Are you seeing Google Analytics data that is all messed up and makes no sense? We are! The issue was reported briefly yesterday at the Google Analytics Blog, and Google is hard at work trying to resolve the issue.

As of yesterday, for the majority of April, zero visits are being reported when this is just not the case.

If you check your Analytics data, don’t panic! Google will (I assume) get this fixed soon.

What is happening?

If I check for statistics for the month of April, viewing “All Traffic” everything looks normal, nothing out of the ordinary…

But next, when I add an advanced segment to show “non-paid search traffic” separately, Google tells me there was zero non-paid traffic up until April 29, then a massive spike with the non-paid surpassing all traffic something that it is simply impossible; (“all traffic” by definition must include “non-paid traffic”).

Interestingly enough, setting the date rage to span anything by April only, seems to deliver completely different results, at least for April 29th. The first 28 days of April appear as zero traffic regardless.

I have checked the Analytics profiles for a number of clients and see this identical issue affecting 100% of them. This is definitely a very odd issue, but I am glad they are working to correct it. Hopefully accurate results are back up to normal soon!

In Part one of How To Optimize for Google, I discussed some of the fundamental on-site SEO aspects and how they have changed over the past few years. This article focuses on a few algorithmic updates as well as some updates in the inbound link landscape. Read more…

It has been nearly 3 years since I wrote my original 3 part series on “How to Optimize for Google”. Since writing that article some things have certainly changed, while others have remained exactly the same.

Here is a redux adjusted to follow some more recent changes over at Google. Note that this is by no means a full-out comprehensive list, That would take a book, not an article.

I Part 1, I will discuss the basic SEO & on-site elements. Parts 2 and 3 will talk about links, major algorithmic updates, and the impact of social media. Read more…

This news is a little dated now as Matt Cutts reported on it in mid-December, but I felt it was worth sharing for those who have not yet seen it.

It seems that now, it is official that Google does use Twitter and Facebook links as a ranking signal for organic results. Read more…

Well, this post is a little late for “Happy Holidays” but here at StepForth we hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Holiday Season!

Also, we would like to wish everyone a fantastic New Years! All the best for 2011. May the new year bring you much prosperity!

Most savvy site owners have either Google Analytics or some other advanced tracking solution installed on their sites. Google Analytics offers extensive data about your visitors behavior for free which helps explain its immense popularity.

One feature of Google Analytics that is often over looked is Event Tracking. Event Tracking allows webmasters to easily track things such as file downloads, the clicking of external links and video views. Things that was once difficult to track. While the setup can be a bit confusing, viewing the data within Google Analytics couldn’t be easier. Read more…

For most sites, increasing your inbound link counts is important. But one aspect of link building that is often overlooked is not actually link building, it is making the most of the links you already have.

Have you ever stepped back and taken a look at your links? Often times when we do site audits we find opportunities to significantly improve the value of links that are already in place. Improving the quality of your existing links usually takes some time, but not usually much money. Read more…

In case you haven’t heard the news, Ross Dunn is on his way to Florida to speak at AffCon 2010. He’ll be broadcasting live on Webmaster Radio on Dec 10th at 11am EST.

At first I was quite jealous. Here he is, off to escape sub-zero temperatures of a Canadian winter to go bask in the sun and put on a nice tan bring back home, while I sit here in my slippers trying to keep warm.

I have to say his timing is perfect. Moments ago he IM’d me from SeaTac airport waiting for his flight. He just got some news. Turns out Florida will be seeing record setting low temperatures this week – temperatures just barely above freezing!!!

This really helps to dampen the jealousy. Have a great trip Ross, hope you packed your long-johns.

If you find your self attending AffCon 2010 in Miami Florida next week be sure to stop by and say hello to our very own Ross Dunn (here is Ross’s LinkedIn profile).

Don’t Miss the LIVE Show of SEO 101 at WebmasterRadio.FM

You can catch Ross and his SEO 101 Co-Host John Carcutt at 11:00 am on Friday Dec 10 in the Grand Ballroom 3 for the SEO 101 Search Roundtable.

Listen to the Show Live on Your Computer!

This episode of SEO 101 on WebmasterRadio.FM will be broadcast LIVE at 8am PST, 11am EST on December 10th: just go to www.WebmasterRadio.FM and listen in!
The show will be available for downloading on iTunes by the next day. Read more…

Okay, this is very old news. The meta keyword tag has been dead in terms of SEO for some time. Some speculate that it was never alive in the first place, but regardless of if it was ever anything, these days it is definitely dead.

Why am I writing about this ancient topic? Doesn’t everyone know this tag is useless? Well, apparently not. I still get asked by clients, and even random people who as me what I do for a living, about the keyword meta tag. My goal with this post is to reach just one person who thinks it will still help and set him/her straight. Read more…