Cyrus Shepard, a well-known SEO expert, shares insights on Google's evaluation process and recent updates. They discuss the significance of EAT, whether larger sites have an unfair advantage, and what's next from Google. The podcast also explores the role of quality raters and the impact of active comment sections on website rankings. They touch upon Google My Business, link building, and assessing expertise and transparency on websites. The speakers speculate on the future of Google and AI content.

Cyrus Shepard, a seasoned SEO expert from Zippy SEO and former Moz team member, shares invaluable insights on navigating Google's Helpful Content Update. He reveals the essence of creating 'helpful content' and discusses recovery strategies for website owners affected by recent algorithm changes. Shepard addresses the shift from traditional SEO practices to emphasizing user engagement and quality content, providing actionable tips for achieving visibility in 2025 and beyond. This conversation is a game-changer for anyone looking to thrive in the evolving digital landscape.

Do you want to know the optimal number of internal links you should build to new pages? Or how about which anchor texts will get you the best results? In this episode of the Niche Pursuits podcast, long-time SEO expert Cyrus Shepard shares some very interesting answers to these questions you won't want to miss. His findings come from an in-depth study he did on the impact of internal linking on a website's ranking and traffic. He analyzed 1800 websites and 23 million internal links and found a positive correlation between internal links and Google traffic. But there's a catch. After a certain point, the relationship between internal links and traffic diminishes. So, how can you make the most of your internal links? Cyrus emphasizes the importance of controlling both popularity and relevance in internal linking. He shares insights on Page Rank Sculpting and advises starting with a plan and adding links as soon as possible to avoid playing catch-up later. He also believes updating old content and internal linking should be a continuous part of your site management process. Cyrus then shares tips on where to place internal links and the importance of varied anchor text. Plus, he shares his thoughts on keyword cannibalization and an example of how linking multiple pages together using keyword-rich cannibalization keywords improved the ranking of all pages. But internal linking isn't the only factor at play. Redirecting 404 pages with a 301 redirect to a highly relevant page is important. Plus, he recommends automation tools like Link Whisper to help find internal linking opportunities.  Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter   Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper 

Morgan Overholt, an SEO expert and seasoned host, teams up with Cyrus Shepard, a prominent SEO influencer, to dive into recent fluctuations in Google rankings. They discuss the emotional toll of traffic reversals post-core update and emphasize the need for diverse traffic sources. Cyrus shares insights from his open letter to Google, critiquing the favoritism towards larger brands. The duo also highlights e-commerce trends, niche websites, and effective strategies for engaging different demographics online. Perfect for anyone navigating the SEO landscape!

Cyrus Shepard, Google Quality Rater with Raterhub, shares insights on website quality including common issues, the role of quality raters, and the impact of algorithm updates. They discuss benchmark websites, adjusting display ad settings, and reviewing Boyd's Hampers website. They also touch on fake reviews, optimizing for featured snippets, and the power of unique internal links in SEO.