Shows
Confessions of an SEO®By The Numbers, Season 2, Episode 48It's that time of year - the annual Confessions SURVEY! But don't worry, I go over the kind of ideas - etc. I'm working on the survey.
Coming up in January 2023 - Forensic SEO Training Course
For those who read these things - please click below - it's a short link to the Confessions of An SEO Knowledge Panel - Thank you for your click!
Confessions of An SEO 2022-12-0218 min
Confessions of an SEO®The Dark Arts of SEO, Season 2, Episode 47This episode's alternative title was "Google! What is Wrong With You Where Is The Update You Always Run on Thanksgiving???" SO I talk a little about how we're all quickly murmuring amongst ourselves trying to figure out when it's going to hit.
And in the course of recording this - Google sent proof that they are back in the office. Don't worry, it's not an algo update, it's a search console page report update. That makes THREE this week!
Hope you enjoy these rambling but underneath coherent thoughts.
2022-11-2721 min
Confessions of an SEO®SEO testing is my Parrot - Season 2, Episode 46Well, its a fresh episode where I talk about seo testing. The after-effect of going to SEO Rockstars in Dallas where not only I spoke but also to meet those I've been meeting on Zoom for 2 years but this time in person.
And if you're wondering what PARROTS have to do with SEO - well, you'll find out right before the end. Ain't I a stinker??
Coming up in January 2023 - Forensic SEO Training Course
For those who read these things - please click below - it's a short link to th...2022-11-1815 minConfessions of an SEO®Where Have You Been? Season 2, Episode 45This is me after late nights and Segway tours of Fort Worth Texas while attending the SEO ROckstars SEO Event Founded by Dori Friend.
The voice is rough. The joy is real.
Confessions of An SEO 2022-11-1108 min
Confessions of an SEO®The Thorny Path - Season 2 Episode 44Sometimes you can't just ignore when there is lipstick on a pig. That's how I feel about mass site building boons - all the promise all the glory and all the work that will ultimately lead to good old elbow grease when it comes to making those things actually rank if there is any local component to it.
I don't have anything to sell on mass sites so I guess its Ok for me to share my honest opinion and what in practice it takes to make them rank. It is not push button simple and honestly...2022-11-0416 min
Confessions of an SEO®What Fresh SEO Hell Is THIS? Season 2, Episode 43So, its the beginning of Q4 and what better way to celebrate it than share the latest results of the Google Indexation Project. And Google does not disappoint and when I say does not I mean that they do. BUT this time I have data - the kind of data that I did not have last year because Google wasn't having anything of it.
This episode is a little more technical and a little but tactical at the end where I share a very practical and useful way to get Google to reconsider content that it hasn't...2022-10-2820 min
Confessions of an SEO®My Advice To "Early SEO" Carolyn - Season 2 Episode 42What if I could go back in time and talk to myself in the early days of my SEO career? What three things could I share that would support Carolyn in the past without disrupting the time space continuum? Find out the three things in this week's episode and let me know what you think.
Confessions of An SEO 2022-10-2113 min
Confessions of an SEO®Is The Grass Greener? Confessions of an SEO - Season 2, Episode 41This week after all the marketing calls I RECEIVED, it made me look back and see what did I do to get clients in the early days. And how it evolved and I realized it wasn't as simple as preparing a website audit and sending it out.
I share two of the strangest realities in attracting new clients.
The Dental Marketing Guy - Justin Morgan - A Sponsor of SEO Testing - Thank you Justin for your support!
Interested in supporting this work and t...2022-10-1415 min
Confessions of an SEO®Evolution of SEO TestersThis week I got to thinking about all the things that have changed since SEO Testing became a thing in 2015. Seven years - and not only has SEO Testing changed - SEO Testers have too. Building on each step of the way to a greater body of work that yes, yields some great finds - but the most valuable thing is how its shaping the minds of SEOs themselves.
We have come far. And our ability to evaluate has grown with time and our continuing work.
And it all started with a question.
2022-10-0717 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Ep 39 - What a Sham(e)What does it look like when you have an industry where the rules are set by the organization that you're trying to rank better in? Well, it looks a lot like what we have - and this week, I've kind of had it with all the "authoritative" sources pushing out useless - non-researched claims on how to do things in Google.
What a shame (or sham, depending on how you look at it).
My SEO Pet Peeves
SEO Rockstars
Interested in supporting this work and the seo testing?2022-09-3016 min
Confessions of an SEO®S2, Episode 38 - Q4: Buckle Up ButtercupWell, we're at that time of the year when Q4 looms large and tensions begin to build. So why not run TWO updates at the same time. In this episode I talk about what Google does and ponder at least TWO possible methods for being able to run simultaneous updates and know how to correct if one or either goes too far.
Let me know what you think.
Interested in supporting this work and the seo testing?
Become a Confessions Supporter for $4.99 or a...2022-09-2316 min
Confessions of an SEO®S2, Ep 37 - The Telling of The BeesIn this episode, I have two things to confess, I'm sorry, I wished some days I felt kinder towards people and then there are days when I want to just stop and get off. This week I had at least one of those days LOL!
Find out how bees and seo got swirled together - it's history and modern contemporary references but I swear you won't feel like it's too obscure a reference.
The Dental Marketing Guy - Justin Morgan - A Sponsor o...2022-09-1614 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Ep 36 Success Disguised As FailureHas anything ever happened to you and later on you realized it was the best thing ever??! Me too! In this episode I will share a little something that happened along my way to where I am and how it involved an UPDATE!
Speaking of which, I'm calling the Google Helpful Content update OVER. Find out why and what I saw and know that makes me statistically certain.
The Dental Marketing Guy - Justin Morgan - A Sponsor of SEO Testing - Thank...2022-09-0916 min
Confessions of an SEO®S2, Ep 35 - The Update on the UpdateWelcome it's an update! Not that we would know it by looking at things. So the curious update and some test results.
And I get to introduce you to The Dental Marketing Guy - Justin Morgan. He owns and manages a marketing analyst and Service Firm for Dentists. You can find him by searching for The Dental Marketing Guy or click the link in the description. His sponsorship is to support the SEO testing and research that is featured in Confessions of An SEO episodes.
The Dental Marketing Guy - Justin Morgan
2022-09-0214 min
Confessions of an SEO®S2, Ep34 Indexation Research - The Gift That Keeps On GivingToday is a Special Edition of Confessions of an SEO - It's the ONE YEAR mark of the Indexation Research Project! Yes, that means we have 365 days of data - its not just anecdotal - it's documented now.
I touch on briefly the things the research has brought to light - sometimes confirming what we thought and some times showing us things we were not aware of.
Here's the link to the SEO Fight Club Episode to relive the live peer review of the indexation breakthrough - specifically how it's no longer what Google says t...2022-08-2815 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Ep. 33 - TL:DR - Too Long Didn't ReadIn this episode I vented on some of the frustrations of dealing with clients and those that enable them i.e. customer service - and took a moment to explore the line between emotion and passion. Did I do that? I guess you have to be the judge.
If you're interested in Cora and getting in before the upcoming new version with it's new price on the limited time pricing - https://bit.ly/confessionscora
I keep topically going back to an earlier episode from Season 1, Episode 2 - "Why I Dislike client SEO Work" I...2022-08-1913 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Ep 32 - Talking Up A StormI've been expecting this for a while. If you're in the SEO world or a keep track of it at least - you know the seo weather tools started whistling the weather turned quickly.
I hope in this episode to offer a reasoned alternative explanation for the rough weather - it's not an update.
Hope you enjoy it.
Interested in supporting this work and the seo testing?
Become a Confessions Supporter for $4.99 or a Confessions Sponsor at $9.99 or higher. Pick your level...2022-08-1219 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 31 Flirting With MadnessLast week I talked about when you're doing Client SEO, the SEO part is easy, the Client part is the hard thing.
This week I talk about obsessing. We obsess about so many things. Could we as SEOs learn a few things beyond how to push rankings and get more clients? What about tools that can tell us lies should we know so our clients don't freak?
And client, yes, you. There are things you could learn if you just pour a little tea out of that cup of yours.
Interested in supporting thi...2022-08-0513 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Ep 30 SEO Success Status CodeWell, when you're doing Client SEO, the SEO part is easy, the Client part is the hard thing.
SO what DOES an SEO Success look like? Is there a better way to prepare clients for what they will be seeing and it's probably not page 1 on week 1.
I mentioned this in last week's episode, in Season 1, Episode 2 - "Why I Dislike client SEO Work" I kind of go through what I don't like. In this one, I suppose a possible method.
2022-07-2916 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, EP 29 - My SEO Client WinTrying a new kind of episode today, it involves a client call to let them know something that could be received in multiple ways. I couldn't record the call but I did a BEFORE and an AFTER with a little Django Reinhardt in the middle.
Regular listeners remember the Season 1, Episode 2 - "Why I Dislike client SEO Work"
Find out how it all turned out - did I get sacked off the project? did I curse on the call? Only listeners will know...
Here's the link to t...2022-07-2213 min
Confessions of an SEO®S2, Ep 28 - A Little Venting and a Mobile ChallengeSo I thought I was going to talk about one thing, but it turns out that I was so "hot" about it that I decided to change the topic at the last minute and talk about some fun things.
My happy place this week is the Mobile First Indexing Challenge and The Indexation research project.
Looking my crystal ball - I predict soon - likely before our next time together - the weather tools are going to tell us that Google is busy. Will it be an update? or is it something else?
Y...2022-07-1514 min
Confessions of an SEO®S2 - Ep 27 - How Do You Know Your SEO is Working?Today's episode topic is one submitted by not just a listener but a Confessions Sponsor - Kyle Sabraw. Also a friend and SEO agency owner, Kyle submitted several topics and this is one - How to Know If Your SEO is Working.
This went a little longer because well, I have a lot of feelings about this because most of the time you hear this from a business owner and often times it's more of a literal question.
But first, I shared more details of the Mobile First Indexing Test I've been running and now...2022-07-0819 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Episode 26 - Mind Your OWN BusinessHad a hell and a heaven of a week - it's not easy knowing what is going on in Google and trying to help others. If people don't want to get better, they need to wear a label.
I talk about why we need to learn how to develop and adopt an operational definition of what it looks like when a page IS indexed that isn't determined by other peoples tools (OTP) - and that we can do for ourselves.
Going to do a live training - short under an hour - to show people...2022-07-0114 min
Confessions of an SEO®Summer of Mobile OnPage & Upcoming TopicsWhen I get into a test, I get INTO a test. This is no exception. I talk about the results from last and the plans moving forward. This is showing me some great information on how indexing and ranking interact between mobile and desktop.
I interrupt for some news from the index and then share the first batch of submitted topics for possible summer episodes. These are the Mountain Edition 2022 shows for the next 11 weeks - so that means I will need more topics once I exhaust these - but maybe by sharing them this could be...2022-06-2416 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Episode 24 Something Mobile This Way ComesI'm shooting the breeze this week - using that SEO Volatility Tool and finding more and more ways to use it and create more opportunities for pages to show up.
Also, there's an interesting update on the Mobile First Indexing test - does Google really score our sites based on the mobile version of our sites? Find out in this week's episode if the first round of results was a false signal...or not.
Here's the link to the Volatility Tool and Top SEO Factors
https://seovolatility.com/
Top SEO Factors2022-06-1715 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Episode 22 - One Week Into Google May Core UpdateWe are one week into the latest Google Core Update and I've got some news.
Here's an example of the twitter comment roundup articles that I have my doubts about - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-may-2022-broad-core-update-seo-impact-33512.html
Google may have fallen in love with a new bot - I will tell you all about it and why I've had my eye on it. Then I share some updates on the Mobile First Indexing Project - it's not all fun and games.
Plus, announcing a new contest - you provide topics for u...2022-06-0316 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Ep 21 - Google May Update, or bot...OK, so Google announced a new update this week. I may have seen some things behind the Google woodshed.
Plus, announcing a new contest - you provide topics for upcoming Confessions of an SEO podcast. It'll be fun! If your topic is chosen, you get a mention plus a backlink. Heck, even if you just submit a relevant topic, you'll get your name put in my hat and at the end of the summer, if your name is drawn, you'll receive a on page analysis for your keyword.
Oh, and here's the link to t...2022-05-2711 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 20 - Part Kentucky WindageIn this episode I wasn't sure exactly how to talk about the topic - this is also the first episode in a while where I don't mention indexation! It can happen!
This is my effort to describe what I think is a blindspot in our industry and process. When it comes to what ranks it is entirely up to Google and the algo. The problem is often our source and focus. Do we have our eyes on the real prize? Or are we chasing our tails. And ultimately how much can we "know" when we can't even s...2022-05-2011 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Episode 19 - The 2% SolutionThis week I pick up where last week left off on the Google certification courses that are being offered to every US business. AND it even made the news - seo news that it.
https://searchengineland.com/google-bad-seo-advice-digital-marketing-certification-course-385064
Turns out. There is a lot of drama in the world of seo about what can and can not be true AND in a course about SEO taught by the people who work at Google.
At one point I talk about how you can look at what is already ranking in Google, how they are...2022-05-1316 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 18 - Serp-CertifiedThis week with the announcement of Google providing certified training and specifically certificates for SEO, I thought it would be fun to check into it - peek into the statements and see what was really going on. I found stuff. It's a little different than it was presented to the SEO community - but interesting, intriguing and intricate.
Who knows? I may go for it and become "Serp-Certified."
Here are the articles and documents.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-offering-seo-certification-33354.html
https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/grow-with-google/career-certificates-scholarships-digital-marketing-ecommerce/
https://grow.google...2022-05-0613 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 17 Testing, Testing, 1..2..3...For this episode, the topic didn't arrive in the usual way. It literally landed in the middle of the night and brought it all together. It might seem obvious now but it wasn't.
In this one, the format is me sharing three things I'm doing - first, a project that I hope will turn into a case study for how to break into the mesothelioma niche which we typically think of as impenetrable. Second, the thing that went bump in the night in search console and lastly the latest test looking at "mobile first indexing" and how...2022-04-2916 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Ep 16 - Expectations ManagedPardon the Harry Potter reference but it does seem like we will need some magic to deal with client expectations even when we've done our level best to prepare them for the SEO journey.
In this episode expect a few stories and a few outbursts of the type reminiscent of Dennis Miller.
In my opinion there is one more place to check for what could be better. Find out what I think it is in this episode.
An easy place to leave a review h...2022-04-2213 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 15 - WOW! Its All The Blue Socks - Google URL Parameter ToolTechnical difficulties today!!! It's FIXED!!!! Appreciate your patience and without delay - Here's Ted Kubaitis on Confessions!!!!!!
You're not going to want to miss the premiere of a new type of Confessions of an SEO. This is called a Confessions Conversation. And my first guest is Ted Kubaitis, the creator of the Cora Suite of SEO Tools, founder of SEO Tool Lab and host of "SEO FIGHT CLUB" on youtube.
In today's show we talk about the sunsetting of the Google Parameter Tool. Here's a link to the article in Search Engine Journal. https://www...2022-04-1520 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 14 - Turtles All The Way DownIn this episode I talk about new things in the indexation research and then I go into a philosophical discussion about discussions when our test results say one thing and Google "says" another.
Next week will be the first Confessions with a Buddy!!! Going to talk about a potential doom situations for some website holders.
The story I share can be discovered on Search Engine Roundtable - https://www.seroundtable.com/when-seos-disagree-with-google-33191.html
Links within the story
Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/tqquwh/question_regarding_keyword_density_a...2022-04-0813 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Episode 13 - SEO Mythology TalkIn this episode, I share new insights from the index research project - and a confession on my mesothelioma project - my thoughts of Google as a machine.
I’ll be frank, this may be one of those episodes where this may be better for me than it will be for you. If I'm not careful I may go into my “beam me up Scotty” riff -
I got involved in a few more projects this past week - which is great. But there is a "eat your vegetables" part of SEO that is driving me craz...2022-04-0114 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Episode 12 - Call Me IshmaelThis past week a relayed message from a consulting client saw me seeing red. And for what? I learned a lot about myself and I hope more of us really take to heart that caring about clients isn't a bad thing. But when we care JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE about ourselves and the way in how we work, it might just be a stronger position.
You know it's not a Confessions episode if we don't start off talking about indexation. And without gagging, there's a teeny tiny portion where I talk about E.A.T. before...2022-03-2513 minConfessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 11 - Did You Get IndexedWhat do Doc Vader and I have in common? Find out.
After last week's barn burner of an index project reveal on SEO Fight Club, had a few questions, have made a few tweaks and wonder does this project have a future?
The two plugins I mentioned - Rank Math Plugin - https://bit.ly/rmwplugin
Simple Google Bot - https://bit.ly/googlebotvisit
SEO Fight Club with Ted Kubaitis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq08n3-Ska4&t=218s
Check out Crawl or No Crawl...2022-03-1815 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 10 - SEO on the BrainToday I wanted to explore the impact of SEO on the brain - specifically the chemical known as dopamine - I found an article of an interview of Dr Anne Lempke, Chief of Stanford University's Dual Diagnosis Addition Clinic.
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2021/aug/22/how-digital-media-turned-us-all-into-dopamine-addicts-and-what-we-can-do-to-break-the-cycle
Believe it or not, this relates to my experience of the Google Indexation Project. I went from abject despair to ever breakthrough the new content indexation barrier to exhilarating week where I shared all the results on SEO Fight Club with Ted Kubaitis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V...2022-03-1114 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 9 - When Helping HurtsIt has been a while since I did a Facebook mailbag topic and I know this one is something MOST SEO's have experienced. And I share about three more ACTUAL situations where clients tried to help and offer some suggestions to business owners who want to help but aren't sure what actual help to your SEO team looks like.
I mentioned the Crawl or No Crawl daily broadcasts on Youtube that I started when I revamped the stack on the testing site. Honestly, I did not think going back to doing something daily like that would have...2022-03-0416 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 8 - What I did Last SummerThe new testing site is indexing like gangbusters! Finally I can answer the question that the initial test format was trying to answer - IS GOOGLE INDEXING simple html and rendering javascript!
We're back in business. And I'm having fun once again. I talk a little about what I call "SEO as a sport" which is fun and a longview revenue producer.
And every day a short youtube video is published with the test day findings or observations on non-test days. You can find that on Youtube - the channel is Crawl or No Crawl. P...2022-02-2512 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Episode 7- SEO Testing is Dead, Long Live SEO TestingWell, this topic turned on it's head this week. In this latest episode, one of the original seo testers and longtime tester, Carolyn Holzman talks about her epiphany in seo testing.
Learn about the latest on the testing indexation project in light of a new testing environment and set up of the test. And now Carolyn is broadcasting on youtube daily with short updates from the server logs on the channel "Crawl Or No Crawl" - you can find that at bit.ly/crawlornocrawl.
To view the latest public testing project - visit https://www...2022-02-1813 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Episode 6 - Lost In SearchIn this episode I talk about the lack of a systemized and universally accepted method of learning how SEO works and why it hurts us when we don't have one. If we know how SEO works, we know what to do when things go amiss. Mainly, we need know how GOOGLE works - and then we can be more informed.
There are many levers on the side of search that are totally controlled by Google. Knowing that and WHEN they might want to move those levers helps keep us sane - not happy but sane.
...2022-02-1118 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Episode 5 - When Nothing Means SomethingMuch like the Girl with No Name from Game of Thrones, this week is a Niche with No Search Volume. After talking about indexation and the next phase of the indexation testing threshold (and who might be the first to learn what I find) - I talk about this niche thing and what it got me thinking and why we charge for keyword research.
If you're a business owner, I get it. But there's a lot behind search research. Yes, we know what YOU are but do you know what your clientele needs or wants - that's...2022-02-0414 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 Episode 4 - SEOs Use Their Words When They FightIn this episode in addition to the updates on projects, I address the dust up in Twitter this week. It had to do with the term LSI - latent semantic indexing - does anything of value for SEO or not.
This is not a course on LSI but rather what happens when SEOs try to beat each other up on semantics - the words that describe something related to what we're doing. I don't mind sharing my personal thoughts on LSI but that's not the focus of the episode.
Have fun!
2022-01-2811 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2, Episode 3 Getting Emotionally Attached To Your Keyword?Before going into the topic of getting emotionally involved with a keyword, I provide an update on the index detector project, the buzz in the SEO world about all those crawls before an update and what Joh Mueller had to say that totally cleared that up! Which question I would pose based on the data seen in the indexation project.
Here's the link to the article with all the twitter embeds so you can follow the threads.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-crawl-spike-unrelated-to-upcoming-google-algorithm-update-32783.html
This week's episode is about getting infatuated with keywords - e...2022-01-2112 min
Confessions of an SEO®Season 2 - Episode 2 - There's No Hyphen in MicromanagerThis week I talk about the biggest pain of client SEO - micromanaging and I share some of my experiences and postulate on how to get to a non-adversarial and minimize any suspicions lurking in the mind of the person who is paying for their SEO.
Forensic SEO Live Training - https://www.americanwaymedia.com/forensic-seo-live-training/ (2nd worst sales page in the history of sales pages!)
Past Episodes Where I talk about the Index Detector Project and what it means for us.
https://anchor.fm/confessions-of-an-seo/episodes/Episode-34-Indexed-Not-Found-e165pri2022-01-1422 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 54 Season 2 - Ep 1 - Indexation LiberationChange is a-coming on the Google Indexation Detector Project - and it's all good - still moving forward, I tell you all things moving forward.
In this episode I share what I learned, what we have and how I'm moving forward into more specific indexation tests to find the threshold for new content - and I tell you who I'm going to share that with first. Will it be you?
Pick your level of support and sponsorship - https://anchor.fm/confessions-of-an-seo/support
Become a supporter at the $4.99 or a Confessions Sponsor at $9.99 o...2022-01-0716 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 53 - Countdown to 2022On this last day of 2021 - we look to 2022 and what we want to make of our work, businesses and lives.
In this episode I share what I hope for ourselves as SEO's and businesses.
December 31 2021 at 11:59 PM CST - the Survey closes. Last call to tell me what you liked and what you didn't during this first Season.
New sponsors that sign up between now and Jan 1, 2022, You and/or your business will receive special mention in the press release in January announcing this to the rest of the world!
...2021-12-3118 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 52 2021 Holiday EditionIt's time for the first annual Holiday Edition of Confessions of an SEO.
We start off with Google and then into some of the results of the survey that will end up as ways listeners can be supporter and what they will have access to as sponsors.
Pick your level of support and sponsorship - https://anchor.fm/confessions-of-an-seo/support
Every at $4.99 or higher will receive a small token of appreciation in the mail that will share with the world your support of Confessions.
And, if you start your support between D...2021-12-2412 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 51 Dear Google, This is a MessYowsa! What a lot of circumstantial evidence we have here. Fresh data from the ongoing public research into Google's crawl and index behavior. Massive emails from Search Console saying pages had errors when pages did not have errors and a quiet announcement at the end of November.
In this episode I wonder out loud what could possibly be going on at Google within the last few weeks of 2021.
Hope you enjoy it.
P.S. The title of this episode came to me after I had recorded it. Reminded me of growing up after my...2021-12-1715 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 50 - Keep Calm and WTH is Happening With Indexation?Well, this turned into a rant! Holy Cow! WTH Google!? I share the story about an early in the year project that took a nosedive which was in hindsight the idea behind the Indexation Project.
And what is coming out of the project in the community is better than anything I could have wished for all of us.
Here's the links to the articles mentioned in the show
How Search Works - https://www.google.com/search/howsearchworks/
Google Webmaster Guidelines - https://developers.google.com/search/docs...2021-12-1018 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 49 - Survey SaysI'll best honest - I need more feedback. In this episode I share some fun facts and what I know so far from listeners. And what may be a cool addition to SEASON 2. OK OK. There will be one but I need to know what you liked so I can do more of what more people like and less what is a but "meh".
And at the end I provide the topics for the next couple of week and saving surprises for the holidays.
An easy place to leave...2021-12-0311 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 48 - Shop 'Til You Drop AKA Google's November UpdateOMG! What a total jerk move by Google, ANOTHER update before the "High Shopping Season" - in this episode I share with SEO tools are showing as to what changed and I share MY OPINION on WHY they might have done this now. 'Cause enough already - 2021 is like the YEAR of updates.
Then I break some news. Its about something I'm doing next year (2022) - and you'll be the first ones to hear about it. In this episode, I'm practicing talking about it. I'll give you a clue - it's my SEO SUPER POWER. Episode 14 - W...2021-11-2610 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 47 - The Rebound SEO AgencyWe've all sat there. Excited by the prospect of both growing our "book of business" and helping a small business claim their rightful share of the local market for what they offer. And then they start to share all the horrible things they experienced with their previous SEO company. Our heart sinks for two reasons.
1 - We know they are going to want us to prove to them over and over that we're not that other agency and
2 - We are likely wasting our time because even if we were to get them to sign o...2021-11-1910 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 46 I Love Stupid SEO IdeasIf you hear about SEO testing at all you probably think we're all insanely curious and have completely lost the reason that ultimately we all need to make revenue for our own company or our clients.
Well, I call B.S. on that but honestly I will admit that I DO love stupid SEO ideas. The stupider the better!
In this episode I share a test so stupid that instead of dropping the listing - I took it to the #1 spot for the keyword. A failed test. LOL!
And that's not all, there's m...2021-11-1210 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 45 - When to Say No to SEOSome times there are times when the best way to be of service to a business is to say no even if the reason has nothing to do with our ability to SEO their website.
Maybe it's an ROI - return on investment type of issue or maybe it's because there are obstacles to conversion which would then lead into an ROI issue.
Here's a couple of my stories on times when I did say no and times when I should have.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R9ZX8Z2
I'd...2021-11-0511 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 44 - Halloween Google 2021 Indexation StyleI realized that this is the Halloween Episode and it sure fits the scary environment in Google when it comes to getting new content into the index. And when I say scary - it's bad.
Some of my musings include the following:
Why is indexation so essential to business?
Do we publish too much on our own sites for our own good?
Big question, What if this is a wounded Google?
Why Can’t Google Show us what they got?
Page 1 is a cruel mistress.
Hope you have a good candy day.
...2021-10-2916 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 43 Fantasy SEOIs this real life? Or is this fantasy?
This week I share my deepest fantasy SEO ideas that sprang from a conversation with a colleague about time to ranking once working on a page. And well, you might listen to this and think I've lost my mind, it doesn't work that way.
I'm a fan of challenging my own beliefs on what client SEO could be if we tried. And do things in a way where we're not trading hours for dollars but value for dollars.
Would love to hear your thoughts and f...2021-10-2215 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 42 Where Do You Go When You Have SEO QuestionsThis week is an example of transmuting what seemed like a failed expedition to talking about the kind of things SEO's don't normally talk about - how do we get answers to our SEO questions.
Two questions posed in the last few weeks illustrate the problem as I see it- too many people trying to chart a course in SEO without a map, who ask questions of strangers in social media and those that conflate the information they get from tools as a short cut to what it takes to rank within Google.
We as...2021-10-1516 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 41 - Show and TellThis week I share and tell about a couple of projects - one is the index detector project, is it a tool? What the heck is it supposed to do and where I suspect our conditioning is the reason why it's initially viewed as a tool.
I talk about indexation and what makes it so essential to SEO testing. I talk about my first SEO test and an underground SEO training for intermediate and advanced SEOs that you won't hear about unless someone like me tells you about it.
You can find...2021-10-0817 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 40 Core Web Vitals...Field EvidenceIt's been a long time in coming. This past week John Muller confirmed that Core Web Vitals has been rolled out and in in play as of the end of August 2021.
We've been told Core Web Vitals would be a ranking factor. Higher page scores for CWV will be beneficial and conversely, low scores will be harmful. But what evidence do we have that these efforts, beyond common sense site speed efforts, to mold our pages to Core Web Vital "standards" going to yield something we can get an ROI out of?
That changed this...2021-10-0118 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 39 Testing vs TestingIf you've listened to any of Confessions, you know that I'm a strong advocate of seo testing. It's a relatively new slice of SEO and has been instrumental in teasing new observations out of Google that helps us understand how relevance works as well as a host of other things.
Today in addition to updating you on the Google Index Detector project - https://www.AmericanWayMedia.com/index-detector/ and some other things, you'll mainly hear about new seo testing opportunities as well as what it looks like to actually BE an SEO tester.
What SEO...2021-09-2418 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 38 Newly Discovered SEO KPIsYou know you're a nerd if you're like me and excited about this discovery of new SEO key performance indicators (KPIs) but these address some real-world issues for client SEOs.
For too long we have absorbed all the weird stuff we have seen all the time to something wrong with what we're doing but in reality, we're seeing built-in conditions in search. To be able to have the language to describe and a tool to discover it is progress in professional search.
You might brush up hard on your beliefs about ranking but you might...2021-09-1716 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 37 Who Do You Believe, Google or Your Lying EyesIn this Episode I talk about the current SEO testing project that has sort of taken over my life - every day new content is published to a site for the purpose of finding out if Google is even indexing new content anymore. Plus there are two kinds of rendering possible on each page - simple html content and javascript.
I have questions. Most SEO's are confounded by what they are seeing when they publish new content but consistently see in search console - Excluded - discovered not crawled, crawled by not indexed or the dreaded Google...2021-09-1018 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 36 What to Do Before Hiring an SEO CompanyThis week's topic comes from a Search Engine Journal article by Amanda DeSilvestro https://www.searchenginejournal.com/hiring-local-seo-agency-questions/414522/
This is going to be in two parts - this one is in the beginning of the article where they advise what a business needs to do before seeking out SEO proposals.
There are five suggestions and most are good but there is one that I think defies the reality of the situation. See if you can tell which one I think is fantasy.
There's an announcement about new data from the Google Index Detector...2021-09-0317 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 35 - Organic Raspberry ConfidenceThis week's topic is something we probably don't talk about a lot because it's not always an easy one.
This comes from a listener. an independent SEO and I took some time on this one because I think it’s far more common than we want to let on - questioning ourselves on how do we know if we’re a good SEO or not. And who has the right to tell us.
And at the end there's an announcement about a public source - an index detector - https://www.americanwaymedia.com/index-detector/
Thi...2021-08-2718 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 34 Indexed Not FoundThere's a lot of slow Google lately. Slow in they aren't indexing new content as quickly as they used to and to "help" things along they have these weird messages in Google Search Console.
There's a plug for the value of SEO testing but this is a shorter episode - I need to get used to Texas heat again!
You can find me on Linkedin - Carolyn Holzman.
American Way Media AmericanWayMedia.com Austin, TX
Music from Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/doug-organ/fugue-state
...2021-08-2010 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 33 - The Case of The Curious SEO ProposalIn this episode - we are going to go over a proposal that was sent in by a listener.
I thought rather than JUST respond to them privately, this might be a terrific exercise in demonstrating how little equal understanding there is on both sides of "the farmers and the cowboys." I'm sure the recipient of this proposal believes they receive an SEO services proposal - because they told me as much when I asked. And I'm equally sure the sender of this proposal believes they were quite clear on the SEO portion of it.
A...2021-08-1316 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 32 - SEO Projects Updates and TestingSomething I haven’t done lately is updating you on some of the SEO projects I’m working on. So I’m just making a liar out of myself when I say you won’t find any SEO tactics in here. This one I would say you will find SEO principles.
I share the very method used to choose a rank and sell niche - do not recommend it. And take you a little behind the scenes on the funny bumps in the road along the way - one of which was my ego. (But I'm fine now - th...2021-08-0616 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 31 - SEO Bits and BobsIn this episode, this is a new type of episode - a "Bits and Bobs" type of show - in here is a collection of four things too small to be a full episode but definitely somethings to discuss.
1. what is the ONE topic that constantly shows up in Voice SEO conversations every single time and has the potential to suppress Voice?
2. I had a new "Confession" to make.
3. Why isn't this an interview show?
4. An idea to crowd search on something to help good SEO rise to the top and b...2021-07-3012 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 30 - State of Voice Search July UpdateAfter about 6 months of developing the content for my upcoming Voice SEO course - I felt it was necessary to publish an update. Look for future updates on both what I'm doing and what the current limitations are for "Screenless Search" which is how I'm starting to refer to it as.
Listeners will experience more of a breakdown of what exactly are we calling Voice SEO? Is it how we search? Is it how the search is delivered to us? Is it too late? Are there things we as marketers and business owners need to know?
2021-07-2318 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 29 - Will Artificial Intelligence Kill SEO?Search Engine Journal shared a week ago about a question posed to John Mueller which was basically - if Google’s machine learning is going to get so good at knowing what a page is about, will SEO become obsolete?
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/googles-john-mueller-doesnt-see-seo-becoming-obsolete/412373/
I'm guessing the person who asked the question is either a business owner who might not know exactly WHY they are doing their own SEO, other than proving "penny-wise, pound-foolish".
But it does show a peculiar lack of SEO purpose and maybe that's why John didn't know how to...2021-07-1610 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 28 The Summer of UpdatesThis episode is my take on what feels like "never-ending" series of updates in Google since March of 2020. Alright already.
In particular, I wanted to talk to business owners and C-level executives of a certain age who think they "know what SEO is" but have nothing on their site ranking for any value keyword that doesn't have their brand name in it.
Another question I have - How do we know what is a true update these days and not the result of Google catching up on all the things Google has not been doing be...2021-07-0909 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 27 - This Isn't Your Dad's SEO AnymoreIn this episode targeted towards business owners, I share my thoughts on how the shifting zones of relevance within Google remind me of when my dad retired a 2nd time as a VW auto mechanic and what he shared with me.
Would I go into today's Google SEO if I was who and where I was 13 years ago with only rank trackers and site diagnostic software?
I really feel for those business owners who are going it alone and for those who had previous success and yet now are spending more time figuring out Google t...2021-07-0211 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 26 - My SEO Pet PeevesDon't you just love "pet peeves" - the things that drive you crazy? Me too.
In this episode I reveal my TOP THREE pet peeves - something about content, domains and Google. It's not every day one can fit SEO and the Witches from Macbeth in the same content.
What are YOUR pet peeves in SEO?
Hope you enjoy it and feel free to send in any comments or feedback to confessions@AmericanWayMedia.com
You can find me on Linkedin - Carolyn Holzman.
American Way Media AmericanWayMedia.com Austin...2021-06-2513 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 25 - Voice SEOIn this episode I talk a little about how I got into Voice SEO and how the course is evolving. I even share a demo that if you have an Alexa or Google device you can talk to my website.
If you have an Alexa say "Alexa, launch American Way Media”" or for google "Hey Google, Talk to American Way Media"
Hope you enjoy it and feel free to send in any comments or feedback to confessions@AmericanWayMedia.com
You can find me on Linkedin - Carolyn Holzman.
American Way Media Ame...2021-06-1808 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 24 - CSI SEOToday I’d like to share some cool news and it's about what I have come to know as my SEO superpower. I mentioned it back in Episode 14 but today I have something to share. It's short. I'm on the road and wanted to make sure you knew, that I knew, that you knew these things are scheduled on every Friday at 8 am CST.
UPDATE: Not only did I discover my super power - I turned it into something I can share.
There is a course now on Forensic SEO - It's a LIVE training (no...2021-06-1105 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 23 - Super Chill Core SEOIf you're doing anything related to digital marketing you may be hearing a lot about Core Web Vitals - Google's new shiny tool that promised to be a ranking factor.
How does this impact you as an SEO or web developer or a business owner?
Get the full and straight skinny here without fear or favor or big long words!
Hope you enjoy it and feel free to send in any comments or feedback to confessions@AmericanWayMedia.com
You can find me on Linkedin - Carolyn Holzman.
American Way...2021-06-0409 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 22 - What a RELIEF!!!This episode is where I talk about how data brings peace of mind.
If you know the rules are, and you know the rules change, and you know you're not going to be told that the rules change, then the real game is to be able to identify WHEN those rules change and to be able to do it faster than your competitors.
Dec 15, 2019 is a memorable date for me - I explain why in the episode. It took until May 2021 for me to get some peace around what happened. That was 524 days that I...2021-05-2810 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 21 - Summer SEO TopicsI started planning out summer episodes - I had no idea that there were that many weeks in what we refer to as "summer".
As I was doing it the thought occurred to me that sharing what questions come up from myself and others might be helpful for anyone else who is putting together their own podcast AND to explore more fully WHY this podcast is NOT interviews of other SEOs.
Hope you enjoy it and feel free to send in any comments or feedback to confessions@AmericanWayMedia.com
You can find me...2021-05-2109 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 20 - V is for Volatile - Part 2This episode relates to Episode 19 and how we as SEO's need to accept the reality, that Google's ability to let us into the game is what we're fighting right now - the only way to play is to be able to get found, crawled, indexed and then rank. And it's not getting easier.
This episode in this 2-part series on volatility is addressed to the SEO.
Hope you enjoy it and feel free to send in any comments or feedback to confessions@AmericanWayMedia.com
You can find...2021-05-1410 minConfessions of an SEO®Episode 19 - V is for Volatile - Part 1In this episode, I address the way Google stays silent when things are not working as planned, when they are having problems. And without authority in our ability as SEOs to call them as we see them with precision, then we invite confusion and stay ignorant.
This is part of a 2-part series on volatility within the search results and how business owners can benefit from understanding that there are more things going on between hitting publish and when a page ranks for it's search terms.
Hope you enjoy it and feel...2021-05-0712 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 18 - Play Hard Ball SEO SideI'm Just A Girl Who CAN Say "No". But it's not always easy but it can be for the best. In this episode, I'm looking at the same Client offer but this time from the SEO side. If you want to catch up check out Episode 17
Hope you enjoy it and feel free to send in any comments or feedback to confessions@AmericanWayMedia.com
You can find me on Linkedin - Carolyn Holzman.
American Way Media AmericanWayMedia.com Austin, TX
Photo by Jose Francisco Morales...2021-04-3007 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 17 - Playing Hard Ball - Client SideThis is one of the Facebook "mailbag" episodes where we discuss situational SEO - this originally was posted in an SEO Facebook group. While I think it is common for business owners who are used to employees to make the mistake that SEO is all about motivation. They leave out a vital component in their calculation.
I devised a way for business owners to adjust their review process so that they can better find the right SEO for their business.
Hope you enjoy it and feel free to send in...2021-04-2307 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 16 - What if I knew then what I do nowAs promised I said I would answer any incoming questions or respond to feedback from listeners. My goal is for this podcast to be a resource to an SEO and the businesses that they service. Might be the case.
In this episode I respond to a question about how I might have structured a deal with my First SEO Client (Episode 5). And the reason I wanted to feature this question is that it parallels a current opportunity I am negotiating where there is a component of increasing the cost of SEO services in proportion to the increase...2021-04-1608 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 15 - Hiring an SEO CompanyI think this is the most perplexing question for both for a business seeking to find some other business to work with and for those businesses that offer SEO.
Maybe not as unanswerable as the chicken or the egg question, but this will remain a thorn in the side of many a business. At least until we as an industry offer some kind of solution. I pose one way to potentially address this - maybe it is not perfect but maybe it can be explored by some courageous SEO's who aren't afraid to let another SEO company h...2021-04-0908 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 14 - What's Your Superpower?In this episode I reflect a little on how easy it is to not see all the things that truly make us unique not only as SEO's but as humans.
Through a conversation with a colleague, I uncover how to talk about what is my "super power" - which I think is a great way to describe the thing that comes so naturally to you that seems so amazing to others - that you're in awe that anyone noticed.
I also share the SEO community that I've been talking about for the past couple of...2021-04-0207 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 13 - Google Updates - Personal and PublicReady for a change up? This episode is both reflective and an update. Things are moving. My future moves are coming together and lo and behold it appears to be both inclusive of the elements I desire and exclusive of the things that literally suck my soul dry.
SO it's like a Google update on both a personal and public front. What happened this week on the Google update?
Learn that one of my live field examples dropped suddenly.
What did I do? Can this site be saved?
You'll find out...2021-03-2609 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 12 - Part 2 of SEO Packages????OK, this was a hard episode to figure out and come to some grips on how to talk about this - I started and stopped because I realized it might seem disingenuous for me to talk about ways to make monthly SEO more palatable to business owners AND SEOs.
I mean, I decided for me and what I wanted, I wasn't going to go back into agency SEO. This time I'm owning the assets or part of the revenue generated and only on the projects that interest me.
I think client work is always going to...2021-03-1910 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 11 Part 1 - Packages? We Don't Need No Packages!This is Part 1 of a two-part Episode on...wait for it, the dreaded SEO Packages.
This is the part where I talk with the business owner about what these are, why they may exist and what they are good for and why there might be a better way to think about it.
You can find me on Linkedin - Carolyn Holzman
American Way Media
AmericanWayMedia.com
Austin, TX
Image Treatment by American Way Media, LLC2021-03-1214 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 10 Where do keywords come from?In this nine minutes, I explore the mystery of a list of keywords. As an SEO, I'll be honest, I marvel (still) that business owners don't get it.
In this episode, there is a professional who got someone to "do their seo" but was distrustful of a list of search terms. Is she being taken advantage of?
There's so much to address on BOTH sides - for not only the business owner AND the SEO.
You can find me on Linkedin - Carolyn Holzman
American...2021-03-0509 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 9 - SEO Fairy Tales and Other StoriesThis week's episode is a Facebook mailbag segment. In this episode expect to hear the blunt truth about timelines and rankings.
I have the deepest compassion for business owners, I was one for a long time before I became an SEO and then an SEO researcher. I get it. We are are susceptible to doubt and questions, did we make the right choice. What is a reasonable timeframe? What is a reasonable result?
And understandably I have empathy and respect for the SEO. There's a lot going on within Google and it's not always on y...2021-02-2614 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 8 - What is SEO Testing?This is an SEO rant. I think we have a new type of recurring episode. This is pretty much my take on SEO test, what it is, why it's important to me, why aren't more SEO's doing this and what the controversy is in the SEO community about testing with fake keywords.
I realized I left out the BIGGEST value to testing after I listened to the playback. The value to me is - if I can get a competitive edge on a result - that means revenue to me, to my client, their family, their employees...2021-02-1915 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 6 Freshman Orientation - What The Hell Is Going On?Since I just plopped down in your life and did a stream of consciousness recounting of my life in SEO, some of you may want to know a little more about the structure I have in mind for this adventure.
My plan is grow this podcast while I prepare my course on Voice SEO or screen less SEO which will have a podcast aspect to it. I prefer to walk my own talk, literally.
In this episode, I detail my ideas of seven (7) types of recurring segments that I think will permit me to continue...2021-02-0511 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 5 - My First SEO ClientWhen I first put up the shingle that said I was in the SEO business - my first client was my next door business neighbor in the business park where I rented my office.
I share the good, the bad and the ugly at least for the sustainable part of an SEO firm. How successful was this? What did I learn?
Will I ever know?
You can find me on Linkedin - Carolyn Holzman
American Way Media
AmericanWayMedia.com
Austin, TX
Photo by Rafael Garcin on Unsplash2021-01-2914 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 4 - It's OK to Reinvent YourselfStepping back I realized that the movement from one thing to another while it may sound easy, doesn't always feel easy or positive. I felt on some level that having to reinvent myself meant I had failed somehow. Instead of seeing it as a falling away of the things that no longer worked, I was making it into the least positive interpretation.
Yeah, I know, I not the only one. But maybe given how this last year has been, there might be someone else out there that is feeling the same and just might need some encouragement...2021-01-2207 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 3 - The ConundrumI have discovered this passion for helping businesses by using my SEO skills and thought processes. And I don’t want to create my own agency or work for someone else's. But if not direct or indirect client work, how would I make a living?
I don’t want to be at the beck and call of everybody who reads an article on SEO and thinks they need to micromanage my work, whether it's an independent business owner or a production manager preparing client reports.
I've been in SEO testing since it began in 2015. SEO test...2021-01-1517 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 2 - Why I Dislike Working with SEO ClientsIn this episode the original title was "Why I Hate to Work with SEO Clients" and I thought it was too harsh and implied the fault was all on the client-side. But the reason that it is hard to work with clients is not only their possible jaded history with other SEO agencies, but how powerful the message is from Google that implies that a business owner or corporation need only read the latest blog or attend the latest training session and that's all you need.
The truth is Google is a business that makes its revenue...2021-01-0813 min
Confessions of an SEO®Episode 1 - Why Do I Love being an SEO?In this episode, I introduce myself, Carolyn Holzman, and ponder my love of being an SEO, how a courier introduced me to Google My Business and a few other things. This podcast series is for independent business owners, marketing managers or other SEOs for the purpose of humanizing an often misunderstood industry.
I take a little time talking about the "elephant in the room" when it comes to the general conception of SEO to independent businesses and why that might be. Is it because this unregulated industry is untrustworthy or is it because most businesses don't really...2021-01-0116 min
Confessions of an SEOEpisode 1 – Why Do I Love being an SEO?In this episode, I introduce myself, Carolyn Holzman, and ponder my love of being an SEO, how a courier introduced me to Google My Business and a few other things. This podcast series is for independent business owners, marketing managers or other SEOs for the purpose of humanizing an often misunderstood industry. zwpkigiwbaysmc I take […]1970-01-0100 min