308 | How to Use Data Analysis for SEO w/JR Oakes

Ahead of SMX Create (April 13) we have the answer to what narratives are going to be top-of-mind in the SEO community post-pandemic. Carolyn Lyden, Director of Search Content at Search Engine Land and SMX, is on-the-record for dedicating herself towards raising up women and BIPOC business leaders. If a story affects marketers, Search Engine Land is going to tell you about it. [00:03:53] How did the Director of Content for Search Engine Land start in SEO? [00:09:03] Coming into the editorial job from a perspective of an SEO content writer. [00:10:16] Does Search Engine Land's content get hammered by SEOs? [00:12:13] Guiding SMX as the new Director of Content [00:15:37] How does SEL pick the topics to cover? [00:22:09] Writing content that can sometimes challenge Big Tech. [00:18:46] Carolyn's take on the domination of Google on search [00:25:47] Her obligation to the SEO community

9 Apr 202132min

We grabbed the top headlines of the week and complained about a couple of google overreaches, in your host's humble opinion. Here what Erin and Mordy took on: [00:03:24] Company Knowledge Panels Showing Competitors on Google You can imagine some choice words might be said when a business looks at its Google knowledge panel(s) to see "alternatives" included who are competitors. [00:09:23] Expanded FAQs for Google Page Experience and Core Web Vitals Update The Google core web vitals and page experience update FAQs have been expanded and substantially updated when compared with the first version. [00:16:57] Delivery and Pickup Enhancements to Google Business Profiles Both Maps and Search are providing more details about delivery and pickup options at stores such as supermarkets. Other useful features are also being added.

6 Apr 202126min

Ashley Segura, Co-Founder and Operations VP of TopHatSocial, explains how to navigate the challenges of repurposing content in your omnichannel digital strategy. She recommends auditing your content quarterly, explains what you should be looking for and how to use the insights for your next content plan. And if you haven't started using SlideShare yet, don't start now. [00:03:43] What is content reuse in content marketing [00:04:58] When should you not repurpose content? [00:08:16] Is there ever a time that you shouldn't repurpose content? [00:11:14] Recommendation: auditing your content quarterly [00:13:16] What about slideshare decks? [00:14:52] Is there too much repurposing of content? [00:16:29] Tools and signs to measure content performance?

5 Apr 202121min

Mordy joins Erin to go through some of the digital news on episode 406.  [00:03:18] Will the SEMrush IPO Make a Splash? SEMrush went public last week with an IPO, including a total valuation approaching $2 billion. This is the first major IPO of a company that is laser-focused on SEO, not just digital marketing in general. [00:06:06] Hotel Property Promotion Ads Now Available Globally Google has launched its hotel property promotion ads initiative to help users see these ads when searching hotels without knowing which one they might want. Google will make them geo-sensitive for relevancy. [00:12:07] Zero-Click Google Searches Increased Sharply in 2020 During 2020 fully 64.82% of Google searches ended without any click through to a web property. Back in August 2019 that figure was more like 50%. And the 2020 figure is probably an undercount. Man, Mordy went long on this….

30 Mar 202130min

[00:06:13] How content consumption has changed in the last few years. [00:08:15] This virtual atmosphere is going to be permanent, to a scale. [00:09:36] Beginning content marketing research and building a repeatable model [00:12:09] Look at the data first  [00:13:57] Watch what your competitors are doing [00:17:36] Does our content marketing get skewed with topics that are trending too much? [00:21:51] Establishing business goals in content marketing [00:24:36] How do you measure trust?

30 Mar 202131min

We had a fantastic time with our 404-page contest, where we had our listeners submit their favorite three 404, Page Cannot Be Found pages from across the 'net. We had over 90 submissions and found a huge spectrum of functional and entertaining pages to engage audiences that land on a missing page. Our contest winner will get a fantastic podcasting kit that we hand picked for the event. Join our judges Mordy Oberstein, Jason Barnard, JR Oakes, Lily Ray and our host Erin Sparks as we go over the top ten finalists and reveal the winner of the first and only 404 Awards Show for our 404th episode!

24 Mar 20211h 9min

Kevin Indig, SEO Director of Shopify, in his second part of our interview, covers the scientific methodology and mindset necessary for SEO improvements as Google evolves. We discussed in detail the opportunities to test with reversion control and baseline factors to clearly produce SEO results to the C-suite execs. SEOs need to be watching business results, not ranks. Check out this interview and tell us your thoughts about what we covered. [00:04:04] When Kevin witnessed changes in Google, now understood as user-intent[00:07:21] Using SERP features for queries to understand user intent to a better degree[00:09:51] Google's changing understanding of topics. [00:13:34] Are the days of the SEO checklist gone?[00:15:29] Committing to the scientific method. Yup, it hurts.[00:19:11] Testing methodologies for SEO[00:27:01] Weeding out toxic SEOs and SEO agencies

22 Mar 202133min

Mordy joins Erin to go through some of the digital news on episode 402. We have a special Twitter contest for the best 404 page for our upcoming 404 episode. It was either that or have an episode you just wouldn't be able to find, right? Get it? [00:04:51] YouTube Creators Outside the US: Tax Withholding Coming from Google? Google is going to be required to withhold taxes for non-US YouTube creators who earn money from US citizens viewing their videos. [00:09:01]Local Estimated Prices Near You Feature Being Tested by Google In an effort to help users find local pricing information for specific kinds of searching, such as a roof repair job, water heater installation, and so on. [00:16:20] Search Equity: Will Google Get On Board? It looks like Google is finally democratizing the SERP to help ensure the average business owner can compete in search rankings even lacking SEO expertise or huge resources to put into it. [00:26:25] Our Twitter Contest announcement for our next episode 404!

16 Mar 202131min