Pedro Dias

Starting out as an independent SEO consultant? Don't make these common mistakes. Learn from the experience of an experienced independent consultant in this article. https://lnkd.in/dVxACM8Q #SEO

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Explore the Ultimate Guide to SEO Costs in the UK for 2024. In this article, we've outlined: 1. Different pricing models 2. Types of SEO providers 3. What to expect if you are on a lower or a higher budget https://lnkd.in/dMgY7v5S

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The November 2024 Google Core Update has brought significant changes to search engine results, emphasizing the following key points: - **Enhanced Content Quality Standards**: Google's focus is on elevating content quality and relevance, favoring informative, user-centric content over keyword-stuffed or low-value material. Prioritizing a people-first approach to SEO is crucial in this update. - **AI Integration and SERP Overlap**: Organic results now align closely with Google's AI Overview (AIO) feature, especially for non-commercial queries. High-ranking organic content is more likely to feature in AIO citations, showcasing a deeper integration of AI and traditional rankings for improved query handling. - **Industry-Specific Impacts**: Various sectors are experiencing different outcomes. E-commerce and education searches are witnessing significant ranking fluctuations, while healthcare and B2B tech sectors remain relatively stable. This indicates tailored adjustments within Google's ranking algorithm for specific industries. - **Increased Volatility in Rankings**: Monitoring platforms like BrightEdge note fluctuations in rankings, especially beyond the top 10 positions. Lower-ranked pages are experiencing heightened volatility, hinting at potential redistribution within the rankings, particularly within the top 30 positions. - **Adapting Strategies**: SEO experts advise conducting thorough content audits, focusing on user-friendly website design, mobile optimization, and fast loading speeds. Emphasizing user-centric content and optimizing technical SEO elements are crucial for enhancing performance post-update. Google's commitment to enhancing user experience through genuine, high-value content is evident in these changes. Continued monitoring and adjustments are recommended as the update's impact on rankings may persist in the coming weeks.

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💥 #SEO this is a site I worked on that was told by another SEO that they could never recover their traffic. This is their traffic this week. [Note. To be fair they didn't do an audit just a quick review.] Unless it's a helpful content update from last year, which Google has said eventually will recover but don't count on it in the near future so go make a new site -- seriously they said that, sites are always recoverable but you have to know what you're doing and it can't be people that do regular SEO you need people that do site auditing like myself and my friend Alan 🍕 Bleiweiss who is one of the best auditors in the business. And no worries there's been so many updates this year there's plenty of work for both of us LOL. Note the core update Google started earlier this month, that was supposed to end in 2 weeks is still running. If at the end of it you find that your traffic looks like the bottom of the graph below, get in touch let's get you fixed up for the New Year. And if you experienced a similar drop in March or April or June or August or now 😜 you were likely 💥 hit by an update as well. you cannot recover unless you fix what Google wants you to fix, so the sooner you get an audit and a recommendation plan the faster you can get that traffic back. Same for manual actions.

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Women in Experimentation presentation Number 9! Gerda Vogt-Thomas gave a fab talk about Simplifying the CRO Journey using just 2 techniques, so here's the hot tips: 1. Visual Journey Maps - you travel to a place you no nothing about without looking at a map, right? - so do this: - land on the homepage - click ALL the buttons and links - screenshot each step/screen into a tool like figma - connect the screens with directional arrows - take notes for each (anything weird, confusing, interesting) - creates a mental map of what you're dealing with - more info: https://bit.ly/45eIjmy - it's not a customer journey map! (you don't know this yet) - put AI away. You are a human, you are optimising for humans, as a human you have a better chance of spotting odd stuff - identifies blind spots (ie the stuff no one bothers to look at eg. thank you pages!) - helps to visualise the length of your pages (are they needed, can they be reduced) 2. Data Dictionaries - a resource that communicates what is tracked, how it's tracked and why it is tracked - written in a way that everyone can understand it (language) - terms should be agreed by all (eg. what is a conversion, exactly...) - read this: Why most analytics efforts fail: https://bit.ly/3yTkepi 2a. Build your foundations - no analytics documentation = no experimentation (good catalyst to get one done) - are you looking at user behaviour or tracking errors (usually the latter!) - tracking errors = wrong conclusions - conversions counted twice - page titles not set - makes it hard to focus where to test - tracking is a dev problem AND a UX problem (you need good tracking to identify and solve issues) 2b. Bake your data dictionary - integrate it into your experimentation program - metrics: human readable  - events, parameters, other tools: technical details of set up - more guidance, here: https://bit.ly/3xjhjWp Setting Up For Success - a holistic overview (with visuals) of what and how something is tracked - map out business goals then set up tracking - shared language within the organisation - everyone should understand what everyone else is talking about - have an owner for the dictionary, it's a living document Connecting Journey Maps And Data Dictionaries - map: shows the screens from a visitors perspective - dictionary: to understand what fires behind the screens/steps/actions - together: a visual reference for anyone to understand the context of the buisness and web infrastrucure  - benefit: prevents knowledge loss (if someone leaves), prevents duplication, gets people up to speed, fast Want a free airtable template for all of this? - DM Gerda Vogt-Thomas (no strings attached!) Success isn't finding the one trick or secret nobody knows, it's doing the boring things everyone knows about but are too undisciplined to do. Get good at boring (Mark Manson) ☝️ Yes!!! Some of the best work I've ever done is by doing the boring stuff no one else can be bothered with.

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𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗘𝗢: C𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟬+ P𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 in a single day. They don't write them manually - they use 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗘𝗢. The best part? You can 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟬+ 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 in a single day.

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Did you know that 46% of all search users are looking for local businesses? (Source) Whether it’s finding a new restaurant for dinner or a reliable mechanic to fix their car, people are increasingly searching for nearby businesses and activities. Since so many people search online to find local businesses (almost half!), it’s important for those businesses to be easily found online. Getting your business found in local searches is NOT easy. Why? There’s a lot of competition in almost every industry. So, if you’re struggling to attract potential customers in your area, read on: https://lnkd.in/grzg336Q #localbusiness #search #searchengineoptimisation

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Starting out as an independent SEO consultant? Don't make these common mistakes. Learn from the experience of an experienced independent consultant in this article. https://lnkd.in/dcVaM_YZ #SEO

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It looks like the recent leak of Google Search API documentation that Rand Fishkin shared has stirred the SEO community. But for those of us who have been paying close attention, the revelations confirm what we've long suspected or already knew. NavBoost and Click Data: Already unveiled last year, the use of click data and user behaviour metrics like NavBoost to refine search results isn't surprising. We've known for years that Google utilises clickstream data from Chrome to improve its search algorithms, despite public denials. Whitelists in Sensitive Situations: The existence of whitelists during critical events like the COVID-19 pandemic and elections aligns with what we've already observed. Google has been known to prioritise authoritative sources during such times to ensure accurate information dissemination. Quality Raters' Influence: The role of human quality raters in shaping search rankings has always been a key part of Google’s strategy. It’s no secret that quality evaluations from real people are essential in training and refining the search algorithms. Click-Based Link Evaluation: The idea that Google uses click data to assess the quality of links fits perfectly with our understanding of modern SEO practices. The importance of genuine user engagement over mere link quantity has been evident for a while. Brand Importance: The leak confirms the critical role of brand recognition in search rankings. Building a strong, recognisable brand has always been the best strategy for achieving long-term SEO success, particularly when it comes to links. While the leak provides detailed documentation and insider confirmation, it's essentially a formal acknowledgement of what I've been discussing and adapting to for years. For those who have kept a finger on the pulse of SEO trends and Google’s evolving strategies, this leak is more validation than revelation. But for now, it's clear: Friday Agency has been on the right track all along. #SEO #Google #GoogleLeak #SearchEngineOptimisation

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If you use GA4, Floodlight Tags, Facebook Pixels, Google ads tags or any other website tracking you need to read on 👇 As you are (probably) aware - it is illegal for you to track any (yes, any) visitors from the EU, California or UK unless they give permission through a 'cookie consent' popup. In 2024 the Australian Privacy Act is due for an overhaul - and soon Australian Websites will need to roll cookie Consent out for Australian users too. Unfortunately, this is not as simple as ticking a box and installing the popup. My guide will help you understand how Cookie Consent Platforms (CMP's) work, and how to integrate them with your Google Tag manager. CookieYes - https://fas.st/t/gHhPooDF More info at bangdigital.com.au - https://lnkd.in/gmEAsEzy #cookieconsent #privacyawarenessweek #PAW #googleTagManger #cookies #ga4 #bangdigital

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Many years ago, I consulted for Sony to help them fix up the technical SEO on their website. ~15 years later, with many advances in CMS’ like shopify, technical SEO is still very much a thing. ‘But shopify is technically optimised out of the box?’ Shopify is great, but technical SEO is a lot more than a CMS can do out of the box: - Site speed - Title tag format - Externally linked 404 pages - Robots.txt issues - Internal linking Just to name a few. All of these things are good out of the box, but can degrade over time. Or they can just be optimized further. Shopify doesn’t know the searcher behavior in every niche for example, so it can’t give you title tag formats that are 100% ideal. Any customization done to the base can introduce problems. Internal link architecture (passing strength about the site) if you put that in the technical box, also can’t possibly come ‘done for you’. It’s dangerous to assume your site is optimized because you’re on a modern, popular CMS. You’re probably in better shape than many, but you could have a big problem holding you back and not know it. #Shopify #Technical #SEO

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The latest Google API documentation has officially been LEAKED ⚡ Though SEO's, both pessimistic and optimistic, are still digesting the particulars and what this means going forward, Michael King published a fantastic post curtailing the ordeal: https://bit.ly/454BcNi Before we all jump to conclusions and declare a new "State of Search" let's not forget: 👉 The search engine may be using new(er) algorithm nodes for more efficient crawling, not necessarily indexing and rankings 👉 Google will NEVER punish themselves or their products; this is why Drive Stacks worked so well in 2016-2019 👉 ALWAYS do your own testing, measurement and verification - don't take anything for gospel!

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Such a key component to my growth as an SEOer is delegation. Delegating was pivotal in transitioning into an SEO manager and continues to persist as an independent consultant. The fact is, as strategists, we have to understand what resources we have, both internally and externally, that can support our vision... Whether it's working with a content team, DevOps, or your immediate team, and how they can best support you SEO program. This isn't a call to shout orders from a cushiony view from a manager's chair. This is a reminder that you are responsible for the SEO strategy, including the various pieces and routes, teams and processes, there in. #SEO #SEOtips #management

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This article by Riccardo Mares for Oncrawl is very good and offers great insights about the auto tagging parameter of Merchant and its consequences for SEO: https://lnkd.in/dQ4YaQ83

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Wondering how to make your website stand out in search results? 🤔 Schema Markup might be the answer! 💡 Schema Markup: ✅ Tells search engines what your content is about, who you organisation is and about the authors of your content. ✅ Can lead to rich snippets. #SEO #WordPress #Schema

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