Google's MUM + BERT Play An Integral Role In Safe Search
In issue 275 of the #SEOForLunch we discuss Google's BERT/MUM updates, a recap of all the updates that occurred in March and tips for creating Data Studio reports.
Hi Lunch Buddies!
I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. I spent the weekend putting up the trampoline for the kids (arguably my most hated spring task) and working on my new podcast.
Yes, you read that correctly. I’ve added a podcast to my other newsletter focusing on SEO freelancing. If you are interested in hearing more about Derek Jacobson’s journey to making over $450K offering SEO services via Upwork then you won’t want to miss this episode.
-Nick
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Official Search Engine Updates
Video
Google Search News: Search Console API, Ranking Changes + More
What's Important:
Google’s John Mueller recaps recent developments from Google including page experience, product review ranking, GSC API, GA4, GDS+GSC blog series, SEOs + Devs video series.
Nick’s Take:
Similar to John’s previous monthly recaps, most if not all were also include in that week’s #SEOForLunch but on chance you missed an issue this video is a fantastic recap of all things changing in Google search.
Article
Using AI to Keep Google Search Safe
What's Important:
Google’s VP of Search, Pandu Nayak, recently published a post on the Google blog discussing how Google connects users to the information that’s most critical at the moment. To help facilitate these efforts, Google utilizes its latest AI models MUM and BERT.
Nick’s Take:
Google has committed to being more transparent in its efforts to improve its search results. Keeping the internet safe is arguably a bigger task than most of us can even fathom. Looking forward to more updates similar to this one.
Article
Monitoring Search traffic (and more!) with Data Studio
What's Important:
Google search advocate, Daniel Waisberg wrote a post detailing how you can go about creating an automated search traffic dashboard within Data Studio. In addition, he announces that Google Discover and News traffic is also now available via the GDS API.
Nick’s Take:
I remember when I first started out in SEO, every single Monday included HOURS of manually pulling data and populating a templated report to send to clients. Now, each and every one of my clients has a dedicated GDS report that automatically pulls in the data that matters most to their specific SEO campaign. Thanks, Google for making this available, I’m not sure I would still be in SEO if I still had to create those mundane reports!
Take The Confusion Out of Technical SEO
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Top SEO Resources From Last Week
Toxic Links and Disavows: A Comprehensive SEO Guide
Marie Haynes, SearchEngineLand.com
I consider Marie a good industry friend. She and I “grew up” together in the SEO industry and have largely shared the same views. Links is one where we have continued to challenge each other. However, we are 100% aligned on the concept of toxic links and the need to disavow links in 2022. Read this post and ping Marie and I on Twitter to share your opinion!
Managing Expectations by finding Good Comparisons
Tom Critchlow, SEOMBA.com
By now you all know how much I enjoy Tom’s SEO MBA newsletter. This post, like nearly every other post he’s written, is a can’t miss. Nearly every initiative in SEO should be quantified with either hard data or with third-party data from similar sites in your industry. As Tom specifies, similar sites does not always mean direct competitors… and this is especially true when chasing top Google search results.
How To Build Amazing Content Briefs
Osman Husain, ContentHarmony.com
I’m a big fan of content briefs. However, if done poorly I promise you're going to waste a lot of time and simply piss off your writers. Do it correctly and you’ll find that the quality of your writers’ content skyrockets and in turn so does your organic traffic. I personally use Content Harmony for all my content briefs and now you can see a process that is VERY close to my own.
How To Train Content Marketers at Scale
Elsie Weisskoff, SiegeMedia.com
Want an inside view on how a large content marketing firm hires and trains its employees? Elsie, who’s been at S.M. for five years discusses their process. She covers topics such as test projects, cohort hiring, probation periods, setting expectations, and how to track (and measure) individuals’ work performance.
How to Use Podcasts for Link Building
Joshua Hardwick, Ahrefs.com
You can imagine how happy I was to come across this post as I was secretly preparing to launch the podcast that I announced that the beginning of today’s #SEOForLunch. Wait, this post isn’t just for podcast owners? This post is also for individuals looking to build links THROUGH podcast interviews! The process for identifying a good podcast that also links out is eerily similar to how you might go about traditional link-building analysis — I love it. This is definitely a great read and if you are looking to build some very targeted links this could be a fantastic approach.
You Made It To The Bottom. You’re AWESOME!
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Learn About The Guy Behind The #SEOForLunch
Nick LeRoy is a professional SEO Consultant specializing in technical SEO, content strategy, and website migrations.
Nick is also the author of two SEO-focused newsletters: #SEOForLunch and The SEO Freelancer.
You can connect with Nick online through Twitter and LinkedIn.