Boost Your Online Visibility with Google Search Console and Business Profile
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Google Search Console: Valid and Invalid Errors
- Taking Advantage of Trending Search Queries
- New Widget for Google Business Profiles
- Google's Testing of New Featured Snippet Layouts
- Reviews in Google Maps Listings
- Twitter Removes No Follow Tag
- The Decline of DuckDuckGo Search Engine
- SEO Jobs: A Great Resource
- Transitioning from Google Analytics to GA4
- The Impact of CDNs on SEO Rankings
- Cyber Liability Insurance and Domain Names
Introduction
Welcome to the latest episode of the Digital Marketing with Bill Hartzer Podcast! In this episode, we have a lot to cover, including updates from Google Search Console, opportunities with trending search queries, new features from Google, the influence of reviews in Google Maps, and much more. So let's dive right in!
Google Search Console: Valid and Invalid Errors
Google Search Console is an essential tool for website owners. It provides valuable insights into the performance of your website in Google's search results. One recent update to Search Console is the addition of reporting valid or invalid errors. This means you can now see if the errors reported by Search Console are actually impacting your website's indexing and ranking. If an error isn't affecting your pages' performance, it may be lower on your priority list to fix. However, if an error is affecting indexing and ranking, it's crucial to address the issue promptly.
Taking Advantage of Trending Search Queries
Google is constantly testing new features in its search results, one of which is FAQs based on trending search queries. When a particular keyword becomes popular due to breaking news or industry trends, Google may display FAQs related to that search query. This presents an opportunity for website owners and content creators to create blog posts or articles that answer these FAQs. By doing so, you can drive traffic to your website from people exploring the trending topic. Keep an eye on the news in your industry and stay ahead of the curve to leverage this opportunity effectively.
New Widget for Google Business Profiles
If you manage a Google Business Profile and have a Google account, there's an exciting new widget you should know about. When you search for a company's name, Google may display a profile strength indicator widget in the search results. This widget shows you the strength of your business listing's profile based on various factors like completeness and optimization. It's a useful tool to assess how well you've utilized your Google Business Profile and identify any areas for improvement. Make sure to check it out if you're managing a Google Business Profile.
Google's Testing of New Featured Snippet Layouts
Google is always experimenting with new ways to display information in search results, and featured snippets are a prime example. Featured snippets provide users with quick and concise answers directly on the search results page. Recently, Google has been testing new layouts for these snippets. While the specifics of these layouts aren't clear yet, it's essential to stay informed and adapt your content strategy accordingly. Keep an eye on how these new layouts may impact your visibility in search results.
Reviews in Google Maps Listings
If you've ever searched for a local service or business on Google, you're familiar with the three-pack or map pack listing that showcases the top results. Some businesses have noticed that these listings sometimes feature a review, while others don't. It appears that reviews marked as helpful or receiving a high number of thumbs-ups are more likely to be featured in these listings. However, the criteria for inclusion aren't solely based on the number of reviews. This feature can significantly impact a business's visibility, so it's worth exploring strategies to encourage positive reviews and engagement from customers.
Twitter Removes No Follow Tag
Previously, URLs shared in tweets had a "no follow" tag, which meant they weren't given much weight for SEO purposes. However, Twitter recently removed this tag, opening up the potential for these links to be more influential in search engine crawling and indexing. While constantly tweeting URLs is not recommended, strategically sharing your content on Twitter can help increase visibility and organic traffic. Additionally, consider embedding your latest tweets on your website to pass page rank and drive traffic back to your site.
The Decline of DuckDuckGo Search Engine
DuckDuckGo, known for its privacy-focused search engine, has experienced a decline in search volume over the past few months. While it had been consistently generating over a hundred million searches a day since January 2021, it's now seeing a drop in the number of searches. The cause of this decline is still unclear, and it's too early to determine if it's a long-term trend or the result of other factors like changes in marketing efforts. Keeping an eye on DuckDuckGo's search volume can provide insights into the evolving search landscape.
SEO Jobs: A Great Resource
For those seeking job opportunities in the SEO and PPC industry, SEojobs.com is a valuable resource. It offers listings specifically tailored to SEO and PPC professionals, making it an ideal platform to find relevant job openings. LinkedIn Jobs is another popular option, but SEojobs.com provides a niche-focused approach, ensuring you find roles that align with your skills and interests. Likewise, if you're hiring in the SEO industry, make sure to list your job openings on SEojobs.com to connect with qualified candidates.
Transitioning from Google Analytics to GA4
Google has been encouraging users to transition from the old Google Analytics to the newer GA4 version. While this change might seem daunting, it's necessary to adapt to the evolving analytics landscape. It's recommended to run both the old Google Analytics code and the GA4 code simultaneously to ensure historical data continuity. By implementing GA4 alongside the existing code, you'll have access to both historical and new data, facilitating a smooth transition to GA4 before it becomes mandatory.
The Impact of CDNs on SEO Rankings
Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) such as Cloudflare and BitMitigate serve a global audience by distributing website content across various servers worldwide. While CDNs don't directly impact SEO rankings, they play a vital role in improving website performance and user experience. By using a CDN, you can deliver your web pages quickly to visitors around the globe, reducing latency and ensuring consistent site speed. Additionally, CDNs often provide security benefits by filtering out malicious bots and ensuring only genuine visitors and search engine crawlers can access your site.
Cyber Liability Insurance and Domain Names
Some domain registrars, like Namecheap, have started offering cyber liability insurance to customers. While this type of insurance is valuable for protecting against cybersecurity risks, it's important to note that it does not cover the loss or theft of domain names. Protecting domain names is crucial, and services like DMProtect.com specialize in providing coverage specifically for domain name loss or theft. When considering insurance options, be aware of the distinctions between cyber liability insurance and domain protection services to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Highlights:
- Google Search Console now shows if errors are valid or invalid for indexing and ranking purposes.
- Take advantage of trending search queries by creating content and FAQs around popular topics.
- Google Business Profiles now have a profile strength widget in search results, providing insights into listing optimization.
- Google is testing new layouts for featured snippets, impacting content visibility and presentation.
- Reviews marked as helpful or receiving many thumbs-ups may be featured in Google Maps listings.
- Twitter has removed the "no follow" tag from URLs in tweets, potentially impacting search engine crawling and indexing.
- DuckDuckGo's search engine has experienced a decline in search volume, signaling possible changes in user behavior.
- SEojobs.com is a valuable resource for finding SEO and PPC jobs, while also offering listings for hiring companies.
- Transitioning to GA4 in Google Analytics is recommended before it becomes mandatory, ensuring continuity of historical data.
- Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) improve website performance globally but do not directly influence SEO rankings.
- Cyber liability insurance does not cover the loss or theft of domain names, necessitating domain name protection services.
FAQ:
Q: Can CDNs improve Google rankings?
A: CDNs themselves do not directly impact SEO rankings. However, they contribute to website performance and user experience, indirectly influencing rankings.
Q: Does cyber liability insurance cover the loss or theft of domain names?
A: No, cyber liability insurance focuses on mitigating risks related to cybersecurity but does not provide coverage for domain name loss or theft.
Q: Are featured snippets impacted by the number of reviews in Google Maps listings?
A: While the number of reviews does play a role, featured snippets in Google Maps are primarily influenced by the helpfulness and engagement of specific reviews.
Q: Is it necessary to transition from Google Analytics to GA4?
A: Although it may seem daunting, transitioning to GA4 is recommended as it aligns with Google's evolving analytics landscape. Running both versions simultaneously ensures data continuity.
Q: How can I leverage trending search queries to drive traffic?
A: Keep an eye on breaking news and industry trends, create content and FAQs around relevant keywords, and optimize your website to capitalize on the increased search volume.
Q: Does tweeting URLs impact SEO rankings?
A: While tweeting URLs itself does not have a direct impact on rankings, strategically sharing content on Twitter can increase visibility and organic traffic.
Resources:
