The StepForth Web Marketing Blog
Informing on SEO, SEM, and PPC since 2001
SEO 101 Ep 435: GMB App Update, New Video Index Report, New Rich Result Guidelines, and More.
The show was packed with updates from Google. Ross & Scott discussed Google Search ranking updates, the rollout of new Search Console Video index report, new rich result guidelines, Google My Business mobile app, expiration of Google posts, and much more! ...
SEO 101 Ep 434: The Open Secret of Google Search, Twitter Updates, Featured Snippet Tests, and More.
The show started with a Twitter update that could benefit e-commerce merchants. The hosts then moved on to the open secret of Google Search, testing the new featured snippet layout, ‘brand story snippet,’ LGBTQ+ owned attribute to business profiles, and much more!...
SEO 101 Ep 419: Core Web Vital Hints, Podcast Knowledge Panels, and More
Working to improve Core Web Vitals (CWV) can be very frustrating, the gents discuss some new priority hints provided by Google, along with a recent rollout of knowledge panels for podcasts. They also cover a public discussion by respected journalists disparaging...
SEO 101 Ep 418: Google Bugs, New Search Quality Guidelines, and IndexNow
The hosts start the show discussing Google’s permanent loss of analytics data and a breakdown of Google Alerts. They then dig into the changes found in the latest update to Google’s Search Quality Guidelines, the impact of mobile continuous scroll, the questionable...
SEO 101 Ep 417: Google AMP Breaks, SEO Competitor Analysis, and More
A varied week of news starts with the WordPress dev team accepting some responsibility for issues with Core Web Vitals, and Google AMP chaos ensues after a damaging update (iOS 15) breaks AMP pages. In addition, Google provides more insights into its rules for title...
SEO 101 Ep 416: Search Result Enhancements and Chrome Field Data
A slew of search result enhancements are being seen in the wild and they are providing noticeable changes in search experience. This is coupled with a Google Core algorithm update that has made significant waves. The hosts also discuss some Mueller files, including a...
SEO 101 Ep 415: Keyword Research Tips and The Importance of Accurate Local Profiles
How to dig into keyword research with lesser known tools, the perceived impact of Google’s title tag alterations, and the importance of accuracy for business listing profiles. The gents also discuss some Mueller Files, a gap in Google My Business tracking, and they...
SEO 101 Ep 414: Google Changing Site Titles Doesn’t Affect Ranking but Click Through Rate is a Concern
Google confirms their automatic changes to title tags in search results do not affect rankings, but there is little doubt the “improved” titles can be less click-worthy. Scott and Ross also discuss a concern with the next version of Chrome that includes the ability to...
SEO 101 Ep 413: New Author.URL Schema Recommended by Google
Google’s recommendation to use the new Author.url link to a central profile of the author’s bio harkens back to the days of rel=author and Google Authorship. The gents also discuss standard updates to Google tools, news on the Links Spam Update, optimizing Google My...
SEO 101 Ep 412: How Clicks on Search Results Impact Ranking Results
Google representatives confirm the impact of clicks on search results, but not necessarily in the way you expect. The hosts also discuss what Google’s Core Updates affect in search results, changes to the use of fact check structured markup, and much more. ...
SEO 101 Ep 411: Google Core Update News and More.
The hosts discuss the progress of the July Google Core Update, how to handle permanent redirects over the long-haul, the SEO benefits or not of dedicated hosting, additions to the review options in Google My Business, and more. [spreaker type=player...
SEO 101 Podcast Ep 410: A Shopify SEO Improvement and The Summer of Google Updates
The hosts discuss a much sought after SEO feature recently released by Shopify. They also tackle whether you should or you should not pause your SEO, and the significant Google Updates that have all commenced in relatively short order this Summer. To tie it all up,...
SEO 101 Podcast Ep 409: Google’s Page Experience Rollout, Slander Filters, and More
Google’s Page Experience rollout is finally underway. The hosts discuss the rollout in addition to news on a Google slander algorithm, improvements in Google Search Console reporting, changes at Google My Business (good and bad), some Mueller files, and more. ...
SEO 101 Ep 408: Google’s June Core Update and a MUM Discussion
Google has rolled out part 1 of a 2 part Core update as of June 2nd. The hosts discuss what is known about the update and specific insights. Amidst news on cumulative layout shift (CLS) and other updates to Google Search Console, the hosts dig into what is known about...
SEO 101 Ep 407: What is Schema and Structured Data for SEO and Why it is Important
While discussing Schema.org’s launch of its new schema markup validator tool, Ross and Scott explain what schema and structured markup is, how it helps with SEO and site usability, and a plugin that can help with implementation. They also cover changes to Google...
SEO 101 Ep 406: SEO Notes from Ad World, Google Gaffes and More
The hosts discuss Yahoo’s fall from grace amidst its Verizon sell-off, Rachel Maddow’s goof, Google’s featured snippet gaffe, a Google algorithm update that affects review sites, and Mueller files. [spreaker type=player resource="episode_id=44812255"...
SEO 101 Ep 405: Maximizing Search Clickthrough Rates, Dealing with Traffic Drops, and More
To kick things off, the SEO 101 hosts get a good laugh over the stupidity of The Daily Mail’s ignorant lawsuit against Google over its low organic rankings. They follow that with insights into managing traffic drops (when necessary), improving search result...
SEO 101 Ep 404: An Interview with Joost de Valk, Founder of Yoast SEO
Joost de Valk, Founder and Chief Product Officer of Yoast joins Ross Dunn to discuss the Yoast SEO plugin. The interview covers the basic and advanced features, plus some upcoming updates and enhancements to the plugin that is sure to interest all users. ...