SEO 

SEO KPIs to track and measure SEO success

What can be measured can be improved. Here’s a look at the most valuable SEO KPIs to help you track, measure and improve your SEO efforts. If something can be measured, it can be improved. By carefully measuring your SEO with metrics that matter to your business, you can understand where you are currently and what value SEO brings to your marketing. SEO KPIs bridge the gap between your business and marketing objectives and the data available in SEO tools and web analytics. This article outlines the many SEO metrics and KPIs…

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SEM 

Only 23% of digital marketers will invest in X in the next 12 months

The platforms most digital marketers said they will invest in: Google (including YouTube) and Meta (Facebook and Instagram). Less than a quarter of digital marketers plan to invest in X, formerly known as Twitter, during the next 12 months, according to a Search Engine Land survey. And, the percentage of digital marketers investing in X continues to fall rapidly, down from 27% of marketers in Q1 to 17% in Q3 to date. Where marketers plan to invest. Google (including YouTube) and Meta properties Facebook and Instagram are the platforms most digital…

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Latest News 

Microsoft Special Event on September 21, Possibly for New Surface Devices

Microsoft will hold a special event on September 21, 2023, with new Surface devices the likely outcome. Microsoft sent out invites to the event but did not elaborate on what products or services will be revealed or showcased at the event. As CNET points out, a similar event in October of last year was used to release the Surface Pro 9, Surface Laptop 5, and the Surface Studio 2 Plus. As a result, it seems likely the event in September will likely be used to release new Surface computers and tablets.

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Marketing 

SMX West session: Harnessing the power of online reviews

Columnist Greg Gifford recaps a session by Thomas Ballantyne about the value of online reviews, showing why businesses need to start thinking about them if they aren’t already. Closing out the excellent first time slot in the Local track at SMX West this year was Thomas Ballantyne’s session about online reviews. Far too many business owners either ignore or don’t care about reviews, so Ballantyne — the director of marketing at Bulwark Pest Control — built his presentation as a tool to help marketers get buy-in from their clients. Reviews…

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Bing 

Google & Bing: We’re Not Involved In “Local Paid Inclusion”

It sounds great. A program that guarantees top listings for local searches on Google, Yahoo and Bing. An “officially approved” one in “cooperation” with those search engines. But it’s not so, say Google and Bing. The “Local Paid Inclusion” service launched officially today. The site’s home page pitches: Local Paid Inclusion is a Google, Yahoo […] It sounds great. A program that guarantees top listings for local searches on Google, Yahoo and Bing. An “officially approved” one in “cooperation” with those search engines. But it’s not so, say Google and…

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google 

Google Search Advocate: Outbound Links Do Nothing for SEO

John Mueller, a Google search advocate, has thrown cold water on one of the most enduring SEO beliefs: that outbound links impact SEO. Websites commonly link to high-traffic, authoritative websites in an effort to boost their own search engine rankings. In response to a question on Reddit about the practice, Mueller set the record straight, saying it was one long-running myth: Nothing happens. Why should it? This has been one of those things that SEOs have claimed / hoped since literally decades. “Here’s my affiliate site about handbags – and here’s…

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Social 

X (Twitter) lowers eligibility threshold for ads revenue sharing program

The changes were announced after X was criticised for failing to pay content creators on time earlier this month. X, formerly known as Twitter, has reduced the eligibility threshold for its ads revenue sharing program. Verified creators now need to have generated 5 million impressions in the previous three months – as opposed to 15 million. In addition, the company has also lowered the minimum payout requirement to $10 instead of $50, enabling more content creators to get paid for posting on the Elon Musk-owned platform. Why we care. X’s ads…

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SEO 

Tracking 20 years of search

Key takeaways and findings from an analysis of seroundtable.com’s historical Google Analytics data from 2003 to 2023. Are you a new search marketer looking to learn about the history of search? Do you want to stay updated on the latest search marketing news? If so, there’s only one person you need to “follow” to know 90% of the interesting changes in the industry. This individual has a website; his first blog post was published on Dec. 2, 2003. The site’s Google Analytics (GA) code is tellingly short: UA-67314-1. Several months…

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SEM 

3 creative-driven tips to optimize your PPC performance

Explore three actionable ways to leverage ad creative in your PPC campaigns while retaining data-driven insights for peak performance. Historically, PPC marketers are accustomed to spending hours behind a spreadsheet crunching numbers, analyzing bid models, finding statistical significance for test results, and carefully plotting the next move. PPC has been very logical, data-driven and more science than art. But the industry is shifting, and creative is arguably one of the best levers PPC managers have to optimize performance. As a result, performance agencies must adapt quickly and rebalance the scales between art and science.…

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Latest News 

Saudi Arabia Joins EU & India In Mandating USB-C Smartphone Chargers

Saudi Arabia has joined the EU and India in mandating USB-C chargers for smartphones in an effort to prevent e-waste and improve the customer experience. Much of the smartphone industry already uses USB-C chargers but Apple is the notable exception. The iPhone maker relies on its own Lightning port/cable for charging and data transfer. The EU and India recently passed rules mandating the use of USB-C for smartphone chargers, and now Saudi Arabia is following suit. According to Khaleej Times, Saudi Arabia’s decision was announced by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization and the…

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