The StepForth Web Marketing Blog
Informing on SEO, SEM, and PPC since 2001SEO 101 Episode 496 – March 2025 Core Update, a Little Known Mistake to Avoid, and AI Errors
In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte discuss Google's March 2025 core update and its focus on quality content. They explain a mistake that can cause search engine result click-through rates to plummet, and they address the challenges of AI...
SEO 101 Episode 495 – Google Search Decline: AI Preferences, User Trust, and Ranking Volatility
In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dun and Scott Van Achte explore the recent VOX Media survey revealing declining trust in Google Search, with a shift toward AI tools. They discuss Google's updates for personal info removal, local SEO strategies, and AI ranking...
SEO 101 Ep 442 Impact of Backlinks on Ranking, Duplicated Website Content, AI-altered Plagiarized Content, and More.
The hosts started the show by discussing the lawsuit Google filed against a company promising Page 1 rankings. Other topics discussed include duplicate website content, the impact of backlinks on ranking, Google algorithms to detect & demote AI-altered plagiarized...
SEO 101 Ep 441 Disappearing Google Reviews, Updates on Google Business Profile Features, and More.
Ross & Scott started the show with news on WooCommerce WordPress plugin vulnerabilities. They then talked about review structured data, updates on Google Business Profile photos, the impact of local review keywords on local rankings, disappearing reviews caused by...
SEO 101 Ep 440: WordPress Vulnerabilities, October Spam Update, Google Search Result Display Update, and More.
Ross & Scott started the show with news on WordPress vulnerabilities. They then talked about Google’s October 2022 spam update, Google SERP display update, testing of expanded pricing details in Google Product Panel, guidelines for soliciting Google reviews, and...
SEO 101 Ep 439: Drupal Vulnerabilities, Multiple Google Updates, Google Business Profile Suspensions, and More.
Ross & Scott started the show with news on Drupal vulnerabilities. They then did a rundown of the many Google updates in the last few months. Other topics discussed: Google testing “More Like This” snippet feature, Google Search Console missing data, Google Local...
SEO 101 Ep 438: WordPress 6.02 Security Issues, Google’s Advice on Meta Descriptions, and More.
The show started with a status check on Google’s Helpful Content Update. Ross & Scott then moved on to Wordpress 6.02 security issues and Google’s advice on meta descriptions. They also gave valuable tips when they answered a few questions from the audience....
SEO 101 Ep 437: Google’s Helpful Content Update, Changes to International Targeting Report, Indexing Updates, and More.
The show started with a big update on Google Helpful Content, which could change SEO as much as Panda did. The hosts then discussed the August product review update, changes in People Also Asked results, Google’s simplified page indexing report, duplicating content in...
SEO 101 Ep 436: July 2022 Product Review Update, Google’s Indexing Issue, GBP Automated Messaging, and More.
The hosts started the show with Google’s release of a super basic video on SEO. They also talked about the July 2022 product review algorithm update, the Google indexing issue last July 15, new automated messaging through the Business Profile FAQ section, a Google...
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 433: New Search Engine From Ahrefs, Google’s Learning Video Markup, SEO Certification, and More.
The show was packed with a lot of updates, including the following: Yoast’s IndexNow protocol, Google adding learning video rich results, Google’s update on its title algorithm for multi-language or transliterated/scripted titles, Ahrefs new search engine, and much...
SEO 101 Ep 432: Google’s May 2022 Broad Core Update, WordPress 6.0 ‘Arturo’ Activation, Google Ads CPC Bug, and More.
Ross & Scott started the show by paying homage to SEO legend Bill Slawski, who recently passed away. They then discussed the activation of WordPress 6.0 ‘Arturo’, Google’s May 2022 Broad Core Update, tips for marking up FAQ pages, a Google Ads cost per click (CPC)...
SEO 101 Ep 431: How to Use Images to Improve Rankings With Mike Blumenthal.
Show guest, Mike Blumenthal, shares his latest research findings on the increased power of images in local search. In this episode you will find out what images Google wants to see, how to leverage images to improve your rankings, and how to use one of Google's free...
SEO 101 Ep 430: Goals Migration Tool for Google Analytics 4, Google Testing Updates in Search Results, and More.
The show was filled with a lot of new updates. Ross & Scott talked about the new goals migration tool for GA 4, the possible reasons why rankings drop after optimizing existing content, multiple updates to Google search results, and much more [spreaker...
SEO 101 Ep 429: Critical Chrome and Edge Update, Volatility in Google Search Ranking, and More.
The show was packed with recent important updates starting with the critical update to Chrome and Edge. Ross & Scott also discussed the Google Search ranking volatility, Google’s URL Parameters tool, recycling attribute for GMB profiles, the impact of product...
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...