694 | Trusting AI in the SERPs? w/ Mark Williams-Cook & Jack Chambers-Ward

Are Your WordPress Plugins Being Hacked? There has been an uptick in hacker attacks against WordPress sites, and the common thread running through them is the exploitation of security flaws in at least eight different popular plugins. Protect your sites!  New Nofollow Link Policy Launched. Guest Post Penalties? Nofollow keeps Google algorithms from learning about linking context, it is now being treated as a hint, not a command. Also, some websites are receiving manual actions for paid outbound links in guest posts.  Big Tech Cancelling Events Due to COVID-19 Coronavirus Google just cancelled its huge developer conference (Google I/O), following suite with other tech giants: Facebook cancelled its similar F8 event, and Amazon is not sending anyone to SXSW and other events.

9 Mar 202012min

This week's featured guest is Chuck Fields, President and Founder of SpaceTech, has been teaching businesses better ways to work, especially getting more done faster. He works with mid-size companies to streamline business processes, reduce data errors, and eliminate bottlenecks which helps businesses improve their bottom line rapidly by getting things done faster and more efficiently. He has also developed not one but two podcasts; Online Coffee Break and Your Space Journey. We deep dive into creating podcasts about topics you are passionate about. You won't want to miss this episode of EDGE of the Web! Some key points discussed during the show: How to help your business eliminate redundancy Teach employees to be more efficient Discussed what Rapid Application Development (RAD) is Everything about developing and promoting personal podcasts

9 Mar 20201h 4min

New Image License Metadata at Google Beta testing is now underway at Google on new ways to display licensing information for material appearing in Google Images. 75 Million Google Maps Reviews GONE via AI and Human Moderation This was an effort by Google to identify and remove content that violates its policies by leveraging the power of machine learning and automatic detection with people helping out. Do Keywords in Descriptions Affect Google My Business Rankings? Google's response to the question feels like a big "maybe." There's no guarantee the practice will improve rankings, but it could depend on a variety of other factors.

26 Feb 202017min

Claiming your Google My Business is a great way to start optimizing a FREE listing Google provides a lot of companies. If your business has a location address and a phone number then you might already have a GMB without even realizing it… but someone else may be running it or at least updating your content for you. You don't want that! It's time to take ownership of your company's GMB and optimize it so that you are ranking in the local 3-pack! This week's featured guest Sherry Bonelli, Owner of Early Bird Digital Marketing and Google My Business Silver Product Expert, shares her insights on the 7 steps to optimize your GMB! She lives and breathes learning all things about GMB, hence why she was recently named as a GMB Silver Product Expert! You won't want to miss getting EDGEucated by Sherry during episode 344 of EDGE of the Web! Some key points discussed during the show: The importance of claiming & optimizing GMB listings Steps of GMB optimization How to set up and verify GMB listing Tracking & destinations Generate, monitor, & respond to reviews Investigating GMB features specific to your industry

25 Feb 20201h 2min

YouTube is Beta-Testing New Viewer Applause Feature For now creators have to be invited by YouTube to test the new content monetization product, but it lets users support a video by paying $2 to put a clapping animation to appear over videos they like. Editing and Uploading Instagram Stories May Get Even Easier This new option would provide a video slider trimming tool built into Stories. If it works, then users wouldn't need third-party editing apps to trim their content before uploading. New Google Ads Partner Requirements Leave SEMs Frustrated SEMs are complaining about new requirements such as doubling the ad spend, upping certifications, and bowing to Google's recommendations over what SEMs think is best for their clients.

19 Feb 202018min

When it comes to ad success, it's important to know who is active on the various social channel platforms. The divide of ages between the social platforms is an important attribute to your success that many people don't know about. That is why we brought in Susan Wenograd, CMO of Aimclear, as our featured guest for the THIRD time to discuss not only mastering Instagram story ads but how they can work better than other social platforms. If you don't know Susan in the digital marketing world, we have to assume you've been living under a rock! She is a speaker and columnist who speaks at industry events and company events including SMX, Pubcon, Digital Summit series, brightonSEO, PPC HeroConf, State of Search and other events. She also contributes a lot of her knowledge on industry web sites like Marketing Land, Search Engine Land, Search Engine Journal and much more. It is not just limited to paid search topics but also social media paid ads, including Facebook ads. Trust us when we say, she knows her stuff! You won't want to miss getting EDGEucated by Susan on episode 343. Some key takeaways from this show: The demographics of who exactly is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Why Instagram story ads can bring your company more success The various CTAs that you can use on Instagram

18 Feb 202056min

Google Shopping Ads are Coming to Gmail Beginning on March 4, 2020, Shopping Ads will be eligible for placement in Gmail. Advertisers must opt-in their campaigns to YouTube, Gmail, and Discover. Data will be reported under the Google Display Network. SEOs Complaining About Google Post Rejections Based on Image Guidelines Google appears to be cracking down on enforcing its image guidelines, which include not using stock photos. There are other image guidelines that are vague and confusing. Over is a Content Creation App Recently Acquired by GoDaddy The mobile app for small and medium-sized businesses is for rapid content creation for websites, email, and social media platforms. It will soon be part of GoDaddy's Website + Marketing platform.

14 Feb 202017min

Is your company putting enough time and attention into the strategies behind your content writing? Are you even using a specific strategy when it comes to blogs and landing pages on your company website? 2020 is the year to follow the content operational model and provide your target audience with knowledgeable content! This week's EDGE of the Web featured guest, Robert Rose, Chief Troublemaker (yes that is his title) at The Content Advisory! He helps us bring awareness and understanding to the importance of content creation in a tactical way, not just to get content out the door! Robert is a content marketing strategist, advisor and storyteller. He has spent his career helping fellow marketers tell their story more effectively through digital media. His bestselling book, Killing Marketing, which he co-wrote with Joe Pulizzi is considered to have rewritten the rules for marketing.Some key points we discussed during the show: The struggles of getting content out the door Investing in good quality content The Content Operational Model Social corporate responsibility when it comes to journalist

14 Feb 202059min