SNYCU Ep. 151 - Sept. 23, 2020 - Light Version

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In this episode we discuss possible algorithm updates in September, our upcoming webinar on link auditing, Google's new blog, deduplication and canonicalization, and so much more!


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In this episode:


Paid members also get the following:

  • September 14 algorithm update?
  • You'll begin to see HTTP2 crawls starting in mid November
  • Which speed metrics are most important to reference?
  • Notice a spike in your impressions but no change to clicks?
  • Google adds insight related to HTTPS pages drawing HTTP resources 
  • If your site is hosted on the same server as low quality sites, can it hurt you?
  • Good question related to duplicate content
  • Google thoroughly discusses deduplication and canonicalization
  • Google updates their documentation on fact check structured data
  • Google recently updated their guidance on local ranking
  • Use GMB attribute data to measure E-A-T
  • Local SEO audit checklist
  • Useful tip for local link building
  • Things to look for that might not be in your Analytics
  • Great idea for amplifying your customers’ COVID experiences
  • Ahrefs Webmaster Tools has just been launched
  • GMB Explorer allows you to filter GMB profiles
  • My tl;dr summary of some awesome recent SEO and Local SEO articles

Algorithm Updates

Possible update today, September 23, 2020

We’ll keep an eye on this and report back in next week’s newsletter.


MHC Announcements

MHC is planning an upcoming webinar (and we need your help!)

Link auditing can be incredibly challenging. How do you determine whether a link is unnatural? Should you disavow all directory links? Is there a benefit to disavowing super spammy links? What about guest posting links? Could a disavow hurt mine or my client’s site?

Our team has audited millions of links, filed hundreds of disavows and helped many websites recover from a Google manual action or algorithmic suppression. Marie has spoken at Pubcon, SMX, Mozcon and other industry events on the topic of unnatural links and Google penalties. 

Do you have any questions around filing a disavow, recovering from unnatural links manual actions, or recovering from algorithmic link suppressions?

We want to know!

We are gathering questions for a webinar with Marie. This will be a recorded session and Marie will share screenshots, show her workflow and answer as many questions as possible! This video will be released in the near future so please send in your questions in this Google Form


Google Announcements

Google publishes new blog: Web Creators 

Yesterday, Google announced a new blog: Web Creators that is designed to help webmasters “create, share and monetize content on the web”. We’re looking forward to seeing the type of information they release and will keep our readers posted if we come across helpful content. 

Here is a snapshot of what information they plan to provide: 

As one of our main goals at MHC is to advise our clients on what it is that Google considers “good content”, we’ll be keeping a close eye on this blog and reporting on our findings in future newsletter episodes.


SEO Tips

AMP in WordPress: series introduction

This new video series will allow webmasters to get a better understanding of how to build user-first sites (ie. beautiful, fast, engaging, secure, and accessible) for WordPress. For those of you interested in watching, this episode will provide a general overview of the series and why WordPress has been selected at the CMS.


Other Interesting News

SEMrush acquires SaaS PR tech company 

The content marketing software platform Prowly PR was just acquired by SEMrush. The joining of the companies will allow Prowly to improve on PR measurement, that being one of their biggest hurdles. Access to SEMrush technologies will enable Prowly to step into new markets and territories.


Local SEO - News from SterlingSky 

As we thought last week, what "fluxed up" on Wednesday, "fluxed" back down on Thursday with no lasting impact. The rest of the week and weekend was quiet, as is this week so far:

flux sept. 16


Google My Business upgrade

Tom Waddington first spotted the option to upgrade a Google My Business listing near the end of July 2020 while looking in the GMB dashboard of an HVAC contractor. At the time, there was plenty of speculation across the industry given that details from Google were in short supply. He has since learned that the GMB upgrade is not intended for businesses already in Local Services ads, there are limited categories available at this time, dedicated support and recorded phone calls is included, plus a few more features.


LocalU Advanced Virtual - November 10, 2020, is open for registration

We've added a few new speakers and a few new topics. Learn great tips for content, social, reporting, technical SEO, and more with an eye towards improving local rankings. Tickets are just $99 and all proceeds support I Live Again Uganda. Scholarships are available! Check it out.


Google My Business updates the guidelines for service area businesses & virtual offices

Google has updated some of its guidelines with regards to SABs and virtual offices:

  • “Businesses can’t list a virtual office unless that office is staffed during business hours”.
  • “Storefront vs service-area businesses. If your business doesn’t have a storefront with clear signage but travels to customers at their physical locations, you’re allowed one service-area Business Profile.
  • “Service area businesses may only create one profile for the metropolitan area they serve”.
  • “If your business doesn’t have permanent on-site signage, it’s not eligible as a storefront and should be listed as a service-area business”.
  • “The boundaries of your overall area shouldn’t extend farther than about 2 hours of driving time from where your business is based."


Pleper has a new GMB business category and data finding Chrome extension

Joy has been testing the new Chrome extension from Pleper - quickly see a comparison of what categories a business is using, the CID of a maps listing and more!


Logos in Search suggest results in Maps app 

Joy noticed over the weekend that logos were showing in the Maps app as she was doing searches. This could be an extension of GMB listings showing in search results for brands, but it might just be an independent feature as well. Worth noting, the logos seem to appear for some smaller multi-location brands and not just giant brands.


SEO Tools

Structured data testing tool alternatives (with pros and cons for each)

Patrick co-creator of Sitebulb breaks down some of the best alternatives to the Structured Data Testing Tool. Sitebulb is on this list, however, there are some great free options too. 


Recommended Reading

What is the brand impact on SEO performance? – Kevin Gibbons
https://resignal.com/blog/what-is-the-brand-impact-on-seo/
September 17, 2020

Kevin’s article dives into the impact that brands can actually have on SEO performance. He starts by dissecting the “essentials items” that could give you a good SEO performance, strong link reputation, good reviews, high traffic volume, strong online audience etc. As many brands and businesses all seem to focus on those “essential items”, trying to outdo each other on the same items, Kevin focuses on brand reputation and popularity, and tying it to your SEO strategies.  

 

Digital & Disinformation: What the SEO Industry Can Do to Fight Manipulation – Jamie Alberico
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/digital-disinformation-fight-manipulation-seo-industry/380344/
September 21, 2020 

Jamie dives into the topic of disinformation (ie. false or misleading information that is spread deliberately to deceive) and covers a wide range of tactics and techniques that are common in the SERPs, leveraged by blackhat SEOs, and more. Overall this is an incredibly fascinating read and will leave you with a series of suggestions that’ll allow you to help the cause and also to avoid falling into traps. 


Jobs


Want More?

Paid members also get the following:

  • September 14 algorithm update?
  • You'll begin to see HTTP2 crawls starting in mid November
  • Which speed metrics are most important to reference?
  • Notice a spike in your impressions but no change to clicks?
  • Google adds insight related to HTTPS pages drawing HTTP resources 
  • If your site is hosted on the same server as low quality sites, can it hurt you?
  • Good question related to duplicate content
  • Google thoroughly discusses deduplication and canonicalization
  • Google updates their documentation on fact check structured data
  • Google recently updated their guidance on local ranking
  • Use GMB attribute data to measure E-A-T
  • Local SEO audit checklist
  • Useful tip for local link building
  • Things to look for that might not be in your Analytics
  • Great idea for amplifying your customers’ COVID experiences
  • Ahrefs Webmaster Tools has just been launched
  • GMB Explorer allows you to filter GMB profiles
  • My tl;dr summary of some awesome recent SEO and Local SEO articles

Note: If you are seeing the light version and you are a paid member, be sure to log in (in the sidebar on desktop or below the post on mobile) and read the full article here.

You can subscribe to Dr. Marie Haynes' newsletter by clicking on the Paypal button below. You'll get an action packed email every week.

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Part of the challenge of SEO is staying on top of industry news, trends, and techniques There is so much information out there that it is easy to get bogged down in information overload and trying to disseminate what's truly important from all that noise can be really time-consuming and challenging.

 Marie's newsletter is a game changer because it manages to cut through the fluff and deliver high-quality information that is not only really important for those that do SEO, but it is presented in a format that is really easy to absorb.

If you are looking for a trusted information related to search that is highly actionable I would strongly recommend Marie's newsletter.

Paul Macnamara - Offers SEO Consulting at PaulMacnamara.com


That's it for this episode! Stay tuned for our Youtube video (my channel is here). If you want to follow me on Facebook, here is my page.


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