Google Ranking Factors: What Really Matters Right Now with Ben Steele - EP324
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
Release Date: 11/17/2023
Why AI Recommends Your Competitor & What to do About It with Kris Jones
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
Kris Jones has been in search since the late 1990s. He built and sold Pepperjam, and now runs the agency LSEO. In this latest episode of the SEJ Podcast, he gives Loren Baker a one-word answer to the biggest question in AI search right now, and everything else we cover comes back to it. We get into why AI systems have taken over the comparison step that buyers used to do themselves, why the raw material for those answers sits on websites you don’t own, and what that means for where your budget actually goes. Kris makes the case that most of this is still fundamental SEO, names the...
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Where the Clicks Go Now.
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
Clicks are down across the open web, but the traffic didn't disappear. It moved. Join Katie Morton (SEJ's editor in chief) and Matt Southern (senior news writer) for the RETURN of the SEJ PODCAST 🎙️ where they break down: Where search traffic is landing now (Google properties, AI Overviews, Reddit, video) What visibility means in an impressions-without-clicks world The KPI shift: conversions, brand recognition, AI citations, qualified leads Where to place content marketing bets, and what to walk away from If you need to prove content value to leadership, this one's for you. To get...
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SEO Experts Gather for a Candid Chat About Search
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
We're excited to bring you the SERP's Up podcast on the SEJ Show channel! Join Wix for their landmark 100th episode, as their experts & guests take a deep dive into the world of SERPs. If you’re frustrated by how broken the SERPs feel, don’t worry…they’re getting honest and covering the reasons. In this candid discussion, they’re also breaking down what’s currently going on with local SEO, the effects of the Google August Update, and of course…they’re talking all things AI. Celebrate Wix’s 100th episode with this powerhouse panel, as Mordy Oberstein & Crystal Carter...
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Local Strategies - How Better Online Reputation Drives Revenue with Raj Nijjer - EP329
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
Join us as we look at how your online reputation and local marketing strategies can drive revenue for your business, while avoiding pitfalls along the way. With guest Raj Nijjer of Edge, we’ll dive into the revenue impacts that your online reputation can have, and why this reputation building should be crucial in your planning. Join your host Loren Baker, as he and Raj discuss how to avoid wasteful strategies of local marketing and multi-location businesses, plus a couple tips on how a good reputation can help attract and retain top talent. [01:14] - Raj's Background and Journey to Edge....
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Avoid The Noise: How To Prove That Your SEO Matters with Dan Taylor - EP328
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
Join us as we explore how to prove that SEO matters to resistant stakeholders and C-suite executives, along with ways to combat the external noise affecting the outlook on SEO efforts. Dan brings his experience as a leading SEO consultant for top companies to this exclusive interview. He and Loren navigate the complexities of the shifting SEO landscape, and how to set realistic expectations in your business. They also dig into the potential risks and opportunities of AI in search, and what these drastic changes mean moving forward. I think oftentimes in a lot of organizations,...
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Navigating Publisher Policies: Insights from Google's Trust & Safety Expert with John Brown - Special Episode
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
In this must-listen episode, join us for a sit-down with John Brown from Google's Trust & Safety team. With his rich background in building ad networks and more, John offers exclusive insights into Google's efforts to educate publishers globally. Discover critical differences between publisher policies and demand restrictions, explore the evolving role of UGC, and learn about Google's initiatives to support publishers. As you navigate the complexities of policy compliance, you won't want to miss John's expert perspective, honed through years of leadership and mentorship in this realm. We...
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PPC Strategies For 2024: Insights From Over 16,000 Businesses with Jacques van der Wilt - Sponsor Spotlight
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
We're diving into insights from over 16,000 ecommerce businesses, showing the trends that shaped PPC advertising in 2023, and how to use them to move forward into 2024. In this insightful interview with Jacques van der Wilt, he and Loren examine highlights from DataFeedWatch's powerful Multichannel Marketing Report. They take a look at which PPC strategies stood out the most and which channels provided the best return, along with big changes coming next year. Using these insights, they also explore the most common challenges in ecommerce PPC campaigns, and what leading...
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How To Secure And Defend Your SEO Budget For Executive Buy-In
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
In an increasingly difficult economy, do you know how to prove the value of your SEO and remain efficient, while maintaining the SEO budgets you need to succeed? Will Critchlow, CEO of SearchPilot, joins me on the SEJShow to examine actionable strategies to doing more with less and maintaining the freedom to test, all while proving the positive impacts of your SEO work. Using insights from marketing leaders, SEO specialists, and senior executives, you’ll hear Will and Loren break down the skills you need to keep your CFO happy while driving efficiency. If you’ve found yourself having...
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How To Create High-Impact Content In A Changing Landscape with Purna Virji - EP326
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
In an era of user-generated, human-generated and machine-generated content, mistakes are increasingly costlier to make. Learn the ways to revitalize and future-proof your approach to content marketing with Purna Virji, globally recognized content strategist and bestselling author of "High-Impact Content Marketing". She and Loren will uncover the common mistakes content marketers make, and how you can avoid them as you plan your marketing strategy. Tune in and hear strategies for creating genuinely inclusive and relevant content that audiences will actually want to consume, so your content...
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Google Ranking Factors: What Really Matters Right Now with Ben Steele - EP324
The Search Engine Journal Podcast
The most important thing you can do if you are worried about ranking is write content that satisfies intent and fulfills the aspirations of E-E-A-T. –Ben Steele, 09:11 Join us as we talk about the biggest updates to Google Ranking Factors this year, and what that means for you as we head into 2024. Our very own senior editor of ebooks, Ben Steele, gives you the behind-the-scene scoop on what factors really matter now. More than 200 hours went into researching and gathering our findings on the signals that have been officially declared, at one point or another in time, as Google ranking...
info_outlineThe most important thing you can do if you are worried about ranking is write content that satisfies intent and fulfills the aspirations of E-E-A-T. –Ben Steele, 09:11
Join us as we talk about the biggest updates to Google Ranking Factors this year, and what that means for you as we head into 2024.
Our very own senior editor of ebooks, Ben Steele, gives you the behind-the-scene scoop on what factors really matter now. More than 200 hours went into researching and gathering our findings on the signals that have been officially declared, at one point or another in time, as Google ranking factors. Ben brings you the impact behind the BIG updates made this year: E-E-A-T, Google's redefining of page experience, the developments around systems and signals, and more.
Listen in as Ben and host Loren Baker, two of SEJ's brightest SEO professionals, talk Google Ranking Factors. Discussion designed for search professionals and marketing managers planning for next year.
Notable:
Suppose you do build content that is comprehensive enough to display authority in your experience. In that case, the aspiration is that content will float to the top regardless of more manipulative tactics. –Ben Steele, 10:14
When people have asked me what's our secret to ranking content at SEJ, I've always told them the publish button because we've been building this brand, this entity, and this trust for 20-plus years. –Loren Baker, 13:48
Google is evaluating links more qualitatively. Keywords are still huge, but the number doesn't matter anymore. It's about the way you use them. –Ben Steele, 22:30
[03:30] - Google ranking factors 2023: What's changed and what remains?
[10:14] - Keywords and links vs. content and E-E-A-T in today's SEO.
[22:30] - Google's qualitative approach to evaluating ranking factors.
[27:39] - Building E-E-A-T for smaller sites to compete with big brands.
[29:42] - Generative AI content's ranking performance post-updates.
[37:24] - Long-term success with E-E-A-T and user intent.
[43:27] - Curation as a strategy against generative AI in SEO.
[46:52] - How to access the Google Ranking Factors ebook.
Keeping your nose clean, don't engage in the quick win strategies that are technically spam because Google has come out and straight up said if it's defined as spam under our guidelines, relevancy doesn't matter. –Ben Steele, 33:33
Curation is something you can lean into as a small business. There is still going to be a demand for human curation. –Ben Steele, 43:27
You can become a trusted source of curation for your audience... that's one thing that language models are not good at: being a source of well-curated information that you need right now. –Ben Steele, 44:29
Those factors of E-E-A-T will be critical for inoculating your business from the negative impacts of AI implemented by big platforms... the experience and the trust. –Ben Steele, 45:53
Resources:
Get the Ranking Factors ebook: https://bit.ly/3tFXB53
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3Q64Cni
Connect with Ben Steele:
Ben Steele, the Senior Editor at SEJ, boasts profound expertise in digital content. Though he didn’t initially aim to become an SEO strategist, the skills he acquired for his role, combined with his self-initiated research into digital marketing, unveiled his genuine passion in this field.
His experience in professional theater not only refined his work ethic and leadership abilities but also fostered other invaluable attributes such as creativity.
Now, at SEJ, Ben contributes to their ebooks, consistently providing fresh perspectives and strategic content advice. Through his SEO endeavors, he artfully weaves the nuances of human experiences, journeys, and expressions into enlightening lessons for others.
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/writerbensteele/
Connect with Loren Baker, Founder of Search Engine Journal:
Follow him on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lorenbaker
Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenbaker