Common questions and answers about SEO certification from Google
Thinking of taking a Google certification course? Make sure you evaluate the quality of the information being presented.
Contributor
Shari Thurow's latest articles
How to handle unprofessional SEO treatment: tips and guidelines
Learn how to handle unprofessional treatment at various online and offline SEO events, including conferences, webinars and social media.
How to recognize a lost cause in SEO projects and request for proposals (RFPs)
Without giving away specific details in a proposal, here are some key indicators to assess if a client's team will actually support your recommendations.
Stop the silo madness! Effective site architecture for SEO and findability
Content silos negatively affect both the browsing and searching experience which often results in lost sales.
Opinion: Congress needs to do their homework on search engines
During a Dec. 11 hearing, congressional representatives questioning Google's CEO demonstrated their lack of knowledge about how search engines actually work.
Calculating The Risk Of Search Engine Spam
Contributor Shari Thurow describes what can happen if you don't follow search engine guidelines on SEO.
SEO Smackdown: Download Time – Machine Speed Vs. Human Speed
Perceived download time is more important to searchers than actual download time. So why do SEOs focus on technocentric optimization strategies?
Long-Term SEO: Sustainable Tactics, Strategies & Solutions
Last month, I attended the Long-Term SEO: How To Win For Years, Not Days session at SMX West. I have worked in the search industry since 1995. I have seen search engine optimization (SEO) trends and tactics come and go… and I’ve also seen fundamental, universal concepts get stronger and stronger over time. So what […]
The Right Way To Do Click-To-Call In An Enhanced Campaign World
Earlier this week, I attended the How To Do Click-To-Call In An Enhanced Campaign World session at SMX East. As a search usability professional, my primary interest is to understand not only how searchers locate and discover desired content, but also why searchers make specific choices. For example, when does a searcher prefer to use […]
SEO Smackdown Round 2: Old Vs. New Search Engine Optimization
Has SEO really changed? Search engine algoholics might say "Yes!" Experienced practitioners might say, "Not really." Instead of keywords, site architecture, and link development, maybe we should understand aboutness, information scent, and validation.
How Does Color Usage Affect SEO & Conversions?
Many search engine optimization professionals have different interpretations of the term search-engine friendly website design. Learn how color affects your SEO efforts and conversions.
A Simple Guide To Understanding The Searcher Experience
When search engine optimization (SEO) professionals talk about the searcher experience, they often cast their personal mental models onto the minds of searchers. What is your role in understanding and delivering a successful searcher experience?
Keyword Classification: Understanding The “Why” Of SEO
Keyword classification is often the missing ingredient in SEO plans. Without understanding the reasons why people search, search engine optimizers will often misinterpret or improperly classify keyword phrases. How do we understand the "why" part of the optimization process?
The Ties Between Emotional Design & SEO
Shari, are you crazy? Search engines don’t have emotions! What does emotional design have to do with SEO? A lot more than you might think.
How To Understand Keywords In Searcher Context
Is it possible for SEO professionals to understand searcher context based purely on keyword research data?
QUIZ: Test Your Knowledge Of Searcher Behavior
Think you know the web searcher goals and behaviors that are important for long term search engine visibility? Take this quiz and find out.
Spreading SEO Awareness & Knowledge
Taking that first step to genuine SEO awareness can be difficult for SEO professionals as well as information architects and usability professionals. How can we make crossing that bridge easier?
Website Usability 101 For SEO Professionals
Want to be better at search engine optimization? What all SEO professionals should know about website usability.
What Is Your SEO Archiving Plan?
If the answer to this question is stunned silence, your website could lose long-term search engine visibility. Archiving has always been an important part of the SEO process.
User-Centered Or Usage-Centered Design: Which Is Better For SEO?
When creating a search-engine friendly website, do you follow the principles of user-centered design, usage-centered design, or both?
Eyetracking & SEO: Fad, Fact, Or Fiction?
Do SEO professionals use eyetracking usability studies as a link-juice fad? Can eyetracking tests yield useful information about Web searchers?
What Is The Key To Effective SEO Elevator Pitches?
If you only had 30 seconds to explain search engine optimization (SEO) to others, how would you do it? Would your explanation be different for user experience professionals? Here's how I explain it.
SEO Smackdown: Information Architecture vs. Technical Architecture
Why do SEO professionals believe that technical architecture is more important than information architecture (IA)?
Interview With Louis Rosenfeld, Author Of Search Analytics – Part 2
Part 2 of a two-part interview with information architect and author Louis Rosenfeld about search analytics that can (and should) be used for optimizing your website.
Interview With Louis Rosenfeld, Author Of Search Analytics
Interview with information architect and author Louis Rosenfeld about search analytics that can (and should) be used for optimizing your website.
How To Use Personas & Scenarios In SEO
Keyword research tools are great, but they do not provide enough context for understanding searcher behaviors. Usability test scenarios can help SEO professionals better understand their target audience.
How To Use Effective Navigation Labels for Search Engine Optimization
Is your website’s URL structure based on the perceived logic of your boss’ teenage son? Or even worse, a software engineer? Search-engine friendly labeling systems are critical for long-term search engine visibility.
Calling All Information Architects! Get With The SEO Program
Many SEO professionals try to understand information architecture (IA). Do information architects try to understand SEO? Here are some of my beefs with information architects.
3 SEO Myths About Information Architecture
PageRank sculpting, siloing, link-juice flowage, SEO architecture — all are keyword phrases that make my skin crawl. What do search optimizers need to know about information architecture? Learn from real information architects.
Why SEO Needs Its Own Reputation Management
A few weeks ago, I saw a reference to search engine optimization (SEO) on the TV Show The Good Wife that made me fall off of my chair. (See SEO Gets Dissed by CBS TV Series “The Good Wife” for the transcript.) I fell off of my chair for two reasons: (1) I certainly did […]
Findability, SEO, And The Searcher Experience
Do you know the key components of a positive searcher experience? Usability and findability are crucial...but there are other critical elements.
Keywords, Text Links & Navigation Design
What is the best approach to utilizing keywords in site navigation? Balance is the key to successful keyword placement in a search-engine friendly website.
Clickability & Search Engine Friendly Web Design
Clickability, or perceived visual affordance, is a key element of search-engine friendly website design. How do searchers and search engines perceive clickable and unclickable elements?
More SEO Myths About Website Usability
When you optimize your website for search engine visibility, who are you targeting? The statistically average web searcher? Someone who is new to web searching? Or a highly experienced web searcher?
Mobile Searcher Behavior Should Drive Design & SEO
Mobile searchers have different goals, motivations, and limitations than desktop searchers. What are things you should consider before building and optimizing a website for mobile searchers?
Keywords, Aboutness & SEO
Do your web pages, graphic images, and videos effectively communicate aboutness to both web searchers and search engines? How do search engines and searchers determine aboutness?
When Good SEO Becomes Bad Information Architecture
Have you ever heard the phrase search engine optimization (SEO) architecture? At first glance, it might seem like a good idea...but maybe not. Learn about 2 critical usability tests that help SEO professionals not make critical architecture errors.
Key Information Architecture Concepts Every SEO Should Know
SEO professionals often confuse information architecture (IA) with website development. Here are fundamental IA skills every SEO should know, and how SEOs can in turn contribute their knowledge to a successful site architecture.
3 Search Types All SEOs Should Know
Does your website accommodate common searcher behaviors? Here are 4 types of searches all SEOs should know...and how you can accommodate them on your site.
Defining Download Time: Web Searchers Vs. Search Engines
“Download time” and “speed” are terms that often confuse SEO professionals, web designers/developers, information architects and usability professionals alike because of various interpretations. A number of items influence download time, including but not limited to: