Search Off the Record

In this episode of Search Off The Record, John and Martin explore the intersection of SEO and photography. Is a website essential for photographers, or is social media enough? Martin, a technical SEO expert and photography enthusiast, dives into the challenges of building a photography website, optimizing images, and attracting the right audience. Whether you're a professional photographer or a hobbyist, this podcast offers valuable insights into how Search Engine Optimization can help you showcase your work and connect with your audience. Find out how to make your images more findable, understand your website's performance, and navigate the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing for photographers. Martin shares his experience building his own photography website and the challenges he faced with SEO for his personal website.  Resources:  Episode transcript → https://goo.gle/sotr097-transcript  Chapters:  0:00 - Intro 0:37 - The Expert?! 3:10 - Why do photographers need websites? 5:39 - Stock Photography and SEO 14:53-  Branding and Search 18:21 - Setting up Search Console 21:12 - Web pages and Social Media for your photos. 23:27 - Image Landing Pages 24:52 - Image Optimization 28:38 - Photography and Generative AI 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, John Mueller Products Mentioned: Search Console

Martin and John dive into the world of CSS and explore its connection to SEO. Discover why CSS files matter for SEO, how modern CSS frameworks impact pages, and the SEO implications of CSS class names and pseudo elements. Moreover, learn practical tips for ensuring your CSS enhances - rather than hinders - your website's search performance. Resources:  Episode transcript → https://goo.gle/sotr096-transcript  Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:56 - What is CSS? 1:37 - CSS file crawlability 3:52 - CSS flexibility and power 4:55 - Website and CSS growth 5:43 - CSS file size 9:15 - CSS class names and SEO 10:51 - Important CSS concepts 11:27 - CSS specificity 14:24 - Pseudo classes and pseudo elements 20:56 - Stop using before and after 22:47 - Viewport height 27:11 - Hiding things and background colours 28:05 - CSS images 35:55 - CSS for SEO 37:16 - Outro 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, John Mueller Products Mentioned: Search Console

Discover essential SEO strategies for small businesses, including crafting an effective content plan and understanding customer needs. The hosts demystify common SEO myths and offer guidance on when to seek professional help. Learn how to assess your website's performance with simple tools, navigate content creation challenges, and measure SEO success. With real-life examples and a touch of humor, this discussion emphasizes the importance of a solid online presence while contemplating the future of AI and job security.

Developers often misunderstand SEO, and the hosts aim to clear up these misconceptions. They discuss the critical role of proper HTML and metadata in optimizing search visibility. Additionally, they explore how website themes can impact SEO performance and the limitations of Google's indexing API. The conversation also highlights the balance between technical elements and effective communication with audiences. Engagingly, they encourage developers to collaborate with SEO professionals for better web functionality.

Embark on a humorous yet insightful journey as Google Search team members discuss the relationship between SEOs and developers. They share personal stories about public speaking nerves and building empathy across professions. Context is a recurring theme, emphasizing the importance of clear communication to avoid misinterpretations. The duo reflects on their experiences navigating technical challenges, encouraging critical thinking over blindly following norms. It's a lighthearted exploration of tech that reminds us about the people behind the screens.

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.