YouTube tags: What they are and why they’re important for SEO
How to use YouTube tags the right way for SEO (plus: lots of real life examples and case studies from videos that rank #1 on YouTube).
Topic: Search algorithm
UK CMA orders Google to explain how search results are ranked
Plus, Google is ordered to provide data portability to some third-party services.
Google June 2025 core update rolling out now
This is the second core update of 2025 and this update will take about 3 weeks to complete.
Lookback: Google Panda algorithm update launched 13 years ago
Here's a complete history of the Google Panda Update, its impact on search results, and its lasting legacy on SEO.
Google updates search quality raters guidelines with a focus on spam
The last update was 10 months ago, when Google released its new spam policies and March 2024 core update.
Why are so many affiliate sites losing organic traffic?
Here’s why smaller affiliate sites are losing rankings after Google's core update and how brand search can turn the tide.
How SEO moves forward with the Google Content Warehouse API leak
Addressing common questions, critiques and concerns following the massive Google Search leak and how your approach to SEO should change.
Google updates search quality raters guidelines
It has been 11 months since the last update, here is what changed.
Google’s Florida update: 20 years since the SEO ‘volcanic eruption’
Dive into the 2003 Google algorithm update's seismic impact on SEO and its lasting effects on the industry.
Google says major changes coming to search rankings
Danny Sullivan, Google's Search Liaison, was quoted as saying that major changes are coming Google's search ranking algorithms.
How Danny Sullivan shares SEO issues with Google’s Search team
Part of job of the Search Liaison at Google is to share feedback on how to improve search.
AMA with Google’s Gary Illyes: 15 quick SEO takeaways
Google's Gary Illyes on ranking signals, AI content, voice data in GSC, Core Web Vitals, the importance of links and much more.
Google August 2023 Core Update rollout is now complete
The update took 16 days to roll out - we hope you only saw increases in visibility.
What Google’s new guidelines for AI-produced content mean for SEO
If you're using AI to provide valuable content, Google won't ding you. But consider some caveats when using AI for SEO content.
This day in search marketing history: March 13
Google hides organic search listings plus: broad core search algorithm update, Panda updates, author rank, incremental ad clicks and more.
Microsoft: Bing saw the largest relevancy jump in search in two decades
January 18, 2023 there was a large Bing search ranking algorithm update - one that Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi now confirmed.
Yandex ‘leak’ reveals 1,922 search ranking factors
SEOs have already started analyzing Yandex's search ranking factors, which include PageRank and several other link-related factors
E-E-A-T and major updates to Google’s quality rater guidelines
The most important change to the QRG is the introduction of the letter E to the start of the popular acronym E-A-T.
Google’s helpful content update: A critical recap
The widely covered algorithm update finished rolling out, yet the big bang never happened. Here's how SEOs can deal with the aftermath.
Google’s new helpful content update targets sites creating content for search engines first
Google will soon rollout a change to its search ranking algorithm that may prove to be one of the most significant changes in over a decade.
Google May 2022 core update is finished rolling out
This update took 15 days to roll out and is now done, you should now dig in and see how your site was impacted and what actions to take next.
SEO pioneer and expert Bill Slawski passes away
Slawski was best known for writing about Google patents. He has helped countless SEOs better understand how search works.
Why does Google tip us off to search updates with minor ranking impacts but surprise us with the major ones?
It is the updates Google does not give us huge lead time to prepare for that impact the rankings the most, like the core updates, the Penguin and Panda updates from the past and most of the updates that go unconfirmed or unannounced.
Google is hiring a Search Quality Analyst to fight search spam
The job is based in Mountain View, California and you would work on helping keep the search results spam free.
Don’t lose sleep over the Page Experience Update and more; Friday’s daily brief
Wouldn't it be cool if Google told us when specific ranking factors were no longer being used?
Are Core Web Vitals worth the trouble? And confusion around passage ranking; Tuesday’s daily brief
Plus, Bing launches misspelling interpreter
Google December 2020 Core Update rolling out
After seven months, Google has just released a new core update - the December 2020 core update.
Google confirms it doesn’t index passages separately
Google now "consider passages from pages as an additional ranking factor."
Google search quality guidelines update breaks down dictionary and encyclopedia results and more
Google added a new section for rating dictionary and encyclopedia results for different queries, emphasizes the importance of understanding the user intent and query.
SEO myth-busting: What is not a Google search ranking factor
Google has said it doesn't use these signals to inform where your site ranks in organic search results.
What content survives Google algorithm updates?
Be able to anticipate your target audience's needs.
Google shouldn’t pause algorithm updates during the pandemic, expert SEOs say [Video]
While it’s not business as usual, search engines need to continue to help users, provide vital resources and fight against misinformation.
A quick guide to understanding Google’s quality rater guidelines
Jennifer Slegg explains the most important themes for brands.
Why you may not have noticed the Google BERT update
Don't try to optimize for BERT, try to optimize your content for humans.
Welcome BERT: Google’s latest search algorithm to better understand natural language
BERT will impact 1 in 10 of all search queries. This is the biggest change in search since Google released RankBrain.
When parsing ‘Googlespeak’ is a distraction
It's easy to get bogged down in every statement. This week was a good reminder to focus on the bigger picture.
Report alleges Amazon manipulating search results to boost its products, profit
The company said to give its own products “preferential treatment in search.”
Content accuracy is not a ranking factor
Google’s Danny Sullivan explained that its systems rely on topic relevance and authority to rank content.
Bing is asking for feedback on its Webmaster Guidelines
“Any shady tactics you think are not penalized enough?” Bing project manager tweeted.
Patent suggests how CTR, time on page could be used in search rankings (if Google did that sort of thing)
But no, this doesn't confirm Google is using engagement metrics in rankings.