The StepForth Web Marketing Blog
Informing on SEO, SEM, and PPC since 2001SEO 101 Episode 491 – Spam Impact, Continuous Scroll Return, and Blogging Benefits
In this solo episode of SEO 101, Scott analyzes the December 2024 Google Spam Update and its effects on site rankings. He discusses the reintroduction of continuous scroll for Image and Video results and explores the importance of blogging for authority and fresh...
SEO 101 Episode 490 – 2025 Predictions, Google December Core Update, and ChatGPT Search for Free Users: Features and Insights
In this episode of SEO 101, Ross and Scott share their predictions for 2025, and Bing's removal of the cache link and Google's December 2024 core update; analyzing their potential impacts on search rankings. They also explore the features of ChatGPT Search now...
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...
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...