# Search Engine Journal: The AI Search \& SEO News That Matters > Search Engine Journal is the last independent voice in search, sharing the latest AI search, SEO, GEO \& AEO news that impact marketing strategy and business growth\. Generated by Yoast SEO v28.4, this is an llms.txt file, meant for consumption by LLMs. ## Pages - [How To Create Demand You Can Actually Convert \(And Prove\)](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/webinar-lp-how-to-create-demand-you-can-actually-convert-and-prove/): Need to generate more B2B leads? Before you invest in more marketing, determine how you’ll increase \& capture buyer interest\. Learn how in this webinar\. - [AI Shopping: Get Your Products Found in Google \& ChatGPT](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/webinar-lp-how-ai-shopping-agents-decide-which-products-to-recommend/): Learn how AI shopping agents choose products, close product\-data gaps, measure recommendations across Google and ChatGPT, and make product pages readable to AI\. - [Write for SEJ](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/write-for-search-engine-journal/): Experienced digital marketers in SEO, PPC, content, social and AI search, pitch your ideas to us and share your expertise with our readers\. - [State Of Search 2027: What To Stop, Measure \& Fund](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/state-of-seo/): Our 6th annual State of Search report covers what to stop, measure, and fund across SEO, GEO, and AEO for 2027\. - [SEJ Pro: The Intelligence Membership for Search \& Growth Professionals](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/sej-pro/) ## Posts - [AI Search Tools Cited A Made\-Up Concept Within A Week, Paper Finds](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ai-search-tools-cited-a-made-up-concept-within-a-week-paper-finds/593472/): Researchers posted about a made\-up concept on sites AI search tools cite\. Four English\-web tools cited it within a week\. Other topics mostly didn't land\. - [OpenAI's API Only Partly Matched ChatGPT's Citations, Paper Finds](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/openais-api-only-partly-matched-chatgpts-citations-paper-finds/593304/): A paper tested whether Google results and OpenAI's API can stand in for ChatGPT's citations\. They matched cited sites more often than the exact pages\. - [Google's Indexing API Docs No Longer Explain How To Get Approval](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-indexing-api-docs-approval-form-removed/593292/): Google removed the Indexing API approval form and steps from its docs\. Default quotas are listed, but the pages don't say how to request more\. - [Meta's New Terms Expand Crawling Rights Beyond Advertisers](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/metas-new-terms-expand-crawling-rights-beyond-advertisers/593217/): New terms let Meta crawl sites tied to business users and use the content to train its products, widening rights ad buyers had already granted\. - [The New Rules Of Journalist Outreach, Based On Millions Of Emails](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/the-new-rules-of-journalist-outreach-based-on-millions-of-emails/592060/): Get journalist outreach pitches seen and understood with relevant targeting, authenticated domains, concrete subject lines, and clear openings that shape AI inbox summaries\. ## SEO - [The Best SEO Conferences For 2026 \(Virtual \& In\-Person\)](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo/seo-conferences/): Industry leaders continue to gather at top SEO conferences, and these upcoming dates offer prime opportunities to learn and connect\. - [The Top 6 Search Engines Market Share \& The AI Search Engines To Watch](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo/meet-search-engines/): Declining Google share and rising AI search usage signal a shift in where discovery happens and how SEO teams should allocate resources\. - [Why \& How To Track Google Algorithm Updates](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo/track-google-algorithm-updates/): Check out these algorithm monitoring tools to track ranking fluctuations and SERP volatility\. - [How to Become an SEO Expert](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo/how-to-become-an-seo-expert/): SEO expertise requires time, commitment, and experience\. Do you have the drive to learn? Here are 21 things you need to know\. - [SEO Strategy: 3 Trade\-offs You Must Consider](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo/seo-strategy-trade-offs/): Every brand is different\. Here are three primary strategic trade\-offs to consider as you develop your brand's SEO strategy\. ## LINK BUILDING GUIDE - [Bad \& Toxic Backlinks You Should Avoid](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/link-building-guide/toxic-links/): Avoid the pitfalls of bad and toxic links in SEO\. Learn effective link building strategies and how to vet service providers\. - [How to Build Links via Non\-Traditional Email Outreach](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/link-building-guide/outreach/): Want to build links faster? Try this non\-traditional email outreach approach and get better response rates\. - [How To Use Relevant, Targeted Directories For Link Building](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/link-building-guide/online-directories/): Online directories are an easy way for businesses to build links and draw traffic to their site\. Learn the benefits of using an online directory\. - [Reciprocal Links: Do They Help Or Hurt Your SEO?](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/link-building-guide/reciprocal-links/): Link\-building strategies should enhance your customer’s experience on your site\. Find out whether reciprocal links are good for SEO\. - [18 Popular Link Building Tactics You Should Avoid](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/link-building-guide/link-building-tactics-avoid/): Stay away from these 18 popular link\-building ideas that sound good but don't work anymore\. ## GOOGLE ALGORITHM HISTORY - [Google's Hummingbird Update: How It Changed Search](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-algorithm-history/hummingbird-update/): Hummingbird set the stage for dramatic advances in search\. Learn what Google Hummingbird really was to better understand the impact it eventually had on SEO\. - [Google Florida: The First Major Algorithm Update](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-algorithm-history/florida-update/): A catastrophic Google algorithm update dubbed Florida hit the SEO world with a vengeance in 2003\. Here's why it still matters today\. - [Google Freshness Algorithm: Everything You Need To Know](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-algorithm-history/freshness-algorithm/): Google today is better able to understand which queries deserve freshness that creates opportunities for publishers to gain more traffic\. - [Google Freshness Algorithm: Everything You Need to Know](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-algorithm-history/freshness-algorithm/): The Google Freshness algorithm update was a significant ranking change with many important implications to search engine success\. - [A Complete Guide To the Google Penguin Algorithm Update](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-algorithm-history/penguin-update/): Google introduced the Penguin algorithm in 2012\. What did it change and how does it impact the way we do SEO today? ## SEO TOOLS - [15 Project Management Tools For SEO Professionals](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-tools/project-management/): Find the perfect project management tool for your SEO team\. Compare the pros and cons of 15 platforms and optimize your campaigns\. - [Using Excel For SEO: 7 Essential Tips \& Tricks You Might Not Know](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-tools/excel/): Excel may not look like a fancy, paid SEO tool, but it remains one of the most versatile tools in an SEO professional's toolbox\. - [7 Essential SEO Browser Extensions \& Plugins](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-tools/browser-extensions-plugins/): Save time and improve your SEO performance with these seven essential browser extensions and plugins\. - [The Top 5 SEO Software Suites For Agencies](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-tools/seo-software-suites/): This guide will highlight the areas in which each SEO software suite excels to help you navigate the highly competitive landscape of SEO\. - [Top 5 Essential SEO Reporting Tools For Agencies](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-tools/reporting/): There are many quality SEO reporting tools on the market\. Find the right SEO reporting tool for you and your team with this list\. ## LOCAL SEO - [9 Types Of Content That Will Help Your Local SEO](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/local-seo/local-content-examples/): Still publishing the same content since you first started your business? Check out these nine content creation ideas to freshen up your local SEO strategy\. - [Google Business Profile: How to Completely Optimize Your GBP Listing](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/local-seo/optimize-google-my-business/): Creating a Google Business Profile is the first step to local search success\. This guide will take you through how to optimize your GBP completely\. - [Why NAP \& User Experience Are Crucial To Local SEO](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/local-seo/why-nap-user-experience-are-crucial-to-local-seo/): A consistent NAP on your Google Business Profile listing and other online directories can influence your local rankings\. Here's what you need to know\. - [Where \& How To Get The Right Reviews For Your Business](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/local-seo/local-business-reviews/): Online reviews should be a core component of your marketing strategy\. Stand out in local search by leveraging these top review platforms\. - [What Is A Local Link \& How To Find More Local Link Opportunities](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/local-seo/local-link-building/): Struggling to find high\-quality and relevant links for your local SEO? Use these tips to build links that can help improve your rankings\. ## PPC GUIDE - [The 10 Best PPC Ad Networks](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ppc-guide/best-ppc-ad-networks/): Where should you invest paid media dollars in 2026? Here's a data\-driven look at reach, targeting depth, and automation across 10 major ad platforms\. - [The 8 Most Important PPC KPIs You Should Be Tracking](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ppc-guide/most-important-ppc-kpis/): Modern performance tracking requires KPIs that reflect margin, lifetime value, and pipeline contribution instead of inflated platform numbers\. - [A Complete Guide To PPC Ad Targeting Options](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ppc-guide/ad-targeting-options/): Discover top PPC ad targeting options to maximize your campaign's performance\. Learn how to reach the right audience with precision and boost ROI\. - [What Is Click\-Through Rate \& Why CTR Is Important](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ppc-guide/click-through-rate-ctr/): Learn why click\-through rate \(CTR\) matters in online advertising\. Find out how to increase your CTR and drive more traffic to your website\. - [7 Powerful Benefits Of Using PPC Advertising](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ppc-guide/ppc-advertising-benefits/): Having trouble convincing your executive or client to invest in PPC? Here are 7 powerful reasons to start\. ## CONTENT MARKETING KPIS - [Top 13 SEO Metrics to Track Content Performance \& Engagement](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing-kpis/metrics/): Here’s a look at some of the most common SEO metrics which you need to know\. - [15 Important Conversion Metrics \& Business KPIs You Should Track](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing-kpis/business-conversion/): Improve your marketing performance and make your business more profitable by monitoring these crucial conversion metrics and KPIs\. - [Top 10 User Engagement KPIs to Measure](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing-kpis/user-engagement-metrics/): Here are some of the most common \(and most important\) user engagement metrics you should be tracking\. - [12 Social Media Engagement KPIs That Matter](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing-kpis/social-media-engagement/): Here is a comprehensive guide to all the metrics available to you for evaluating your content and social media marketing\. - [Your Guide to Picking the Right KPIs for Content](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing-kpis/choose-right-content-kpis/): This guide will show you which specific KPIs are most important to B2B or B2C companies, marketing agencies, and publishers\. ## ECOMMERCE GUIDE - [29 Must\-Have Features For Ecommerce Websites](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ecommerce-guide/must-have-website-features/): Discover essential ecommerce website features for 2024 including mobile\-friendly navigation, engaging videos, verified reviews, and more to boost your online store's success\. - [11 Social Media Marketing Strategies for Ecommerce Websites](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ecommerce-guide/social-media-marketing-strategies/): Here are 11 tips you can use on the top social networks to drive ecommerce sales\. - [How To Effectively Perform Keyword Research For Ecommerce](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ecommerce-guide/perform-keyword-research/): Ecommerce keyword research informs and directs your SEO strategy so you know what to optimize for\. Learn how to do keyword research for ecommerce\. - [How To Do Technical SEO For Ecommerce Websites](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ecommerce-guide/technical-seo/): With increased competition, ecommerce stores are improving their customer acquisition strategies\. A crucial part of this is technical SEO\. - [The Hidden Opportunity for Ecommerce Websites in Google Images](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ecommerce-guide/google-images/): Properly executed, these six image search tactics can give your ecommerce website a boost in traffic and sales\. ## TECHNICAL SEO - [10 Tips To Optimize Crawl Budget For SEO](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/technical-seo/crawl-budget/): Understanding crawl budget for SEO optimization\. Discover how to improve your website's crawl budget and enhance search engine visibility\. - [A Guide To Robots\.txt: Best Practices For SEO](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/technical-seo/robots-txt-guide/): Get a comprehensive guide on using meta robots tags and robots\.txt to control how search engine crawlers interact with your website\. - [Why Web Hosting Is A Critical Factor To Maximize SEO Results](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/technical-seo/web-hosting/): Treat hosting as strategic SEO infrastructure, not a cost line, because no optimization can outrun a slow or unstable server\. - [URL Redirects For SEO: A Technical Guide](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/technical-seo/redirects/): A comprehensive overview of redirects and the proper application for HTTP redirects and 3XX Series Of Status Codes\. - [How To Use XML Sitemaps To Boost SEO](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/technical-seo/xml-sitemaps/): Learn the ins and outs of using sitemaps to improve content discovery and indexing\. ## ON PAGE SEO - [The Absolute Best Way To Write Meta Descriptions](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/on-page-seo/optimize-meta-description/): Google rewrites meta descriptions\. Here is what you can do to take back control of those snippets\. - [How To Apply E\-E\-A\-T To Your Site \& Boost On\-Page SEO](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/on-page-seo/eat-ymyl/): Think your website is ranking on quality alone? Google’s E\-E\-A\-T framework says otherwise\. See why trust, authority, and expertise matter more than ever\. - [12 Important Image SEO Tips You Need To Know](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/on-page-seo/image-optimization/): Curious about which factors are key to ensuring your images don't slow down your site? Explore these 14 essential tips for optimizing images\. - [Title Tag Optimization: A Complete How\-to Guide](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/on-page-seo/title-tag-optimization/): Discover the right balance between incorporating important keywords with also matching the intent for the topic\. Here are some tips on title tag optimization\. - [How To Add Internal And External Links That Get Clicks And Conversions](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/on-page-seo/internal-external-links-ctr/): While using internal and external links adds value for your audience, as with all things SEO, it's also important not to overdo it\. ## SOCIAL MEDIA - [The 30 Most\-Subscribed YouTube Individuals \(Q3 2025\)](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media/who-has-the-most-subscribers-on-youtube/): The biggest YouTube creators ranked by subscribers, featuring new contenders and familiar faces redefining creator influence\. - [The Top 10 Social Media Sites \& Platforms](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media/social-media-platforms/): Compare the biggest social media networks by user reach, monetization power, and opportunities for brand growth\. - [What Is Social Listening And How To Get Started](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media/social-listening/): Explore what social listening is, it’s significant role in today's business landscape, and the available tools to help you get started\. - [How To Get More Followers On Instagram: 24 Tips To Try](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media/get-instagram-followers/): From leveraging tools to exploring trends, find out how to make the most of your digital marketing strategy and get more followers on Instagram\. - [LinkedIn Ads: A Complete Guide For Beginners](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media/linkedin-advertising-guide/): When it comes to B2B marketing, there’s nothing quite like LinkedIn Ads\. Here’s everything you need to know to get started with them\. ## HOLIDAY MARKETING - [Marketing Calendar With Template To Plan Your Content In 2026](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/holiday-marketing/holiday-marketing-calendar-template/): Take the guesswork out of your marketing planning with our 2026 marketing calendar\. Easily customize and reference key dates to create a successful content strategy\. - [SEO for the Holidays](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/holiday-marketing/holiday-seo/): Read on and learn how to prepare your SEO for the holiday season\. - [Creative Ideas to Work with Influencers this Holiday](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/holiday-marketing/working-with-influencers-ideas/): Here are some excellent ways to work with influencers and stay top\-of\-mind when the holidays roll around\. - [Holiday PPC Strategy: 11 Steps to Drive Greater Profit This Year](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/holiday-marketing/holiday-ppc-strategy/): Are you ready to hit the ground running with your holiday PPC efforts? Here are 11 steps to take\. - [Top Holiday Social Media Campaign Ideas to Try](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/holiday-marketing/holiday-social-media-campaign-ideas/): Here are tactics and examples you might consider using in your own social media marketing for the holidays\. ## SEARCH ENGINES - [Website Indexing For Search Engines: How Does It Work?](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/search-engines/website-indexing/): Website indexing is one of the first steps \(after crawling\) in a process of how web pages are ranked and served as search engine results\. - [How \(\& Why\) Search Engines Render Pages](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/search-engines/rendering/): How do search engines render pages on the web? Why and when do they do it? Find out here\. - [How Search Engines Answer Questions](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/search-engines/answering-questions/): Learn how search engines understand and categorize queries to provide the best possible answer for users\. - [How Search Engines Rank Pages](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/search-engines/ranking/): Here's how search engines rank webpages – from query classification, to assigning context, and determining which signals are most important\. - [How Search Engines Display Search Results](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/search-engines/display-search-results/): Let's look at how Google displays search results and the main components of a generic search engine results page \(SERP\)\. ## SEO AUDIT - [How to Perform an In\-Depth Technical SEO Audit](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-audit/technical/): Learn a step\-by\-step process for creating a comprehensive technical SEO audit for your clients\. - [The Ultimate Guide To SEO Audit Tools](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-audit/seo-audit-tools/): Want to track your site's performance, analyze keywords, and ensure mobile\-friendliness? Discover the best tools for performing a comprehensive SEO audit in this guide\. - [Using Chrome DevTools To Diagnose Site Issues In An Audit](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-audit/chrome-devtools-to-diagnose-site-issues/): Learn how to perform comprehensive SEO audits using Chrome DevTools, a powerful tool built into the Chrome browser\. - [Advanced SEO Audit Techniques: Excel](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-audit/advanced-seo-audit-techniques-excel/): Discover advanced techniques for your SEO audit, such as merging data sets and extracting data from URLs, utilizing the power of Excel and Google Sheets\. - [11 Domain Factors You Must Evaluate During an SEO Audit](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-audit/domain-factors/): 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\. ## CONTENT MARKETING - [20 Best Content Marketing Tools](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing/tools/) - [How to Create an Editorial Calendar for Content Marketing in 5 Easy Steps](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing/editorial-calendar/): Simplify your content optimization process and reduce your stress with this guide to creating an effective content marketing editorial calendar\. - [22 Places You Should Be Sharing Your Content](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing/places-to-share/): Struggling with content sharing? Get expert tips on where you should be sharing your content to increase traffic and engagement\. - [17 Types Of Content Marketing You Can Use](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing/content-types/): Let's take a look at 17 types of marketing content and learn how you can use them to make a bigger splash with your marketing\.  - [Top 20 Content Marketing Tools to Try Out](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing/top-tools-create-better-content/): Up your content game with some of the best and proven content marketing tools for research, collaboration, SEO, and analytics\. ## ENTERPRISE SEO - [The Top 4 Enterprise SEO Platform Tools: An In\-Depth Review](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/enterprise-seo/the-top-4-enterprise-seo-platform-tools-an-in-depth-review/): Using an enterprise SEO platform can increase efficiency while managing organic search\. This is a list of the top enterprise SEO marketing tools\. - [6 Enterprise SEO Strategies \& Tactics That Really Work](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/enterprise-seo/strategies-tactics-that-work/): Looking to refresh your enterprise SEO strategy? These six enterprise SEO tactics may be worth testing out on your own sites or with your clients\. - [How to Plan Your 2021 Enterprise SEO Strategy](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/enterprise-seo/how-to-plan-your-2021-enterprise-seo-strategy/): Use this comprehensive guide to plan your enterprise SEO strategy – from foundational aspects to cross\-team communication as well as teams and tools\. - [The 4 Pillars of Enterprise SEO Success](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/enterprise-seo/pillars-of-success/): Mitigation, reporting, project management, and relationship building are all important to the success of enterprise SEO\. Here's why\. - [Top 5 Challenges of Enterprise SEO](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/enterprise-seo/top-challenges/): Enterprise SEO poses many unique and large challenges\. Learn all about five big challenges you will face when working in an enterprise environment\. ## LAW FIRM SEO - [Local SEO For Law Firms: Get More Local Clients](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/law-firm-seo/local-seo-law-firms-more-clients/): Discover how to optimize your law firm’s website and business listings to rank better for local SEO\. - [How to Create an SEO Law Firm Blogging Strategy](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/law-firm-seo/seo-blogging-strategy/): Blogging is a leading marketing method for lawyers\. Here's what law firms can do to publish engaging, SEO\-friendly content\. - [5 Ways to Generate Positive Client Reviews for Your Law Firm](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/law-firm-seo/generate-positive-client-reviews/): The success of your firm depends on you having a shining online reputation\. Learn how and where to get great reviews online\. - [How to Attract Backlinks to Your Law Firm Website](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/law-firm-seo/how-to-attract-law-firm-backlinks/): Link building is important for Law Firm SEO\. Check out 40 tried and true ways to drive links to your law firm website\. - [8 Components of an SEO\-Friendly Law Firm Website](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/law-firm-seo/seo-friendly-law-firm-website/): Law firms need to take a strategic and creative approach to attract more clients\. This is why an SEO\-friendly website is essential\. ## FACEBOOK ADS - [4 Powerful Facebook Ads Targeting Options](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/facebook-ads/targeting-options/): Are you making the most of Facebook's powerful ad targeting options? See if you can up your social PPC game with these tips\. - [5 Reasons Your Facebook Ads Aren’t Converting \& How to Improve Them](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/facebook-ads/improve-conversion/): Facebook advertising is one of the best tools available but even experienced digital marketers can run into these challenging issues in their campaigns\. - [How to Choose the Right Facebook Ad Objective for Your Goals](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/facebook-ads/objective/): Want more information about how to use each Facebook Ad objective to your advantage? Here's a guide to each type and their bidding options\. - [12 Facebook Ads Features Every Marketer Should Know](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/facebook-ads/features/): Facebook Ads offers many tools and features that marketers should know about\. Learn about 12 that can help elevate your campaigns\. - [14 Facebook Remarketing Strategies to Test](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/facebook-ads/remarketing-strategies/): Companies can always find ways to re\-engage their prospects through remarketing\. Here are 14 ways you can leverage Facebook to do this\. ## WORDPRESS SEO - [WordPress SEO Checklist: Get Ready For \(Site\) Launch](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-seo/wordpress-seo-checklist-get-ready-for-site-launch/): Learn the WordPress SEO fundamentals that separate high\-performing sites from those buried in search results\. - [How to Choose WordPress Plugins](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-seo/how-to-choose-wordpress-plugins/): How can you tell whether a WordPress plugin is safe, trustworthy, and works reasonably well? Keep these 5 considerations in mind\. - [WordPress Security: 16 Steps to Secure \& Protect Your Site](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-seo/harden-security/): Learn how to protect your WordPress website from hackers with these 16 security tips and see what to do if your site is hacked\. - [WordPress SEO Without an SEO Plugin](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-seo/wordpress-seo-without-plugin/): Do you need an SEO plugin for your WordPress website? Learn about SEO plugins, how to choose one, and whether you need one at all\. - [7 Local SEO Best Practices for WordPress Websites](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-seo/local-seo-best-practices/): SEO\-friendly WordPress is a great CMS for small local businesses\. Here are 7 SEO improvements you can make to boost local search rankings\. ## CORE WEB VITALS - [What is Cumulative Layout Shift \(CLS\) and How to Optimize It?](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/core-web-vitals/cumulative-layout-shift/): Find out how Cumulative Layout Shift \(CLS\) can affect your website and why it's important to optimize for this Google ranking factor\. - [How You Can Measure Core Web Vitals](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/core-web-vitals/how-to-measure/): Discover how to improve your website's Core Web Vitals and enhance user experience\. Find out how to measure loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability\. - [Google Lighthouse: What Is It \& How Do You Use It?](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/core-web-vitals/google-lighthouse/): These definitions will help you translate Lighthouse performance metrics into meaningful action items for a skilled and collaborative SEO team\. - [What Is Largest Contentful Paint: An Easy Explanation](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/core-web-vitals/largest-contentful-paint/): Learn about Largest Contentful Paint – what it is, how it's measured, and how to optimize for it to improve your Core Web Vitals score\. - [Interaction To Next Paint \(INP\): Everything You Need To Know](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/core-web-vitals/interaction-to-next-paint/): Google is adding a new metric to their Core Web Vitals\. It's called Interaction to Next Paint, or INP\. ## KEYWORD RESEARCH - [SEO Keyword Research: 18 Of The Biggest Mistakes You Must Avoid](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/keyword-research/mistakes-to-avoid/): Don't overlook the importance of SEO keyword research\. Learn about common mistakes to avoid and how to prioritize search intent for better results\. - [15 Free Keyword Research Tools](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/keyword-research/free-tools/): Keyword research is an integral part of your SEO strategy\. Learn more about the best free keyword research tools you can use\. - [How To Use Social Media for Keyword Research](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/keyword-research/social-media/): Social media offers a wealth of data for SEO pros to tap into\. Here are some ways to use social media for keyword research\. - [3 Tips for Keyword Research \& Content Localization Success](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/keyword-research/localization-success/): Integrating localization, SEO, and content creation into a coordinated workflow is critical\. Here are 3 tips to do it successfully\. - [Long\-Tail Keyword Strategy: Why \& How to Target Intent for SEO](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/keyword-research/long-tail-keywords/): Learn the benefits of using highly targeted search terms packed with intent\. Here's how to find long\-tail keywords and use them to your advantage\. ## GOOGLE EAT - [E\-A\-T \& Link Building: A Guide to Evaluating Prospects](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-eat/eat-link-building/): E\-A\-T can be leveraged for link opportunities and guide you in creating content that will add value to the pages that link to your site\. - [Google’s E\-A\-T: Busting 10 of the Biggest Misconceptions](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-eat/biggest-misconceptions/): There is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about how E\-A\-T works and how Google uses it\. Read about 10 of them here\. - [Surprising Facts About E\-A\-T \& SEO](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-eat/surprising-facts-about-e-a-t-seo/): Learn what you need to know about E\-A\-T and how to apply its principles to every webpage you publish, to benefit your SEO strategy\. - [How to Use Structured Data to Support E\-A\-T](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-eat/structured-data/): Do you want to boost your content's perceived E\-A\-T? Learn how to leverage structured data to do that in this guide\. - [Google’s Search Quality Raters Guidelines: A Guide for SEO Beginners](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-eat/quality-raters-guidelines/): E\-A\-T is an important part of the Search Quality Raters Guidelines\. Learn more about it and its importance to SEO here\. ## RANKING FACTORS - [The Top 3 Google Ranking Factors That Really Matter](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ranking-factors/top-ranking-factors/): Explore the evolving nuances of ranking and SERP visibility, where adaptability and expertise are key\. - [Is Bounce Rate A Google Ranking Factor?](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ranking-factors/bounce-rate/): Does Google use bounce rate to rank webpages? Let's take a look at what the experts say\. - [Is E\-E\-A\-T A Ranking Factor?](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ranking-factors/e-e-a-t/): Google's E\-E\-A\-T is important for top rankings in Google\. So how come some say they're not ranking factors? - [Last Year's Google Ranking Factors Changes, Explained](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ranking-factors/last-years-google-ranking-factors-changes-explained/): Understand Google's ranking factors changes from last year with this excerpt from SEJ's ebook\. Learn how Google uses systems \& signals to determine query ranks\. - [Syndicated Content: Is It A Ranking Factor?](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ranking-factors/syndicated-content/): Does syndicated content affect search rankings? Discover its impact, from outranking originals to spam concerns\. ## SEO TRENDS - [Entities \& Ontologies: The Future Of SEO?](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-trends/entities-ontologies-the-future-of-seo/): Get up to speed with the fundamentals of Entities, Schema, Algorithm machine learning advancements for SEO with excerpts from our SEO Trends 2024 ebook\. - [Navigating SEO Disruption According To Experts](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-trends/navigating-seo-disruption-according-to-experts/): Discover expert analysis on upcoming disruptions in SEO and stay ahead of the game\. Read an excerpt from SEJ's SEO Trends 2024 ebook\. - [SEO Experts: Prepare For Search Generative Experience With “Search Experience Optimization”](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-trends/prepare-for-search-generative-experience/): Be the expert\! Find out what advantages Search Generative Experience \(SGE\) offers for SEO and the implications for traffic and revenue with these insights\. - [SEO Experts On Helpful Content: It's Bigger Than You Think](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-trends/seo-experts-on-helpful-content-its-bigger-than-you-think/): Google's algorithms consider sitewide signals based on the helpfulness of your site\. Learn how with insights from SEJ's Trends 2024 ebook\. ## PPC TRENDS - [New Developments In PPC: Experts Weigh In](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ppc-trends/new-developments-in-ppc-experts-weigh-in/): Learn about the latest developments in PPC and get expert tips for staying ahead in the ever\-evolving digital landscape\. - [PPC Experts On AI In PPC: Potential \& Limitations](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ppc-trends/ppc-experts-on-ai-in-ppc-potential-limitations/): Discover the latest trends in AI\-powered PPC campaigns\. Get expert insights on the benefits and limitations of using AI tools in your online marketing strategy\. - [PPC Experts Weigh In On CPC Inflation](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ppc-trends/ppc-experts-weigh-in-on-cpc-inflation/): Elevated CPC inflation costs don't have to stifle success\. Boost ROI with expert advice from our PPC trends ebook on how to maximize campaigns\. ## B2B LEAD GENERATION - [Building A Lead Generation Plan](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/b2b-lead-generation/building-a-lead-generation-plan/): The secret to successful B2B content marketing? Building trust with valuable content\. Discover strategies on how to nurture subscribers, build relationships, and generate high\-quality leads\. - [Barriers To Audience Buy\-In With Lead Generation](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/b2b-lead-generation/barriers-to-audience-buy-in-with-lead-generation/): Discover how common biases and decision\-making processes can impact your lead generation efforts\. Learn how to optimize your strategy for better results\. - [What You Need To Generate Leads With Content](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/b2b-lead-generation/what-you-need-to-generate-leads-with-content/): Create a scalable lead generation strategy with content\. Find out how to attract and engage your audience with exceptional lead magnets\. ## Categories - [SEO](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/category/seo/) - [News](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/category/news/) - [PPC](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/category/paid-media/pay-per-click/) - [AI Search](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/category/digital/generative-ai/) - [Content](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/category/content/) ## Optional - [Sitemap index](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/sitemap_index.xml)