The StepForth Web Marketing Blog
Informing on SEO, SEM, and PPC since 2001Apple Business Connect: A Rival of Google Business Profile
Apple introduced Business Connect on January 11, 2023. It’s an improved version of Apple Maps Connect released in October 2014 and a free tool allowing small and large businesses to customize the information that appears across Apple apps. Images Source: Apple Let’s...
SEO 101 Ep 443 New Google Search Status Dashboard, December Google Helpful Content Update, Link Spam Update, and More.
The hosts started the show by reminiscing on the beginning of Search Engine Land, which is now celebrating its 16th birthday. Next up, was the New Google Search Status Dashboard which reports widespread issues for site owners. Other topics discussed include the latest...
SEO 101 Ep 428: Game-Changing update on Google Analytics, Missing Google Reviews, and More.
The show was packed with controversial updates, which Ross & Scott broke down and discussed. Some of the topics were: the end date for Google’s Universal Analytics, missing business reviews on Google, a new WordPress plugin of note, and more. Bonus: they shared a...
SEO 101 Ep 427: Google’s Local Business Verification Update, Internal Linking for SEO, ‘People Also Ask’ Data, and More
Ross & Scott started the episode with a recap of current events, and then they moved on to Google’s various updates. They discussed the updates in Google search ranking, page experience, the verification process for local businesses, interactive maps in the local...
SEO 101 Ep 426: Google’s Martin Splitt Interviewed
Ross and Scott interview Martin Splitt from Google’s Developer Relations Team. Martin answers SEO questions on JavaScript, the possible future of core web vitals, the likelihood of Web 3.0, and how easily his words are misconstrued - including a current mess he's...
SEO 101 Ep 425: Google Search Console Updates, Google Reviews, Bing’s PubHub, Tips for Business Owners, and More.
Ross and Scott talked about recent updates in Google Search Console, Google Maps & Product reviews, Bing’s PubHub, and crawling issues in Shopify. They also gave a lot of valuable tips, including the list of online assets that you must have access to as business...
SEO 101 Ep 424: Google Tags, Markups, URL changes, Subfolder URL Structure, and More.
The hosts discussed various Google updates – from Google Home, a new robots tag, schema markups, URL changes, to subfolder URL structure. Ross & Scott finished the show by answering some questions posted by listeners on the SEO 101 Facebook Group. [spreaker...
SEO 101 Ep 423: Relevant SEO Tips, Yoast Updates, and More.
The first episode of the year started with a Google Search ranking update. The hosts then moved on to Yoast updates and then to unique SEO tips that you could apply to your website. Ross and Scott capped off the show with 2022 SEO predictions. [spreaker...
SEO 101 Ep 422: Google Updates for November and December, GMB’s Name Change, and More
Google had numerous updates in November and December. The hosts start the show with a recap of Google spam and core updates in November. They then moved on to GMB's new name, Google product reviews update, and other local SEO news that can help improve the performance...
SEO 101 Ep 421: Remembering John Carcutt with Special Guests
Ross and Scott are joined by two special guests to share stories about their dearly departed friend and co-host of SEO 101, John Carcutt. For those who are new to the podcast, John recorded over 400 episodes with Ross Dunn over the course of 11 years. [spreaker...
SEO 101 Ep 420: Google Search Console Data Error, Structured Data Field Changes, and More
Hello, this is Ross Dunn. Before episode 420 begins, I want to share some deeply sad news. My dear friend and co-host of the SEO 101 Podcast for the past 11 years, John Carcutt, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on November 8, 2021. The following episode was...
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...