‘Link in bio’ platforms: Which is best for SEO?
Some people treat link-in-bio pages as website replacements. But are they good for ranking in search engines? Find out here.
Contributor
Chris Silver Smith's latest articles
Advanced image SEO: A secret manual
Learn how search engines process images and key image SEO tactics to implement from this comprehensive overview.
Doorway pages: An SEO deep dive
Downplaying doorway pages can get you dinged. Here's how doorway pages emerged, what Google thinks of them, and tips to avoid penalties.
The case of the stealth Google-bomb
Can keywords in a redirected domain name cause a page to rank for them? There's reason to believe this theory is valid. Learn more here.
The biggest mystery of Google’s algorithm: Everything ever said about clicks, CTR and bounce rate
There's good reason to suspect that Google uses CTR as a ranking factor. Here's how Google addressed the topic over the years.
10 tips to help you become an in-house SEO
You don't have to be a hardcore programmer or have umpteen advanced degrees to do SEO. Follow these tips to help you land your ideal role.
The 4 stages of search all SEOs need to know
Understanding how search engines work is fundamental for SEO professionals. Here's a refresher on crawling, rendering, indexing and ranking.
Twitter’s algorithm ranking factors: A definitive guide
A review of many of Twitter’s patents reveals some indications of criteria that are influential to rankings that are not readily apparent.
Surprise: ‘Near me’ brand names don’t rank higher for ‘near me’ searches
'Near me' searches continue to grow, but the tactic of optimizing for these terms can now do more harm than good for local search rankings.
Reputation attack sites have plummeted in Google, but can still harm
Sites like Ripoff Report, Pissed Consumer and Complaints Board are still a danger for businesses and people with a low online presence. Here's what you can do to decrease the threat.
7 reasons why you need to update your reputation management strategy in 2020
Whether repairing or proactively managing your reputation, prioritize a multi-pronged approach to build a positive impression for your online identity.
How reputation became a major ranking factor in SEO
To stay on top today, you need to be diligent in assessing your site's usability and the quality of its content.
Verdict is in for CEO involved in forging court order over reputation attack
This case highlights the lack of protection and justice available for online defamation victims from Google and other tech companies.
Here’s how to use Twitter to dominate the Google search results
If you want to displace negative content or build a strong brand identity, Twitter can help, says Contributor Chris Silver Smith. Here are 10 ways to use tweets to dominate page one on Google.
CEO who forged court order to get Google to remove defamation faces prison
Contributor Chris Silver Smith tells the lamentable story of a sophisticated apparent reputation attack and a victimized company led to take desperate steps to recover.
Twitter SEO: Tricks for reputation repair
If you're looking to fix your personal reputation online, optimizing your Twitter account is an invaluable step. Columnist Chris Silver Smith shares SEO tips to help you increase the ranking of your Twitter profile.
How long does reputation management take?
Columnist Chris Silver Smith discusses the factors that affect the time it takes to clean up online content that damages your name or reputation.
Initial Interest Confusion rears its ugly head once more in trademark infringement case
Columnist Chris Silver Smith details recent trademark infringement cases in which site search results pages caused legal issues for retailer sites. E-commerce businesses should take notice!
Is Ripoff Report subverting Google take-downs?
Previously de-indexed Ripoff Report pages are reappearing and ranking prominently again in Google. Columnist Chris Silver Smith takes a close look at how the site is eluding Google’s page removal processes and how defamation victims — and Google — can fight back.
Google thaws (a little) on defamation cases
Would-be-legal remedies for online reputation issues are still up in the air, explains contributor Chris Silver Smith, arguing that it may be time to amend the applicable legislation.
Paradigm shift: Has Google suspended defamation removals?
Columnist Chris Silver Smith takes a look at what could be a recent policy shift in Google's longstanding informal policy of granting court-ordered defamation removal requests.
10 domain name secrets to repair your online reputation
If you're trying to fix your personal reputation online, looking toward your domain name is a valuable first step. Columnist Chris Silver Smith explains some options beyond setting up YourName.com.
Opinion: Google is biased toward reputation-damaging content
Why does reputation-damaging content seem to appear so quickly in Google’s search results? Columnist Chris Silver Smith outlines his theory on why Google's algorithm can give negative content greater ranking ability than it deserves.
Are Search Engines Responsible For Reputation? Yes, Virginia, They Are. Big Time!
Columnist Chris Silver Smith discusses the legal issues surrounding online defamation, including search engines' role in helping (or harming) victims.
The Latest In Advanced Technical SEO From SMX Advanced
Columnist Chris Silver Smith shares expert insights on advanced technical SEO, straight from the mouths of industry veterans!
Advanced Link Auditing & Best Practices For Acquiring Authoritative Links
Contributor Chris Silver Smith shares highlights and takeaways from link building experts at SMX Advanced.
10 Ideas: How To Fix A Damning Business Review
A bad review can hit your business hard, but columnist Chris Silver Smith has 10 ways to turn the negativity around and improve your customer care.
Rev Up The Content Marketing Engine To Achieve Local Liftoff
Looking to bolster your local SEO strategy? Columnist Chris Silver Smith discusses the benefits of content marketing for local businesses.
11 Tips For Using Slide Presentations For Local SEO Advantage
Looking to go beyond images and videos in your local optimization efforts? Columnist Chris Silver Smith discusses a type of media you may not have considered.
Local Search Marketers: Optimize Your Physical Location For The Virtual World
Never before have the real world and the virtual world been more intertwined. Columnist Chris Silver Smith discusses how the developments affect local businesses.
7 Quick Local Hits To Optimize For Black Friday & Cyber Mondays This Season
Time for local businesses to optimize for the holiday season. Columnist Chris Silver Smith provides 7 quick tips to boost rankings and, hopefully, sales.
12 Things To Check In Your Local Homepage SEO Audit
Your homepage is arguably the most important page of your site. Contributor Chris Silver Smith provides tips to ensure it's in top shape!
Post-Pigeon Best Practice: How To Optimize For Internet Yellow Pages & Directories
While many marketers have written off Internet Yellow Pages as dead, the recent Google Pigeon update may have made them relevant once more.
Using Autocomplete To Hijack Local Search Results & Improve Online Reputation
Google is constantly refining its search engine algorithm in an effort to root out spam and improve the search experience for users. Over the years, this refinement process has largely rewarded those employing ethical search engine optimization (SEO) practices, as it is no longer easy to “cheat” the system with manipulative, blackhat SEO tactics. Yet […]
Google Giveth & Google Taketh Away Author Icons
Google recently announced they’d be removing a major element from their search engine results pages (SERPs) that they’ve been featuring for the past couple of years: author icons. Since this is something we Local Marketers have enthusiastically encouraged, what does this mean for businesses now? Should you still incorporate authorship markup? Here’s the skinny from my […]
9 Tricks For Local Businesses To Increase Their SERP Click-Through Rate
Sometimes you can move the needle — and dramatically — outside of obsessing and laboring over obtaining improving rankings in search engines. Simply increasing your click-through rates on the organic rankings you’ve already achieved can increase sales and revenue, even without having to do some of the difficult things that could be necessary to inch […]
Use Products As Pawns To Win The Local SEO Chess Game
In the competition to rank highest in local search results, you must employ a number of tactics in coordination. It’s not unlike playing a chess game. However, many businesses have yet to bring all their chess pieces into play on the board. There are many types of products which consumers typically seek out in local […]
420 Dilemma? Marijuana Emerges In Local Search
Today marks the first time that April 20th — known amongst pot smokers as “420” and frequently celebrated with smoking parties — is a legally observable event in the United States (in some places, at least, since the states of Washington and Colorado have legalized recreational use of the drug for adults). So, what does this […]
The Local Search Event Horizon: Adopt Events Markup For Your Business
This month, Google Maps just announced a new events feature appearing on Android phones which has already been appearing in desktop local search results — for some types of business, events information is now being displayed in addition to the other local profile elements. The focus on events continues to indicate how much importance Google […]
10 Local Marketing Myths Hamstringing Your Business
As an internet marketer, I frequently encounter local business owners (and large chain store companies with many local outlets) that haven’t had time to really understand online marketing. Many of them have latched onto some myth that’s completely false — and which can keep their businesses from soaring as high as they otherwise might. It’s […]