Matt Smith’s Post

Big article about #Google came out this week (https://lnkd.in/gCD3Zx9N). Key finding by Rand Fishkin, one of the godfathers of #SEO: "If you care strategically about the value of organic search traffic, but don’t have much use for the technical details of how Google works, this section’s for you. It’s my attempt to sum up much of Google’s evolution from the period this leak covers: 2005 – 2023, and I won’t limit myself exclusively to confirmed elements of the leak. 1. Brand matters more than anything else Google has numerous ways to identify entities, sort, rank, filter, and employ them. Entities include brands (brand names, their official websites, associated social accounts, etc.), and as we’ve seen in our clickstream research with Datos, they’ve been on an inexorable path toward exclusively ranking and sending traffic to big, powerful brands that dominate the web > small, independent sites and businesses. If there was one universal piece of advice I had for marketers seeking to broadly improve their organic search rankings and traffic, it would be: “Build a notable, popular, well-recognized brand in your space, outside of Google search.”"

Some really interesting stuff here, especially if it's true and not a weird ploy by Google. The brand stuff in particular (having a recognisable brand outside of SERPs helps your rankings) is vindication for marketers accused of chasing vanity metrics especially... #SEO #DigitalMarketing #Marketing

Sharing this insightful article on the recent leak of thousands of Google Search API documents. It's a critical read for anyone involved in SEO. Thanks to Rand Fishkin for bringing these important insights to light. For those focused on the broader implications, I recommend heading directly to the section "Big Picture Takeaways for Marketers who Care About Organic Search Traffic." Key points he mentioned include: 1️⃣ Brand matters more than anything else. 2️⃣ Experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (“E-E-A-T”) might not matter as directly as some SEOs think. 3️⃣ Content and links are secondary when user intention around navigation (and the patterns that intent creates) are present. 4️⃣ Classic ranking factors such as PageRank, anchors (topical PageRank based on the anchor text of the link), and text-matching have been waning in importance for years. However, Page Titles are still quite important. 5️⃣ For most small and medium businesses and newer creators/publishers, SEO is likely to show poor returns until you’ve established credibility, navigational demand, and a strong reputation among a sizable audience. https://lnkd.in/dbCcpbTU

SEO updates you ✨NEED✨ to know [12 Aug]: ⚖️ A federal judge has ruled that Google is an illegal monopoly and violates anti-trust laws. This decision comes primarily from Google's practice of paying companies such as Apple to be the default search engine on their devices. 🕵️ Google is introducing recommendations to Google Search Console. This is different to the Insights feature and will provide suggestions about indexing, structured data and even relevant trends for your site. 💎 The 'hidden gems' update has given massive growth to Reddit, Quora and other forums. This is fallout from the 2023 core updates (pun intended) and many forums have seen over 100% increase in visibility year-on-year. via Glenn Gabe 🎢 There has been a lot of SERP volatility over the last few weeks to the next core update. This doesn't appear to include any positive direction for sites affected by the September 2023 helpful content update. 📍 You should be adding localities to your title tags to improve your local reach. Including them in the title tags has shown a 16% increase in GBP actions. And no, Google doesn't care that your title tag is too long. via Darren Shaw 📈 Google has provided new insights into Google Trends data. These insights include that Google Trends only uses a sample of data and that it cleans the "noise" such as the same user repeating the same search. via Roger Montti ⛔ Reddit is considering adding AI-power search results. Reddit's search function has been infamously bad for years so we hope this will allow easier discovery of new topics and communities. via Matt G. Southern 📊 AI Overviews link to at least one domain from the top 10 organic search results in over 93% of case. This research from SE Ranking also includes the frequency of AIOs according to niche and the most-linked domains. via Yevheniia Khromova 💌 If you like these kinds of updates, you can get them sent to your inbox every Monday, for free - along with 5 SEO tips and a deep-dive SEO podcast by subscribing at CoreUpdates[dot]com ⬇️ Links to everything are in my first comment, remember to click "Recent" and scroll to the bottom. Big thanks to Jack Chambers-Ward for compiling this week's news!

I've been sat in the shadows lurking, kind of watching the SEO community talk about this latest Google core update and yes it's going to be big. Well big for those of you who have spent the past 12 months filling your website with as much AI generated, long tail keyword targeted content that you can stuff onto a blog. It will also be big if you're posting content that is unoriginal. Lastly, if you've recently bought an expired domain name to repurpose it, purely to link to a website crammed with more offers and sales from your affiliates than anywhere else, then yes its going to be big for you too. Big because you could well lose a lot of your traffic. If neither of the above apply to you, then keep a close eye on your SERP position these next few months: https://lnkd.in/e-KYrjtX #WebsiteMarketing #SEO #WebsiteTips

Significant documents related to Google search were recently leaked. Here are the most intriguing findings from those leaks. 👀 A Rare Glimpse into the Black Box of Search Ranking One thing is clear: the Google Search algorithm itself has not been leaked. However, the recent disclosure of a substantial collection of 2,500 internal Google documents, some pertaining to search, has provided a rare glimpse into the company's closely guarded inner workings. 🥊 Challenging Google's Public Statements Perhaps the most notable revelation from these documents is that they suggest Google representatives may have misled the public in the past when discussing how the search engine assesses and ranks content. Over the years, Google spokespeople have repeatedly denied that user clicks factor into ranking websites. Yet, the leaked documents indicate that several types of user clicks are taken into account when determining search result rankings. "The larger, meta takeaway is that even more of Google's public statements about what they collect and how their search engine works have strong evidence against them," says Rand Fishkin, a veteran of the search engine optimization (SEO) industry. 💎 A Treasure Trove of Ranking Signals The leaked API documents contain extensive information about and definitions of the data Google collects, some of which may inform how webpages are ranked in search. While the documents do not reveal how different attributes are weighted, they mention over 14,000 factors, including PageRank variants, "Twiddlers" (ranking tweaks), and measurements of website authority. ‼️ Implications for the SEO Industry and Beyond The leak is expected to have significant implications for the SEO, marketing, and publishing industries, as it sheds light on data that Google may be using to rank web pages in its search engine. Websites operators and businesses will likely design various experiments to test some of the insights from the leaked documents, potentially leading to changes in how websites look, feel, and read. "Journalists and publishers of information about SEO and Google Search need to stop uncritically repeating Google's public statements, and take a much harsher, more adversarial view of the search giant's representatives," Fishkin advises. "When publications repeat Google's claims as though they are fact, they're helping Google spin a story that's only useful to the company and not to practitioners, users, or the public." The Google Search algorithm leak has undoubtedly shaken the foundations of the search industry, challenging long-held beliefs and providing a rare glimpse into the black box of search ranking. As researchers continue to analyze the trove of information, the reverberations of this unprecedented disclosure are likely to be felt across the digital landscape.

Google's Latest Search Algorithm Updates: Improving Quality and Fighting Spam 🚀 Google is gearing up for significant updates to its search algorithms, set to launch in May, with a mission to enhance the quality of search results and combat SEO spam. The primary focus is on filtering out low-quality content and prioritizing helpful and high-quality websites in search rankings. Key Highlights of the Updates: AI-Generated Content Targeted: Google is taking a stand against AI-generated content, aiming to eliminate it from search results. This move is in line with our commitment to providing users with authentic and valuable information. Enhanced User Experience: The updates seek to improve the user experience by specifically targeting unhelpful or irrelevant web pages. Google aims to ensure that users find content that genuinely meets their needs and expectations. Crackdown on Poor-Quality Third-Party Content: In a bid to maintain search result integrity, Google is cracking down on sites that host poor-quality third-party content solely for ranking purposes. This measure emphasizes the importance of original and valuable content. Dealing with Expired Domains Turned Click Farms: The company is addressing the issue of expired domains being repurposed into click farms, a tactic used to manipulate rankings. This action aims to maintain fairness in search rankings. Expected Impact: These proactive changes are anticipated to reduce spammy search results by a significant 40%. Site owners have been given a two-month notice to adapt to these algorithm updates, which will officially come into effect on May 5. Practical Examples: AI-Generated Content: Suppose a search previously yielded automated or machine-generated articles that lacked depth and authenticity. With the update, such content will be pushed down in favor of human-generated, valuable articles. Click Farms: Imagine a scenario where expired domains were employed to boost rankings artificially. Google's crackdown on this tactic ensures that search results reflect genuine popularity and relevance. Please stay ahead of the curve and make sure your website aligns with these updates to maintain optimal visibility in Google's search landscape. May 5 marks a pivotal date, so be prepared for the positive changes these updates will bring. 🌐🔍 Ref: https://lnkd.in/d_6Tyvju #GoogleUpdate #SearchAlgorithm #SEOQuality

A worthwhile (albeit long) read for anyone interested or impacted by #SEO. The number 1 big picture takeaway being super important: Brand matters more than anything else Google has numerous ways to identify entities, sort, rank, filter, and employ them. Entities include brands (brand names, their official websites, associated social accounts, etc.), and as we’ve seen in our clickstream research with Datos, they’ve been on an inexorable path toward exclusively ranking and sending traffic to big, powerful brands that dominate the web > small, independent sites and businesses. If there was one universal piece of advice I had for marketers seeking to broadly improve their organic search rankings and traffic, it would be: “Build a notable, popular, well-recognized brand in your space, outside of Google search.” https://lnkd.in/gtWPzwH2

🚨 Breaking News for SEO Professionals! 🚨 On May 27th, a considerable leak involving Google Search API documents has surfaced via Rand Fishkin's blog (link below), revealing critical insights into Google's search algorithms, ranking factors, and much more. Some of them were really surprising and contradict previous Google statements. If you're in SEO or digital marketing, here's why you need to pay attention: 📜 **Inside the Leak:** 1. Algorithm Insights: Understand the underpinnings of Google's search algorithms—essential for refining SEO strategies. 2. Ranking Factors: Detailed info on what influences Google rankings, from user behavior to content quality. 3. Internal Processes: A peek into how Google manages search queries and updates, offering a strategic advantage in SEO planning. 4. Experimental Data: Includes results from A/B testing by Google, providing us with a rare glimpse into what works and what doesn’t. 🎯 **Why This Matters:** These documents are a goldmine for anyone looking to enhance their SEO knowledge and effectiveness. With these insights, you can: - Improve content quality to resonate better with both users and search engines. - Fine-tune technical aspects of your web presence to boost rankings. - Anticipate and adapt to algorithm changes to stay ahead in the game. In my experience, keeping abreast of such leaks and understanding the core of search engines has always allowed me to refine strategies effectively and stay a couple of steps ahead of constant algorithmic changes. It's not just about optimizing for today but being prepared for tomorrow. 💬 **What about you?** How do you think such deep insights into Google's algorithms will change the SEO landscape? Have you ever had to pivot your strategy based on similar revelations before? 🔄 **Action Steps:** 1. Review the leaked documents carefully. 2. Stay updated with trusted industry experts and sources. 3. Reassess and adapt your SEO strategies to align with these new insights. Let's discuss this in the comments below! ⬇️ Your experiences and strategies could be tremendously insightful to others navigating similar challenges. Link to Rand's blog article: https://lnkd.in/gwYAAXhk #SEO #GoogleAlgorithm #DigitalMarketing #ContentStrategy #TechLeak #SearchEngineOptimization

14,000+ Google Search Ranking Features Leaked Google is the largest referrer of organic traffic to websites. But for content and SEO marketers, Google has remained a black box with no view into what SEO or content methods are most important in gaining visibility in search results. The SEO and content community were forced to share experimental insights and Google's few clues into what works best. Since 2005 I've developed a sense of priorities for building organic search traffic and ecommerce sales. Since 2009 we've watched Google SEO evolve from cheap SEO tricks into a more honest ranking of sites that deliver value to web users. This weekend Erfan Azima shared a massive leak of API documentation from inside Google’s Search division with Rand Fishkin. The first view of this leak offers transparency into what SEO and content factors matter the most. It also offers a better understanding of the largest gatekeeper that controls the visibility and visits to your ecommerce site. Google has offered some public comment on their search ranking methods, but this leak reveals that some Google public statements were deceptive. Google actually DOES use click and engagement data from the Chrome browser. The first look at the data shows that building quality site content aimed at user search intent is still valuable. As we suspected, technical SEO is a lesser factor. We should emphasize brand awareness and exposure.