Varn Search Marketing’s Post

How 16 companies are dominating the world’s Google search results https://buff.ly/2R8w4Av If you wonder where SEO and publishing content online is heading in the age of AI, there’s probably no one better to track and analyse than the companies whose search engine rankings are worth billions of dollars #SEO #AI #SERPs #search #results

Navigating the vast ocean of the World Wide Web can be incredibly overwhelming, especially with the constant ebb and flow of new content being created every minute. The history of SEO is nothing short of a riveting tale that mirrors the evolution of the internet itself. Here are some intriguing points to ponder from a recent article I stumbled upon: - From Humble Beginnings: Can you imagine a time when the concept of a search engine was just a distant dream? Dr. Vannevar Bush envisioned a global archive for information way back in 1945. Fast forward to the early 90s, and the first search engine, Archie, kicks things off, albeit in a rudimentary fashion. - The Search Engine Wild West: The 90s were chaotic, filled with a plethora of search engines such as Yahoo!, Lycos, and AltaVista. It was a scene akin to the Gold Rush, with optimizers scrambling to find the best ways to rank among competitors. - Google’s Ascendance: Picture this — while Yahoo! was making strategic blunders by partnering with Google, the latter quietly revolutionized search with their PageRank algorithm. Suddenly, the way we understood website ranking was turned on its head, prioritizing quality links over mere keywords. - SEO Evolution: The 2000s marked a pivotal shift as Google introduced updates like “Florida” that penalized manipulative practices like keyword stuffing. It’s fascinating to see how what worked then could lead to a downfall today. As we stand on the brink of the future of SEO, the debate rages on about the role of AI and machine learning. While some argue it may dampen creativity, others believe it can enhance the effectiveness of rankings if used wisely. The questions remain: - How do you think SEO will continue to evolve? - Will AI-generated content hold the same weight as human-crafted narratives in the coming years? In a world that changes faster than we can keep up with, being aware of SEO’s rich history is crucial for marketers. It equips us to anticipate the future and strategize effectively. Let’s dive into this debate; I’d love to hear your thoughts! https://lnkd.in/eXYxebu4

WILL AI kill the SEO STAR?? A recent study from #SEMrush brought some eye-opening insights that every marketer should know. 🚀 🔍 The Big Question: How will AI-driven tools, like my beloved Perplexity, reshape the way we approach search engine marketing? Imagine a world where we get one, well-crafted answer with references—just like Perplexity provides. What happens to Google's advertising ecosystem? And what does this mean for the entire SEO profession? Back when I worked at the incredible Aligned, I started experimenting with article formats designed specifically for AI tools to better crawl and present sites in search results. Turns out, those instincts were on point. 📊 Key Findings from the SEMrush Study (100,000 keywords analyzed): Search Volume Focus: AI-generated overviews (AIOs) mostly target low-volume keywords: 82% on desktop and 76% on mobile were for terms with <1,000 searches/month. Intent Matters: 80% of desktop and 76% of mobile AIOs focused on informational keywords—people seeking knowledge. Top 10 Rankings Don’t Guarantee Inclusion: Being in Google’s organic top 10 doesn’t automatically secure a spot in AIOs. Response Length Varies: AI-generated responses ranged from 5 to 488 words. Link Frenzy: A single AIO could include up to 302 links! For example, “Netherlands two-week itinerary” featured hundreds of references. 🧩 Takeaways for Marketers: Rethink Your SEO Strategy: The landscape is evolving, and so should your approach. Focus on Low-Volume Keywords: They’re increasingly significant in AIO results. Leverage Links: Prioritize creating rich, linkable content. Pro tip from my own research: pay extra attention to review sites—they’re a goldmine for link inclusion. The implications for SEO are vast, and we’re just scratching the surface. The full research is in the comments.

🌟 AI Overviews Are Here: Is Your SEO Strategy Ready? 🤖 🚀 Initially known as “Search Generative Experience (SGE)” and now rebranded as “AI Overviews,” this evolution is expected to increase zero-click searches, potentially reducing organic traffic for websites ranked below the AI-generated snippet. 💡 Tip: Focus, rather double-down, on fundamentals of SEO best practices. This guide from #SEMRush can help to stay ahead in the AI-driven search landscape! 📖 #SEO #AIOverviews #DigitalMarketing #SEMRush

💻 Get Ready for Google's AI Overviews: The Future of SEO! 💻 Google just rolled out AI-powered Overviews, and it's shaking up search results like never before. Want to stay ahead of the game? Discover how to create top-notch, authoritative content that meets Google's E-E-A-T standards and shines in this new AI-driven landscape. 🎉 Dive into our latest blog to get the scoop 👇 #GoogleAI #SEO #ContentMarketing #DigitalMarketing #TechNews #SEOStrategy #SEOAutomation #AdaptifySuccess #RankHigher 🚀 https://lnkd.in/g6--rW-e

These SEO myths are the most common ones: Myth 1: Your keyword must be in the URL. Wrong. 63% of people use their phones to search on Google. No surprise, you cannot see the URL (most of the time) on your phone. Myth 2: Keyword density should be between 0.5%-2%. In 2013, Google released a new update called Hummingbird. The update helps Google crawlers understand what the web document is about without the need to mention your keyword on every line. Myth 3: SEO is dead (due to AI). No. SEO is not dead and won’t be. Ahrefs, and Screaming Frog have AI-enhanced tools that give you different suggestions (i.e., internal link opportunities). You still can’t go with this data, you’ll need human expertise to put the correct internal links. As long as there is a need for human expertise, SEO cannot be dead Myth 4: Duplicate content will be penalized. False statement. There is little chance of penalty unless you try to manipulate the algorithm. In other cases, Google simply gives priority to the OP of the article. Myth 5: You can recover from March Core Update 2024 by deleting GSC. People at Google are not stupid. SEOs shouldn’t be, too. Myth 6: Domain age is a ranking factor. Fresh domains can easily overrank an old-aged domain. We see the opposite because many old domains have a good backlink profile and have gained topical authority. Myth 7: You can use DR to evaluate your ranking chances. Wrong. DR/DA is a third-party metric. Google never evaluates it to choose a ranking position. If you see SERPs like this: 1st position 90DR 2nd position 80DR 3rd position 67DR Don’t think it’s DR that matters. Look for other data-backed reasons. Because you can easily see a SERPs that looks like this: 1st position 12DR 2nd position 80DR 3rd position 67DR What are the other myths that you heard about?

Caution ⚠️ - Long Post 👇 A Detailed Guide About SEO: From Its Inception to Modern Practices Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has evolved dramatically since its inception, driven by advancements in technology, changes in user behavior, & the ever-evolving algorithms of search engines. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the history, evolution, & current practices of SEO. The Birth of SEO Timeline: Mid-1990s The concept of SEO began in the mid-1990s when the first search engines, like #Archie, #Infoseek, & #AltaVista, emerged. Websites realized the importance of appearing higher in search results, prompting the birth of rudimentary SEO practices. Key Highlights: 1. Web Directories: Early SEO revolved around submitting websites to directories like #Yahoo! Directory. 2. Keyword Stuffing: Webmasters would stuff pages with keywords, often hidden in white text, to rank higher. 3. Meta Tags: Search engines heavily relied on meta tags to understand page content. SEO in the 2000s: The Rise of Google Timeline: Early 2000s Google's emergence in 1998 revolutionized SEO. With its #PageRank algorithm, #Google prioritized links & content quality over mere keyword usage. Key Changes in This Era: 1. Backlinks Became Gold: Websites sought to earn as many links as possible to signal authority. 2. Content Quality: While keywords were still important, unique & relevant content gained significance. 3. Algorithm Updates Begin: Google started rolling out updates like - Florida Update (2003). Popular SEO Activities in the 2000s: 1. Link farms & reciprocal linking schemes. 2. Directory submissions & blog commenting. 3. Exact-match domains dominated search results. 2010-2020: Modern SEO and the User-Centric Shift This decade witnessed massive advancements in SEO, primarily driven by Google's continuous algorithm updates & focus on user experience. Algorithm Updates That Changed SEO Forever: 1. #Panda (2011): Penalized low-quality, thin content. 2. #Penguin (2012): Cracked down on spammy links & over-optimized anchor texts. 3. #Hummingbird (2013): Introduced semantic search, focusing on context & intent rather than exact keywords. 4. #Mobilegeddon (2015): Boosted rankings for mobile-friendly sites. 5. #RankBrain (2015): Integrated AI into search to understand user intent better. 6. #BERT (2019): Enhanced natural language processing to comprehend search queries more effectively. New Practices That Emerged: 1. Content Marketing: Long-form, high-quality, & engaging content became a cornerstone. 2. Technical SEO: Emphasis on site speed, mobile optimization, & secure connections (HTTPS). 3. Local SEO: The rise of "near me" searches made Google My Business essential. 4. Voice Search Optimization: Tailoring content for voice queries became a growing focus. Present-Day SEO (2020 Onwards) - Will share in details in next post someday. #SEO #SearchEngineOptimization #Nostalgia 🤔 How did you like this story? Please share your thoughts in comments. 🙂

Hey everyone! 📢 I’m super excited to share our latest blog post! Google AI Overviews: The Future of SEO and How to Adapt (With Adaptify) Google’s AI Overviews are here, and they’re changing the search game in a big way. 🌟 Want to know how to make your content stand out and meet Google's E-E-A-T standards? Our blog has all the answers! Check it out and get ready to rock the SEO world! #SEO #GoogleAI #ContentMarketing #DigitalTransformation #Adaptify #TechTrends #FutureOfSearch #AdaptifySuccess #RankHigher

In his latest article on the Majestic blog, Brian Bowers dives deep into the ever-evolving world of SEO, answering the burning question: Are external links still relevant in 2024? Spoiler alert—YES, they are! Despite the rise of AI and new ranking signals, backlinks remain crucial for boosting your site’s visibility and authority. Brian draws parallels between SEO strategies and training for the Olympics, emphasizing that a balanced approach—including smart external link strategies—is essential for staying ahead. 📈 Ready to power up your SEO game? Click to read the full article! 👇 #SEO #LinkBuilding #DigitalMarketing Are External Links still relevant for SEO in 2024? https://lnkd.in/gxnvxeRT

In his latest article on the Majestic blog, Brian Bowers dives deep into the ever-evolving world of SEO, answering the burning question: Are external links still relevant in 2024? Spoiler alert—YES, they are! Despite the rise of AI and new ranking signals, backlinks remain crucial for boosting your site’s visibility and authority. Brian draws parallels between SEO strategies and training for the Olympics, emphasizing that a balanced approach—including smart external link strategies—is essential for staying ahead. 📈 Ready to power up your SEO game? Click to read the full article! 👇 #SEO #LinkBuilding #DigitalMarketing Are External Links still relevant for SEO in 2024? https://lnkd.in/dedB48AU