Search Off the Record

In this candid episode of Search Off the Record, Gary Illyes and Martin Splitt from the Google Search team peel back the curtain to reveal a more human side of their work and challenges. Instead of diving deep into technical concepts, they reflect on their personal journeys—touching on everything from public speaking nerves to building empathy between developers and SEOs. Through playful banter and thoughtful commentary, they share how communication, context, and curiosity play vital roles in their day-to-day roles, both internally at Google and in the broader web ecosystem. The conversation also explores the evolution of Martin’s career, his passion for the web, and how his developer background helps him bridge gaps in technical understanding. The duo navigates the complexities of delivering accurate guidance in public forums, the risk of being taken out of context, and the importance of clear communication across diverse audiences. It's a thoughtful, lighthearted, and occasionally philosophical discussion that reminds listeners that behind the guidance, there are real people striving to make the web better for everyone. Resources:  Episode 93 transcript→https://goo.gle/sotr093-transcript  Chapters: 0:00 – Intro & Setup 1:30 – Life at Google 3:30 – Speaking to Developers 6:30 – Early Speaking Days 10:00 – SEOs vs Devs 14:00 – Should SEOs Code? 19:00 – Context is Everything 23:30 – Clearer SEO Advice 26:30 – Why No Slides 29:00 – Wrap Up Chat Listen to more Search Off the Record → https://goo.gle/sotr-yt Subscribe to Google Search Channel → https://goo.gle/SearchCentral Search Off the Record is a podcast series that takes you behind the scenes of Google Search with the Search Relations team. #SOTRpodcast #SEO Speaker: Martin Splitt, Gary Illyes Products Mentioned: Search 

Dive into the fascinating world of web crawling as the hosts humorously unpack how Googlebot has evolved. Discover how the early days of crawling started from a single homepage and transformed into a complex operation today. Learn about the importance of rules like robots.txt and the shift to a unified infrastructure. Explore the challenges modern crawlers face amidst internet congestion, and peek into the future with the impact of AI and new protocols. It's a wild ride through the web's evolution!

Dive into the fascinating world of internet protocols like HTTP, TCP, and the newer QUIC and HTTP/3. Explore how these invisible mechanics impact website performance and user experience. Discover the meanings behind status codes like 404 and the quirky 418 'I'm a teapot.' With a mix of humor and technical insights, the hosts discuss the importance of networking protocols for developers and site owners, making complex concepts accessible and entertaining.

Discover the evolution of Search Central Live events, transitioning into a dynamic 'Deep Dive' format aimed at enhancing community engagement. The hosts share insights into event planning complexities and how participant feedback shapes these gatherings. Dive into the significance of informal networking and the excitement surrounding new locations like Budapest and South Africa. Plus, enjoy humorous anecdotes about language challenges at past conferences, adding a light-hearted twist to the discussion!

Ever wonder how web standards are created? The hosts take you behind the scenes of organizations like W3C and IETF, highlighting the consensus-driven process that shapes the web. They share nostalgic stories about early projects like a toy search engine. The discussion dives into the complexities of ownership of web technologies and the journey of developing new standards. With a focus on collaboration and community expertise, it underscores how feedback and precise language are essential in ensuring a secure and reliable online experience.

As 2024 wraps up, the hosts reflect on memorable travels and community events, highlighting their experiences in Türkiye. They discuss the subjective nature of SEO expertise and the importance of understanding AI's evolving role in coding and creativity. The conversation shifts to the dynamics of smaller gatherings and the challenges of JavaScript in modern web practices. Bringing a light-hearted touch, they share nostalgic internet finds and amusing tales about a quirky Australian cheesemaker, ending on a playful and engaging note.

Allan Scott, a seasoned software engineer at Google specializing in duplicate detection, joins the discussion. He sheds light on the complexities of duplicate content in search, including clustering and canonicalization. The conversation dives into the challenges of conflicting signals between HTTP and HTTPS, and the critical role of the rel canonical tag. Allan also addresses localization strategies and the importance of accurate hreflang implementations. Finally, he tackles common web crawling issues, emphasizing teamwork to enhance search engine performance.

In this discussion, Rio Ichikawa, a Tokyo-based product manager specializing in UX, CRO, and SEO, shares valuable insights on the synergy between user experience and SEO. He highlights how effective UX is crucial for engagement and conversion. Rio delves into common UX missteps, such as carousels, and the power of heatmaps in understanding user behavior. Practical tips for balancing UX design with SEO requirements, like visual content significance and A-B testing, are also shared, making this a rich resource for digital marketers.

Iva Barisic Hafner, a user experience researcher on the Google Shopping team, shares her expertise on understanding the 'why' behind user behaviors. She highlights accessible UXR methods like cognitive walkthroughs and heuristic evaluations that can transform user insights into improved website designs. The discussion also emphasizes the blend of qualitative and quantitative research to identify user pain points effectively. Iva champions the significance of proper survey practices for reliable data and encourages ongoing learning in user experience research.

Jessica Yu, the Lead for Google Doodles and Delight on Google Search, shares her creative journey in designing engaging experiences. She reveals the whimsical origins of Google Doodles, including the inspiration from Momo the Magic Cat. Jessica discusses the balance of creativity and technical challenges in crafting interactive features. Highlighting user engagement, she shares how community interaction fuels new ideas, making every Doodle not just a graphic, but a delightful adventure for users.