Google has quietly added a feature to Google Webmaster Tools that allows you to test your sitemap files prior to submitting them to Google. Google's Pierre Far confirmed that this is indeed a brand new feature built to help webmasters debug their sitemap files prior to submitting them. One of the most common complaints about Google Sitemap files is that Webmaster would create them but not be able to know right away if they were valid. Now, Webmasters can create the sitemaps and test them in Google Webmaster Tools prior to submitting them to Google. To test the sitemap files, simply log [...]

Related Topics: Google: Webmaster Central | SEO: Submitting & Sitemaps

Google has confirmed reports of a Panda update with us. Thye company told us they have done a data refresh of the Google Panda algorithm about a week ago, and added that there were no additional signals or algorithm changes. This was only a data refresh. I saw reports over the past week or so of webmasters commenting about their rankings. Most were complaining that they lost rankings, but some said sites that were originally hit by Panda regained their traffic levels pre-Panda. This would explain the data refresh, where Google ran the algorithm and updated the sites that should or should no [...]

Related Topics: Features: Analysis | Google: Panda Update | Google: SEO | Google: Web Search | Google: Webmaster Central | Panda Update News | Top News

The Google Webmaster Blog and Google Analytics Blog announced they are changing how they define the average position in the search query report in Google Webmaster Tools and search optimization report in Google Analytics. The new definition will take the average of the top ranking of your site for all searchers, as opposed to all URLs listed and average that. In the past, they would take all the positions of your rankings and average them together, now they are taking only the top positions. Here is how Google explains it: Let’s say Nick searched for [bacon] and URLs from your si [...]

Related Topics: Google: Analytics | Google: SEO | Google: Web Search | Google: Webmaster Central | Top News

Google has updated their URL submission tool page and redesigned their Submit Your Content page. The old URL which was at google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url/ now returns a page not found (404) error. The issue with that is, Google should really use a 301 redirect because it ranks in the top position for [google webmaster tools] and [google submit URL]: The truth is, the add URL page is actually at google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url, that is without the backslash at the end of the URL. It must be a bug on Google's side, either they should redirect google.com/webmasters/tools [...]

Related Topics: Google: Content Central | Google: SEO | Google: Webmaster Central

Google webmaster tools data is helpful stuff, but has been somewhat tough to download and use. Last month, Google made things a bit easier by providing a Python script for downloading search query data (as this report isn't available as of yet through the API). Now, they've added new download options that significantly add to the usefulness of the data. Below, why these new CSV files are so important. Search Queries: Download Chart Data Search query chart data downloads provide access to information not easily available before. When you view search query data, the chart in the user interface [...]

Related Topics: Google: Webmaster Central