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The most exciting days of the year for me are when Google updates the Quality Raters Guidelines. Not only did they update, but they updated to add MORE EEEEEEEEEEE. 

I cannot stop laughing about Google’s new acronym. The extra E stands for Experience. 

We’ve got a new spam update. The Helpful Content Update is still rolling out. So far, it’s a bit of a dud, but it’s not done yet!

Here are the most important things every SEO and business owner should know this week.

A new spam update – SpamBrain is now being used for links

Today, with our December 2022 link spam update, we’re leveraging the power of SpamBrain to neutralize the impact of unnatural links on search results. The update launches today & will take about two weeks to rollout. Learn more: https://t.co/ACO2Ut8wmi

— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) December 14, 2022

My book on Google Spam Updates came out a few weeks later than I had wanted, but wow, was the timing good. One day after I published the book, Google released not only a spam update, but a link spam update. 

E-A-T is now E-E-A-T

Dr. PEEEEEET says the extra E is silent. Honestly, no matter how you say E-E-A-T it’s going to sound silly. The new E actually stands for Experience…not exactly the same thing as Expertise.

To better assess our results, E-A-T is gaining an E: experience. In addition to expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, does content demonstrate some degree of experience? Learn more about how E-E-A-T is now part of our search rater guidelines https://t.co/8hCj1Gk49S

— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) December 15, 2022

The Quality Raters Guidelines changed a LOT as well. I have not been through the changes yet and will report on them next issue.

The December HCU is still rolling out. 

It started on December 5.

Feeling any impact from the Dec Helpful Content Update? (started on the 5th, still running)

If yes, could you submit your site to help me?https://t.co/MswQMtwCn9

Anyone got examples to share of sites hit?

— Marie Haynes (@Marie_Haynes) December 14, 2022

So far I’ve seen some changes possibly related to the update, but not a lot.

For paid readers, in this episode I share what’s important to know about the above and a lot more including:

• A complete synopsis of recent updates and other things that could be affecting your traffic
• Discussion on recent Google updates and indexing issues.
• New Google search indexing status board
• GSC giving us content ideas
• The most recent notable changes in the SERPS
• Some more interesting ways people are using ChatGPT

Become a paid member for $18 per month

We’ve had so many updates lately! It’s almost impossible to know why your traffic is down. And for many sites traffic *is* down tremendously.

In this episode I’ve discussed the craziness we’ve seen this year with Google updates. September Core Update. Helpful Content Update. Two spam updates…there are so many things that have happened!

On top of that many sites are losing traffic to Google Explore and because of ChatGPT.

We also discuss whether topic filter bubbles in search and continuous scroll on desktop could be impacting you.

And um, I just can’t talk about E-E-A-T without bursting out laughing. Still, this is very important as Google is now valuing not just Expertise, but also Experience.

I hope you enjoy this episode!

Note: The YouTube video for this is going to be so good. But it won’t be out till next week.

I produce a new episode every two weeks:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts  | Soundcloud | YouTube

This is a good article on getting good links:

4 main types of local links and how to earn them via @hhuskins https://t.co/v8Pm1HGA1p pic.twitter.com/PAsjbRdffB

— Search Engine Land (@sengineland) December 14, 2022

Having trouble responding to reviews?

This usually happens when the user updates their review slightly.

— Joy Hawkins (@JoyanneHawkins) December 12, 2022

💡Wondering how to remove negative reviews on Google? There is a 4-step process for this that I've outlined here ⬇️⬇️
https://t.co/iwXCcysLlo #localseo #googlebusinessprofile

— Joy Hawkins (@JoyanneHawkins) December 9, 2022

More information on Google’s AI driven review filter:

2/Unlike previous filter, this is a new AI based filter that looks at both the content of the review AND the context; IE which business is getting the review,how long have they had their listing etc

There are a shit ton of false positives -real reviews that are wrongly filtered

— Mike Blumenthal (@mblumenthal) December 11, 2022

Good reason to use offer posts!

Whoa! If you have an offer post on your listing, Google displays it under your place label on the Google Maps app. Super cool. pic.twitter.com/kDJNwiGieO

— Joy Hawkins (@JoyanneHawkins) December 10, 2022

Good thread on using local service ads:

https://twitter.com/imcrystalhorton/status/1601981349757419528?s=20&t=cFH_XGNgeYOJN48e8GjJJg

Looking for a new SEO job? SEOjobs.com is a job board curated by real SEOs for SEOs. Take a look at five of the hottest SEO job listing this week (below) and sign up for the weekly job listing email only available at SEOjobs.com.

• Head of SEO ~ Policygenius ~ $160k-$240K ~ Remote
• SEO Specialist ~ Bethel Farms ~ $60k-$70k ~ Fully Remote
• SEO Manager ~ Tron ~ $90k-$125K ~ Remote
• SEO Analyst ~ Blue Corona ~ $50-$58k ~ Remote

It is so exciting watching Google change so quickly. I cannot wait to dig into the QRG changes.

I hope your site is doing ok through all of this craziness!

Marie