We hope you are in good health. Here are some of the major SEO news updates of the week you need to know:
Search Related News and Updates from Major Search Engines
Google’s John Mueller Has Spoken Out Against Negative SEO & Link Disavow Companies
John Mueller, Google’s Webmaster Trends Analyst, recently made some strong statements about SEO companies offering negative SEO services and links disavowing services outside of their intended purpose. According to Mueller, search engine optimization (SEO) is important in managing a website. Still, it should only be undertaken by experienced professionals familiar with the complexities and nuances of Google’s algorithms. He also emphasizes that these agencies are taking advantage of clients who don’t know better. It’s clear that Mueller has taken a stand against these agents, and his comments serve as an important reminder to research before engaging with any type of SEO company.
Bing Revamping Crawl Scheduling to Enhance Efficiency
By revamping its crawl scheduling, Bing is taking a big stride forward in search engine visibility. “Lastmod” tags are important for proper page indexing, and by utilizing accurate “lastmod” information through XML sitemaps, pages can be indexed faster and more efficiently. Google has already announced that regularly updating sitemaps with exact “lastmod” dates are essential for successful crawling, and it looks like Bing is on board too. There is no surefire way to guarantee improved website visibility across search engines; consistently maintaining relevant and up-to-date information might be the edge to secure better rankings across the board.
Google Updated Search Console Video Indexing Report
The new and improved Google Search Console Video Indexing Report has been released to give website owners a better context of how their videos perform in search results. This report is a great tool for understanding which of your videos have achieved top organic rankings and generating ideas on where additional optimization might be needed. With deeper insights into video performance offered by this report, website owners can more effectively reach their target audience, improve recognition, and increase conversions from search engine platform users. As video content becomes increasingly important in driving user engagement, understanding how it performs in search engines – individually and when compared to other types of content – can be invaluable for marketing success.
Google’s Gary Illynes’ Insights on Rel-Canonical, Robots Txt, and Semantic HTML
Gary Illyes, Google’s Webmaster Trends Analyst, provides a valuable service to the SEO community with his informative LinkedIn posts. He is answering questions sent to him directly and sharing his insights on various topics related to search engine optimization. These posts range from the size of robots\.txt files, helpful advice on website redesigns and rankings, and proper utilization of rel-canonical tags. Through these posts, he has been able to reach the broader SEO community and share his knowledge in an accessible way. His answers are well-informed, practical, and engaging, which has been a great asset for those looking to improve their online presence.
What’s Microsoft Bing Saying on Lastmod Tag in Sitemap XML File
Microsoft Bing’s reminder to include the important lastmod tag in XML sitemaps may become more imperative shortly. Bing is optimizing its crawl scheduling system to rely more heavily on this field, placing more importance on the proper upkeep of your website content and metadata. Recent SEO research has indicated that frequent updates to site content are key for search engine rankings, and now Bing is giving web admins even more incentive to ensure their sites’ data remain up-to-date. Though tedious, including the “lastmod” tag on an XML sitemap will become paramount for keeping your website visible and properly indexed on major search engines like Bing.
Google is Here With a New Crawler Named GoogleProducer
GoogleProducer, the newest Googlebot on the block, has been making its rounds on the web recently, though little is known about its purpose. Researchers have pointed out that it is not listed on Google’s official list of crawlers, and speculations run rampant about what the crawler might be used for. It could, for example, be an attempt by Google to refine further and index content for faster query responses — something much needed in this era of growing online content. Both users and website owners should keep a lookout for any changes in content search results if they come across any information regarding this creepy crawler.
What Garry Illyes Said on Google Search Console Verification
Gary Illyes from Google gave a webinar yesterday in which he discussed the importance of verifying and monitoring a website’s Google Search Console. He reaffirmed that whether your website is verified will have no direct bearing on indexing or ranking. However, he did caution that having this access gives helpful insights so you can make necessary changes for better ranking potential. So if your goal is to rank higher, it pays to invest the time into understanding what Google Search Console offers. It was an informative session for those wanting to optimize their websites and run successful search engine marketing strategies.
Social Media Related News and Updates From Major Search Engines
Twitter New Appeal Process for Suspended Accounts
On February 1, Twitter implemented a much-welcomed change in its account suspension policy. Accounts that were previously or are now suspended will now be able to appeal the suspension with a more understandable process than previously available. This new process is intended to give users more clarity on why their accounts have been suspended, and from there, it will allow them to appeal the suspension with direct communication with Twitter. This is good news for those who have lost valuable time, contacts, and resources due to previously unfair breaks! We can now rest assured that we can speak with Twitter directly for an amicable solution.
PPC Related News and Updates From Major Search Engines
Google Ads Comes With New Feature: Account-Level Negative Keywords
Google Ads has recently introduced a game-changing feature that offers greater brand safety and suitability across their network. Account-level negative keywords allow advertisers to specify the content for which their ads should not appear, ensuring any associated campaigns can maintain quality and integrity. Account-level management also simplifies the entire process, saving swathes of time and reducing errors from manual inputting. Global availability means this new feature is accessible to everybody, affording brands unprecedented control over their advertising placements.
