Google on Improving Core Web Vitals Score by Blocking Countries
Can blocking visitors from countries with slow Internet connections improve Core Web Vitals Score? Google’s Martin Splitt answers the question
About
I have 25 years hands-on experience in SEO, evolving along with the search engines by keeping up with the latest research, patents and what’s happening in the search results.
Need a consultation? Contact me at roger@martinibuster.com or use the contact form at: Martinibuster.com
I recently presented at Pubcon Vegas in October and March 2024, and over the past 20 years have presented at search conferences across the United States: Pubcon, SMX, Affiliate Summit & SES (Search Engine Strategies) and have served as a Head Judge at the U.S. Search Awards .
Articles
Google’s SMITH Algorithm Outperforms BERT
Google’s new SMITH algorithm understands long-form content better than BERT
Google Explains What URL Removals Tool Does
Google’s John Mueller answers a question about what the Search Console URL Removals Tool does
Research Exposes Role of Pricing on User Ratings
Research from Harvard Business School explores role of pricing on user ratings. Implications for platforms with ratings and the businesses that depend on them.
WordPress All in One SEO Auto Updates Cause Backlash
Publishers complain about All in One SEO Plugin automatic updates
Google Employees Form a Union
Employees at Alphabet formally announce a union to present a united voice for fairness and against discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
5 Benefits to Using Visual Content in PDF Marketing Materials
Research shows that images can increase sales. This is why you should add them to your PDF marketing materials.
Google December 2020 Core Update Insights
Five search marketers share their perspectives on the December 2020 Google Core Algorithm Update.
Twitter Relaunching Verified Accounts
Twitter Verification for Accounts is relaunching in 2021. Many changes to who qualifies. Purge of currently verified accounts beginning soon
Contact Form 7 Vulnerability in +5 Million Sites
A serious vulnerability was patched in Contact Form 7 that allows attackers to upload malicious scripts.
WordPress Redux Plugin Vulnerability Affects +1 Million Sites
Redux Gutenberg Blocks Library & Framework, with over 1 million active users, patched a CSRF vulnerability
Google Tests Interactive Search Results
Google is testing a search results page that allows users to click and view images from the web pages. Could impact click through rates.
How to Benefit from “SEO Power” of Links to Old Press Release Pages?
Google’s John Mueller answered a question about how to preserve the “SEO power” of old links to press release pages.
Google: Sometimes Copied Content is More Relevant
Google’s John Mueller discusses the challenges of copied content and why being the original source doesn’t mean it’s more relevant
Google on Penalizing Misinformation
Should Google penalize misinformation the same way it punishes spam? Google’s Danny Sullivan responds.
WordPress 5.6: The Good, the Meh and the Ugly
WordPress 5.6 is rolling out with dozens of improvements but security researchers discovered an exploitable feature.
Facebook Identifies 2021 Topics and Trends
Facebook published a 40 page report that forecasts important consumer topics and trends for 2021
WordPress Easy WP SMTP Plugin Vulnerability
Popular WordPress plugin with over 500,000 active installations was recently patched to fix an exploit that grants hackers complete control.
Google: Structured Data is an Extremely Light Signal
Google’s John Mueller clarifies multiple points about how Google uses structured data
SEO Benefits of New Top Level Domains (nTLDs)?
Google’s John Mueller answers if there is an SEO benefit from keyword-based New Top Level Domains (nTLDs)
Senate Explores Changing DMCA
Internet Archive offers vigorous response against proposed changes to Digital Millennium Copyright Act
H1 Headings For SEO – Why They Matter
Google uses H1 headings for SEO. But the ways they are used have evolved. Keep heading tag use up to date
Google’s 7 Tips for Web Stories & Video Series
Power up your Web Stories to build an audience and more traffic. Seven easy tips.
Google Updates Search Console Crawl Stats Report
Google launched an updated Crawl Stats Report in the Search Console. Features more granular reporting.
WordPress 5.6 and PHP 8 Compatibility
WordPress offered guidance about compatibility of new WordPress 5.6 with PHP 8 and what that means for publishers.
Twitter Fleets Introduced to Encourage More Tweets
Twitter announced a new way to tweet called Fleets that last 24 hours. Features backgrounds and text options.
Google Completes Migration of Disavow Tool to Search Console
Google announced completion of Disavow Tool migration to the new Search Console. Industry response is tepid, asks about indexing tool.
New Google Office Hours Hangout Support Page
Google published a new support page that helps SEOs learn how to participate in Google Search Central Office Hours
Googlebot Begins Crawling With HTTP/2 Protocol
Googlebot can now crawl with HTTP/2 protocol beginning November 2020. Google Developer pages updated to reflect change.
Google on Dealing With Sneaky Use of Expired Domains
Google’s John Mueller answers a question about the balance needed to deal with expired domains and the complexities involved