pages completely destroy your crawl data and lead to malicious canonicalization. Discovered vs. Crawled: What it actually means when pages sit in "Discovered/Crawled - currently not indexed," and how to recognize holistic site quality issues over technical bugs. Key Takeaways for SEOs & Developers: Patterns over Inventories: Use the report to verify that your intentional changes (like site migrations or page removals) are processing correctly over time. Forget the Ratio: There is no magic metric for indexed vs. non-indexed pages. Even Google's own developer documentation has a massive chunk of non-indexed content due to intentional choices. Watch Out for Soft Blocks: Ensure your security layers or CDNs aren't serving "Are you a bot?" challenge screens to Googlebot with a 200 success code. Computers Fail (And That's Fine): Minor server blips, failed DNS requests, or temporary 500 errors happen. Google's systems are resilient and will just try again later. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: The Search Central Live coverage report confusion. 1:45 - Shifting perspectives: Treating Search Console as a pattern tracker, not a checklist. 4:36 - Tracking site migrations and processing data delays. 6:25 - Why 404 errors can be a good thing 8:00 - Handling canonical shifts and the value of Domain Properties. 11:12 - Why the site: query isn't telling you what you think it does (Domain moves and hreflang bugs). 13:38 - CDN bot protection and the absolute nightmare of soft error pages. 17:49 - How to use "marked as fixed". 20:32 - Discovered vs. Crawled Not Indexed: Is it a technical or site quality issue? 25:31 - Debunking the indexed-to-non-indexed ratio myth. 27:48 - Final verdict: How to stop fearing your Indexing Report. Resources Mentioned: Google Search Central: https://developers.google.com/search Google Search Console: https://search.google.com/search-console Search Central Live Events: https://developers.google.com/search/events Are you actively stressing over your non-indexed page counts, or are you tracking the big trend lines? Let us know in the comments! Episode transcript → https://goo.gle/sotr112-transcript Listen to more Search Off the Record → https://goo.gle/sotr-yt Subscribe to Google Search Channel → https://goo.gle/SearchCentral Search Off the Record is a podcast series that takes you behind the scenes of Google Search with the Search Relations team. #SOTRpodcast #SEO #GoogleSearch #SearchConsole Speakers: Martin Splitt, John Mueller
This was upside down week in AI news.
The industry narrative is so clean, so emotionally satisfying: 'Look! HouseFresh is back on Page 1! Google is finally getting it right again! Real editorial merit and original testing actually win in the end!'Today, we are going to dissect the ultimate accidental 'heist' of Google's crawl scheduler, why the AI 'knows first' while Googlebot is the last to get the memo, and how publishers Like HouseFresh are unwittingly engineering their own ultimate displacement in the age of conversational search.Mentioned in the show:RFC 9309 - https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc9309VizzEx - https://vizzex.ai/vizzex-pro/Symmetry Gate™ Check Tool. You can find it at:https://symmetrygate.aiLast week's episode: https://www.confessionsofanseo.com/podcast/the-geo-paradox-season-6-ep-25/Get on the waiting list for the next cohort of the AI Visibility Mastery 12-month course. We are committed to the success of our members.https://vizzex.ai/ai-visibility-mastery/Wordpress registration HubSpot registrationSymmetry Gate - check the "cost" of your content for AI models to extract informationSubscribe to Confessions of an SEO™ wherever you get your podcasts. Your subscribing and download sends the message that you appreciate what is being shared and helping others find Confessions of an SEO™An easy place to leave a review https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/confessions-of-an-seo-1973881You can find me onCarolyn Holzman - LinkedinAmerican Way Media Google DirectlyAmericanWayMedia.com Consulting AgencyNeed Help With an Issue? - reach out Text me here - 512-222-3132Music from Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/doug-organ/fugue-stateLicense code: HESHAZ4ZOAUMWTUA
Your website alone won't win the rankings game anymore. In an AI-first world, search engines and chat assistants reward the businesses that show experience, expertise, authority, and trust—everywhere customers look. If you're still chasing single keywords on your site, you're leaving visibility, leads, and revenue on the table.
In this episode of Search Off the Record, Gary and Martin dig into what "page size" and "page weight" actually mean for developers, users, and search engines. They discuss exploding web page sizes: median mobile homepages hit 2.3 MB in 2025 Web Almanac (up 3x from 2015), key insights for developers on page weight definitions, Googlebot's crawl limits, HTML bloat from structured data/images, and why size still hurts UX on slow connections despite faster networks. If you build or maintain websites, this conversation will help you rethink how much data your pages ship, where bloat really comes from, and why page weight still matters even as connections get faster. Resources: Web Almanac → https://almanac.httparchive.org/en/2025/ HTML living standard → https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/ How page speed helps with conversions → https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/app-and-mobile/mobile-page-speed-data/ Episode transcript → https://goo.gle/sotr106-transcript Listen to more Search Off the Record → https://goo.gle/sotr-yt Subscribe to Google Search Channel → https://goo.gle/SearchCentral Search Off the Record is a podcast series that takes you behind the scenes of Google Search with the Search Relations team. #SOTRpodcast #SEO #GoogleSearch Speakers: Martin Splitt, Gary Illyes
Voices of Search // A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Podcast
Most brands fail when treating LLM optimization like traditional SEO. Jeff Reine, co-founder at Everything Machines with two decades in enterprise marketing and platform strategy, has developed Everything Cache to make websites readable for LLM crawlers without rebuilding human-facing sites. The discussion covers why LLM bots behave fundamentally differently from Googlebot and the strategic framework for optimizing content for AI systems versus traditional search engines.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Developers often talk about Googlebot as if it were a single program you could just run as "googlebot.exe", but that is not how Google's crawling actually works. In this episode of Search Off the Record, Martin and Gary from the Search Relations team unpack how Google's crawling infrastructure is really built and operated. They cover why "Googlebot" is a misnomer and how it relates to a central crawling software-as-a-service used by many Google products, how crawl behavior is controlled centrally to avoid overwhelming sites (throttling, handling 503s, and "don't break the internet" safeguards) and more! If you build for the web, work on SEO, or just want a more accurate mental model of how Google crawls pages, this behind‑the‑scenes discussion is for you. Resources: Crawlers → https://developer.google.com/crawlers Episode transcript → https://goo.gle/sotr107-transcript Listen to more Search Off the Record → https://goo.gle/sotr-yt Subscribe to Google Search Channel → https://goo.gle/SearchCentral Search Off the Record is a podcast series that takes you behind the scenes of Google Search with the Search Relations team. #SOTRpodcast #SEO #GoogleSearch Speakers: Martin Splitt, Gary Illyes
Googlebot's new 2 MB crawl cap is the headline, but the real drama is how long the bot actually sticks around on your page before it bails.In this episode of Confessions of an SEO, Carolyn pulls back the curtain on Google's quiet 2 MB limit update, then pivots to the under‑discussed bottleneck.If your best stuff is hiding behind slow scripts, bloated hosting, or “it'll load eventually” JavaScript, this is the episode you don't want to miss.This episode - https://www.confessionsofanseo.com/podcast/bot-crawl-space-and-time-season-6-episode-7/Last week's episodeThe Mystical Listicle - Is it Endangered in Google?Mentioned in the show: https://www.seroundtable.com/googlebot-file-limits-40876.htmlhttps://spotibo.com/google-2mb-limit-test/Test Semantic Software on Wordpress. Apply to be a part of the beta for Vizzex. https://vizzex.ai/Where does your site drop off the siteRadius in the Helpful Content classification system?Join in a special group and be the first to know how to determine it.Tools that I use and recommend:Vizzex - Helpful Content Analysis ToolIndexzilla -https://www.indexzilla.io (indexing technology)SEO in ATX - SEO as a serviceYoutube Channel -Confessions of An SEO®https://g.co/kgs/xXDzBNf -------- Crawl or No Crawl Knowledge panelInterested in supporting this work and any seo testing?Subscribe to Confessions of an SEO™ wherever you get your podcasts. Your subscribing and download sends the message that you appreciate what is being shared and helping others find Confessions of an SEO™An easy place to leave a review https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/confessions-of-an-seo-1973881You can find me onCarolyn Holzman - LinkedinAmerican Way Media Google DirectlyAmericanWayMedia.com Consulting AgencyNeed Help With an Indexation Issue? - reach out Text me here - 512-222-3132Music from Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/doug-organ/fugue-stateLicense code: HESHAZ4ZOAUMWTUA
In this episode of the SEO 101 Podcast, Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte dive into Google's AI Overviews, shifting search behaviors, and declining organic clicks. They discuss Gemini 3's global rollout, AI's growing influence on user queries, crawling and indexing challenges, Googlebot file limits, and potential crackdowns on self-promotional listicles, while emphasizing strategies for visibility amidst these major changes.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
What's up everyone, today we have the honor of sitting down with Aleyda Solís, SEO and AI search consultant. (00:00) - Intro (01:17) - In This Episode (04:55) - Crawlability Requirements for AI Search Engines (12:21) - LLMs As A New Search Channel In A Multi Platform Discovery System (18:42) - AI Search Visibility Analysis for SEO Teams (29:17) - Creating Brand Led Informational Content for AI Search (35:51) - Choosing SEO Topics That Drive Brand-Aligned Demand (45:50) - How Topic Level Analysis Shapes AI Search Strategy (50:01) - LLM Search Console Reporting Expectations (52:09) - Why LLM Search Rewards Brands With Real Community Signals (55:12) - Prioritizing Work That Matches Personal Purpose Summary: AI search is rewriting how people find information, and Aleyda explains the shift with clear, practical detail. She has seen AI crawlers blocked without anyone noticing, JavaScript hiding full sections of sites, and brands interpreting results that were never based on complete data. She shows how users now move freely between Google, TikTok, Instagram, and LLMs, which pushes teams to treat discovery as a multi-platform system. She encourages you to verify your AI visibility, publish content rooted in real customer language, and use topic clusters to anchor strategy when prompts scatter. Her closing point is simple. Community chatter now shapes authority, and AI models pay close attention to it.About AleydaAleyda Solís is an international SEO and AI search optimization consultant, speaker, and author who leads Orainti, the boutique consultancy known for solving complex, multi-market SEO challenges. She's worked with brands across ecommerce, SaaS, and global marketplaces, helping teams rebuild search foundations and scale sustainable organic growth.She also runs three of the industry's most trusted newsletters; SEOFOMO, MarketingFOMO, and AI Marketers, where she filters the noise into the updates that genuinely matter. Her free roadmaps, LearningSEO.io and LearningAIsearch.com, give marketers a clear, reliable path to building real skills in both SEO and AI search.Crawlability Requirements for AI Search EnginesCrawlability shapes everything that follows in AI search. Aleyda talks about it with the tone of someone who has seen far too many sites fail the basics. AI crawlers behave differently from traditional search engines, and they hit roadblocks that most teams never think about. Hosting rules, CDN settings, and robots files often permit Googlebot but quietly block newer user agents. You can hear the frustration in her voice when she describes audit after audit where AI crawlers never reach critical sections of a site."You need to allow AI crawlers to access your content. The rules you set might need to be different depending on your context."AI crawlers also refuse to process JavaScript. They ingest raw markup and move on. Sites that lean heavily on client-side rendering lose entire menus, product details, pricing tables, and conversion paths. Aleyda describes this as a structural issue that forces marketers to confront their technical debt. Many teams have spent years building front-ends with layers of JavaScript because Google eventually figured out how to handle it. AI crawlers skip that entire pipeline. Simpler pages load faster, reveal hierarchy immediately, and give AI models a complete picture without extra processing.Search behavior adds new pressure. Aleyda points to OpenAI's published research showing a rise in task-oriented queries. Users ask models to complete goals directly and skip the page-by-page exploration we grew up optimizing for. You need clarity about which tasks intersect with your offerings. You need to build content that satisfies those tasks without guessing blindly. Aleyda urges teams to validate this with real user understanding because generic keyword tools cannot describe these new behaviors accurately.Authority signals shift too. Mentions across credible communities carry weight inside AI summaries. Aleyda explains it as a natural extension of digital PR. Forums, newsletters, podcasts, social communities, and industry roundups form a reputation map that AI crawlers use as context. Backlinks still matter, but mentions create presence in a wider set of conversations. Strong SEO programs already invest in this work, but many teams still chase link volume while ignoring the broader network of references that shape brand perception.Measurement evolves alongside all of this. Aleyda encourages operators to treat AI search as both a performance channel and a visibility channel. You track presence inside responses. You track sentiment and frequency. You monitor competitors that appear beside you or ahead of you. You map how often your brand appears in summaries that influence purchase decisions. Rankings and click curves do not capture the full picture. A broader measurement model captures what these new systems actually distribute.Key takeaway: Build crawlability for AI search with intention. Confirm that AI crawlers can access your content, and remove JavaScript barriers that hide essential information. Map the task-driven behaviors that align with your products so you invest in content that meets real user goals. Strengthen your reputation footprint by earning mentions in communities that influence AI summaries. Expand your measurement model so you can track visibility, sentiment, and placement inside AI-generated results. That way you can compete in a search environment shaped by new rules and new signals.LLMs As A New Search Channel In A Multi Platform Discovery SystemSEO keeps getting declared dead every time Google ships a new interface, yet actual search behavior keeps spreading across more surfaces. Aleyda reacted to the “LLMs as a new channel” framing with immediate agreement because she sees teams wrestling with a bigger shift. They still treat Google as the only gatekeeper, even though users now ask questions, compare products, and verify credibility across several platforms at once. LLMs, TikTok, Instagram, and traditional search engines all function as parallel discovery layers, and the companies that hesitate to accept this trend end up confused about where SEO fits.Aleyda pointed to the industry's long dependence on Google and described how that dependence shaped expectations. Many teams built an entire worldview around a single SERP format, a single set of ranking factors, and a single customer entry point. Interface changes feel existential because the discipline was defined too narrowly for too long. She sees this tension inside consulting projects when stakeholders ask whether SEO is dying instead of asking where their audience now searches for answers.Retail clients provided her clearest examples. They already treat TikTok and Instagram as core search environments. They ask for guidance on how to structure content so it gets discovered through platform specific signals. They ask for clarity on how product intent gets inferred through tags, comments, watch time, and creator interactions. Their questions treat search as a distributed system, and their behavior hints at what the wider market will adopt. Aleyda considers this a preview, because younger customers rarely begin their journey inside a traditional search engine.Her story from a conference in China made the point even sharper. She explained how Baidu no longer carries the gravitational pull many Western marketers assume. People gather information through Red Note, Douyin, and several specialized platforms, and they assemble answers through a blend of formats. That experience changed Aleyda's expectations for Western markets. She believes...
Explore critical aspects of search engine optimization for web content that lives behind a login or paywall. In this episode, Martin and John cover how Googlebot interacts with these pages, the role of paywall structured data, and methods to prevent unintended indexing of private information. Get practical advice on improving your website's visibility and user experience while maintaining data security in Google Search. Resources: Episode transcript →https://goo.gle/sotr099-transcript Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:09 - Navigating SEO for login and paywalled content 2:01 - How Google indexes restricted content 10:51 - Strategies for controlling content visibility 20:54 - Testing and optimizing your site for Search Listen to more Search Off the Record → https://goo.gle/sotr-yt Subscribe to Google Search Channel → https://goo.gle/SearchCentral Search Off the Record is a podcast series that takes you behind the scenes of Google Search with the Search Relations team. #SOTRpodcast #SEO Speaker: Martin Splitt, John Mueller Products Mentioned: Search Console
Thank you to Ahrefs for sponsoring this episode. Learn about Ahrefs Web Analytics. You can get started with Ahrefs for free today!https://ahrefs.com/web-analytics?utm_source=CarolynHolzman&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partnerships&utm_content=Q2_2025This week's topic is about the recent incident where Googlebot and even Bingbot stopped crawling some particular sites. Lots of information that is was happening since August 8, 2025.But what REALLY happened? Why did Google not know it was happening? How do we know it wasn't the failure of some server side rendering (SSR) hosting platforms? How do we know Google fixed it?All this and more in this week's episode.Mentioned in the show:Primary News Coverage & SEO Industry ReportsSearch Engine Roundtable (Barry Schwartz - most comprehensive coverage):https://www.seroundtable.com/google-crawl-rate-decline-40013.htmlSearch Engine Land (official confirmation):https://searchengineland.com/google-fixes-reduced-crawling-issue-impacting-some-websites-461334PPC Land (detailed analysis with data):https://ppc.land/google-crawl-rate-declines-affect-multiple-hosting-platforms/Search Engine Journal (technical analysis):https://www.searchenginejournal.com/googlebot-crawl-slump-mueller-points-to-server-errors/553715/Last week's episode - https://www.confessionsofanseo.com/podcast/is-mo-content-mo-better-season-5-episode-34/Looking for a TOC wordpress plugin that does NOT "confuse" Googlebots. We're close. https://carolynholzman.com/fix-the-canonical-scoring-in-helpful-content/Indexation Research - Crawl Or No Crawl Tools that I use and recommend:Indexzilla -https://www.indexzilla.io (indexing technology)GSC Tool -https://bit.ly/gsctoolAhrefs Marketing Platform - https://ahrefs.com/web-analytics?utm_source=CarolynHolzman&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partnerships&utm_content=Q2_2025Youtube Channel -Confessions of An SEO®https://g.co/kgs/xXDzBNf -------- Crawl or No Crawl Knowledge panelInterested in supporting this work and any seo testing?Subscribe to Confessions of an SEO® wherever you get your podcasts. Your subscribing and download sends the message that you appreciate what is being shared and helping others find Confessions of an SEO®An easy place to leave a review https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/confessions-of-an-seo-1973881You can find me onCarolyn Holzman - LinkedinAmerican Way Media Google DirectlyAmericanWayMedia.com Consulting AgencyNeed Help With an Indexation Issue? - reach out Text me here - 512-222-3132Music from Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/doug-organ/fugue-stateLicense code: HESHAZ4ZOAUMWTUA
In this episode of SEO 101, Scott Van Achte covers the August 2025 Google spam update, Ahrefs' new traffic tracker comparing LLMs and search engines, Googlebot crawling issues, practical Search Console tips for duplicate content, a survey on AI Overviews and zero-click searches, and advice for recovering from website hacks and strengthening site security best practices.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
SEO Optimizing Websites: SEO, AI, for High Market Authority with SEO Expert, Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MSFrom this episode, Favour had audio Marketing Clubhouse audio roundtable session, where we discuss crucial aspects of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for websites, particularly focusing on new and established online presences. He emphasized the need for a strong web presence in today's digital landscape, despite the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, as these AI systems often pull information from well-optimized websites.Key topics include understanding Google's new "MUVERA" algorithm (Multi-Vector Retrieval Algorithm), the importance of technical SEO elements like H1 tags and schema markup, and the value of local SEO strategies. The discussion also highlights the utility of screen recording tools like Loom and Vimeo for business communication and sales, and the significance of conversion rate optimization (CRO) to ensure website effectiveness.FAQs on New Website SEO Optimization for Businesses1. Why is having a website crucial for a business, even in the age of AI and platforms like ChatGPT?In today's digital landscape, a website remains an indispensable asset for any business. While AI tools like ChatGPT are powerful for information retrieval, they primarily draw content from existing websites. If your business doesn't have an online presence that these AI models can access, it becomes challenging to be discovered and gain long-term visibility. A website serves as your digital storefront, your authoritative profile, and a valuable asset that allows AI to pick up on your offerings, ensuring your brand is seen, heard, and remembered.2. What is Google MUVERA, and how does it change the way Google's algorithm functions?Google MUVERA, which stands for Multi-vector Retrieval Algorithm, is a new algorithm launched by Google. It signifies a shift in how Google processes information. Traditionally, Google acted like a library, providing direct results based on keywords. With MUVERA, Google's algorithm goes beyond simple keyword matching.3. What is the "ABC of SEO" and why are all three components essential for a website's visibility?The "ABC of SEO" outlines three fundamental aspects for a website's online visibility:A - Crawling: This refers to whether search engine bots (like Googlebot, Bingbot, or AI bots) can access and read your website's pages. If your pages cannot be crawled, they cannot be discovered by search engines.B - Indexing: This is the process where bots analyze your content and decide whether to include it in their search results listings. For content to be indexed, it must meet quality standards and be relevant to potential searches. It's like a library deciding if a book is valuable enough to be put on a shelf for readers.C - Serving (Search Results): This is the final stage where your content is presented to users in search results. This involves not only basic links but also rich snippets, FAQs, and other optimized elements.Looking for Business Inquires with SEO Services > Book A CallMore Resources:>> Join our exclusive SEO Marketing community>> Latest blogs on SEO optimization and Online Marketing>> Book your Complimentary SEO Discovery Call>> Book Paid Marketing Consultation Call>> Subscribe to We Don't PLAY Podcast>> Start Your Email Marketing 14-Day Trial with FlodeskBrands We Love and SupportLoving Me Beauty | Buy Vegan-based Luxury ProductsZetvaa | Buy Premium Human Hair Extensions Online
Send us a textPulling back the curtain on one of SEO's most controversial techniques, this episode dives deep into website cloaking—showing search engines different content than what human visitors see. While firmly acknowledging this as a black hat approach I no longer practice or recommend, I explain why understanding these techniques creates more well-rounded SEO professionals who can identify manipulation.What exactly happens when websites serve different versions of content based on who's visiting? I break down the technical mechanics of cloaking, from user agent detection to sophisticated IP verification systems that aim to fool Google. You'll learn how cloakers distinguish between genuine Googlebot crawlers and competitors trying to uncover their tactics, complete with a fascinating historical perspective from the wild west days of SEO circa 2008-2009.The episode provides practical knowledge for those curious about detecting cloaking, with specific browser plugin suggestions that let you view websites as if you were Googlebot. This knowledge isn't about encouraging risky tactics but rather understanding the digital landscape fully. Whether you're an SEO professional looking to deepen your technical knowledge or simply curious about the mechanics behind search manipulation, this episode provides valuable context about why sustainable, white hat approaches ultimately build more valuable digital assets than shortcuts. Ready to understand the smoke and mirrors of black hat SEO without getting burned? This episode delivers the perfect balance of technical insight and ethical perspective.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
In this episode of Search Off the Record, Martin and Gary from the Google Search Relations team take a deep dive into how Googlebot and web crawling work—past, present, and future. Through their humorous and thoughtful conversation, they explore how crawling evolved from the early days of the internet, when scripts could index a chunk of the web from a single homepage, to the more complex and considerate systems used today. They discuss the basics of what a crawler is, how tools like cURL or Wget relate, and how policies like robots.txt ensure crawlers play nice with web infrastructure. The conversation also covers Google's internal shift to unified infrastructure for all crawling needs, highlighting how different teams moved from separate crawlers to a shared system that enforces consistent policies. They explain why some fetches bypass robots.txt (like user-initiated actions) and the rising impact of automated traffic from new products and AI agents. With a nod to initiatives like Common Crawl, the episode ends with a look at the road ahead, acknowledging growing internet congestion but remaining optimistic about the web's capacity to adapt. Resources: Episode transcript → https://goo.gle/sotr092-transcript Listen to more Search Off the Record → https://goo.gle/sotr-yt Subscribe to Google Search Channel → https://goo.gle/SearchCentral Search Off the Record is a podcast series that takes you behind the scenes of Google Search with the Search Relations team. #SOTRpodcast #SEO #SearchOfTheRecord Speakers: Martin Splitt, Gary Illyes Products Mentioned: Googlebotl, Gemma, Google AI
Ever wondered why Googlebot loves your blog's cat photos but totally dismisses your high-value product pages? Wix's Mordy Oberstein and Crystal Carter are joined by Roxana Stingu, Head of Search and SEO at Alamy, to dig into crawl patterns, bot behaviors, and crawl budgets. Learn how to make your pages better for bots, update old content to be relevant again, and minimize server costs by managing bot activity. Discover how specialized bot logs can offer insights into everything from quality issues to market trends and detect patterns of malicious bots you may want to block. (Best Shatner Impression) “The robots are interacting with our site, but how?” Don't miss out as we navigate the world of search engine bots on the SERP's Up Podcast! Key Segments [00:01:27] What's On This Episode of SERP's Up? [00:02:18] Focus Topic of the Week: Bot Logs [00:04:06] Focus Topic Guest: Roxana Stingu [00:24:27] Tool Time: Built-in Bot Lot Reports [00:30:19] Snappy News [00:34:06] Follow of the Week: Anne Berlin Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Mordy Oberstein Crystal Carter Roxana Stingu Anne Berlin Rich Sanger Resources: Wix SEO Learning Hub Searchlight SEO Newsletter SEO Resource Center It's New: Daily SEO News Series Wix Bot Log Reports Alamy News: Google Search Ranking Volatility Still Heated A Week After Core Update Report: Half Google AI Overviews Links Overlap With Top Search Results
Send us a Text Message.Unlock the secrets of HTTP response codes and elevate your SEO strategy in today's episode of "SEO is not that hard" with your host, Ed Dawson. Ever wondered how to preserve your hard-earned SEO value when moving or deleting web pages? Discover why the 200 OK code is the linchpin of successful HTTP requests, ensuring that Googlebot and web browsers recognize and serve your content seamlessly. Learn the nuances of the 301 redirect, a critical tool for forwarding all ranking signals and backlinks to a new URL, safeguarding your site's SEO value during permanent changes. But that's not all—Ed also demystifies the 302 redirect, explaining when and how to use it for temporary page moves without compromising your SEO efforts. By the end of this episode, you'll have a crystal-clear understanding of when to implement these redirects to maintain your page rankings and keep your SEO strategy on point. Plus, get real-world insights from the broadband industry on effectively managing redirects and retaining SEO value. Join us for this essential guide to mastering HTTP response codes and take control of your web pages' SEO performance like a pro!SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.comYou can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO then book an appointment with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Twitter @channel5Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Send us a Text Message.Can you imagine turning your SEO game around with just a few strategic tweaks? Join me, Ed Dawson, on this episode of "SEO is Not That Hard" as we uncover the journey from understanding web crawlers to mastering zero volume keywords. We'll demystify how Googlebot indexes new content, the critical role of web hosting in your site's performance, and the nuanced craft of web scraping. Get ready to dive deep into the technical underpinnings that keep your online presence robust and resilient.We'll break down the essentials of website monitoring and why tools like Uptime Robot and Little Warden are vital for quick issue detection and resolution. Learn how downtime can tank your rankings and how to avoid common pitfalls like accidental changes to your robots.txt file. We'll also explore the impact of web spam on search results and advocate for white hat SEO practices to keep your site in Google's good graces. Whether you're a veteran SEO professional or new to the game, this episode is packed with insights to elevate your strategy and keep your website performing at its best.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.comYou can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO then book an appointment with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Twitter @channel5Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This week's show is a gentle rant. It started innocently enough talking about an article of a published test on Javascript and Googlebots. Last week's episode Mystery of the Negative SEO Canonical You can text Confessions - 512-222-3132 Check out my HCS guide Ep 22 - What's Canonical Got To Do With It You will want to read my write up on what I observed in various sites that were decimated by the Sept HCU. http://fixthedamncanonical.com Its set to NAME YOUR OWN PRICE on Gumroad - so if you can't afford even $10, you can get it for $0. To get your copy of Decoding Google's Helpful Content System - https://bit.ly/helpfulcontentsystem Confessions of an SEO - On Semrush's Top 10 SEO Podcasts Suggest podcast topics on Confessions Hotline - 512-222-3132 Some tools I use and recommend: Cora Software https://bit.ly/confessionscora On page analysis tool - use it every day. GSC Tool - https://bit.ly/gsctool A chrome extension that helps me with repetitive tasks in search console and has a connector to the Google Indexing API so it doesn't go through 3rd parties. Rank Week - https://bit.ly/conc-s-rankweek For those who read these things - please click below - it's a short link to the Confessions of An SEO Knowledge Panel - Thank you for your click! Confessions of An SEO
In this episode of the SEO 101 Podcast, we explore significant updates from Google, including recent search ranking volatility and the launch of new recommendations in Search Console. We also discuss Googlebot's link crawling behavior, shedding light on how it impacts SEO strategies and website performance. Tune in for insights like this every week!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Send us a Text Message.Ever wondered why some websites always seem to have the freshest content for trending topics? Discover the power of "Query Deserves Freshness" (QDF), a pivotal ranking factor for news-related searches. We'll debunk the myth that every query demands new content and show you when freshness really matters. Plus, learn the ins and outs of the "rank and rent" strategy—a lucrative method for generating leads in local service niches. With practical advice on rank tracking and a deep dive into what influences your webpage's position in search results, this episode is packed with actionable insights to elevate your SEO game.But that's not all! We uncover best practices for using 301 and 302 redirects without tanking your rankings, and highlight how to fix those pesky redirect chains that slow down your site and confuse Googlebot. Tools like Screaming Frog are your new best friends. We'll also discuss the importance of related searches in keyword research, the critical role of relevancy in link building, and how to expedite the indexing process via Google Search Console. To top it off, we'll emphasize why responsive web design is crucial for both user experience and SEO, and how third-party reviews can skyrocket your local business rankings. Tune in for an episode jam-packed with strategies that will revolutionize your approach to SEO!SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.comYou can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO then book an appointment with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Twitter @channel5Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Send us a Text Message.Ever wondered how to truly crack Google's SEO code? This episode of "SEO is Not That Hard" promises to arm you with the knowledge and strategies that can elevate your website's visibility. Join me, Ed Dawson, as we delve into the often-overlooked world of Google's patent applications and their hidden secrets about search ranking algorithms. Discover how to use Google's specialized search engine for patents to your advantage. We'll also demystify the role of Google quality raters and their comprehensive guidelines—a must-know for anyone serious about SEO. Plus, learn actionable tips to boost your local SEO through positive Google reviews and navigate the controversial concept of the Google sandbox with insights from my personal experiences.But that's not all; the second half of the episode is a treasure trove of essential Google tools and guidelines. Get acquainted with Google Search Console for monitoring your site's performance and Google Search Essentials for best practices. From leveraging Google Suggest for effective keyword research to mastering Google Tag Manager and Google Trends, you'll find practical advice to optimize your site. We also dissect the impacts of Google Updates on your rankings, the role of Googlebot in crawling your pages, and introduce the intriguing concept of GPT in AI. Finally, we explore the grey areas of SEO tactics that sit between black hat and white hat practices. This episode is packed with invaluable insights to help you navigate the complex world of SEO and take your website to the next level.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.comYou can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO then book an appointment with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Twitter @channel5Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Send us a Text Message.Ready to supercharge your SEO game? This episode compiles 101 quick SEO tips from our past sessions, giving you an extended masterclass on improving your website's visibility and ranking. Learn why website speed isn't just about user experience but also a critical factor for Google rankings. We'll also dive into the importance of linking new pages to existing ones, securing your site with HTTPS, and the risks of buying backlinks. Plus, discover how obtaining legitimate, relevant backlinks can significantly boost your search engine favorability.Ever wondered how to build a successful website that consistently attracts traffic? We've got you covered with strategies centered around answering real user queries and staying updated with the latest SEO practices. We'll explore how structuring your content strategy around user questions can create evergreen content. For new websites, targeting long-tail keywords and exercising patience can pave the way to gradual ranking success. We also share tips on monetizing your site, leveraging platforms like Shopify and WordPress, and using visual content and 301 redirects to retain SEO value.Struggling with common SEO challenges? Our episode is packed with actionable insights, from using descriptive anchor text and leveraging Google Search Console, to staying updated on trending topics and navigating Google updates. Learn how to use Google AutoComplete for content ideas and avoid pitfalls like blocking Googlebot with your robots.txt file. We also emphasize the importance of consistent URL structures and optimizing local business profiles through Google Business Profile. Whether you're aiming to enhance your SEO or boost user engagement, this episode is a goldmine of practical tips and strategies to help you succeed.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.comYou can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO then book an appointment with me nowAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Twitter @channel5Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sat, 08 Jun 2024 19:15:24 +0000 https://podcast552923.podigee.io/310-neue-episode 3fe787b99c296307d731d846d3f5ab01 Eine aktuelle Studie zeigt eine deutliche Korrelation zwischen Platzierungen in den Top-10 von Google und der Zahl von Backlinks. Sind Backlinks also doch unverzichtbar für gute Rankings? In einer Studie, in der für 200 Keywords die Top-10-Rankings in Google betrachtet wurden, zeigte sich, dass nur Websites mit einer bestimmten Anzahl von Backlinks gute Platzierungen erhielten. Google hat dagegen immer wieder die Bedeutung von Backlinks für die Rankings relativiert. Was ist richtig? Seit etwa einem Monat sind die Suchergebnisseiten von Google in Bewegung. Es sieht aus, als würde Google ein langgezogenes und kontinuierliches Updates ausrollen. Was ist da los? Google wird ab dem 5. Juli Websites nur noch mit dem Googlebot Smartphone crawlen. Websites, die für diesen Googlebot gesperrt sind, werden dann nicht mehr indexiert. Viele fragen sich, welchen Nutzen der Google Leak für SEOs bringt. Viel Neues ist nicht dabei, aber einige Erkenntnisse sind wichtig. full Eine aktuelle Studie zeigt eine deutliche Korrelation zwischen Platzierungen in den Top-10 von Google und der Zahl von Backlinks. Sind Backlinks also doch unverzichtbar für gute Rankings? no Christian Kunz
Ever wondered how JavaScript impacts SEO? Here is the full written guide on JavaScript SEO on my website. In this interview, I ask Martin Splitt from Google the most pressing JavaScript SEO questions. Martin sheds light on Googlebot's behavior, the importance of server-side rendering, and how to identify and fix JavaScript SEO issues. Watch now to level up your JavaScript SEO knowledge! Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0iHDk7uqByI In this comprehensive Q&A session, we cover a wide range of topics, including:✅ The path Googlebot follows when visiting a page ✅ How Google decides whether to index a specific page ✅ The new robots.txt reports in Google Search Console ✅ Dealing with crawl budget issues for small and large websites ✅ The time difference between Googlebot crawling and rendering a page ✅ How Googlebot handles dynamic content and JavaScript rendering ✅ The impact of "no-index" and "index" tags in source code vs. rendered HTML ✅ Blocking users based on geolocation and its SEO implications ✅ Understanding and identifying crawl budget issues ✅ Googlebot's behavior with button links, JavaScript links, and redirects ✅ Effective communication between SEOs and developers ✅ Evaluating JavaScript-based sites with SEO tools ✅ Best practices for e-commerce websites, pagination, and infinite scroll✅ Common JavaScript SEO mistakes and how to avoid themThis interview is packed with valuable insights and actionable tips for optimizing your JavaScript-based website for search engines. Follow SEO Consultant Olga Zarr or hire Olga to help you with SEO Follow Olga Zarr X/Twitter Follow Olga Zarr on LinkedIn The best SEO newsletter The best SEO podcast SEO consultant Olga Zarr
This episode I'm taking just a teensy break from discussing Google's Helpful Content System. This is the conference I'll be spilling all the beans on the Helpful Content Data and answering as many questions. Its the Rank Elevation SEO Summit Happening June 10-11, 2024 At the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort In Kelowna, British Columbia - Canada https://www.entityelevation.com/seo-summit-2024/ This week's topic comes from an episode of Search Off the Record where google engineers and their Google friends about general topics. I learned more about what is and what isn't a Googlebot. As well as some insight into what Google is looking for in a site or a new site. Search Off The Record - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVg9LcrSwyQ Forensic SEO - HouseFresh Video Series If you want to not miss any future videos or discussions on what might be going on in Google - make sure to get on the notification list for Search Driven Insights - https://bit.ly/searchdriveninsights This week's sponsor of Confessions of an SEO Magic Mind - https://magicmind.com/confessions Coupon code: Confessions20 For the latest from the Indexation Research check out it's new home on Substack. Monthly $18 / Annual membership has perks and gets you two months free plus a few more fun things! Substack: https://crawlornocrawl.substack.com/ Latest News from CONC New Desktop Googlebot Youtube channels - https://www.youtube.com/@forensicseo https://bit.ly/searchdriveninsights Here's a test - please click on this link American Way Media, INC - SEO Consultant Confessions of an SEO - On Semrush's Top 10 SEO Podcasts https://www.semrush.com/blog/seo-podcasts/ Suggest podcast topics on Confessions Hotline - 512-222-3132 Your SEO deals on Tools I use: Some tools I use and recommend: Cora Software https://bit.ly/confessionscora On page analysis tool - use it every day. GSC Tool - https://bit.ly/gsctool A chrome extension that helps me with repetitive tasks in search console and has a connector to the Google Indexing API so it doesn't go through 3rd parties. Ziptie Monitoring Software - https://bit.ly/checkoutziptie Software than monitors whether Google is serving your content or not. Rank Week - https://bit.ly/confessionsrankweek For those who read these things - please click below - it's a short link to the Confessions of An SEO Knowledge Panel - Thank you for your click! Confessions of An SEO
This week, I posted the big Google Webmaster Report for April; it is an excellent place to catch up quickly on the news. Google's March 2024 core update had some volatility this week, and it is still rolling out. There are still no....
Episode 201 contains the Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of Feb 26 - Mar 1, 2024.1. ‘How Google Search Crawls Pages' - In a comprehensive video from, Google engineer Gary Illyes sheds light on how Google's search engine discovers and fetches web pages through a process known as crawling. Crawling is the first step in making a webpage searchable. Google uses automated programs, known as crawlers, to find new or updated pages. The cornerstone of this process is URL discovery, where Google identifies new pages by following links from known pages. This method highlights the importance of having a well-structured website with effective internal linking, ensuring that Google can discover and index new content efficiently.A key tool in enhancing your website's discoverability is the use of sitemaps. These are XML files that list your site's URLs along with additional metadata. While not mandatory, sitemaps are highly recommended as they significantly aid Google and other search engines in finding your content. For business owners, this means working with your website provider or developer to ensure your site automatically generates sitemap files, saving you time and reducing the risk of errors.Googlebot, Google's main crawler, uses algorithms to decide which sites to crawl, how often, and how many pages to fetch. This process is delicately balanced to avoid overloading your website, with the speed of crawling adjusted based on your site's response times, content quality, and server health. It's crucial for businesses to maintain a responsive and high-quality website to facilitate efficient crawling.Moreover, Googlebot only indexes publicly accessible URLs, emphasizing the need for businesses to ensure their most important content is not hidden behind login pages. The crawling process concludes with downloading and rendering the pages, allowing Google to see and index dynamic content loaded via JavaScript.2. Is Google Happy with 301+410 Responses? - In a recent discussion on Reddit, a user expressed concerns about their site's "crawl budget" being impacted by a combination of 301 redirects and 410 error responses. This situation involved redirecting non-secure, outdated URLs to their secure counterparts, only to serve a 410 error indicating the page is permanently removed. The user wondered if this approach was hindering Googlebot's efficiency and contributing to crawl budget issues.Google's John Mueller provided clarity, stating that using a mix of 301 redirects (which guide users from HTTP to HTTPS versions of a site) followed by 410 errors is acceptable. Mueller emphasized that crawl budget concerns primarily affect very large sites, as detailed in Google's documentation. If a smaller site experiences crawl issues, it likely stems from Google's assessment of the site's value rather than technical problems. This suggests the need for content evaluation to enhance its appeal to Googlebot.Mueller's insights reveal a critical aspect of SEO; the creation of valuable content. He criticizes common SEO strategies that replicate existing content, which fails to add value or originality. This approach, likened to producing more "Zeros" rather than unique "Ones," implies that merely duplicating what's already available does not improve a site's worth in Google's eyes.For business owners, this discussion underlines the importance of focusing on original, high-quality content over technical SEO manipulations. While ensuring your site is technically sound is necessary, the real competitive edge lies in offering something unique and valuable to your audience. This not only aids in standing out in search results but also aligns with Google's preference for indexing content that provides new information or perspectives.In summary, while understanding the technicalities of SEO, such as crawl budgets and redirects, is important, the emphasis should be on content quality. Businesses should strive to create original content that answers unmet needs or provides fresh insights. This approach not only helps with better indexing by Google but also engages your audience more effectively, driving organic traffic and contributing to your site's long-term success.3. UTM Parameters & SEO - Google's John Mueller emphasized that disallowing URLs with UTM parameters does not significantly enhance a website's search performance. Instead, he advocates for maintaining clean and consistent internal URLs to ensure optimal site hygiene and efficiency in tracking.Mueller's advice is straightforward: focus on improving the site's structure to minimize the need for Google to crawl irrelevant URLs. This involves refining internal linking strategies, employing rel-canonical tags judiciously, and ensuring consistency in URLs across feeds. The goal is to streamline site management and make it easier to track user interactions and traffic sources without compromising on SEO performance.A notable point Mueller makes is regarding the handling of external links with UTM parameters. He advises against blocking these through robots.txt, suggesting that rel-canonical tags will effectively manage these over time, aligning external links with the site's canonical URL structure. This approach not only simplifies the cleanup of random parameter URLs but also reinforces the importance of direct management at the source. For instance, if a site generates random parameter URLs internally or through feed submissions, the priority should be to address these issues directly rather than relying on robots.txt to block them.In summary, Mueller's guidance underscores the importance of website hygiene and the strategic use of SEO tools like rel-canonical tags to manage URL parameters effectively. His stance is clear: maintaining a clean website is crucial, but blocking external URLs with random parameters is not recommended. This advice aligns with Mueller's consistent approach to SEO best practices, emphasizing the need for site owners to focus on foundational site improvements and efficient management of URL parameters for better search visibility and tracking.4. Transition Required for Google Business Profile Websites - Google has announced that starting in March 2024, websites created through Google Business Profiles (GBP) will be deactivated, with an automatic redirect to the businesses' Google Business Profile in place until June 10, 2024. This move requires immediate attention from GBP website owners to ensure continuity in their online operations.For businesses unsure if their website is hosted through Google Business Profiles, a simple search on Google for their business name and accessing the edit function of their Google Business Profile will reveal if their website is a GBP creation. It's indicated by a message stating, “You have a website created with Google.” For those without a GBP website, the option to link an external site will be available.In response to this change, Google has recommended several alternative website builders for affected businesses. Among the suggested platforms are Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Google Sites, Shopify (specifically for e-commerce), Durable, Weebly, Strikingly, and WordPress. Each offers unique features, with WordPress notable for its free website builder incorporating generative AI capabilities. However, users should be aware ...
Episode 196 contains the Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of Jan 22-26, 2024.1. Google's SEO Starter Guide Update: Streamlining for Clarity and Efficiency - Google is currently reworking its popular SEO Starter Guide, initially released in 2010 and updated in 2017 to significantly streamline the guide, making it more accessible and relevant for today's website owners.The current SEO Starter Guide, which is about 8,500 words, will be reduced to less than half its size in the upcoming revision. Lizzi Sassman from Google mentioned that the new guide would be a little over 3,000 words. This reduction is achieved by cutting out repetitive and redundant information, aiming to eliminate duplication and streamline the content.Key aspects of the updated guide include:Focus on Modern Users: The guide will be more concise, focusing on general concepts rather than detailed technical instructions. This change reflects the rise of user-friendly content management systems like WordPress and Wix, which have simplified many aspects of SEO.Elimination of Redundancy: The new guide aims to avoid duplicating information available in more extensive resources on Google's Search Central site. It will serve as a one-stop introductory resource for SEO basics.Potential Impact on Guide's Ranking: Gary Illyes from Google speculated that the guide's ranking in Google search results might drop due to the reduced word count. However, the emphasis is on making the guide more user-friendly rather than maintaining its length for ranking purposes.Feedback-Driven Revision: John Mueller of Google highlighted that reader feedback has been instrumental in reshaping the guide. The goal is to make it more suitable for modern websites and accessible to those new to SEO.This updated guide will be a valuable resource for understanding the fundamentals of SEO in a more digestible format. It will provide clear, impactful advice without overwhelming readers with excessive details or outdated practices.2. Google's Stance: No Guaranteed Traffic in SEO - A recent statement by Google's John Mueller on January 17, 2024, has sparked attention among business owners and SEO professionals. The essence of Mueller's statement is that no one, not even experts, can guarantee increased traffic to a website as a result of specific changes. This was in response to an inquiry about whether removing certain parameters from a website would lead to an increase in traffic. Mueller's unequivocal response was, "Nobody can guarantee you traffic, sorry."This highlights a crucial aspect of digital marketing – the unpredictability and non-guaranteed nature of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). SEO involves optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results, ideally increasing visibility and traffic. However, the algorithms that search engines use are complex and constantly evolving. This makes it challenging to predict exactly how changes to a website will impact its traffic.Many SEO professionals use estimates and formulas to predict the ROI (Return on Investment) of making specific changes to a website. They might estimate that improving rankings could lead to increased clicks and potentially more revenue. However, these are just estimates and should not be considered guaranteed outcomes. The digital marketing landscape is dynamic, and what works today might not work tomorrow.3. Google's Stance on HTML Structure for SEO Rankings - It's crucial to understand the factors that influence your website's visibility on search engines like Google. One common area of focus is the structure of a website's HTML code. On January 26, 2024, an insightful update was shared regarding Google's stance on this matter, which is particularly relevant for those managing their own websites or working with digital marketing professionals.Gary Illyes from Google clarified on the latest episode of the ‘Search Off The Record' podcast that the HTML structure of web pages does not significantly impact search rankings. This revelation addresses a common misconception among website owners and SEO specialists who often prioritize meticulous HTML structuring in the hopes of boosting their search rankings.Illyes emphasized the value of diversity in website designs and structures, suggesting that if every website had the same HTML structure, the internet would become monotonous. He acknowledged that while basic elements like headings, title tags, and well-organized paragraphs are beneficial, obsessing over the intricate details of HTML structuring is largely unnecessary for SEO purposes.In 2018, John Mueller of Google also remarked that while a clear content structure is helpful for users, it does not directly influence ranking. This reinforces the idea that user experience should be the primary focus rather than the complexity of HTML structure.Furthermore, Google has stated that overusing elements like H1 tags or constantly rearranging them has little to no effect on a site's ranking. This information is especially useful for small business owners who might be allocating resources to fine-tune HTML structures under the assumption that it significantly impacts SEO.In summary, while maintaining a basic, user-friendly HTML structure is important, overemphasizing its complexity does not yield significant benefits in terms of SEO rankings. Business owners are advised to focus on creating valuable content and a pleasant user experience, rather than getting caught up in the intricacies of HTML coding for SEO purposes.4. Google Bot Does Not Read Content Within HTML Comments - On January 25, 2024 Google's John Mueller clarified that HTML comments, which are parts of the website code not visible to users but can contain notes or additional information for developers, were believed by some to influence Google's understanding of a site's content. However, John Mueller clarified that Googlebot, the search engine's crawling software, does not read or utilize the content within these HTML comments for indexing or ranking purposes. This clarification came as a response to a query on Reddit, where an individual inquired about the potential benefits of including content in HTML comments to enhance text recognition from images on their website.Mueller's response underlines an essential principle of web content creation: the importance of putting content directly on web pages, rather than in hidden elements like HTML comments. For business owners, this insight is particularly valuable. It emphasizes the need to focus on creating high-quality, visible content that users and search engines can easily access and understand. This approach not only ensures better engagement with potential customers but also aligns with Google's guidelines for optimal website performance in search results.Business owners should stay away from gimmicks and instead prioritize content that adds real value to their website visitors, as this is what Google's algorithms are designed to recognize and reward in search rankings. This update reiterates the ongoing need for transparency and user-centric strategies in digital marketing practices.
Episode 195 contains the Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of Jan 15-19, 2024.1. Google's Guide to Seamless Website Transition Without SEO Hiccups - Google's John Mueller has provided advice for businesses transitioning to a new website without affecting their SEO. This guidance is crucial for small business owners who are considering or in the process of moving to a new website.Mueller emphasized the importance of either removing or updating the old website. Keeping both the old and new sites live with conflicting information can confuse users and harm SEO. Inconsistent details, such as different business hours or addresses on both sites, can frustrate customers and make it challenging for search engines to index and rank pages correctly.To ensure a smooth transition, Mueller suggests implementing redirects from the old site to the new one. This approach aids users in finding the correct website and helps search engines transfer any existing signals to the new domain, potentially boosting its standing. Mueller recommends getting help from a web developer or hosting provider to implement the redirects properly and suggests keeping them in place for at least one year.Redirects are crucial when transitioning from one website domain to a new one. They ensure users who visit the old website domain are automatically forwarded to the new domain and pass on the value of links pointing to the old domain to the new domain. This link equity transfer is vital for the new website to retain its search engine ranking.If redirects to a new domain aren't possible, Mueller suggests updating the old site with a notice alerting visitors that the content has moved to a new domain. If that can't be done, take down the old site completely. He assures that the new site won't be penalized by search engines for outdated content on the old domain. However, both the old and new websites may still appear in searches for a while, which may need clarification for users.After making the transition, it's important to monitor the process closely. Use analytics software to check that redirects function correctly and traffic is sent to the right places. Keep an eye on your search engine rankings to catch any unexpected dips that might indicate a problem with the transition. Informing users about the change through emails, social media, and website announcements is also crucial.In summary, moving to a new website is a significant change for any business. Handling the shift carefully is vital to maintaining search engine rankings and providing users with a continuous experience. Mueller's guidance should assist in making the transition from an old site to a new one go smoothly.2. Google's Clarification on 'Index, Follow' Meta Tag: What It Means for Your Website - Google's John Mueller recently provided clarity on the use of the 'index, follow' meta tag, a topic of interest for many website owners and SEO professionals. The HTML meta element communicates metadata. Metadata is machine readable information that a crawler like Googlebot can read. Muller's clarity sheds light on a common misunderstanding in the SEO community.The 'index, follow' meta tag has been widely used with the belief that it instructs search engine crawlers to index the content of a webpage and follow its links. However, Mueller clarified that this tag is essentially redundant for Google, as indexing and following links are default behaviors of search engine robots. The tag looks like this: .Mueller explained that the 'index' directive in the robots meta tag has no function for Google and is completely ignored. Similarly, the 'follow' directive is unnecessary because Googlebot automatically follows links unless instructed otherwise. Google's documentation confirms that the default values for robots tags are 'index, follow', and these don't need to be specified. Furthermore, he wrote, “Google has https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/special-tags & https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/robots-meta-tag to document the meta tags that have functions. You can use anything else, it'll be ignored. is an option, if you want to throw people off.”If the robots meta you want to use isn't' listed in Google's documentation then Googlebot is going to ignore it. So don't try to be cute or innovative unless you want to throw people off. The tag is still valid and tells the search engine crawlers to not index the content on the webpage and to not follow any links.For small business owners managing their websites, this clarification means that including the 'index, follow' meta tag does not impact how Google crawls or indexes their pages. The focus should instead be on ensuring that the website is accessible, with high-quality content that serves the audience's needs.While Bing treats the 'index, follow' tag similarly, it does allow explicit statements of 'index' or 'follow' if desired, as per Bing's documentation. However, for Google, the emphasis is on streamlining the website's HTML and removing unnecessary elements that do not contribute to its performance in search results.3. Understanding the Impact of Changing from WWW to Non-WWW on SEO - In a recent discussion, Google's John Mueller clarified a common query among website owners and digital marketers about the impact of changing a domain from 'www' to 'non-www' on search rankings. This is particularly relevant for business owners who are considering such changes to their websites.Mueller stated that switching from a 'www' to a 'non-www' domain should not significantly affect a website's rankings. He suggested that Google is adept at recognizing such changes, and the rankings are unlikely to suffer substantially as a result. This response came after a query about a large site that changed its domain URL to remove 'www' and implemented 301 redirects via user agent Mozilla. The site owner noticed a worsening impact over time, leading to concerns about Google's recognition of this form of 301 redirect.Mueller clarified that server-side redirects like 301 do not use user agents, indicating a possible misunderstanding in the implementation. He emphasized that changing from 'www' to 'non-www' doesn't really change much in terms of SEO. If a website is experiencing significant changes in rankings, it is likely due to other factors.It's important for business owners to understand that while such domain changes are recognized by Google, the key is in the proper implementation of redirects. Google is quick to pick up on changes like 'http to https' or 'www to non-www,' and these types of changes should not negatively impact a site's rankings. However, changes in URL structures or significant parts of the site might lead to slower reactions from Google.4. Maximizing SEO: The Importance of Text Placement Over Images - In a recent
Episode 194 contains the Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of Jan 08-12, 2024.1. Google's Clear Message: No 'Perfect Page' Formula for Search Rankings - Google's Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan debunked a common myth in SEO: the existence of a 'perfect page' formula for achieving high rankings in search results. Danny emphasized that there is no universal formula or set of rules that websites must adhere to for high placement in search results. This clarification challenges the widespread belief, dating back to the early days of SEO, that specific word counts, page structures, or other optimizations can guarantee success in search rankings.According to Danny, third-party SEO tools often suggest creating pages in certain ways to succeed in search. However, he asserted that these tools cannot predict rankings accurately. Their advice is usually based on finding averages among top-ranking pages, but Google's algorithm values both commonalities and unique differences in content. Following such generalized advice does not guarantee a top ranking.Instead of focusing on mythical formulas, Danny recommended prioritizing helpfulness and relevance to users. For instance, including an author byline should be based on its usefulness to readers, not because it might supposedly boost rankings. His key advice is to put readers and audience first, as being helpful to them aligns more closely with the various signals used by Google to reward content.For small business owners, this means shifting focus from trying to crack a non-existent 'perfect SEO formula' to creating content that genuinely serves its audience. This reader-first approach is more likely to resonate with the diverse and evolving signals used by search engines. It's not just about organizing content; it's about making your site more accessible and relevant to both your audience and search engines.In summary, Google's message is clear: there is no perfect blueprint for guaranteed rankings. However, creating content that genuinely serves its purpose continues to be rewarded. This approach encourages small business owners to focus on quality and relevance, rather than chasing elusive SEO shortcuts, ultimately leading to a more robust and effective online presence.The question for you: Who will you listen and follow? Danny Sullivan, Google's Search Liaison or a third-party tool who makes money when can keep you as a customer? 2. Author Bylines Don't Impact Search Rankings - Google's Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, stated, "Author bylines aren't something you do for Google, and they don't help you rank better." This statement addresses the belief that including author bylines and bios on a website can directly influence its ranking in Google's search results. Sullivan emphasized that these elements are for the benefit of the readers, not for the search engine.He further explained that while publications with author bylines may exhibit other characteristics that align with Google's criteria for useful content, the bylines themselves do not contribute to better rankings. This clarification dispels the myth that specific structural elements like author bylines can be used as a shortcut to achieve higher search rankings.John Mueller of Google also previously stated (Sep 20, 2021) that author bylines are not a requirement for Google Search. This reinforces the idea that while bylines can enhance the credibility and transparency of content for readers it is not going to give you a ranking boost. For small business owners, this means prioritizing the creation of content that genuinely serves the needs and interests of their audience. By focusing on being helpful and providing value to readers, businesses are more likely to align with the various signals Google uses to reward content. This approach not only enhances user experience but also supports long-term SEO success without relying on misconceptions about specific page elements.3. Navigating the Japanese Keyword Hack: Google's John Mueller Offers Recovery Advice - In a recent interaction on Reddit, Google's John Mueller provided crucial advice for website owners who fall victim to the Japanese keyword hack. This is especially relevant for small business owners who manage their websites and are concerned about online security and SEO.The Japanese keyword hack is a type of SEO spam attack where a website is injected with thousands of foreign language pages, often in Japanese or Chinese, without the owner's knowledge or consent. This attack can significantly impact a site's search rankings and integrity. In the reported case, a website owner discovered over 20,000 such pages suddenly indexed on their site.Mueller's advice for recovery begins with identifying how the breach occurred. It's crucial to understand the vulnerability that allowed the hack, to ensure it is properly secured. He suggested considering automatic updates or switching to a hosting platform that handles security as potential solutions.For SEO implications, Mueller advised that once a site's most important pages are cleaned of unwanted content, they can be reindexed quickly. He reassured that old hacked pages, if not visible to users, do not pose immediate problems and can remain indexed for months without issue. Importantly, Mueller clarified that spammy backlinks pointing to these invisible indexed pages do not require disavowing. Instead, the focus should be on cleaning up the site's visible content and preventing internal search results from being indexed.Regarding the issue of spammy backlinks causing internal search pages to be indexed, Mueller clarified that this was separate from the hacking issue. He recommended against disavowing the links, as the pages would naturally drop from search results over time. Proactively blocking search results pages from indexing, using methods like robots.txt or noindex, is advised for both new and existing sites to prevent exploitation by spammers.For small business owners, this incident underscores the importance of website security and regular maintenance. Regular security updates, malware scans, and link audits should be part of routine website management. It's a shared responsibility between website owners and search engines to keep search results free of hacked and spammy content.In summary, Mueller's advice highlights the need for proactive security measures and vigilant maintenance to protect websites from hacking and spam attacks. By focusing on these areas, small business owners can safeguard their online presence, maintain their search rankings, and ensure a trustworthy experience for their users.4. Google's Updated Guidance on Search Snippets - Google has recently updated its documentation to clarify how its algorithm selects snippets for search results. Traditionally, it was believed that the snippet in search results, which consists of a title, URL breadcrumb, and a brief description, was derived mainly from the meta description of a webpage. However, Google's updated guidance indicates that the primary source of the snippet is the page content itself, not the structured data or the meta description.This update represents a shift in how meta descriptions might be written and how content is optimized. The previous version of Google's documentation implied that the snippet was mostly derived from the meta description, suggesting that on-page content could also be selected for the snippet. The new documentation makes it clear that the page content is the main source of the snippet, with the meta description being used only when it describes the page better than other parts of the content.Google has removed a substantial amount of content from the previous version of the documentation, including a paragraph that advised site owners on how to suggest content for snippets. The new wording emphasizes that snippets are primarily created from the page content, and the meta description is used only when it might give users a more accurate description of the page than content taken directly from the page.5. Google's Temporary Reprieve for Select Sites on Third-Party Cookie Phase-Out - Google Chrome has started restricting third-party cookie access, a significant change that began on January 4, 2024, and is expected to reach 100% of users globally by Q3 2024. Recognizing the challenges this transition poses, Google is offering a limited "Deprecation Trial" to allow websites and businesses additional time to migrate away from third-party cookie dependencies. This trial is specifically for non-advertising use cases and will temporarily re-enable third-party cookie access for eligible third-party services until December 27, 2024.To qualify for these trials, services must meet strict eligibility criteria set by Google. Services categorized as advertising-related will not be approved, and origins matching known ad-related domains, including subdomains, will be rejected. Only services with proven functional breakage, not just data collection issues, are eligible. Applicants must provide detailed steps to reproduce the broken functionality in bug reports, and Google will only accept requests where apparent breakage is validated.For approved services, unique access tokens can be added in Chrome to enable trials. Google has granted a grace period until April 1, 2024, for approved sites to deploy their tokens, addressing the short window between registration opening and the initial blocking of cookies for 1% of traffic.This extension is not intended to relieve data collection inconveniences but to allow services with functional breakage to use third-party cookies. Business owners relying on third-party services or cookies should conduct an audit of their site's usage and prepare contingency plans. With the rollout already underway, it's crucial to address potential impacts before a larger percentage of visitors are affected.6. Google Search Console Retires Crawl Rate Tool - Google has officially removed the crawl rate setting tool from Google Search Console. The crawl rate limiter was a legacy tool within Google Search Console that allowed website owners to communicate to Google how frequently their site should be crawled. It was primarily used when a website experienced server load problems due to frequent crawling by Googlebot. However, Google has deemed this feature no longer necessary due to improvements in its crawling logic and other tools available to publishers.With the removal of this tool, Google now relies more on its enhanced crawling logic to determine the appropriate frequency for crawling websites. Googlebot now automatically adjusts its crawl rate in response to how a site or server responds to its requests. For instance, if a server consistently returns HTTP 500 status codes or if the response time for requests significantly lengthens, Googlebot will automatically slow down it's crawling.This means that Google's automated systems are now more adept at managing crawl rates without manual intervention. While this may reduce the level of control website owners have over crawl rates, it also simplifies the process, as Googlebot will intelligently adjust its behavior based on the site's response. Google has set the minimum crawling speed to a lower rate, comparable to the old crawl rate limits. This adjustment aims to continue honoring the settings that some site owners had previously set, especially if the search interest is low and the crawlers do not waste the site's bandwidth.7. The Evolving Role of Hashtags on LinkedIn - On January 12, 2024, Andrew Hutchinson reported in Social Media Today about the changing effectiveness of hashtags on LinkedIn. For a long time, LinkedIn did not support hashtags. However, in 2018, the platform reactivated hashtag discoverability and began encouraging users to categorize their posts using hashtags. The goal was to segment content better, enabling LinkedIn to show users more relevant content. But as algorithms have evolved, the necessity for hashtags has diminished. Modern social platform systems are now adept at understanding the context of a post's text, visuals, user history, and all keywords included, making hashtags less critical for content categorization.LinkedIn's current stance is that while hashtags can be helpful for viewers to easily identify what a post is about and find related posts, they should be closely related to the topic of the post to be most effective. LinkedIn also considers conversation topics and keywords to surface relevant information. This suggests that LinkedIn is now less reliant on hashtags for maximizing discovery. However, when searching for conversations on a specific topic, users can still use topics or hashtags.For business owners, this means that while hashtags in LinkedIn posts are less relevant than before, it's still important to be mindful of the keywords mentioned in the main post. Understanding and tapping into the right conversation streams based on target topics is crucial. Following popular pages and people within your business niche can provide insights into common hashtags related to your sector. Additionally, searching for hashtags in the app can help identify trending topics and discussions in your industry.Research by LinkedIn expert Richard van der Blom indicates that using 3-10 hashtags in LinkedIn posts used to significantly boost reach, but now hashtags provide no additional reach boost. This change suggests that LinkedIn is gradually deemphasizing hashtags as a discovery tool, focusing more on topical relevance rather than maximizing reach.LinkedIn's system is not designed for virality, so hashtags do not necessarily function on LinkedIn the way they do on other social media platforms. This could be part of LinkedIn's strategy to prevent users from gaming the system with hashtags.8. Expanding E-Commerce Horizons: X's New Partnership with Shopify - On January 9, 2024, X announced an expanded partnership with Shopify. This collaboration is set to open new opportunities for Shopify merchants to promote their products on X's platform, aligning with X's vision of becoming an "everything app."The partnership is designed to enable all Shopify merchants to reach a broader customer base by leveraging the power of X Business. While X already had a deal with Shopify in 2022 to display products in-stream, this new development promises to facilitate broader product awareness actions, enable easier catalog uploads, and provide more ways for Shopify merchants to maximize ad outcomes.Shopify President Harley Finkelstein highlighted the importance of reaching customers wherever they are. He emphasized that more platforms mean more choice, entrepreneurship, and opportunities for business growth. Although many details of the partnership are yet to be disclosed, the collaboration is expected to offer significant benefits for retailers.X's work with Shopify could potentially facilitate new opportunities for retailers in-stream. This would be particularly impactful if X's vision of integrating peer-to-peer payments and transfers in the app materializes. Such a feature could lead to innovative ways for retailers to expand their audience and leverage X's reach.For small business owners, this partnership represents a significant opportunity. It suggests that leveraging platforms like X, in conjunction with e-commerce giants like Shopify, could be a strategic move to expand their digital footprint and reach new customers. The potential for in-stream payments and transfers could further enhance the customer experience and streamline the purchasing process.9. Microsoft Has A New Ad Creation Tool - On January 11, 2024, Microsoft announced a significant update to its retail media tool, introducing a new Creative Studio element powered by generative AI. The new Creative Studio allows users to generate entirely new ads in various formats using conversational AI prompts. This AI-powered solution is designed to boost creativity and productivity, particularly benefiting retailers and advertisers by simplifying the process of creating banner ads. The tool's ease of use is particularly advantageous for smaller businesses that may lack the resources to run effective banner campaigns.One of the key features of this tool is its ability to create ads based on just a product URL. Users can then further customize the creative for different channels. Microsoft ensures that the AI-generated ads will automatically align with each retailer's style guide. Additionally, users have the flexibility to customize ads by updating and emphasizing selected words and phrases, cropping and cleaning up backgrounds, and modifying other ad elements, all based on text prompts.
Episode 191 contains the Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of Dec 11-15, 2023.1. Google Reiterates: Domain Age Does Not Impact Search Rankings - In a recent discussion, Google's John Mueller addressed a long-standing question in the SEO community: Does the age of a domain name impact Google search rankings? This topic, often debated among SEO professionals, has been clarified by Mueller, providing valuable insights for business owners looking to understand the nuances of search engine optimization.Key Insights from the Discussion: Domain Age and Rankings: Mueller stated that the age of a domain name does not impact Google search rankings. This clarification dispels a common belief among SEOs that older domain names correlate with top rankings. Misinterpretation of Google's Patent: The misconception about domain age as a ranking factor may have originated from a misreading of a Google patent titled "Information Retrieval Based on Historical Data." The patent, however, focuses on identifying spam sites using domain-related information, not on boosting the rankings of legitimate domains. The Role of Domain Data: The patent mentions using domain data to catch throwaway domains used by spammers. It indicates that valuable, legitimate domains are often paid for several years in advance, unlike spam domains. However, this information is used to predict the legitimacy of a domain for spam detection, not for ranking purposes. This clarification from Google means that focusing on the age of your domain as a ranking strategy is misguided and highlights the importance of accurate information in the SEO industry. Instead, attention should be directed towards creating high-quality, relevant content and optimizing your website for a better user experience. It is a reminder to always seek clarity and accuracy in SEO strategies, ensuring that efforts are directed towards genuinely effective methods.2. Google Chrome: Phasing Out Third-Party Cookies for Enhanced Privacy - On January 4, 2024, Google will begin testing a new feature that restricts third-party cookies by default in Chrome, impacting 1% of users globally. This rollout is part of Google's broader initiative to phase out third-party cookies entirely by the second half of 2024, marking a significant shift in online privacy and digital advertising practices.Key Aspects of Google's Update: Testing of Tracking Protection: The new tracking protection tool will be rolled out to a small percentage of Chrome users, starting with 1% globally. This feature is designed to limit third-party cookies, which have been a fundamental part of the web for nearly three decades. Impact on Websites and Advertisers: Websites that depend on third-party cookies for advertising or other purposes might face challenges due to this rollout. It's crucial for site owners to prepare in advance for a web without third-party cookies. Google's Privacy Sandbox Initiative: This initiative aims to develop technology that safeguards online privacy while providing tools for successful digital businesses. The primary objectives are to phase out third-party cookies and reduce cross-site tracking, maintaining free online content and services. For small business owners, especially those relying on digital advertising, this update signals a need to adapt to new privacy-focused online practices. The phasing out of third-party cookies will require a shift in how businesses target and reach their audiences online. Preparing for these changes is essential to ensure continued effectiveness in digital marketing strategies.3. Google's Local Search Algorithm Update: Prioritizing Open Businesses - On December 16, 2023, Google announced an update to its local search ranking algorithm, emphasizing the 'openness' signal for non-navigational queries. This change means that Google now ranks open businesses higher in local search results than those that are closed, particularly during the business's operating hours. This update is a response to the evolving needs of users who are increasingly looking for immediate services or products.Key Aspects of the Update: Strengthened Openness Signal: Google's local search algorithm now considers whether a business is currently open as a more significant factor in ranking for local pack rankings. This change applies to non-navigational queries, where users search for types of services rather than specific brands. Impact on Business Visibility: Businesses that are open at the time of a user's search query are more likely to appear higher in search results. This update benefits businesses that operate 24/7, as they remain visible even when competitors are closed. Advice Against Manipulating Business Hours: Google's Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, advised against changing business hours to appear open 24/7 unless true. This manipulation could lead to penalties or adjustments in the ranking signal in the future. For small business owners, this update underscores the importance of accurately listing business hours on Google. Ensuring your Google Business Profile reflects true open hours can improve your visibility in local search results, especially during your operating hours. This change can significantly impact customer footfall and inquiries, making it crucial for businesses to update their profiles accurately.4. Google Confirms: Publishing Content in Both PDF and HTML Formats is Acceptable - On December 13, 2023, Google's John Mueller clarified a common query regarding the publication of content in both PDF and HTML formats. In a recent AskGooglebot video, Mueller confirmed that it's perfectly fine to publish content in both formats, as Google's systems can index them separately, even if the content is technically a duplicate.Key Insights from John Mueller's Statement: Independent Indexing of PDF and HTML: Google can find and index both PDF and HTML pages separately. This means that even if the content in both formats is the same, they can be shown independently in search results. Managing Duplicates: If Google's systems identify the content as duplicates, they usually defer to the HTML page version. However, website owners have control over this through various methods like using a 'noindex' HTTP header or robots meta tag to block indexing of one format, or using the 'rel=canonical' link element to indicate a preference. Practical Use Cases: Mueller highlighted that the choice of format often depends on what the audience prefers or requires. For example, restaurant menus are best suited as HTML pages for mobile viewing, while forms or guidebooks might be more practical in PDF format. Google's stance on publishing content in both PDF and HTML formats offers businesses an opportunity to diversify their content strategy. By understanding how Google indexes and handles these formats, business owners can make informed decisions about content publication, ensuring their information reaches the audience effectively in their preferred format.5. Google Takes Action Against Parasite SEO - On December 11, 2023, Google's Search Liaison Danny Sullivan announced that the search company has taken steps to address the issue of 'parasite SEO.' This term refers to the practice of leveraging high-authority third-party websites to rank content that otherwise wouldn't perform well in search results. Sullivan indicated that while the specific change related to the upcoming helpful content update isn't live yet, Google has implemented other measures to combat this problem.Key Points from Google's Announcement: Addressing Third-Party Content Abuse: Google has enhanced its systems to better handle third-party content that falls under the category of parasite SEO. This includes content hosted on reputable sites but created primarily for SEO manipulation. Ongoing Efforts: Sullivan emphasized that Google will continue to refine its approach to dealing with such issues, indicating an ongoing commitment to maintaining the integrity of search results. Advice for Content Creators: The advice given by Google regarding third-party content remains relevant. Creators are encouraged to focus on producing helpful, people-first content to be recognized as valuable by Google's algorithms. Impact on Business Owners: This development is particularly important for small business owners who rely on organic search traffic. Understanding and adhering to Google's guidelines is crucial for maintaining visibility and credibility in search results. Google's proactive steps to address parasite SEO highlight the importance of ethical SEO practices. For business owners, this serves as a reminder to focus on creating high-quality, user-centric content rather than resorting to manipulative tactics. Staying informed about these changes and aligning with Google's guidelines is key to achieving long-term success in search engine rankings.6. Googlebot Crawling Experiment: Surprising Insights for Website Owners - On December 14, 2023, an intriguing experiment conducted by technical SEO expert Kristina Azarenko revealed the impact of disabling Googlebot from crawling a website. This experiment, which ran from October 5 to November 7, offers valuable insights for business owners about the importance of Googlebot crawling and its effects on website performance.Key Findings from the Experiment: Impact on Favicon and Video Search Results: The website's favicon was removed from Google search results, and video search results took a significant hit, which still hadn't recovered post-experiment. Stability and Volatility in Search Positions: While positions remained relatively stable, there was slightly more volatility in Canada. Slight Decrease in Traffic: The website only saw a slight decrease in traffic during the experiment. Increase in Reported Indexed Pages: Despite pages having 'noindex' meta robots tags, they ended up being indexed because Google couldn't crawl the site to see those tags. Multiple Alerts in Google Search Console (GSC): The site received multiple alerts in GSC, such as 'indexed though blocked by robots.txt' and 'blocked by robots.txt.' This experiment highlights the critical role of Googlebot in maintaining and updating a website's presence in search results. For business owners, it underscores the importance of ensuring that Googlebot can crawl their site effectively. Any impediments to crawling can lead to unexpected issues, such as outdated information in search results or the indexing of unintended pages.7. Google Ads Unveils Expanded Video Reach Campaigns - On December 12, 2023, Google Ads announced a significant enhancement to Video Reach Campaigns (VRC), offering businesses more formats to maximize their brand awareness on YouTube. This update reflects the evolving ways people engage with YouTube, from mobile Shorts to TV screen browsing, presenting brands with diverse opportunities to connect with their audience.Key Features of the Update: Expanded Video Formats: Video Reach Campaigns now include the ability to scale video creatives to in-feed and Shorts, in addition to in-stream ads. This expansion allows advertisers to reach viewers across various YouTube formats, increasing the potential for brand exposure. AI-Powered Efficiency: Leveraging Google's AI, multiformat ads in VRC deliver enhanced reach and efficiency. Testing has shown that campaigns opting into all three inventory types (in-feed, in-stream, and Shorts) achieved an average of 54% more reach at 42% lower CPM (Cost Per Mille) compared to in-stream-only campaigns. Case Study - Bayer's Midol Campaign: Bayer utilized VRC for their Midol multi symptom relief campaign, opting into in-feed, in-stream, and Shorts ads. A head-to-head test against in-stream-only VRC revealed that the multiformat approach delivered 30% more reach at a 45% lower CPM.8. Google Ads Enhances Business Operation Verification Process - On December 12, 2023, Google Ads announced the rollout of a comprehensive guide to assist businesses in completing their Business Operation Verification. This new resource aims to clarify the verification process, providing detailed explanations and examples to help advertisers understand and successfully navigate the verification requirements.Key Features of the Update: Step-by-Step Guide: The guide offers a clear, step-by-step explanation of the Business Operation Verification process, including reasons for verification failure and example scenarios where verification might be required. Easy Accessibility: The guide is accessible through the billing icon in Google Ads and via in-account prompts, ensuring that advertisers can easily find and use the resource. Clarification on Verification Requirements: The document outlines specific scenarios and reasons why a business might need to undergo verification, helping advertisers to better prepare and complete the process efficiently. Google's Commitment to Transparency: This update reflects Google's ongoing efforts to maintain a secure and transparent advertising environment. By providing additional information to advertisers, Google aims to enhance the overall experience and effectiveness of the advertiser verification program. Google Ads' introduction of a detailed guide for Business Operation Verification is a proactive step towards supporting advertisers in meeting compliance standards. For business owners, this resource is a valuable tool in optimizing their advertising efforts and maintaining a credible presence on Google's platform.9. Meta's Threads App Embraces Decentralization with ActivityPub Integration - On December 13, 2023, Meta announced a significant step towards decentralization and interoperability for its Threads app by integrating with ActivityPub, a decentralized social networking protocol. This move allows Threads content and profiles to be accessible via other Fediverse-based apps, marking a notable shift in Meta's approach to social media.Key Aspects of Meta's Integration with ActivityPub: Threads Content Viewable on Mastodon: The integration enables Threads content to be viewable on Mastodon and other ActivityPub-based systems, effectively plugging Threads into the Fediverse concept. The Fediverse Concept: The Fediverse is a collection of independent, federated servers working together to facilitate open social media access. It aims to reduce centralized control, allowing each server to establish its own parameters and algorithms. Meta's Shift Towards Decentralization: Historically, Meta has been known for its 'walled garden' approach. This integration represents a significant move towards decentralization, potentially connecting Threads content to a range of tools and platforms that utilize the ActivityPub standard. Interoperability and Data Portability: The integration aligns with Meta's commitment to data portability and control over content. It also facilitates a broader connection into the Mastodon network, expanding Threads' audience reach and engagement. Meta's integration of Threads with ActivityPub is a bold step towards a more open and interconnected social media ecosystem. For business owners, it presents an opportunity to leverage the expanded reach and interoperability offered by this integration, potentially enhancing their social media strategy and audience engagement.
Episode 188 contains the Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of Nov 20-24, 2023.1. Overlooked Details That Make or Break Your SEO - Search engines look at many factors when determining how to rank web pages in search results. While flashy new SEO trends come and go, focusing on foundational website quality and technical basics tends to pay off more in the long run. Google's John Mueller, Martin Splitt, and Gary Illyes recently delved into the concept of site quality in a podcast, offering valuable insights for business owners and digital marketers. Their discussion demystifies site quality, emphasizing its simplicity and practicality. Site Quality is Not Complex: The Google experts encourage reading site quality documentation, asserting that understanding and achieving site quality is not as complicated as it may seem. Gary Illyes remarks, "It's not rocket science," suggesting that the basics of site quality are accessible to everyone. No Specific Tools for Site Quality: Unlike technical issues, there are no direct tools to measure site quality. Traffic metrics may indicate changes, but they don't pinpoint specific quality issues. This means business owners need to assess their content's effectiveness and relevance themselves. Reframing the Approach: Illyes advises reframing the problem by focusing on whether a page delivers what it promises to users. This user-centric approach is key to improving site quality. It's about creating content that helps users achieve their goals. Quality in Terms of Value Addition: Adding value is crucial for site quality. In competitive search queries, it's not enough to be relevant; your content must offer something unique and valuable that stands out from what's already available. Mueller explains that simply replicating what's in the search results doesn't add value. Instead, aim for content that exceeds the existing baseline. Breaking into Competitive SERPs: Illyes suggests an indirect approach to compete in tough SERPs. Choose realistic battles and focus on areas where you can genuinely offer something different and better. In summary, Google's experts highlight the importance of user-focused content, uniqueness, and value addition in achieving site quality. For business owners, this means focusing on creating content that genuinely helps users and offers something beyond what's already out there.2. Master the SEO Basics: Google's Advice for Effective Website Optimization - In the ever-evolving world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), it's easy to get caught up in the latest trends and advanced tactics. However, Google's Search Relations team, featuring Martin Splitt, Gary Illyes, and John Mueller, emphasized the importance of mastering basic technical SEO issues first. This advice is particularly relevant for business owners who might not be deeply versed in the intricacies of SEO.Technical SEO involves optimizing the architecture and infrastructure of a website to enhance its crawling and indexing by search engines. This is crucial because, no matter how innovative your SEO strategies are, if search engines like Google can't properly crawl or render your site, your efforts won't yield the desired results. Illyes highlights the importance of ensuring that your content is accessible and useful, as these are key factors that Google considers.Another significant point discussed is the common misconception that high traffic automatically means high-quality pages. Mueller advises looking beyond just traffic metrics and focusing on user engagement and satisfaction. These are more accurate indicators of a page's usefulness and quality. It's important to focus on relevant queries and track lower-level pages to better understand a site's performance.The key to creating high-quality content is to focus on what helps people achieve their goals when they visit your page. This could mean providing comprehensive answers to common questions, solving problems, or sharing engaging stories. Illyes suggests that quality might be simpler than most think – it's about writing content that genuinely helps your audience.For business owners, the takeaway is clear: before diving into complex SEO strategies, ensure that your website's technical foundation is solid. Also, prioritize creating content that is not just high in volume but high in value to your audience. By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve your website's SEO performance.3. Rethinking SEO Success: Beyond Traffic Metrics - In episode 66 of Google's "Search Off the Record" podcast, Google's John Mueller and Martin Splitt discussed a crucial aspect of SEO: the real value of traffic metrics. The conversation highlighted a common misconception in the SEO community—equating high traffic with success. While many SEO professionals boast about traffic increases, Mueller and Splitt emphasized the importance of focusing on more meaningful goals, like conversions and business impact.The podcast shed light on the tendency of SEOs to prioritize traffic statistics over Return on Investment (ROI) or the actual impact on earnings. Mueller speculated that this might be due to the delayed effects of SEO efforts on tangible business results. He pointed out that while traffic data is useful, it can be misleading if not analyzed in the context of its relevance and contribution to business goals.The discussion also touched on the different types of traffic and their varying values. Not all traffic contributes equally to sales or brand building; some may be irrelevant or non-converting. Therefore, understanding the nature of the traffic and its actual impact on sales or business growth is crucial.Mueller and Splitt's conversation serves as a reminder for SEO professionals to align their strategies with broader business objectives, rather than just chasing traffic numbers. It calls for a more nuanced approach to SEO, where the success is measured not just by the quantity of traffic, but by its quality and contribution to the business's bottom line.4. Google Clarifies the SEO Value of 404 Pages - Google recently shed light on the SEO implications of 404 error pages, offering valuable insights for business owners and digital marketers. A 404 error occurs when a page on a website cannot be found. Contrary to common belief, these pages can have a positive impact on a site's SEO if managed correctly.Google's John Mueller explained that 404 pages are a normal part of the web. They signal to search engines that a page no longer exists, which is crucial for maintaining a clean and up-to-date site structure. Importantly, 404 errors do not directly harm a site's overall ranking in search results.For business owners, this means that occasional 404 errors are not a cause for alarm. However, it's important to monitor these errors and ensure they are appropriate. For instance, if a product is no longer available, a 404 page is suitable. But if the page has moved, a 301 redirect to the new location is better for both users and search engines.Understanding the role of 404 pages in SEO is vital for maintaining a healthy website. It's about balancing user experience and search engine signals. Regularly checking for 404 errors and addressing them appropriately can contribute to a more effective online presence.This insight from Google highlights the importance of website maintenance and understanding the nuances of SEO. It's a reminder that not all errors are detrimental and that proper management of these pages can support a site's SEO strategy.5. AI in Content Creation: A Tool, Not a Threat - Google Search Relations team, including Martin Splitt, Gary Illyes, and John Mueller, discussed the role of AI in content creation. They view AI as a valuable aid to human creativity, not a replacement. The team emphasized that AI is excellent for certain tasks but not a catch-all solution. They humorously noted how technology, like Google Plus, can quickly become outdated, highlighting the rapid evolution of tech.The Google team believes AI can be particularly useful for overcoming writer's block or meeting tight deadlines. AI tools can suggest frameworks, phrases, and variations to speed up the writing process. However, they stressed that AI should be used responsibly and as a complement to human creativity, not as a substitute. This perspective encourages a balanced approach to AI in content creation, viewing it as a tool to enhance human efforts rather than overshadow them.Key Takeaways: AI as a Creative Aid: AI is seen as a tool to enhance human creativity, especially useful in overcoming writer's block or accelerating the writing process. Balanced Perspective: The Google team advocates for a responsible use of AI, emphasizing its role as a supplement to human creativity rather than a replacement. Rapid Technological Evolution: The discussion also touches on the fast-paced nature of technology, using Google Plus as an example of how quickly tech can become outdated. 6. Google's Guidance On SEO Tools - Google's John Mueller addressed a query regarding the use of SEO tools for content writing, specifically in the context of a Vietnamese travel agency blog. The question revolved around whether to include Vietnamese accents in keywords, as suggested by an SEO tool, considering the primary audience comprised American and Australian tourists unlikely to use these accents in searches.Mueller's response emphasized the importance of writing in the language of the audience, particularly for headers and body text. He advised not to depend entirely on SEO tools for writing guidance but to conduct independent research. Mueller suggested examining the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) with and without accents (e.g., "quảng binh" vs. "quang binh") to understand better what ranks higher and is more relevant to the target audience.The key takeaway from Mueller's advice is the significance of not relying solely on SEO tools. These tools are based on the current knowledge and trends in SEO, which can be limited and sometimes outdated. They were developed based on what SEOs believed to be effective at the time, such as keyword densities and reciprocal linking strategies, which eventually became less effective.Mueller's guidance underscores the dynamic nature of SEO and the need for writers and marketers to use their judgment and stay updated with current best practices. While SEO tools can provide valuable insights, they should not dictate content creation. Instead, a balance between tool-guided insights and personal research and understanding of the audience should drive content strategy.This advice is particularly relevant for small business owners and digital marketing enthusiasts who aim to create content that resonates with their audience while also performing well in search engines. Understanding the limitations of SEO tools and the importance of audience-centric content can lead to more effective and engaging digital marketing strategies.7. Follower Count: Not a Google Search Ranking Factor - There's a common belief among some digital marketers and business owners that a higher number of followers on social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram could positively influence their Google search rankings. This assumption stems from the idea that social signals, such as likes and followers, might be interpreted by Google as indicators of a site's popularity or credibility.Google has explicitly stated that follower counts on social media are not a factor in determining search rankings. This clarification is significant because it helps refocus SEO strategies on more impactful practices. Google's search algorithms are complex and take into account numerous factors, but social media follower counts are not among them.For small business owners and digital marketing enthusiasts, this information is vital. It means that while having a robust social media presence can be beneficial for brand awareness and customer engagement, it does not directly contribute to how well your website ranks in Google searches. Therefore, efforts should be more strategically directed towards proven SEO practices like content quality, website optimization, and building authoritative backlinks.Key Takeaways: Social media is valuable for engagement and brand presence, not for SEO in terms of follower counts. Focus on creating high-quality, relevant content and optimizing your website for a better user experience. Building a strong backlink profile from reputable sources can significantly impact your Google search rankings. Understanding what does and does not impact your website's ranking in search results is key to effective SEO. This clarification from Google serves as a reminder to focus on the core aspects of SEO that genuinely make a difference, rather than misconceptions like the impact of social media follower counts.8. Google to Remove Crawl Rate Tool from Search Console in 2024 - Google has announced that it will be deprecating the Crawl Rate Limiter legacy tool within Google Search Console on January 8, 2024. This decision comes as Google believes the tool has become less useful due to advancements in its crawling logic and the availability of other tools for publishers.The Crawl Rate Limiter allowed website owners to communicate to Google how often to crawl their site. It was particularly useful for sites experiencing server load issues due to frequent crawling by Googlebot. However, Google has improved its crawling algorithms to automatically adjust based on a site's server response. For instance, if a site consistently returns HTTP 500 status codes or if the response time significantly increases, Googlebot will automatically slow down its crawling.Gary Illyes from Google explained that the tool's usefulness has diminished over time. He noted that the tool's effect on crawling speed was slow and it was rarely used. With its removal, Google will set a new minimum crawling speed, which will be comparable to the old crawl rate limits, especially for sites with low search interest.For website owners experiencing issues with Googlebot crawling, Google recommends referring to a specific help document and using a report form to communicate any concerns.As a business owner, it's crucial to stay informed about changes in Google's tools and services, as they can impact your website's visibility and performance. The removal of the Crawl Rate Limiter tool signifies Google's confidence in its automated systems to manage site crawling efficiently. However, it also means that you should be more vigilant about monitoring your site's performance and be ready to use alternative methods to communicate any crawling-related issues to Google.9. Google Removes Key Robots.txt FAQs - Google recently removed its Robots.txt FAQ help document from its search developer documentation. This change has raised questions among webmasters and SEO professionals about the implications for website crawling and indexing.Robots.txt is a file used by websites to communicate with web crawlers about which parts of the site should or should not be processed or scanned. Google's FAQ page on this topic was a valuable resource for understanding how to use this file effectively. Its removal means that some specific guidance and clarifications are no longer directly available from Google.Key Takeaways from the Removed FAQs: A website doesn't necessarily need a Robots.txt file; without it, Googlebot will generally crawl and index the site normally. The Robots.txt file is recommended for controlling crawler traffic to prevent server issues, not for hiding private content. For controlling how individual pages appear in search results, use the Robots meta tag or X-Robots-Tag HTTP header. Changes in the Robots.txt file can take up to a day to be reflected in Google's cache and subsequently affect search results. Blocking Google from crawling a page using Robots.txt doesn't guarantee removal from search results. For explicit blocking, use the 'noindex' tag. As a business owner, it's important to understand that while the specific FAQs are no longer available, the fundamental principles of using Robots.txt remain unchanged. It's crucial to ensure that your website's Robots.txt file is correctly configured to guide search engines effectively. Remember, incorrect or unsupported rules in this file are typically ignored by crawlers, so accuracy is key.The removal of the Robots.txt FAQs by Google underscores the dynamic nature of SEO and the importance of staying informed about best practices. Business owners should consult with SEO professionals or refer to updated resources to ensure their website's Robots.txt file aligns with their digital marketing goals.10. Google Ads to Update Location Asset Requirements: What You Need to Know - Google Ads is set to update its location asset requirements in December. A location asset in Google Ads is a feature that allows advertisers to include specific location details, like addresses and phone numbers, in their ads. This is particularly useful for businesses with physical locations, as it helps potential customers find them easily.The upcoming change aims to clarify which types of location assets are not allowed, helping advertisers better understand the restrictions. The update will specifically address locations that are closed, not recognized by Google, or do not match the business running the ad. Additionally, assets with products or services that do not match the specified location will be disallowed.This update is significant for business owners and digital marketers. Using location assets effectively in ads can significantly boost a business's visibility and conversion potential. However, not adhering to these updated requirements could result in leaving out vital details, potentially harming your return on investment.11. Microsoft Advertising's Last-Minute Shopper Insights - As the holiday shopping season reaches its peak, Microsoft Advertising's Festive Season Marketing Playbook offers valuable insights for advertisers to capitalize on consumer spending. Here's a concise summary: Timing of Revenue Peaks: Despite some advertisers not yet seeing a peak in revenue, historical trends show significant spikes around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year, a 3-4% increase in holiday spending in the US is anticipated, potentially reaching up to $966.6 billion. The UK and Germany are also expected to see similar high spending, highlighting the global impact of the season. Shift in Consumer Behavior: A notable trend this year is the increased emphasis on deal-seeking. Over two-thirds of US shoppers are spending more time looking for coupons and deals, especially around the Cyber5 period (Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Sunday, and Cyber Monday). Advertisers need to adapt to this trend and align their strategies accordingly. The Central Role of Search in Purchasing Decisions: Search remains a crucial component in guiding both online and in-store purchases. It's a pivotal tool for discovering new retailers, conducting pre-purchase research, and comparing prices. For example, Gen X consumers heavily rely on search to find the best prices. In the EMEA region, deal-seekers spend 33% more time searching than average shoppers, offering a significant opportunity for targeted advertising. Post-Cyber5 Opportunities: Search volumes remain high even after the Cyber5 period, presenting a continued opportunity for advertisers. Many holiday clicks and conversions happen during Cyber5 with lower cost per acquisition (CPA), so maintaining active advertising campaigns during this period can yield substantial benefits. Planning for Returns: The post-holiday return period is another critical aspect for businesses. Search volumes for returns peak shortly after Christmas and continue into the new year. Preparing for this influx and adjusting marketing strategies can help mitigate potential losses and maintain customer satisfaction. Strategic Holiday Planning Checklist: Microsoft suggests launching campaigns early, using remarketing and dynamic search ads, emphasizing value messages, leveraging AI for personalized offerings, and utilizing store support for profitable online growth.
Episode 185 contains the Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of Oct 30 - Nov 3, 2023.1. Mobile-First Indexing: Google's 7-Year Mission Accomplished! - Imagine a world where your smartphone is the key to unlocking the vast potential of the internet. That's the vision Google has pursued for nearly seven years, and they've just announced a significant milestone: the completion of mobile-first indexing. This means that Google now primarily uses the mobile version of content for indexing and ranking across all websites.Back in 2016, Google embarked on this journey, recognizing the shift towards mobile internet usage. By 2018, half of the websites in Google's search results were indexed this way. Fast forward to today, and Google has officially declared the process complete. What does this mean for you? It's simple: if your website isn't optimized for mobile, you're not speaking the same language as Google's search engine—and potentially missing out on valuable traffic.For the few sites that still don't work on mobile devices, Google will continue to use its legacy desktop crawler, but this is a temporary measure. The message is clear: mobile optimization is no longer optional; it's essential.As a business owner, this update is a call to action. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, with responsive design and content that shines on smaller screens. This isn't just about staying in Google's good graces—it's about providing your customers with the best experience, no matter how they find you.Google's update is a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of the web and the importance of keeping pace with these changes. As mobile-first indexing becomes the norm, it's an opportunity to review your online presence and ensure that your business is set up for success in a mobile-centric world.P.S. Don't let your website get left behind in the desktop era. Embrace mobile optimization and open the door to a world of opportunities.2. Google Launches Nov'23 Core Update - Google has announced its November 2023 Core Update. This update is the latest in a series of adjustments that Google makes to its search algorithms, which can significantly impact where your site appears in search results.The November update is particularly noteworthy because it's the fourth broad core algorithm update of the year, following closely on the heels of the October 2023 Core Update. These updates are part of Google's ongoing efforts to improve the searcher's experience by providing the most relevant and high-quality results.What's new with this update? Google has improved a different core system than the one adjusted last month. This means that even if you've made recent changes to your site, you might still see fluctuations in your search rankings. Google's guidance remains the same: focus on creating high-quality content that provides value to your users.If your site's rankings are negatively impacted by an update, Google advises that there aren't specific actions to take to recover. However, they do offer a list of questions to consider if your site is hit by a core update. It's also possible to see a bit of recovery between core updates, but the most significant changes typically occur after subsequent updates. In conclusion, Google's Core Updates are a reminder of the importance of having a robust content strategy that prioritizes user experience. By focusing on creating valuable, high-quality content, you're more likely to weather the storm of algorithm changes and maintain a strong presence in search results.3. According to Google, Small Websites Can Win in the Ever-Evolving Search Landscape - In the digital age, where the internet seems dominated by large players, it's easy to wonder if small websites still have a fighting chance. Danny Sullivan, Google's Search Liaison with over 25 years in the search space, shared an encouraging perspective that's vital for you as a business owner to understand.Search engines have evolved tremendously since the pre-Google era, and with each update, concerns arise about the visibility of small sites. Yet, history has shown us that small sites have not only survived but can thrive and become leaders in their niches. Sullivan himself has witnessed this growth firsthand, having run two successful small sites before joining Google.The key takeaway? Google's goal is to reward great content, regardless of the site's size. They are committed to the success of the open web ecosystem, where quality content leads to satisfaction all around—for searchers, content creators, and the search engines themselves.However, the web is dynamic, with changing content and shifting user expectations. Google continuously adapts, striving to improve search results. This includes recognizing valuable contributions from various sources, including forums and personal experiences, ensuring a diverse mix of results.For you, the message is clear: don't get caught up in an "expert arms race" or create content solely with Google's algorithms in mind. Instead, focus on what benefits your readers. Author bios, for instance, should be crafted for your audience, not for search engine optimization. Quality content that serves your readers' expectations aligns naturally with Google's ranking principles.Sullivan emphasizes that there's no checklist for success. Instead, he points to guidelines that help assess if content is genuinely people-first, such as providing original information or analysis. If your content consistently delivers value and leaves visitors thinking, "Wow, that was great. I learned something. That was helpful," you're on the right track.Remember, it's not about being labeled as an "expert" or having the perfect About page—it's about creating content that resonates with and serves your audience. As a business owner, focusing on delivering great content is your key to thriving in the search landscape.P.S. For more insights on creating helpful content, visit Google's guide here: Creating Helpful Content.4. Unpacking the Real Impact of Keyword Stuffing on Your Site - In the realm of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), "keyword stuffing" has been a buzzword for all the wrong reasons. But what does it truly mean for your website's content? Danny Sullivan, Google's Search Liaison, sheds light on this topic, clarifying that keyword stuffing isn't about the number of times a word is used. Instead, it's about the context and quality of your writing.Keyword stuffing refers to cramming a webpage with keywords or numbers to manipulate a site's ranking in Google search results. This often results in content that sounds unnatural or out of context. For example, repeating "unlimited app store credits" to an excessive degree can be flagged as keyword stuffing. It's not the repetition per se that's the issue; it's when the repetition leads to non-sensible patterns and unhelpful writing.Sullivan advises against writing with Google's algorithms as your primary audience. Phrases shouldn't be repeated unnaturally just to ensure Google "gets it." Instead, focus on how people consume content. Google's sophisticated language analysis can understand meaning and concepts without the need for over-repetition. The best practice is to write naturally, as if you're explaining something to a person, not a search engine.This insight is crucial for you as a business owner. The content on your website should be crafted for your customers, providing them with value and a pleasant reading experience. If your content is engaging, informative, and written in a natural tone, you're already aligning with Google's preference for high-quality, user-focused content.Remember, the goal is not to outsmart search engines but to create content that genuinely serves your audience. By doing so, you'll naturally improve your site's SEO and foster a trustworthy relationship with your customers.5. Write for Your Readers, Not for Google - In the digital world, where Google's algorithms can feel like an enigma, Danny Sullivan, Google's Search Liaison, offers a simple yet profound piece of advice: "Stop thinking 'What should I do for Google?' when writing content." Instead, focus on what your readers need and want. This shift in perspective is not just refreshing; it's crucial for creating content that resonates with your audience and, ironically, performs well on Google too.Sullivan's guidance comes as a reminder that the content you produce should cater to the interests and queries of your readers, not to the perceived demands of search engines. The essence of his message is to prioritize the quality and usefulness of your content over SEO tactics. Google's ranking systems are designed to reward content that serves readers well, which is why your primary goal should be to address the needs and questions of your audience.This approach is more than just a best practice; it's a strategic move in the ever-evolving landscape of SEO. By focusing on your readers, you're likely to naturally include the keywords and topics they're searching for, which aligns with how Google assesses and ranks pages. Sullivan reiterates this point, encouraging content creators to write in a way that's most helpful for their audience.For you, this means taking a step back from the technicalities of SEO and asking yourself: What information does my audience seek? How can I provide value in a way that's engaging and informative? The answers to these questions will guide you in crafting content that stands out, not just to search engines, but more importantly, to the people you aim to serve.In conclusion, let go of the "What should I do for Google?" mindset. Instead, embrace a reader-first approach to content creation. It's a strategy that will serve your business well, building trust with your audience and, as a result, with search engines too.6. Vintage or Outdated? Google's Take on Old Content's Value - Understanding the importance of content relevance is crucial for any business owner. The digital space is often seen as a race to stay current, but Sullivan's insights suggest that the true value lies in the content's quality and utility to the reader, not its publication date. He states, "Just because something is older doesn't make it unhelpful." This is a significant point, especially for news publishers and content creators who worry about the need to constantly update their articles to maintain relevance.The conversation arose from a question about the feasibility of news publishers updating old articles. Sullivan's response was clear: if the content is written with the audience in mind and remains relevant, it doesn't lose its value over time. This perspective is part of Google's broader guidance, which emphasizes creating content that prioritizes the reader's experience.For you, this means that the evergreen content on your site—those pieces that provide timeless value—can continue to serve your audience and contribute to your site's authority. It's a reminder to focus on quality over quantity and to consider the lasting impact of what you publish.In summary, don't rush to discard or rewrite your older content just because of its date. Evaluate its ongoing relevance and usefulness to your audience. If it still answers questions, solves problems, or provides insight, it remains a valuable asset to your website.7. The Truth About Schema: Does It Really Boost Your Google Ranking? - Are you looking to improve your website's ranking on Google? You might have heard that adding schema, or structured data markup, to your pages can give you a leg up in search results. However, Danny Sullivan, Google's Search Liaison, has clarified a common misconception: schema does not directly improve your site's ranking.Schema markup is a code that you put on your website to help search engines return more informative results for users. While it's true that schema can enhance the way your page appears in search results—potentially increasing click-through rates—it's important to understand that it doesn't give your page a ranking boost. Sullivan emphasizes, "Using schema doesn't give you a ranking boost. It can help you be eligible for certain displays or enhancements, but it doesn't somehow boost you to the top of results."This clarification is crucial for business owners like you who are investing time and resources into SEO strategies. It's easy to get caught up in the myriad of tips and tricks out there, but Google's stance is clear: schema is about aiding search engines in understanding your content, not about climbing the search result ladder.Moreover, if your site violates Google's schema guidelines, it won't impact your ranking. Instead, it may disqualify your site from being eligible for those rich results or enhancements that schema can provide. Sullivan's message is a reminder to focus on creating quality content first and foremost. The use of schema should be viewed as a tool for improving user experience, not as a shortcut to higher rankings.As a business owner, it's essential to align your SEO efforts with practices that genuinely help your audience. By focusing on delivering valuable, high-quality content, and using schema as it's intended—to enhance user understanding—you're setting your site up for long-term success.Remember, the goal is to make your content helpful and accessible to your audience. Schema can contribute to this by making your content more understandable to search engines, which in turn helps users find the great content you're providing.8. Boost Your Video's Visibility: Google's New Structured Data Guidelines - Google has updated its guidelines for video structured data with new recommendations that could enhance your video content's visibility in search results. Structured data is a standardized format for providing information about a page and classifying the page content. For videos, this means using specific code to communicate details to Google about the video content on your site, which can then be displayed in rich search results.The key change is that Google now requires not just the date but the exact time a video was published and also when the video expires, using the ISO 8601 format. This update aims to make the publication time more precise, which can be crucial for timely content. Google suggests including timezone information with this data; otherwise, it defaults to the timezone of Googlebot, which may not align with your local time.If you ignore these new recommendations, the only immediate consequence is the potential for a timezone mismatch. However, it's always wise to present structured data as Google expects. Think of it as fine-tuning your content for optimal performance – you're giving Google exactly what it's looking for, which can only benefit your site.In summary, take the time to update your video content with the precise publication time and timezone. It's a simple step that aligns with Google's best practices and could make a noticeable difference in your content's online presence.9. Google's Sep'18 Top Money-Making Search Queries Revealed - Have you ever wondered which search queries are the golden tickets in the vast lottery of Google searches? A recent revelation from an ongoing antitrust trial has shed light on this very topic, and the insights are invaluable for any business looking to capitalize on Google's search engine.For a single week in September 2018, terms like "iPhone," "auto insurance," and "cheap flights" were the most profitable for Google in the United States. This information, previously shrouded in secrecy due to Google's tight-lipped policies on revenue data, was disclosed in a heavily redacted slide. While the exact figures remain undisclosed, the list of terms provides a fascinating glimpse into user behavior and market trends.Why does this matter to you? Understanding these high-revenue search terms can inform your digital marketing strategy. If your business is related to any of these lucrative categories, there's a clear opportunity to align your online content and advertising efforts with what users are actively seeking.The top revenue-driving searches ranged from tech products to insurance and entertainment services, indicating diverse areas where Google users are willing to spend their money. This diversity suggests that there's room for businesses of all kinds to find their niche in the search engine landscape.In conclusion, while the specifics of Google's earnings from these searches are not public, the takeaway for you is the importance of targeting the right keywords in your SEO and PPC campaigns. By focusing on terms related to your business that have proven profitable, you can potentially increase your visibility to high-intent customers and drive more revenue through your online channels.10. Google Ads Click Tracker Policy - In the digital age, tracking the performance of your online ads is crucial for understanding customer behavior and maximizing your return on investment. Google Ads has recently updated its policies, and there's an important change you should be aware of: the requirement to use certified click trackers.A click tracker is a tool that records clicks on your ads, providing valuable data on how users interact with your advertising. Google has now mandated that, for accounts using click trackers for the first time after September 11, 2023, only certified click trackers will be accepted. Ads using non-certified trackers may be disapproved. This policy will be fully enforced over the next 12 to 18 months, with the timing depending on factors like the advertiser's history and account activity.Why is this important for you? Compliance with Google's policies ensures that your ads remain active and effective. Using a certified click tracker not only aligns with Google's standards but also guarantees that the data you collect is reliable and actionable.If you're currently using a third-party click-tracking service, it's time to check if it's on Google's approved list. If not, you'll need to switch to a certified provider or risk having your ads disapproved. This may seem daunting, but it's a step towards more transparent and trustworthy ad tracking.For those who provide click-tracking services, Google has opened applications for certification. Meeting their guidelines means you can continue to serve businesses like yours without interruption.
Episode 183 contains the important Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of Oct 16-20, 2023.1. Microsoft's New Automated Bidding Features for Your Business! - Microsoft Advertising has rolled out two automated bidding strategies, Target CPA and Maximize Conversions, to all advertisers. These features aim to simplify the advertising process and are now available in all regions where Microsoft's Audience Ads are served. Automated bidding strategies help you optimize your ad campaigns without constant monitoring, freeing up your time for other business tasks.Target CPA allows you to set a cost-per-acquisition goal, and the system will automatically adjust your bids to meet that target. Maximize Conversions, on the other hand, aims to get you as many conversions as possible within your set budget. Both strategies offer flexibility in budgeting and performance measurement, putting you in control while also reducing manual effort.Microsoft's Audience Ads are native display ads that leverage Microsoft's data insights to target your desired audience effectively. These ads appear on various platforms like MSN, Outlook, and more. 2. Google's October 2023 Core and Spam Updates Completed! - Google has finished rolling out two significant updates that you should be aware of: the October 2023 Core Update and the October 2023 Spam Update. These updates can affect your website's visibility on Google, so let's break it down.October 2023 Core Update: This update took almost 14 days to roll out completely, starting on October 5th and ending on October 19th. It had a significant impact on SEOs and websites, causing a lot of volatility in search rankings. The update is global and affects all types of content. If you've noticed changes in your website's performance, this could be why. Google hasn't specified what percentage of queries were impacted, but it's safe to say that the reach is wide.October 2023 Spam Update: This update started on October 4th and ended on October 20th. It targets spam techniques that violate Google's policies, particularly in languages like Turkish, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Hindi, and Chinese. If your website was affected, Google suggests reviewing its spam policies.Interestingly, these two updates overlapped, making it challenging to pinpoint which update caused changes to your website's rankings. If you're not involved in spammy practices and see changes, it's likely due to the Core Update. If you do engage in spam and notice alterations, it's probably the Spam Update.Why Should You Care? These updates can either elevate your website's visibility or push it down the search rankings. If you've been hit, it's crucial to adapt your strategies accordingly.Need Expert Guidance? If all this sounds overwhelming, we're here to help. Contact us for expert advice on navigating these Google updates seamlessly.3. YouTube's New AI-Powered "Spotlight Moments" - YouTube has launched an advertising feature called "Spotlight Moments," designed to boost your brand's visibility during key cultural events. This new feature uses artificial intelligence to place your brand's videos next to the most relevant and engaging content related to specific cultural moments, like Halloween or Christmas.Here's how it works: YouTube uses AI to identify popular videos related to these cultural moments. Your ads will then be served alongside this content, giving your brand a chance to shine during these high-traffic periods. All these videos will be curated into dynamically updated playlists on a sponsored hub called the "YouTube Culture Hub," which will also feature your brand's logo."Spotlight Moments" offers a unique opportunity to increase your brand's visibility and reach your target audience during times when they are most engaged. The big question, of course, is what kind of return on investment (ROI) you can expect from this new ad package.4. YouTube with New Product Targeting Features! - YouTube is introducing a new feature that allows creators to add timestamps to tagged products in their videos. This new feature aims to enhance your advertising strategy by targeting potential customers at the most opportune moments.When a timestamp is added to a tagged product, a shopping cart button appears at a time when viewer engagement is expected to be high. This precision in targeting can result in increased engagement and conversions.The feature is especially timely as YouTube plans to remove some ad controls for newly uploaded videos next month (removing individual ad controls for newly uploaded videos in November for the following ad types: Pre-roll, Post-roll, Skippable, and Non-skippable. Moving forward, creators will only be able to decide between displaying ads before or after a video, and whether to have this option on or off. If they turn this option on, YouTube will automatically decide which ad type to display as appropriate), giving creators and sponsors more control in the meantime.But that's not all. YouTube is also rolling out additional features to improve the shopping experience. One such feature allows creators to bulk tag affiliate products in video libraries, potentially earning revenue from older, high-traffic content. Additionally, a new reporting tool will soon be available in YouTube Studio to reveal which affiliate products are generating the most revenue for brands.5. Google Ads Certification Now Requires Video Recording: What You Need to Know! - Google Ads has recently updated its certification process, adding a new layer of scrutiny for those taking the exam. The new rules require test-takers to record themselves during the exam, among other requirements.Specifically, you'll need to take a picture of your photo ID, a picture of your face, and record a video of your test-taking environment. These steps are part of Google's efforts to ensure exam integrity. During the exam, a live proctor will monitor your activity via webcam and screen-sharing software. If any unauthorized behavior is noticed, the proctor will pause your exam and message you. The guidelines also prohibit the use of open books, notes, scratch paper, and even restroom breaks during the exam.The new rules have stirred some reactions in the community, with some finding them overly strict, especially for those who work from home and may have other people around. According to Google, the changes aim to maintain the credibility of the Google Ads certification, making it a more reliable indicator of expertise. However, I disagree with Google.6.
Prejuicios por el fondo de tus videollamadas / Intel Irlanda arranca los 4 nm / Raspberry Pi 5 por sorpresa / Redada de Nvidia en Francia / Diseña tu propia galaxia Patrocinador: Por fin llega a los cines The Creator, una de las películas de ciencia ficción más esperada. Se estrena el 29 de septiembre y que no te puedes perder por nada del mundo. Dirigida por Gareth Edwards (su primera película tras Rogue One), estoy seguro que The Creator será un clásico instantáneo. — ¿Has visto ya el trailer? Prejuicios por el fondo de tus videollamadas / Intel Irlanda arranca los 4 nm / Raspberry Pi 5 por sorpresa / Redada de Nvidia en Francia / Diseña tu propia galaxia
Episode 176 contains the notable Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of August 28 - Sep 1, 2023.1. Google Announces Lighthouse 11 with New Accessibility Audits, and LCP Bug Fix - Google PageSpeed Insights (PSI) is a free tool to help you find and fix issues slowing down your web application. PageSpeed Insights (PSI) reports on the user experience of a page on both mobile and desktop devices, and provides suggestions on how that page may be improved. An open-source tool called Lighthouse collects and analyzes lab data that's combined with real-world data from the Chrome User Experience Report dataset. Google has released the latest version (v.11) of Lighthouse, an open-source tool that helps developers and webmasters measure the performance of their websites. Lighthouse 11 includes a number of new features and improvements, including: New accessibility audits: Website accessibility is not currently a ranking factor and quite likely not a quality signal. However it's a best practice for a website to function correctly for as many people as possible. Lighthouse 11 introduces thirteen new accessibility audits that help developers identify and fix accessibility issues on their websites. Changes to how best practices are scored: Lighthouse 11 has changed the way that best practices are scored. This makes it easier for developers to understand how their websites are performing and what they can do to improve their scores. Largest Contentful Paint scoring bug fixed: Lighthouse 11 has fixed a bug that was affecting the scoring of Largest Contentful Paint (LCP). LCP is a measure of how long it takes for the largest content element on a page to become visible. Updated Interaction to Next Paint (INP) to reflect it's no longer experimental: Lighthouse 11 has updated the Interaction to Next Paint (INP) metric to reflect that it is no longer experimental. INP measures the time it takes for a user to be able to interact with a page after it has loaded. In my opinion, INP is in line to become an official Core Web Vital in 2024. These changes make Lighthouse 11 a more powerful and useful tool for developers and webmasters who want to improve the performance of their websites.2. YouTube Creators Can Now Remove Community Guideline Strikes - YouTube has announced that creators will now be able to remove Community Guideline strikes from their channels by completing educational courses. This is a new policy that was introduced in June 2023, and it is designed to help creators learn about the Community Guidelines and how to avoid violating them in the future.To remove a strike, creators will need to complete a course that covers the Community Guidelines and how to create compliant content. The course is available in several languages, and it takes about an hour to complete. Once the course is completed, the strike will be removed from the channel.This new policy is a positive step for YouTube creators. It provides them with a way to learn from their mistakes and avoid getting strikes in the future. It also shows that YouTube is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for its users.3. Your Site's Language Doesn't Protect It From Google's Penalty - Google can issue manual actions to any site, regardless of the language it is written in. This means that sites written in non-native English can still be penalized by Google if they violate the company's webmaster guidelines.Google Search Advocate, John Muller was asked if Google penalizes sites written by non-native English writers. Mueller responded that manual actions and algorithm changes are independent of the native language of the authors or the site language. He also said that Google does not have a list of "bad" languages, and that all sites are treated equally.This means that site owners who write in non-native English need to be just as careful as those who write in English as their first language. They should avoid any practices that could lead to a manual action, such as keyword stuffing, cloaking, and duplicate content.4. How Googlebot Handles AI-Generated Content
Episode 174 contains the notable Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of August 14 -18, 2023.1. Google Ads Sunsetting Enhanced CPC on Shopping campaigns - Google Ads Shopping campaigns will no longer use Enhanced cost-per-click (eCPC) starting in October. Instead, Shopping campaigns using eCPC will behave as though they are using Manual CPC bidding, according to an email Google sent advertisers. Google explained that it is adopting more advanced strategies and campaigns as its technology improves. Google pointed out that eCPC was launched more than 10 years ago, and new strategies, such as target ROAS, Maximise conversion value and fully automated campaigns like Performance Max, can help you achieve the same or better results.If you are using eCPC, Google recommends taking the following actions: In your Standard Shopping campaigns, try the one-click Target ROAS experiments for Shopping, which you can find in your campaign settings. Alternatively, you can trial Google Ads' newest fully automated solution, Performance Max campaigns. 2. Google Testing Small Advertisers Premium Support - Not sure if this true but Search Engine Journal reported that Google Ads has launched a new pilot program to provide enhanced customer service for a select group of small Google Ads customers. The goal of the paid pilot program is to: “… provide agencies and advertisers with specialized one-on-one support tailored to specific customer needs.”This marks a shift for Google, which has historically reserved this high-touch level of support for its largest advertising clients.My thoughts in the show. Listen and find out.3. Google Makes it Easier for Customers to Find You on Social Media - Google has announced that businesses can now add social media links to their Google Business Profiles. This new feature allows businesses to make it easier for customers to find and connect with them on social media.To add social media links to your Google Business Profile, you will need to: Go to your Google Business Profile. Click on the Edit button. Click on the Contact tab. Under Social profiles, enter the URL for each social media platform where you have a presence. Click on the Save button. Once you have added your social media links, they will be displayed on your Google Business Profile. Customers will be able to click on the links to visit your social media profiles.4. Google: Domain Name Does Not Make Or Break Your SEO - We've covered this topic in the past however it came up this week so we are covering it again. Here is what Google's John Muller wrote:“An #seo question from the X-Twitter world: In the domain name, is the use of dash ( – ) recommended or not? It's fine Pick a domain name for your brand for the long run, don't just collect keywords (the common reason for dashes). Build out a domain. – For SEO, dashes are very minimally better in URLs than underscores. Don't change your URLs for them tho. Don't use spaces, commas, colons, etc in URLs. Your domain name is never going to make or break your SEO.” 5. Is It Okay to Use noindex to Remove a Page from SERP Sitelinks? - Google's John Mueller answered a question about whether it's okay to use the noindex meta tag to remove a page from SERP sitelinks. Here is the original question: “Is noindex a good way to get a page out of a search result sitelinks? Should be an option in web console imho but a specific real estate agent's page is part of the website sitelinks where there are lots of other pages like About etc. that should be there instead. Should I temporarily noindex the agent's page to get it off the sitelinks?”What are SERP sitelinks? SERP Sitelinks are clustered links in the search results from one domain and are are typically shown when someone searches for the name or URL of a website.And a noindex meta tag is a directive, which means that search engines are obligated to obey the request. In the case of a meta noindex tag, this means that search engines are required to drop a webpage from the index. In simple terms, there's an indexing engine, which is the part with Googlebot that goes out, crawls the web and acquires website content for possible inclusion into Google's index. And there's also a ranking engine.Mueller said that it's generally fine to use noindex for this purpose, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind.“I suspect (computers do weird things, so no guarantees :-)) what would happen is we'd drop it (during the noindex) and return it to normal (same state as before) when you remove the noindex. We wouldn't see a temporary noindex as a signal that you like it a little bit less — it's either indexable or not, the ranking side is separate from the indexing.”Google lists a number of steps that publishers can take to keep less desirable pages out of the sitelinks in their official documentation: Make sure that the text you use as your page titles and in your headings is informative, relevant, and compact. Create a logical site structure that is easy for users to navigate, and make sure you link to your important pages from other relevant pages. Ensure that your internal links' anchor text is concise and relevant to the page they're pointing to. Avoid repetitions in your content. However it still does not solve the mystery as to why a less desirable page is showing up in SERP sitelinks. May be what is less desirable to the site owner is more desirable to Google? 6. Why Your Site Might Not Be Ranking in Google Despite Good SEO? During August 2023, SEO Office hour, someone asked “Why is my site not ranking despite low competition and good SEO? I have a sitemap, indexed pages, updated content, backlinks and on-page optimization. But my site is still not in the top 200 results for my keywords.”Before I jump into what Google's John Muller said in his reply, I want to point out that “Good” is subjective here. It depends on the expertise, knowledge, and competence of the individual making that judgment. Until failure makes a knowledge gap obvious, it is difficult to be aware of what one does not know.So "good" SEO might mean different things. Anyways, now on to how Muller responded. First he said “I see this kind of question often. Google tends to focus on various technical aspects when it comes to talking about SEO, but you need to do more.A good way to think about this is to compare it to the offline world. When it comes to books, does a good cover photo, a reasonable sentence length, few misspellings, and a good topic mean that a book will become a best-seller? Or as a restaurant, does using the right ingredients and cooking in a clean kitchen mean you'll get a lot of customers? Technical details are good to cover well, but there's more involved in being successful.”Hmm. So Mueller responded to the question in riddles. IMO, what he is saying that in addition to technical details you need to have good quality content aka helpful content. More of my thoughts in the show. 7. Google Doesn't Use Third-Party SEO Tool Scores for Rankings - Google has clarified its stance on third-party SEO tool scores, stating that Google does not use these scores to determine search rankings. “Once again, no, Google does not use scores from third-party SEO tools for search. However, that doesn't mean that they're all useless.” This means that while these tools can be helpful for providing insights into a website's SEO performance, they should not be relied upon as a definitive measure of success. “Transparently calculated scores can be useful to estimate your website's standing or to point out actual issues. They could help with the next steps or perhaps even qualify the work that was done.”John Mueller, a Google Search Advocate, made the clarification in a recent episode of the "Ask Googlebot" video series. He explained that Google's algorithms are constantly evolving, and that they take into account a variety of factors when ranking websites. These factors include the quality and relevance of the content, the number and quality of backlinks, and the user experience.Mueller mentioned Google's Chrome Lighthouse tool as a helpful tool that doesn't directly impact rankings. Lighthouse generates scores for website performance, but Google doesn't use them to rank websites in search results. However, Mueller explained the performance scores from Lighthouse could benefit you: “The score is transparently created based on various tests, which you can look at. With the overall score, you can estimate how well your website performs for those tests.” Website analytics scores can help you find problems, such as utilizing overly brief anchor text that could negatively impact site navigation. Though these concerns may not directly affect search engine ranking positions, they could still affect user experience and click-through rate.He said that these tools can be helpful, but they should not be used as a substitute for understanding how Google's algorithms work. Website authority scores, spam scores – Google doesn't use any of those in ranking. It's just an SEO myth that won't die.
Speed matters. In our next episode, we're talking to Julia Nesterets, who will guide us on an untrodden SEO path – the correlation between slow pages and Googlebot's behavior. In an era where user experience is everything, we often overlook how our site speed can make or break our SEO efforts. But there's an underlying opportunity here that most marketers fail to capitalize on. Julia Nesterets, an SEO expert with years of hands-on experience, is going to illuminate this subject and share some valuable tips and tricks on how to exploit this for better search rankings. Here are the key questions that we will tackle during our discussion: t How does Googlebot's behavior change when encountering slow pages? t What potential SEO opportunity lies in this scenario? t Can you share some strategies for improving slow page speed? t How does page speed impact overall user experience and SEO? t Could you share some success stories of turning around slow pages? t How can one monitor and maintain an optimal page speed? t What are some common mistakes marketers make when it comes to page speed and SEO? Don't miss this insightful episode with Julia Nesterets, where we explore the hidden SEO potential that lies in rectifying slow pages. If you've been looking for ways to boost your site's performance and climb the search rankings, this episode is a must-listen! [yt-video vid="yar6ZnofRUY" title="How Googlebot Ignores Slow Pages with Julia Nesterets" img="https://unmiss.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Unearthed-SEO-Opportunities_-How-Googlebot-Ignores-Slow-Pages.png" desc=" " upload="2023-06-29" duration="PT00H52M51S" shadow="1" lazy="1"] Learn more about Julia Nesterets the following resources: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-nesterets-bab6a68/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kroshka1983
Speed matters. In our next episode, we’re talking to Julia Nesterets, who will guide us on an untrodden SEO path – the correlation between slow pages and Googlebot’s behavior. In an era where user experience is everything, we often overlook how our site speed can make or break our SEO efforts. But there’s an underlying…
Voices of Search // A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Podcast
Serge Bezborodov, CTO and Co-Founder of JetOctopus, talks about log files and Googlebot. Though it's not usually SEO's decision, javascript integration becomes inevitable once you have a large website. JavaScript presents several challenges to SEO due to its dynamic nature and potential impact on website crawlability, indexation, and user experience. Today, Serge discusses javascript that doesn't hurt your SEO performance. Show Notes Connect With: Serge Bezborodov: Website // LinkedInThe Voices of Search Podcast: Email // LinkedIn // TwitterBenjamin Shapiro: Website // LinkedIn // TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Voices of Search // A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Podcast
Serge Bezborodov, CTO and Co-Founder of JetOctopus, talks about log files and Googlebot. Effective internal linking plays a vital role in ensuring the crawlability of your website. By strategically placing links between relevant pages, you create a roadmap that search engine bots can follow to discover and index your content more efficiently. Today, Serge discusses interlinking structure's impact on Googlebot. Show NotesConnect With: Serge Bezborodov: Website // LinkedInThe Voices of Search Podcast: Email // LinkedIn // TwitterBenjamin Shapiro: Website // LinkedIn // TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Voices of Search // A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Podcast
Serge Bezborodov, CTO and Co-Founder of JetOctopus, talks about log files and Googlebot. Unlike typical SEO crawlers, Googlebot has the ability to crawl pages that may not be present in your website's existing structure or indexed. What we want to avoid is valuable pages not being crawled and indexed, while Googlebot's crawl budget is potentially wasted on outdated or low-quality pages. Today, Serge discusses controlling Googlebot through log file analysis. Show NotesConnect With: Serge Bezborodov: Website // LinkedInThe Voices of Search Podcast: Email // LinkedIn // TwitterBenjamin Shapiro: Website // LinkedIn // TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This morning, we are seeing significant movement with the Google search results ranking and algorithm. Twitter blocked unregistered users from seeing tweets, which blocked Googlebot and resulted in huge drops in Google Search traffic but a few days later...
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