SEO News Summary from the Last 7 Days
Over the past week, the SEO and PPC landscape has seen several significant updates and insights:
- Google Structured Data Carousels (Beta):
Google introduced new documentation for what it calls host carousels within Google Search, aiming to enhance content visibility and interaction.
More info from google here - Performance Max Campaigns: Concerns have been raised about Google’s lack of transparency around Performance Max (PMax) performance data, with advertisers criticizing the platform for not showing channel-specific KPIs.
- Google Chrome Search Suggestions Update: Google Chrome now offers enhanced search suggestions, including what others are searching for and more image thumbnails in the search box.
- AI Content and GPTBot: Discussions around AI-generated content and the use of OpenAI’s GPTBot for crawling websites have been prominent. The consensus is that embracing GPTBot can offer more benefits than drawbacks, with advice on improving AI content to avoid generic writing and plagiarism.
- Video SEO and Site Migrations: Advanced techniques for video SEO were highlighted, including the debate between self-hosting versus YouTube embedding. Additionally, AI-powered redirect mapping was discussed as a method to speed up site migrations.
- Legal and Policy Updates: Google faces a $2.27 billion lawsuit from European publishers over advertising practices, and reminders were issued about Google enforcing stricter rules for consumer finance ad targeting.
- Digital Marketing Trends for SMBs: A new report sheds light on the digital marketing approaches of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in 2024, focusing on key trends, goals, and challenges.
Google Search Suggestions Update:
Actionable Points for SEO and Digital Marketing
Based on the recent SEO news, here are some actionable recommendations:
- Embrace Google’s New Features: Experiment with Google’s structured data carousels and update your site’s structured data accordingly to take advantage of these new search features.
- Transparency with Performance Max Campaigns: Closely monitor PMax performance data and consider diversifying your ad strategies to mitigate risks associated with opaque KPIs.
- Optimize for Google Chrome’s Enhanced Search Suggestions: Ensure your website’s content is optimized for search suggestions, including the use of relevant keywords and high-quality images.
- Unblock GPTBot and Improve AI Content: Do not block GPTBot from crawling your site; instead, focus on creating high-quality, insightful AI-generated content that avoids generic writing and plagiarism.
- Advanced Video SEO Techniques: Explore advanced video SEO techniques, such as deciding between self-hosting and YouTube embedding based on your content strategy and ensuring your videos are properly indexed.
- AI-Powered Site Migration: Utilize AI for efficient redirect mapping during site migrations to save time and reduce errors, ensuring a smooth transition to a new CMS.
- Stay Informed on Legal and Policy Changes: Keep abreast of legal and policy updates affecting digital advertising to ensure your marketing practices remain compliant and effective.
Actionable SEO Tips
Advanced Video SEO Techniques and AI Copy Creation
For advanced video SEO, focus on:
- Choosing the Right Hosting Platform: Decide between self-hosting and platforms like YouTube based on your goals (e.g., traffic vs. engagement).
- Optimizing Video Metadata: Ensure titles, descriptions, and tags are keyword-rich and descriptive.
- Creating Engaging Thumbnails: Use compelling thumbnails to increase click-through rates.
- Leveraging Video Transcripts: Improve accessibility and indexability by including transcripts.
To create helpful AI copy that ranks well, focus on:
- Providing Detailed Instructions: Give the AI specific, detailed prompts that align with your content goals.
- Emphasizing Value and Originality: Instruct the AI to generate content that offers unique insights or solutions.
- Incorporating SEO Best Practices: Include keywords and SEO strategies within your prompts to guide the AI in producing SEO-friendly content.
Example Prompts for AI Copy Creation
Becoming a Full Stack Developer:
- “Write an introductory guide for beginners on becoming a full stack developer, focusing on essential skills and languages.”
- “List the top resources for learning full stack development, including online courses, books, and communities.”
- “Explain the importance of project-based learning in full stack development and provide examples of beginner-friendly projects.”
Tech SEO Audit and Site Migration Checklist:
- “Create a comprehensive checklist for conducting a technical SEO audit, covering site speed, mobile-friendliness, and on-page SEO factors.”
- “Outline the steps for a successful site migration to a new CMS, emphasizing SEO considerations like URL structure and 301 redirects.”
- “Discuss common pitfalls in site migrations and how to avoid them, focusing on maintaining search rankings and user experience.”
These prompts are designed to guide AI in producing detailed, valuable content that addresses specific user needs and adheres to SEO best practices.
