Google Webmaster Guidelines: Everything You Need to Know & Understand
SEO professionals use Google’s Webmaster Guidelines to choose tactics and strategies that align with Google’s expectations. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Brian Harnish
Senior SEO Analyst, Senior SEO Strategist, Lead SEO
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Brian has been doing SEO since before it was called SEO, back in the days of 1998. Back then, SEO was known as “add-ons to web development,” and the marketing of the term was just beginning. SEJ’s latest Guide to SEO says the earliest beginnings of SEO saw its roots in 1997. Now, SEO has boomed and blossomed into a multi-billion dollar industry.
Proficient in website design, website development, and having tons of practical SEO knowledge and expertise, Brian’s skills run the gamut from SEO to digital marketing to website development. Brian now works as a Senior SEO Analyst, Senior SEO Strategist, and Lead SEO.
Articles
18 More SEO Issues That Cause Search Rankings & Traffic to Drop
There are many reasons a site’s search rankings and traffic may drop, from technical on-site issues to off-site SEO. Use this checklist for diagnosis.
An SEO Guide to Google Advanced Search Operators
Advanced Google search operators can deliver powerful insights to inform your content strategy, SEO audits, and more. Use this for quick reference.
10 On-Site Technical SEO Factors to Assess in an SEO Audit
Your SEO audit must uncover any common technical SEO issues preventing your site from ranking. Here’s what to check for and how.
Link Profile Audit: 28 Things to Check
Here’s how to maintain a healthy link profile and ensure bad backlinks don’t get bad enough to bite you with periodic link profile audits.
Ongoing Website Updates: 9 Major Issues to Monitor in an SEO Audit
Regularly monitor website updates to ensure site mismanagement doesn’t cause issues later. Here’s how to identify issues that can occur in the process.
10 Website Content Factors You Must Check During an SEO Audit
Your website content plays a big role in your SEO success. Here’s a checklist for auditing your website’s content, schema markup, and more.
The Basics of Link Remediation, Link Removals & Disavows
Did you know that link remediation, link removals, and disavows should be a regular process? Learn how to take advantage of this critical SEO task.
How to Check for Duplicate Content During an SEO Audit
Identifying duplicate content issues is a crucial part of your SEO audit. Here’s what you need to check for and how to do it.
How to Evaluate Content Length in an SEO Audit
Thin content and how content is organized sitewide are some of the factors that can impact rankings. Learn more about content-related audit items here.
9 Page-Level Factors to Assess as Part of Your SEO Audit
When conducting an SEO audit, you also have to look at some page-level elements of your website. Here’s how to evaluate them.
11 Domain Factors You Must Evaluate During an SEO Audit
Your domain name can indirectly impact your SEO performance. Learn the top domain-related factors you should be auditing and how to do it right.
5 Hidden Gems in Google Search Console
Make the most of Google Search Console. Uncover these five hidden gems within GSC that will help make your SEO life easier.
The Complete Guide to Local SEO for Multiple Locations
There are many ways to optimize your website for local search so you can be found for multiple locations. Learn the complete process in this guide.
The Basics of Link Profile Analysis
Effective link profile analysis is critical maintenance for ongoing website health. Read on to learn the basic strategies for this task.
A/B Testing: Why & How to Do Split Testing on Your Website
A/B testing is the process of setting up two versions of one page, and testing which page outperforms the other. Here’s how to do it.
When, Why & How to Use the Noarchive Tag
Let’s take a look at the noarchive tag and see what it can do.
What Is a Competition Analysis?
Learn the elements of a successful competition analysis, and how to use it to assess any website in any industry.
How to Achieve Mobile-First Success
This guide will teach you how to create a great mobile-first website your users will love.
URL Capitalization & SEO: Does It Really Matter?
Read on to learn more about URL capitalization and what should be considered from an SEO perspective.
SEO Basics: Everything You Need to Know to Be Successful
Learn more about the SEO basics that will help you succeed this year.
An SEO Guide to HTTP Status Codes
Learn more about the different HTTP status codes, what they’re for, and their real-world impact for SEO.
WordPress SEO Beyond the Basics: 8 Things You Must Do Next
Here are eight advanced tactics you can try to improve your WordPress SEO.
10 Bad Links That Can Get You Penalized by Google
These 10 types of bad links can get you penalized – algorithmically and through a manual action.
How to Get Organic Traffic That Isn’t From Google
Discover seven ways to get organic traffic from sources other than Google.
Why & How to Tackle Technical SEO Before Link Building
Want to reap the full benefits of your link building efforts? Tackle technical SEO first.
9 SEO Analogies to Tell Your Client or Boss
Need help explaining SEO to people who don’t understand SEO? Here are some great analogies you can use.
The Ultimate Blog SEO Checklist
Is your blog SEO friendly? This checklist covers the top SEO points that can help improve your blog’s performance.
What Are Content KPIs & Why Do They Matter?
Here are the most common content KPIs and what they can do to help you become a successful digital marketer.
7 Key Considerations When Developing Your In-House SEO Structure
Here are the seven most important points you should consider when developing a successful in-house SEO structure.