Houstonâs Internet Marketing Clinic has been a popular ongoing SEO and Digital Marketing Series since 2003. Created by seo expert Beth Guide, this podcast is designed to help business owners, learn the tips, tricks, techniques, and lingo of internet marketing. We cover different topics each week in how to help our listeners succeed in having a web site that works for their business, works for their customers but also works for Google so that it is highly ranked and visable. We also teach conversion and user related concepts that help our listens learn how to maximize the ROI. With over 600 attendees each month this podcast expands our clinic and makes it more available to our business owners so they can participate on their timeline.
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Google Leaks and What They Mean for SEO and Small Business from an SEO Expert
Friday, July 19, 2024 ⢠Duration 01:56:42
Unexpectedly, the SEO community was gifted a leak. Just as everyone was wringing their hands and lamenting SEO is dead (itâs not), here came a blueprint for SEOs.
I have just begun soaking in all the information contained in this document. By way of background, Rand Fiskin, founder of MOZ, was contacted about the Google API being accidentally uploaded. But as I read through this, in many ways, it's not telling me things I didnât already know, but I feel very vindicated because it backs a lot of what I think but could never prove.
From the Desk of an SEO Expert â A Look Back
So why should you trust my insights as an SEO Expert? The Google leak, in many ways, validates things Iâve been saying for years. I've always maintained that Google lies and misleads SEO companies, and this leak seems to confirm that. But let me define why I am an SEO expert so you can evaluate the podcast, video, and this post. I have 28 years of experience in SEO. My company was formed seven months before Google. Since my very first client, I have been navigating the ever-changing landscape of SERPs.
Back in those days, it was easy. How much keyword stuffing is needed? How many pop culture references can I add to my title tag? Or, best of all, I could type in the same color of the background and feed the search engine but not making apparent to the visitor. There were a lot of these âtricksâ back in the day. Do them now and do so at your peril. This is not a thing anymore and hasnât been for many years.
Our SEO journey began when the search was still rudimentary before there were 14,000 data points. As the industry evolved, we adapted and built our knowledge. In a nutshell, we have been a part of every change Google has ever made, giving us a unique skill set and vantage point. While there are others like me, we are few and far between. Some, like Danny Sullivan, have even gone to work for Google. But others, like myself or Bill Hartzer, continue to fight the good (Google) fight in the trenches.
Itâs all about the Algorithm. So What is the Google Algorithm Anyway?
It all starts with the algorithm and the quest to understand it. The Google algorithm has always been as complex as it is simple. For those who donât know for sure what an algorithm is, let me define it for you. An algorithm is a set of mathematical computations that solve a problem. In the case of Google, itâs the equivalent of a scoring system âgradesâ web pages (and websites) and then putting them in numerical order, with the best page being listed in the first position. For years, I said there were 29,000 âthingsâ we had to know to get a page to work/rank within the Google algorithm. The number is 14,040. But whatâs a few thousand data points between friends?
What we donât know is the value of each of the items we are going to discuss below. What is the amount each item adds or subtracts from the score? Some may argue that predicting the outcome without those values is hard. But this is where the SEO expert part comes in. I believe I can tell with pretty good accuracy what is more important than other things. It is probably a companion piece I need to write that puts them in order and assigns the BG (Beth Guide) scale of Google Values to them.
So, what IS the Google Algorithm based on?
What have we learned from this Google data leak? Learned is subjective in this application. Me, I havenât learned much. Itâs all the stuff I already knew. For me, I used the word validated and vindicated. The first thing Iâve long said is that it is my opinion that Google lies to and tries to mislead SEO companies. I mean, why would they tell everyone how to game their system? It makes perfect sense. I have to say that I laugh when people tell me about the Google raters guidelines as if they are gospel. I have long said follow it to the letter and see how far you get.
Google Misdirection #1 â Page Rank
It's 2024, and Iâm about to type the word Page Rank for those of you who have not been...
SEO Hacks: Easy Ways to Win at SEO
Saturday, June 8, 2024 ⢠Duration
SEO Hacks: Ways to win at SEOÂ
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a crucial aspect of digital marketing, and understanding how to navigate it can significantly impact the online visibility of your business. In this class we will explore the basics of SEO so that you can compete in this world and understand the doâs and donâts and if youâre paying someone you can understand that theyâre doing what they need to do.
Google and SEO: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Googleâs relationship with SEO is constant and ever-changing so itâs important to stay on top of their updates and requirements as they roll out. Since September of 2023 Google started the âHelpful Content Updateâ and has been aggressively rolling out new fixes in an attempt to combat the use of AI for content creation. In March of 2024, the latest roll out will alleviate 40% of the content that is currently sitting on the internet, because google reads it as written with AI. This is also designed to go after marketers using tactics to gain Googleâs System.
What does this mean for business owners? For business owners and content writers, this update means that they will have to ensure that no content used is created with any AI tool. Content must be written by a human, as organically as possible, and with as much helpful information as possible. If youâre not being helpful, theyâre not ranking your website.
No mixed signals with SEO
Getting fancy with your words has its uses in marketing, but when it comes to your website and its content the messaging must be clear and concise. Google operates on a set of signals that help it understand the content and relevance of web pages. These signals are crucial for ensuring that your website ranks well in search results. One important aspect to note is that Google is literal and specific, how you communicate information on your website needs to align with how Google interprets it. Â Using the right keywords and structuring your content effectively are essential for signaling to Google what your website is about. A reoccurring issue with some websites and their signals, is that a website will change, which causes the signal to break.
The Role of Keywords for Great SEO
Keywords play a pivotal role in SEO as they help Google identify the relevance of your content to user queries. It is significant to understand your business's keywords and how to find them and use them effectively. Using plug in tools like Keywords Everywhere can provide valuable insights into search volume, competition, and the potential value of specific keywords. The search volume of a keyword is how many people are looking up this or adjacent terms. The competition is how many other people are attempting to rank using that same keyword. Remember, higher competition keywords may be harder to rank for, so it's essential to prioritize and strategize accordingly. The potential value of the term is how much it would be for you to purchase specific search terms, but this wonât be necessary to start.
Local SEO and the "Near Me" Trend
An interesting trend highlighted is the growing importance of local SEO, especially with terms like "near me." Google's algorithms are increasingly favoring localized search results, making it crucial for businesses to optimize their online presence for local searches. Incorporating location-specific keywords and ensuring consistency across online directories and platforms can greatly improve your visibility to local customers.
In some instances, your business name can be a keyword, but often the business name is a more abstract concept than what your business does, so itâs good to ensure your support keywords are strong enough. For example, if your business name is âTreeCutting.comâ, Tree Cutting would be a keyword because it would be something someone googles. But if youâre business name is something abstract like âJoseâsCutters.comâ you would then have to set up a good amount of keywords in your website like âtree cutter...
Effective Strategies for Holiday Marketing: Web, E-mail and Social Media
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 ⢠Duration 01:55:32
Fall is upon us, which means the holidays are soon to follow. For business owners, this time of the year is filled with opportunity - opportunities to develop your brand and capture a new wave of customers in the process.
Of course, the competition is fierce during the holidays, especially as we near Black Friday and Christmas. That means SMB owners and online retailers must be ready to optimize their web presence to the extent they can. By strengthening your website, ad marketing, e-mail marketing and social media marketing channels, youâll give your business a fighting chance to rise above the holiday noise this year.
Here, weâll address how to do just that.
First, start by optimizing your Google Business Profile and integrating analytics
Whether your business operates globally or locally, optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP) is a strong - and simple - first step. For local SMBs, itâs unavoidable - your company needs a locally optimized GBP to garner traction with Google.
Start by making sure your companyâs name and address are accurate. Put up a photo of your companyâs building. Fill out as much of your profile as you can - posts, reviews, events - all of these signals add up to let Google know where your business is located. And ensuring your business is properly geolocated by Google is a must-do to achieve any degree of local SEO success. Use geo-specific keywords in your companyâs description and posts. Publish photos and videos (that you or someone within the company has taken) regularly. Just make sure that the companyâs profile is active and frequently updated.
Take a few minutes and integrate Google Analytics (widely termed GA4) into the website, too. Itâs quick and easy to do so, and it provides valuable insight into how your site is performing from a traffic and lead-capturing standpoint. Users, sessions, page views, conversions, bounce rate, engagement time - thereâs a lot of data here, but you donât need to be a digital marketing expert to extract value out of it.
Create more customer touch points through e-mail and social media
As the holiday season approaches, consumers start gearing up to buy. That means itâs time to get your brand in front of them. With so much online noise competing for our attention these days, consistent (but not obnoxious) touch points are needed to drive leads to your company.
A proven way to do this is with e-mail marketing - Mailchimp is our preferred tech for automating many e-mail marketing functions, but youâll need to provide the content.
Ideally, this content will provide valuable information thatâs designed to âhookâ the user toward your website. At the least, taking a spot in their inbox will bring your brand to the front of their mind - the first step toward making a conversion.
Donât be afraid to regularly send out these e-mail blasts - a couple times a week is considered optimal - and make an effort to capture user e-mails when they visit your site or make a purchase through your business. Itâs easier to sell to current customers than new ones, and that means youâll need an updated e-mail list.
E-mail marketing can also be used to pick up additional customer reviews
Customer reviews are weighted heavily by Google for SEO purposes. They are, therefore, a high-value target for brands. E-mail marketing can also support this goal by (politely) reminding users to leave a review. Many buyers have no problem doing this, they just need to be asked.
Donât overthink it. A week after a customer buys something from your site, automate your e-mail marketing platform to send out a review request/reminder. Itâs a no-risk, high-reward approach to building your brandâs reputation.
The Google Display Network provides a brand awareness boost for pennies on the dollar
Chances are, youâve seen plenty of small ads served through Googleâs Display Network (GDN). The GDN is one of Googleâs many, and often confusing,
Auditing Website Basics: The Rules Every Business Website Should Follow
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 ⢠Duration 01:52:49
Auditing Website Basics: The Rules Every Business Website Should Follow
Developing a business website is difficult work. To be frank, itâs a job that most small business owners arenât prepared to handle on their own. The job is only getting tougher, too, as Google is constantly raising the bar on what constitutes a high quality, trustworthy site. And every business owner should want a website that Google considers trustworthy because those are the sites that secure top ranking spots.
If your site isnât performing as well as it should, the problem (or problems) may be basic. With so many elements to optimize on modern websites, itâs practically impossible for small business owners to catch everything. Thatâs why weâve put together this quick guide to business site basics. Follow these rules, and your site will be off to a good start.
First, a word of caution about website builder platforms
Before diving into those rules, though, we need to address a question that comes up all the time:
âCan I build a business site with Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, etc.?â
The answer is yes, you could, but business owners should avoid doing so at all costs. Site builder platforms are easy to use and inexpensive, but the website they crank out are impossible to market and optimize. Thatâs a deal breaker for any business owner that plans on using their site as a lead and sales generator.
Websites build on one of the above platforms are essentially invisible to Google. They spit out bloated code that Google has trouble recognizing and interpreting. They give site owners insufficient latitude to make major technical changes. They do not allow site owners to choose their own host and youâre trapped inside the platformâs ecosystem. If the platform goes under, so does your website, permanently.
Given all of this, we cannot in good conscious recommend site builders. What we do recommend is WordPress - the standalone version, not WPâs own platform and hosting service. WordPress remains the gold standard for marketability, customizability and performance, so every business ownerâs first choice should be WordPress.
That out of the way, on to the rules:
Rule 1 - Make sure your title tag and headers are formatted properly
Every page should be paired with a title tag - itâs the single most important element in helping Google understand what the pageâs content is about. This title is identified using a title tag - something you may hear referred to as an H1. H1 (or H2, H3, H4 and so on) tags are designated in the pageâs HTML code and are used to identify a title or header. Titles and header are important for Google and users, and generally for the same reason - they help the reader understand what the pageâs content is about. This is obviously important for users, as their decision to consume the content or move on has to do with the contentâs title.
Itâs also crucial for SEO purposes because Google isnât going to rank a page that it doesnât understand or isnât properly titled. Properly-formatted and written headers help Google with this. Proper format means using the right H tag - only one title tag (H1) per page, and headers should be organized in a hierarchical format. That means using an H1 with the top header, H2s for content section headers, H3s for subheads inside those content sections and so on down the line.Â
Rule 2 - Feature your services and products in high-importance navigation elements
If Google doesnât know what your business sells, it will probably not rank the page. At best, your site will be improperly categorized in the wrong product or service area. The result of this? Users ending up on your site after searching for something completely unrelated to your business. Thatâs exactly the kind of traffic business owners donât want.
To ensure Google places your site in the right category and serves it to the right users, reinforce what your company does in the siteâs most important navigation elements.
The Right Tools for the Job: How to Get WordPress Set Up for Business Websites
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 ⢠Duration 01:06:26
Wordpress is one of the internet's most powerful engines, as something like 40 percent of all sites run on WP. Millions of those sites are professional or e-commerce in nature, and from the get-go, they must be configured properly to succeed.
That means integrating the right tools into Wordpress during and following the initial WP install. If you're partnered with a reputable web hosting company, these tools may be included with your install package - a major convenience for site owners who don't know where to begin.
Here, we've got a list of every important tool to consider for site owners just getting started with WordPress, along with some helpful information about WP management fundamentals.
For SEO purposes, it's Wordpress or bust - stay away from site building platforms
If you haven't launched a site yet, build it in WordPress. If you've already launched a site that's not in WordPress, prepare to move it to WP. And if you've already launched a WordPress site, congratulations - you're on the right track.
The truth is, there's no good reason whatsoever for business owners to pick anything other than Wordpress for their online presence. WP is the gold standard for several reasons, including:
Google prefers WordPress websites (better SEO) - The downside with site builder platforms is that they're built using bloated code that search engines cannot interpret well. Wix, Weebly, Squarespace and other drag-and-drop builders may be easy to use, but that simplicity means sloppy code on the backend. If you're serious about ranking on Google, this bloated code is a fatal problem.
WP is well-supported by an active, open source community - WP is an open-source engine, so anyone can access the codebase and contribute to it. The benefit of an open source engine is that it's constantly being improved upon by the community, so WordPress users are always coming up with new and better tools.
There are hundreds of thousands of plugins that can expand WP's functionality - Speaking of tools, there's an endless list of additional features and plugins to choose from. Each one adds to the site's capabilities, so if there's something that your site needs to do, but currently can't, there's a good chance that a solution already exists. It just needs to be installed on the site.
Wordpress allows people to maintain ownership of their domain and assets - If the site is created through a standalone installation (Wordpress.org), you'll have complete ownership over all the site's assets and domain. With site builders like Wix and others, the site is contained inside the builder's ecosystem. That means if the platform goes down, so does your site. Further, if you want to move or make major changes to the site, that may be impossible if it's hosted on a platform.
In short, WP's feature-rich, SEO-compatible code makes it the undisputed leader among site creation engines.
Wordpress.com or Wordpress.org? Here's the difference
The first hurdle business owners may run into when getting started with WordPress is whether to publish through Wordpress.com or Wordpress.org. We strongly recommend going with Wordpress.org, but here's a quick guide to both:
com - Wordpress.com is WP's version of the site builder. While it utilizes the same WP dashboard and publishing process, the site itself is hosted on WP's own servers and is therefore functionally identical to sticking the site on another self-contained platform. Further, by opting for WP's own platform, site owners may be responsible for additional fees related to "premium plugins" and other features.
org - Wordpress.org is the standalone version of WP that we recommend. With wordpress.org, site owners have access to all of the software's base files and user-friendly dashboard. In addition, owners have complete freedom to host the site with the hosting company of their choosing, and may make any changes they wish without interference.
Building a Better Blog
Saturday, July 1, 2023 ⢠Duration 01:53:49
How to Write a Better Blog
Blogging, itâs not why most people get into business, but written communication remains an important part of customer acquisition. And online, that means writing high quality blogs, articles and landing page content to help send the signals to Google that will equal long term SEO success.
With todayâs tech-based, always-online economy, the value of good writing may not be obvious. Thatâs where weâll start before addressing how to write a more effective piece of website content.
A 24/7 Salesman: The value of an expert blog
Without a website, companies are passing up on 30 percent of their potential business. Even when no one is at the office or manning the phones, the companyâs website is there representing the brand. In this way, an effective website is like a salesman who never takes a break. Publishing high quality content is like giving that salesman the best possible sales pitch - with it, theyâll represent your company well and earn more customers as a result.
In the end, as the companyâs owner and resident expert, you have complete control over your brandâs messaging through the power of blogging.
Every business owner is an expert, so put that expertise to good use
The first hurdle for business owners to get over is a psychological one. âI canât write,â said just about every business owner ever, but as an expert in your industry, your insight has value to Google and to users. Thatâs true even if you canât write like Shakespeare.
If youâre willing to practice writing and get better, youâll eventually develop your spoken voice into an effective written voice. For many niche subjects, all thatâs needed is clear, direct writing with some expert insight or examples sprinkled in.
One easy way to come up with blog topics - listen to the customer
Looking for a good blog angle? Pay attention to what customers are concerned about. These could be your customers or a competitorâs customers, wherever they provide feedback. This could be a question asked in an e-mail, a comment in a product review or a complaint on social media. Whatever it is, thereâs probably a blog angle in there somewhere, as long as youâre looking for it.
Google wants original, expert ideas, so be careful with AI writers like ChatGPT
Although some of the ChatGPT mania has died down, there is still plenty of conversation regarding what it, and other AI writers, can do for website owners.
ChatGPT can help with some writing-related tasks, but it cannot replace the expertise needed for the content writing itself. Itâs not a cut-and-paste job. Youâll have to do some extra work to get the page to a publishable level.
Google is on the record saying that itâs okay with some AI content as long as it meets the search engineâs quality standards. Unfortunately, AI content doesnât. When AI âwrites,â itâs actually scraping content from tons of existing pages, pulling out information and reordering it to create the semblance of an original article.
But nothing in the AI page is original - just an amalgamation of the pages it pulled from. Google doesnât like that because users donât like that. Users donât want an internet full of same-sounding, no-value junk, and so Google doesnât want to fill its SERPs with same-sounding, no-value junk.
As such, search engines will penalize sites that rely too much on AI for their blogging and website content. And yes, Google can easily detect AI writing.
Thereâs room for AI to fill a role, though, so hereâs how to use it
To summarize so far - donât take what the AI writer gives you, then turn around and publish it on your website. Thatâs a no-can-do, but what can you do with ChatGPT and similar AI generators?
Generate a pool of subject-relevant keywords - Every blog should be optimized with high-value, subject-relevant keywords. These provide Google with the signals it needs to understand the pageâs content and properly categorize it for its search results pages.
SEO Secrets that Will Elevate Your Impact
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 ⢠Duration 01:54:41
If youâve just launched a business website - or are about to launch one - your work is just beginning as the siteâs owner. With millions of e-commerce and professional sites already online, itâs a real fight to get new websites noticed. In fact, itâs impossible to gain traction online without an effective SEO plan in place. Thatâs because search engines are picky when determining which pages to rank - those with better SEO fundamentals are much more likely to snag those coveted top spots.
https://youtu.be/w7Bdz9JOqVg
But that only raises another question - how can business owners get started with effective SEO? Thatâs what weâre addressing this time. With these following tips, any business owner in any industry can get a competitive start with SEO and build a steady stream of traffic.
The right engine means everything when starting a website, and that means WordPress
If you already have a website, it is hopefully built in WordPress. If itâs not, weâve got some bad news - youâll likely need to migrate it to WP. That includes sites built in Squarespace, Wix, Weebly and other stripped-down website builders. If you havenât built a site yet, WordPress is the engine of choice.
Why? Compared to site building platforms, WPâs backend is far more compatible with Googleâs site discovery and indexing process. In other words, Google understands WordPress sites better than others, so itâs more likely to fully crawl, index and properly categorize a website. In general, the more confused Googleâs spiders are when crawling a website, the less likely that site will rank. WP ensures minimal confusion between the website and Google.
Make your title tag count - with high impact keywords
Every page on your website has to explain itself to Google, and title tags and headers are an important part of that mission. Each page gets one title tag (an H1), and you should treat it like a proper title - it should explain the contentâs primary focus. And for Google, every title tag should also include relevant keywords that send the right content signals to search engines. These keywords are essentially clues that tell Google how to judge, locate and categorize the content.
It is extremely important to locate the most relevant keywords (i.e., the product youâre selling) as high up on each page as possible. This will maximize the chances that Googleâs spiders will find them.
Additional headers are used with content subsections, and they act just like title tags. Each section header should describe whatâs in the following section while including high-relevance keywords for Google.
Localize your headers, copy and images for your businessâs service area
Most small businesses have a tight service area thatâs near their operating facilities. Itâs this area that your SEO should be targeted toward.
Local SEO is the branch of digital marketing focused on targeting users in a particular service area, and itâs a slightly different game than general, national SEO. When users punch in a local search query (âHouston Mexican restaurants,â for example), Google returns a local SERP in response. This local SERP includes additional high-value spots like the map pack, so engaging local SEO comes with additional rewards.
But local SEO also takes a slightly different approach. One part of this approach is to localize the content on your siteâs pages, so Google understands where your business is located and what areas it serves.
In practice, that means mentioning where the company is located in titles, headers and inside the body copy. The city itâs located in, the neighborhoods or regions it services, the names of nearby landmarks and major roads - these are all useful clues for Google.
It goes further than that, too. Every image published on your website has metadata associated with it. This metadata includes where the photo was taken, so consider taking your own photos and publishing them with that metadata intact.
Using ChatGPT for SEO and Website Content Creation Properly
Season 3 ¡ Episode 4
Saturday, February 25, 2023 ⢠Duration 01:52:44
For anyone who has been around the Internet Marketing Clinic for a while, knows we always try to stay ahead of where the road goes. AI tools have turned 2023 on its ear, and it is not even March. In this episode of the IMCH, we are taking an in-depth look at how to balance AI tools like ChatGPT and your website, content or SEO efforts. There is a lot  of very dangerous misguided implementations ideas so we wanted try and stay ahead of it and let you know what we think you should be doing and how to used this very powerful tool, but do it in a manner that you don't blow yourself up.
Do not copy AI-generated content and paste it into a website
 Before you run off to ChatGPT and generate your entire website from scratch - stop. In our practice, weâve already seen business owners attempt this with disastrous results. And that is what I keep seeing and hearing. It feels like, right or wrong everyone things they found the secret to creating mass pages to place on their website and that is just not true.
Google has upped the useful content penalty possibly taking aim at cut-and-paste AI-generated content, and the search engine is getting better and better at detecting it. There are hundreds of AI writers out there, but itâs unlikely that any of them could evade Googleâs AI detection for long.
Why is Google seeking and destroying AI-generated pages? Because AI canât produce a page thatâs as well-written, organized and detailed as a human expert-created page. At least for now, human experts provide more value with their writing than ChatGPT or other AI tools.
This is because AI content generators work by scraping and distilling whatâs already on the internet. Google doesnât want a web full of copycat content - it wants originality. And it wants original thinking because thatâs what users want. From Googleâs perspective, AI content generators have the potential to pollute the internet with identical pages and damage the user experience.
On the other hand Google also is okay with AI content if they add to the web. If there is solid new information it more than likely won't get dinged. But you have to committed to making sure the information is not just spun and put out on the website.
There are a few more problems with AI content generation, that you need to be aware of to avoid a penalty.
Superficial reasoning and knowledgebase - ChatGPT and AI writers can spit out tons of information with every prompt, but because this information is sourced from thousands of sites - many of them low quality - the information tends to be superficial. This problem is more pronounced for niche topics and industries, where there are fewer inputs for AI to work with.Â
Confusing conceptual linking and writing flow - AI also has trouble determining which pieces of information link together and how they should link together. Us humans do this naturally when we speak, because our communication is predicated on exchanging and responding to information provided by other people.Thatâs why AI writers tend to go off-track with topics or repeat themselves throughout an article. You wonât find an AI linking an insightful first-hand experience with the topic at hand. That kind of web-like conceptual thinking is still beyond the reach of AI.
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Difficulty with proper punctuation and grammar - Curiously, AI writers also seem to have the occasional issue with word order, sentence structure or punctuation. The longer the content, the more likely these mistakes are to emerge in a piece of AI content.
 It may not be long before these kinks are hammered out, but for now, the above should give business owners pause before they go all-in on AI. Doing so could wipe out your traffic now or in the future, when Google retroactively applies penalties for AI content-generation methods.
All of this is subject to change as Google implements GoogleBard, its own AI Tool
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Everything in this article could become obsolete overnight - thus is the nature...
Marketing Tips for the AI World that has quickly arrived.
Season 3 ¡ Episode 301
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 ⢠Duration 01:33:56
Buckle up 2023 is going to be one for the ages. Every year brings a new set of challenges for the digital marketing industry, but 2023 may bring more upheaval than normal. Multiple content-related updates in late 2022 appear to be targeted at identifying and deranking pages with low quality (potentially AI) content. Google has also made recent updates to its Search Rater Quality Guidelines - with added emphasis on communicating expertise and experience in content.
Additionally both Google and Bing are rolling out chat modules for search that have the potential to upend digital marketing, especially for small businesses. Over this year as this rolls out we will address and work to find strategies that will work inside that framework. It may be a big deal. It may be a fad, no one knows yet. It's in part why I have been running these classes since 2007.
Google is clearly raising the bar on what constitutes a high-ranking website. Quality content, quality performance, quality navigation and linking - thereâs no more cutting corners for business website owners.
Thatâs why weâre focusing on cleanup this week. The little things matter more than ever for digital marketing, and so weâre addressing some of the little things you can do to improve your standing on Google.
Optimize your online presence with the right platform, plugins and patchesÂ
First, if your site isnât on WordPress, move it to the WP ecosystem. More than 40 percent of the internet is built on WordPress, so Google thoroughly understands it - and prefers it. If your site is built on any other platform - Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, etc. - then youâre at a major SEO disadvantage from the start.
Assuming your site is built on WP, there is a plenty of plugin available. Many of these are useful for optimization purposes, whether performance or search engine optimization.
A favorite of ours is Rank Math. Rank Math is an SEO plugin for WordPress that provides broad functionality. It offers deep insights, like tracking your position history for a particular keyword. It also integrates seamlessly with Google Analytics 4 and offers centralized control over many SEO functions, like configuring headers or metadata.
And if youâre wondering just how entangled Google and WordPress are - Google has an official WP plugin called Google Site Kit. With Site Kit, your Google Analytics are available through your WP backend and through a single dashboard.
Verify that your business is properly listed onlineÂ
 Google uses your companyâs location for local SEO purposes, which can be a problem if your actual location doesnât match Googleâs own data. Itâs a problem that a lot of businesses have.
If your companyâs address or phone number have ever changed, thereâs a good chance that your older addresses or numbers are listed somewhere on the internet. If there are many such outdated NAP citations out there, Google may place your business in a different market.
The goal is to monitor your NAP citations and correct any that are inaccurate. Our clients have a tool to make these easy - one available through Yext. With Yextâs Optimize Location tool, business owners can get a status update on all of their NAP citations scattered around the web. This includes Google itself, along with Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter, Bing, Yelp and a score of directory sites. If there are any NAP inaccuracies, itâs made obvious here, so website owners can correct the citation.
To do that, youâll need access to the account associated with the citing website. Businesses are in a constant state of flux, so itâs common for brands to lose control of certain accounts as employees are turned over and changes are made. If you do lose access to a citing account, you may able to correct the citation by submitting your companyâs information to a major data aggregator like Acxiom or Localeze.
 Set up Google Analytics 4 so thereâs no interruption in data trackingÂ
Google is overhauling its analytics platform and relea...
Google Content Updates
Friday, January 27, 2023 ⢠Duration 50:10
Google has always prioritized content in its rankings, but in the second half of 2022 and into 2023, the search engine giant has gone all-in on content updates. In the past several months, Google has pushed over at least three significant content updates, and its latest includes major work to its search engine content guidelines.
Weâll take a closer look at this latest update and what website owners will need to do in response.
 A few notable changes in Googleâs newest content updateÂ
The bulk of the newest update concerns Googleâs E-E-A-T (formerly E-A-T) standard. Before we dive into that, though, hereâs a couple other notable changes from the update:
Google is placing additional emphasis on the contentâs author - One of the changes was to Section 2.5, a section that concerns the websiteâs operator and content creator. This change is actually an addition - a guide that helps quality raters determine a web pageâs author. Why is this important to website owners? Because Google is clearly factoring in the content creatorâs credibility for ranking purposes. That means business owners will need to invest in building this credibility. Thatâs where quality content and other page elements - like an author box and bio - come into play.
YMYL pages are going to get scrutinized extra hard - Google has also added to Section 3.0, a section dedicated to defining quality content. One of the additions asks quality raters to assess whether a page concerns a Your-Money-or-Your-Life (YMYL) subject. YMYL subjects include medical, legal and accounting - subjects where wrong information or advice could do a great deal of harm to the reader. The content quality standards on these pages are higher, given the stakes involved. If you operate in a YMYL industry, itâs extra important that you develop expert-level content that conveys your expertise. Itâs also important to remain on top and avoid introducing any topics outside of your field.
Many more changes to the content quality guidelines were made, but the above are of relevance to business website owners. And another major update to be aware of is E-E-A-T, which weâll address next.
 Meet E-E-A-T, Googleâs guidelines for creating expert content Â
While the above changes are noteworthy, itâs the E-A-T rework thatâs getting the most attention. E-A-T has been around for years as a guide for quality content, and thereâs an extra E to account for now. What was E-A-T (expertise, authoritativeness and trust) is now E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trust).
Google developed E-E-A-T to define what end users (the pageâs visitors) are looking for when assessing content. As it turns out, users prioritize experience, expertise and authoritativeness when consuming content.
As the websiteâs owner, itâs your job to ensure your experience, expertise and authoritativeness come through in your siteâs content. This is what generates the most important letter in the E-E-A-T acronym - trust.
How can site owners do that? Hereâs how Google defines each part of the E-E-A-T formula:
Experience: Does the content creator have direct experience with the subject?Â
Experience is the new addition to E-A-T, and at first glance, itâs unclear where the line between experience and expertise exists.
Regarding experience, Google wants to know if the contentâs author has first-hand experience with what theyâre writing about. For many topics, first-hand experience is the most valuable thing the writer bring to the page. Here are some examples:
A restaurant review: Did the writer eat at the restaurant theyâre reviewing?
Comparing laptops: Did the writer try out both laptops theyâre comparing?
Offering travel advice: Did the writer travel to the place theyâre talking about?
As you can see, there isnât expertise involved here - these are subjects anyone could write on without special knowledge. Whatâs important is experience.
Expertise: Does the content creator have educat...
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