When Danny Sullivan recently tried to explain the difference between neural matching and RankBrain I was initially left scratching my head. I thought, why does this have to be so complicated? Couldn't the difference between neural matching and RankBrain be explained in a tangibly concrete well structured and "scaffolded" manner?
What is the intent of a user when they enter a search term? Rather, what are the multiple layers of intent that Google sees in that query? What has Google determined to be important when showing results for a given keyword? Google has gotten far better at parsing search terms according to the multiple intents embedded within them.
But how are you supposed to determine how Google understands intent for a search term? How do you know what content Google thinks is relevant to users? How can you determine how Google understands intent?
Here's a simple method that's worked for me.
What a year in the world of SEO. Sure, I say that every year, but 2018 certainly had its share of game-changing developments. Predisposed to a high volume of SEO themes, be it mobile-first or Google's new "journey" outlook on search, 2018 has a flavor all unto itself.
Now then, there are just way too many stories for me to cover in one post to catch everything that we saw hit the floor in SEO during 2018. What's to come is my best crack at grabbing all of the major stories, the biggest changes, and the most interesting advancements that came out of the world of search in 2018.
Here we go!
Keyword cannibalization is one of those SEO buzzwords that carries with it a certain myth and mythology. But behind the commonly held ethos of how keyword cannibalization is perceived lies a real problem that could impact your site and more importantly your bottom line. If you're wondering what keyword cannibalization is, what it's not, why it's a problem, and what you can do about it, then this post was written for you. If not, give it a read anyway, what do you have to lose?
Most SEO professionals know the ins and outs of the trade – that content is king, that technical SEO optimization is a must, and that you can’t get serious rank traction without quality backlinks. The thing is, that succeeding as an SEO agency is not just about knowing SEO, it’s about understanding how to manage the client relationship, a central part of which is knowing the right way to prepare SEO reports.
In this guide, we'll go through the various formats and types of mobile Knowledge Panels, highlighting what has changed and been upgraded along the way (when applicable of course). We'll also pay special attention to some of the newer formats of the panel as well. So sit back and get ready to explore Google's magnificently malleable mobile Knowledge Panels.
Take a look at the various forms of Local Panel Knowledge Panels Google offers on mobile. Explore the different features Google includes for a variety of different local entities.
Another year in SEO has come and gone and it's time to look back at the stories that helped shape the industry in 2017. From algorithm update bombshells to ever-morphing ad abilities and a hint of mobile-first madness, 2017 definitely had a flavor all of its own.
At the end of October Google made a huge change that had an enormous ripple effect on international SEO. No longer can you enter a specific Google ccTLD in order to see how search results appear in different countries. Meaning, you can no longer enter a country-specific Google search engine URL into the browser with the hope of seeing the SERP for that country. Google is now showing you results for your location, no matter what. Thus, you would need a VPN in order to see Google SERPs from various countries... or do you? Here's how you can easily view Google search results internationally without using a VPN.
Featured Snippets are short, direct answers shown by Google at the top of the first page of search results in response to search queries in the form of questions, or which imply a search for specific information. Recently, the race to grab Featured Snippets has turned into somewhat of a feeding frenzy in the SEO industry. This article provides you with insights into what Google is looking for, valuable statistics and guidelines on how to "win" Featured Snippets.
Take an in-depth look at the content available within Google's Knowledge Panel. See the significance of the prolific nature of mobile Knowledge Panels. Explore the Knowledge Panel within the always entertaining Ignite format.
