The goal of all search engines is to provide the right answer to the user. While it’s useful to know what Bing and other search engines are doing there is no doubt that Google dominates the world of search. So while SEO blogs cover factors that will be useful for all search engines the major focus at the moment will always be Google. Google’s objective is “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” Google uses its constantly developing algorithms to maximise effectiveness in organising online information so that the result it delivers to searchers is as close to correct as possible. The company’s vision statement pushes the organisation to achieve new heights, such as through rapid innovation, and thus change is ongoing. However, Google is not always as forthcoming with information as Internet Marketers would like so there is always speculation, particularly about technical issues.
Keeping up with the latest news in SEO, separating the chaff from the wheat in a field that has as many blogs and opinions as world politics can be difficult. In this post, I want to give you a list of 5 blogs or websites I think you should have a look at. Whether you download each one’s newsletter or simply visit these sites occasionally they will give you some understanding of what is happening in the world of Search Engine Optimisation.
Do a search on SEO News and your screen will be filled with possibilities. So which should you read? Which has authority? Which is actually going to help with your online marketing efforts?
Googles ‘Official news on crawling and indexing sites for the Google index’ is a good start. It’s not necessarily going to tell you how to do a particular job but it will inform you of what Google thinks is important. This blog is used by Google as a direct communication with Internet Marketers about usually more technical issues with SEO and internet marketing. However, the blog often includes information on new services that Google are rolling out. Definitely worth a look.
Marie Haynes SEO career started in 2008. She was a veterinarian and had created a website for her business but was unsure why she was only getting at most, 34 visitors per day. She had no idea that she would quickly be launched into a lucrative career as an online marketing consultant.
In 2012, she was spending 16 hours a day hanging out in SEO forums. She took an interest in Google’s Penguin algorithm, read everything that anyone wrote about Penguin or Google penalties and began to give advice on the forums. It wasn’t long before people were asking her to take a look at their websites.
If there has been an algorithm change and particularly, as is usually the case, Google are being tight-lipped; Marie can be relied upon to analyse and give some insights. Have a read of her blog and sign up for her newsletter to keep up to date with changes.
Rand Fishkin is a force in the SEO world. He was CEO & Co-Founder of SEOmoz, a leader in the field of search engine optimisation tools, resources & community. In 2009, he was named among the 30 Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs Under 30 by BusinessWeek, and he has been written about it in innumerable publications. In 2018, Rand founded SparkToro and continues to write about SEO and online business. His blogs often cover the niggly questions people are asking about search and he regularly questions what Google are doing and their objective. His blog is definitely worth reading.
Moz was founded by Rand Fishkin and Gillian Muessig in 2004. It was called SEOmoz, and started as a blog and an online community where some of the world’s first SEO experts shared their research and ideas. Moz is often seen as the blog to go to, particularly for SEO. The Moz blog contains guides, how to’s and research focusing on trends and strategies alongside more technical advice and while primarily focused on SEO also covers paid search topics. Moz’s Whiteboard Friday which was started by Rand Fishkin is a series of usually very insightful, interesting and helpful short videos covering a broad range of topics, definitely worth a watch.
The SEO Round Table website reports on the most interesting threads taking place across a number of SEO forums. The Roundtable reports on these threads but also provides a synopsis that provides greater detail into those threads. Barry Schwartz is the founder of the Search Engine Roundtable and the News Editor of Search Engine Land. He is well known & respected for his expertise in the search marketing industry. This is a good blog to visit for some insight into what is being discussed in search.
Other online resources you may also want to look at are Danny Sullivans Search Engineland, Brian Deans Backlinko (sign up for his newsletter) and Neil Patels Blog.
There are a gazillion SEO blog and article sites, almost all of them will have some useful information. There will often be different opinions about SEO methods and Google intent. Reading around will help you gain some understanding of what is important and what the future will bring. But beware, reading online blogs can help you in understanding some of the issues but it can also be a trap which sucks up time and brainpower. Practising the core tasks of SEO and remembering always that search engines want to show the best possible answer to a searchers query will always move you in the right direction.
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With a lifetime’s experience including roustabouting, forays into film, ceramics, cleaning, motel and property management and a background in radio and marketing David comes to SEO with a wealth of real-world knowledge. His technical understanding of SEO and an innate appreciation of the importance of seeing the bigger picture is invaluable.
When not at work David can be found at church, taking drives in the country, spending time with friends and family, reading, learning about documentary film-making, swimming and taking an interest in diverse politics.
