What does Google say about SEO?

Does Google's SEO Starter Guide really contain all the essential techniques you need to rank higher?

Daniel Waisberg Sep 25, 2024 ★★★

The most important SEO techniques to follow are listed in Google's SEO Starter Guide. These techniques cover multiple areas including technical requirements, policies, and content optimization.

Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name

Why does Google recommend Search Console over Trends for SEO technical requirements?

Daniel Waisberg Sep 25, 2024 ★★

For technical requirements and SEO policies, it is recommended to use Search Console rather than Google Trends. A series of Search Console training is available to learn more.

Domain Age & History Content Search Console

Can Google Trends really uncover your hidden SEO opportunities?

Daniel Waisberg Sep 25, 2024 ★★

By using related topic maps and related queries in Google Trends, you can identify content gaps on your site and discover missed traffic opportunities.

Content

Should you really publish your content before seasonal search peaks hit?

Hadas Jacobi Sep 25, 2024 ★★

To prioritize content topics, identify seasonal trends in search data and create a content calendar. Publish high-quality content just before predictable search peaks.

Content AI & SEO

Why do YouTube search trends differ so dramatically from traditional Google web search?

Daniel Waisberg Sep 25, 2024 ★★

Search trends can differ between Google web search and YouTube search for the same topic. It is important to specifically analyze YouTube data when planning video content.

Content Images & Videos

Why Is the Page Context Just as Important as the Image Itself for Google Images SEO?

John Mueller Sep 24, 2024 ★★★

John Mueller states that while the image and its alt tag are important, the page on which the image is embedded is equally important. The combination allows Google to better understand the relevance of the image for a specific query. For example, if ...

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Images & Videos

Should You Really Worry About Core Web Vitals for Your Google Rankings?

Martin Splitt Sep 24, 2024 ★★★

Martin Splitt downplays the importance of Core Web Vitals as a ranking signal for search results. He states that, while these metrics are not unimportant, you shouldn't focus too much on them.

Web Performance

Why is your 500-recommendation SEO audit useless without prioritization?

John Mueller Sep 19, 2024 ★★★

Generating an audit report with an SEO tool is only part of the job. The most important part is that the SEO helps prioritize the 5 essential actions among the 500 recommendations, based on the company's unique situation.

AI & SEO Search Console

Why are cookie-cutter SEO formulas doomed to fail?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★★

An approach that looks identical for everyone (X links per month at this price, Y blog articles at this price) is probably ineffective. SEO must be personalized according to your specific business, industry, and competitors.

Discover & News E-commerce Links & Backlinks

Does proactive communication really define a high-quality SEO professional?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★

A good SEO must be proactive in communicating failures, necessary adjustments, and problems encountered. They should inform when resources are limited or when something cannot be delivered as initially planned.

AI & SEO

Why does SEO fail without the involvement of other teams?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★

SEO has dependencies with other business functions like development, content creation, and email marketing. These teams must collaborate for SEO to work effectively, and there is an important educational aspect to this relationship.

Content AI & SEO

Why won't a good SEO consultant ever promise you Google's top 3?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★★

An SEO who doesn't promise to place you number 1 or in the top 5/top 10 for specific terms, but instead explains how to think differently, is probably someone who deserves more attention. Avoid false promises.

AI & SEO

Is Google's SEO documentation really accessible to non-experts?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★

Google has done a good job providing more transparency on the standards to meet and how to do the right things in SEO. This documentation is written in an accessible way, not just for SEO experts but also for small business owners who don't know SEO.

AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO PDF & Files

Can You Really Measure the ROI of Core Web Vitals?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★★

It is extremely difficult to establish a precise business value in dollars for improving Core Web Vitals. Anyone who responds with a specific number is probably lying. SEO does not work in isolation but through compounding effects.

AI & SEO Pagination & Structure Web Performance

Why is your SEO traffic stalling even after six months of continuous effort?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★★

Failing to see traffic improvements after six months doesn't mean the SEO agency isn't doing anything. Results can take time, and the absence of visible progress doesn't necessarily reflect a lack of work being done.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO

Should you really track every SEO metric, even when results are going downhill?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★

You must agree in advance on the important metrics to track (organic traffic, rankings for certain keywords). Regular reporting should show the evolution and trends of these metrics, even if they're not moving in the desired direction.

AI & SEO

Why does Google really demand such frequent communication with your SEO provider?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★

A week without communication with your SEO provider is already too long. There should be regular exchanges, transparency, and minimum reporting showing what has been done, what couldn't be done and why.

AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO

Why should a serious SEO provider ask questions about your business before signing a contract?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★★

A good SEO professional must ask questions about the business, website, team, available resources, limitations, and future objectives. If someone just wants to sign a contract without asking these questions, it's a major red flag.

AI & SEO

Should you really advise clients NOT to do SEO in the short term?

Erika Varangouli Sep 19, 2024 ★★

When an SEO professional says you don't need SEO right now and your priorities should be elsewhere, it's counterintuitive but can be a positive signal of trustworthiness. A good SEO looks at other channels and business functions.

AI & SEO

Does Google really require Core Web Vitals optimization to rank higher in search results?

Martin Splitt Sep 18, 2024 ★★★

Google Search always seeks to display the most relevant content, even when page experience is not optimal. Page loading performance and Core Web Vitals are not as important as some might think for ranking in search results.

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Web Performance Local Search Search Console