The Wall Street Journal's Edward Hyatt on the changing SEO landscape
Apr 15, 2024
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Edward Hyatt, Director of Newsroom SEO at The Wall Street Journal, discusses the changing SEO landscape in the news industry. He highlights differences in strategies between subscription and non-subscription publishers, the evolution of SEO over the past decade, and the potential impact of AI on SEO. The episode also delves into Forbes' fraudulent ad practices and the detrimental effects on the digital advertising ecosystem.
Subscription publishers focus on targeted search intent optimization for audience engagement, while ad revenue sites prioritize trend-driven traffic growth.
AI's impact on SEO involves the threat of zero-click search results bypassing publisher content, emphasizing the need for user expertise and distinctive perspectives to combat commoditization.
Deep dives
SEO Strategies for Subscription vs. Ad Revenue Publishers
SEO strategies differ between subscription and ad revenue publishers, as highlighted by the director of newsroom SEO at the Wall Street Journal. Subscription-based websites focus on targeted search intent optimization to engage with audiences interested in high-quality content, fostering deeper connections with readers who value trusted publishers. In contrast, ad revenue sites may prioritize trends to drive more traffic. The increasing importance lies in building relationships with the right audience rather than maximizing page views.
Impact of AI on SEO and Search Results
AI's disruptive influence on SEO is a significant concern, particularly as it advances towards zero-click search results. Generative AI poses a threat by providing direct answers to queries and bypassing publisher content, impacting industries like reviews. Publishers, especially those focusing on high-quality content, are advised to prioritize user expertise, authority, and helpfulness to combat AI's commoditization of news. The emphasis shifts from simply attracting viewers to engaging the appropriate audience with distinctive perspectives.
Evolution and Importance of SEO in Newsroom Strategies
The evolution of SEO within newsrooms reflects a shift towards prioritizing user engagement, expert content, and high-quality news coverage. Initially seen as a secondary aspect in publishing, SEO has now gained prominence as a fundamental audience reach and retention strategy. Publishers are urged to align their SEO efforts with producing valuable, expert-driven content that fulfills user intent, fostering deeper connections to combat AI-driven changes in search dynamics.
Collaborative Approach to SEO Across Teams
Implementing SEO successfully requires a holistic approach involving all facets of a newsroom or organization. It's not confined to a single role or team but should be ingrained as a common language and consideration across editorial, product, engineering, and coverage teams. Ensuring that SEO is a collective effort enables a comprehensive strategy that aligns with user needs and search engine expectations, enhancing the overall impact and effectiveness of SEO initiatives.
On this week's episode Edward Hyatt, Director of Newsroom SEO at The Wall Street Journal takes us through staying abreast and ahead of changes to the SEO landscape. From personal experience he outlines the differences in SEO strategies between subscription and non-subscription publishers, the changes in the SEO landscape over the past decade, and the potential impact of AI on SEO for publishers.
In the news roundup the team discusses the news that Forbes has been using a made for advertising (MFA) subdomain to game the digital advertising ecosystem. Since 2017, Forbes was using tactics that have long been condemned by anyone who cares about quality media - and we discuss the likelihood that they are the only ones. According to a US Association of National Advertisers (ANA) survey conducted last year, MFA sites received 21% of all ad impressions and 15% of digital adspend, despite being widely considered as a low-quality medium for advertising. So, what (if anything) can be done?
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