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Google SEO Starter Guide [pdf]

static.googleusercontent.com

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Re: Google SEO Starter Guide [pdf]

#21

Post by jarrett »

ry0ohki wrote: post #20
jarrett wrote: post #16

I would love it if Google published an official answer to the perennial client question: "Why can't you get my site to the top of the SERPs for [insert competitive keywords here]?" My answer is usually along these lines: "Your site is competing for placement with many other professionally-built sites. If I'm doing my job properly, and so are the other web developers, none of us is or should be entitled to top placeme…

https://www.google.com/competition/howgooglesearchworks.html

Anything in particular on that page you'd like to highlight? I'm putting myself in the shoes of a client who just wants "my site to be ranked higher." From this client's perspective, it's the web dev's job to make that happen. I don't see anything on the linked-to page that directly dispels this notion.

Just to be clear: I recognize that the web developer plays a role in improving Google rankings. I.e. the web dev should definitely follow Google guidelines. But following the guidelines doesn't automatically get you to the top. (What if everyone follows the guidelines? They can't all be in first place.)

Re: Google SEO Starter Guide [pdf]

#22

Post by packetslave »

izak30 wrote: post #14
Matt_Cutts wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We wrote the guide to be pretty evergreen. If there's anything you see that's out of date, just mention it and we'll look into updating it.

Why is it on a user content domain?

Google is pretty paranoid about hosting things under google.com unless they absolutely have to be there, since user authentication cookies are the holy grail for malware or other attacks. The published papers from research.google.com are linked off the same static.googleusercontent.com site, for example.

Re: Google SEO Starter Guide [pdf]

#23

Post by kaugesaar »

Matt_Cutts wrote: post #7
ddedden wrote: post #4

This is a good start, but the guide is actually really old - the copyright is from 2010. Some of this stuff is no longer valid.

We wrote the guide to be pretty evergreen. If there's anything you see that's out of date, just mention it and we'll look into updating it.

This seems out of date: "Google AdWords provides a handy Keyword Tool".

You'll end up on a page explaining Keyword Planner has replaced Keyword Tool. To access the tool I must sign in to my AdWords account.

Re: Google SEO Starter Guide [pdf]

#24

Post by gk1 »

jarrett wrote: post #21
ry0ohki wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.google.com/competition/howgooglesearchworks.html

Anything in particular on that page you'd like to highlight? I'm putting myself in the shoes of a client who just wants "my site to be ranked higher." From this client's perspective, it's the web dev's job to make that happen. I don't see anything on the linked-to page that directly dispels this notion. Just to be clear: I recognize that the web developer plays a role in improving Google rankings. I.e. the web dev sh…

1. List some of the high-level factors that affect search engine rankings. Eg: quality of content, mentions on other sites and social media, and site structure.

2. Circle the factors over which you as a developer have control. In the above example it would be "site structure."

3. Explain that the other factors are out of your control or are not within the scope of work.

There's no shortage of marketing consultants (I'm one) and specialists that can help with the other factors.

Re: Google SEO Starter Guide [pdf]

#26

Post by mbesto »

I read this awhile back and it's great.

Curious honest question to the SEOs out there - other than present me with a strategy, is there anything specifically an SEO can offer to my site? As far as I can tell, any gimmick or scheme an SEO could do previously is now effectively non-existent since the Penguin and Hummingbird updates to Google. Is there anything outside of the standard stuff that I have to do that can make my site stand out?

Re: Google SEO Starter Guide [pdf]

#27

Post by ry0ohki »

jarrett wrote: post #21
ry0ohki wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.google.com/competition/howgooglesearchworks.html

Anything in particular on that page you'd like to highlight? I'm putting myself in the shoes of a client who just wants "my site to be ranked higher." From this client's perspective, it's the web dev's job to make that happen. I don't see anything on the linked-to page that directly dispels this notion. Just to be clear: I recognize that the web developer plays a role in improving Google rankings. I.e. the web dev sh…

Everything, did you read it? It's exactly what you were asking for. It's a clear outline of how Google works on a basic level. It uses signals from keywords as well as popularity. A web dev alone cannot affect the popularity.

You can follow all the technical guidelines but if no one is linking to you, you won't be number one. In the unlikely event two sites have the same weighted links, quality and technical relevance, I'm sure other things like speed or age are taken into account.

Re: Google SEO Starter Guide [pdf]

#28

Post by jonknee »

redblacktree wrote: post #15
jonknee wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Google knows more about how Google works than whatever SEO source you're trusting does...

uhm, ok? How does that help me, if I want my site to rank higher for a particular term?

Follow the guidelines in the document? It's not rocket science and unlike most SEO guides it's not filled with voodoo.

Re: Google SEO Starter Guide [pdf]

#29

Post by jonknee »

kaugesaar wrote: post #23
Matt_Cutts wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We wrote the guide to be pretty evergreen. If there's anything you see that's out of date, just mention it and we'll look into updating it.

This seems out of date: "Google AdWords provides a handy Keyword Tool". You'll end up on a page explaining Keyword Planner has replaced Keyword Tool. To access the tool I must sign in to my AdWords account.

So you have to sign into your free Google AdWords account to use a feature of Google AdWords? The link still works and even explains what has changed in significant detail.

Re: Google SEO Starter Guide [pdf]

#30

Post by laurentb »

jarrett wrote: post #21
ry0ohki wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.google.com/competition/howgooglesearchworks.html

Anything in particular on that page you'd like to highlight? I'm putting myself in the shoes of a client who just wants "my site to be ranked higher." From this client's perspective, it's the web dev's job to make that happen. I don't see anything on the linked-to page that directly dispels this notion. Just to be clear: I recognize that the web developer plays a role in improving Google rankings. I.e. the web dev sh…

I'm not an expert, but the way I see it, It's kind of like having a horse competing for a race.

You can make sure the horse is physically prepared, in good shape, has been properly trained and has been thoroughly inspected for any needed medication, but you can't and won't ever be able to ensure that the horse you're caring for will 100% of the time finish the race first.

Sure, you can use some shady tactics, drugs, or anything else, but that's temporary and is bound to be corrected unless there's some stuff going on with the judges...

same goes with SEO. As a dev, you can only guarantee so much. You might hit the jackpot, you might use dirty tactics to get to the number one spot, but in the end, what you can confidently guarantee only allows any given website to be in perfect shape to be in the starting blocks. The rest is up to you.

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