If they measure it, it matters. The SERP’s Up team dive into the One SEO Tool to Rule Them All:  Google Search Console.  This free Google tool is, by far, the most important tool for site owners to understand how Google values their sites.  Mordy Oberstein and Crystal Carter, heads of SEO Branding and SEO Communication at Wix, share their love of Google Search Console and unpack the importance of the platform. Google Search Console gives a wealth of information about your site: from page indexing to Google’s crawl frequency, the impressions that specific pages receive, and most importantly, what issues Google seems to be having with a website. This is the main conduit of communication from Google to the site owner, and trust us - if they measure something in there, it matters.  SEOs should pay attention to Video Pages (hint, hint - get them going if you haven’t), Page Experience stats, mobile usability, and more.  The team catches up with Lazarina Stoy, data scientist, and SEO, who shares one of her favorite features of GSC, the Links report, which can help troubleshoot internal linking strategies and improper use of anchor text. In short, this is the SEO podcast to better understand the role and value of Google Search Console!  Key Segments [00:04:22] What's On This Episode of SERP's Up? [00:05:15] Focus Topic of the Week: Google Search Console [00:19:29] Focus Topic Guest: Lazarina Stoy [00:24:11] Tool Time [00:29:24] Snappy News [00:32:13] Follow of the Week Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Crystal Carter: https://twitter.com/CrystalontheWeb Mordy Oberstein: https://twitter.com/MordyOberstein Lazarina Stoy: https://twitter.com/lazarinastoy Daniel Waisberg: https://twitter.com/danielwaisberg Resources: SERP's Up Podcast: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast  Wix SEO Learning Hub: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn Google Search Console: https://search.google.com/search-console/about Optimizing your website performance with Search Console: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/gsc-webinar How to Automate The URL Inspection API: https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/how-to-automate-the-url-inspection-api/ Get to know the Wix Site Inspection tool: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/wix-site-inspection-tool Search Console Data Template: https://datastudio.google.com/embed/reporting/015008f1-9f50-42b1-b8e8-6ddfd81ccc10/page/ig7kC Are links everything SEOs make them out to be?: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast/episodes/are-links-everything-seos-make-them-out-to-be  News: Google Introduces New Search Labels For Coupons & Promos: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-introduces-new-search-labels-for-coupons-promos/469828/

Change. It's the one constant in life…and Google. What we relied on back years ago on the SERP (10 Blue Links) is a distant memory as search engines have added features to match the customer’s intent and journey. Wix’s Head of SEO Branding, Mordy Oberstein, and Head of SEO Communications, Crystal Carter, tackle the challenges and opportunities of SERP features with Kevin Indig, creator of the Growth Memo newsletter and host of the Tech Bound podcast. Jump in as we look at the SERP and all of the boxes and rectangles and squares and expandable carousels, tabs, and more. Learn what Google’s SERP features say about users and Google itself… and how you can leverage them tactically and strategically. The team also has Fun with People Also Asked again this week with a case that shows maybe you shouldn’t tie all your content to the questions inside of the PAA box! Key Segments: [00:01:29] What's On This Episode of SERP's Up? [00:05:00] Focus Topic of the Week: SERP Features & Kevin Indig [00:25:14] Fun with People Also Ask [00:33:27] Snappy News [00:37:59] Follow of the Week Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Crystal Carter: https://twitter.com/CrystalontheWeb Mordy Oberstein: https://twitter.com/MordyOberstein Kevin Indig: https://twitter.com/Kevin_Indig  Dr. Pete Meyers: https://twitter.com/dr_pete  Resources: SERP's Up Podcast: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast  Wix SEO Learning Hub: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn Programmatic content expansion with Python and Velo: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/programmatic-content-expansion-python-velo Growth Memo: https://www.kevin-indig.com/tag/gm/ News: Zero-Clicks Study: https://www.semrush.com/blog/zero-clicks-study/

Have we grown past the pursuit of the almighty link above every other SEO tactic? Certainly, since Google released the Penguin update in 2012, addressing link farms and other issues associated with people gaming the system, the idea of getting as many links as you can is not the path toward ranking.  But still, links are still a factor. So where do links legitimately fit into a solid SEO strategy?   Wix’s Head of SEO Branding, Mordy Oberstein, and Head of SEO Communications, Crystal Carter, carve up the links and their role in SEO like the Halloween Jack-o-lantern.  There’s a shift of mindset that has to occur in SEO. Both Mordy and Crystal agree that there is an over-emphasis on links for SEO. To them, links are fundamentally about traffic and helping users. Creating quality content that makes sense to link to is fundamental and earns market credibility, not “link juice.” Still, establishing quality links is integral to a well-built SEO campaign. The right links from the right sites pointing to the right pages can impact how well you rank. Which is why Debbie Chew, SEO Manager at Dialpad, shares her three best key link-building tactics, from personalized outreach to stats posts to research reports. Key Segments: [00:02:14] What's On This Episode of SERP's Up? [00:03:08] Episode 10 of the SERP's Up Podcast! [00:03:41] Focus Topic of the Week: Links [00:15:22] Focus Topic Guest: Debbie Chew  [00:21:21] The Top of the SERP [00:28:44] Snappy News [00:31:04] Follow of the Week Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Crystal Carter: https://twitter.com/CrystalontheWeb Mordy Oberstein: https://twitter.com/MordyOberstein Debbie Chew: https://twitter.com/justdebbb  Judith Lewis: https://twitter.com/JudithLewis Resources: SERP's Up Podcast: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast  Link Building Tactics that Actually Work: https://debbieychew.com/blog/link-building-tactics/ Link Building Myths for SMBs: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/link-building-myths-smbs  Internal Link Study by Cyrus Shepard: https://zyppy.com/seo/internal-links/seo-study/ News: Google releases October 2022 spam update: https://searchengineland.com/google-releases-october-2022-spam-update-388880  Google Shopping Searches On Desktop Get More Visual: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-shopping-searches-on-desktop-get-more-visual/468434/

Is AI writing for long-form web content the right way to go? We don’t think so. Actually, if you’re not careful, it may illicit action from Google. Wix’s Head of SEO Branding, Mordy Oberstein, and Head of SEO Communications, Crystal Carter, address the growing use of artificial intelligence in content writing for the web in light of the most recent Google algorithm changes regarding helpful content. Is AI written content really good content? It certainly isn’t differentiated and doesn’t have critical thought. Even if the AI content ranks well, what are you delivering to your audience? You don’t often hear the cheers for generic, mediocre content. Let alone the one thought: Whose content is it, really? Who’s the author? Danny Richman, the founder of Richman SEO Training, clarifies where AI writers can be a legitimate help: classification, transformation, and translation. A key use for GPT3 is for keyword classification, done in seconds! Remember: AI-written content for rank manipulation is against Google's guidelines. To quote Mordy, “with the Helpful Content Update, which, to me, is Google saying, “We know AI written content is coming, It's already here. We need to develop an algorithm that's able to find it and weed it out“. [00:02:05] What's On This Episode of SERP's Up? [00:04:39] Focus Topic of the Week: AI Writers Content and Google [00:15:45] Focus Topic Guest: Danny Richman  [00:21:23] Is This New? [00:27:03] Snappy News [00:29:17] Follow of the Week Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Crystal Carter: https://twitter.com/CrystalontheWeb Mordy Oberstein: https://twitter.com/MordyOberstein Danny Richman: https://twitter.com/DannyRichman Ann Smarty: https://twitter.com/seosmarty Resources: SERP's Up Podcast: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast  Wix SEO Learning Hub: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn Richman SEO Training: https://www.seotraininglondon.org/ Viral Content Bee: https://viralcontentbee.com/ News: Google rolling out site names and updated favicon logos in search results: https://searchengineland.com/google-rolling-out-site-names-and-updated-favicon-logos-in-search-results-388714

Google's recent updates to its algorithm have been all about providing information that is user-friendly and trustworthy. They’re trying to think like a human user to give the best possible results. Nothing scary there! The algorithm aligns more closely with the user's needs and wants than ever before. Now the algorithm and the user have sort of been synced! Mordy Oberstein, Wix’s Head of SEO Branding, and Wix’s Head of SEO Communications, Crystal Carter, pilot this very helpful (get it?) conversation on providing content that the user needs to make decisions. Essentially, User-First SEO is like if you asked someone for advice, and they gave you sound advice based on their experience and qualifications. You would want to know that the person giving you the advice had your best interests at heart. User-first SEO is just that: focused on helping the user more than ranking. “Putting the user first, thinking about their pain points, and solving the user’s problem is the goal, ” says Michel Fortin, as he helps us understand the concept even further. Mordy and Crystal connect with Einat Hoobian-Seybold, Wix’s SEO Product Manager, in this segment of the WixVerse. They drive home the user-first mindset as they discuss Wix’s products and solutions: how they are tested and how they can be useful for all users. Key Segments: [00:01:43] What's On This Episode of SERP's Up? [00:03:59] Focus Topic of the Week: User-First SEO [00:17:29] Focus Topic Guest: Michel Fortin [00:24:37] Across the WixVerse [00:35:12] Snappy News [00:37:45] Follow of the Week Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Crystal Carter: https://twitter.com/CrystalontheWeb Mordy Oberstein: https://twitter.com/MordyOberstein Michel Fortin: https://twitter.com/michelfortin Einat Hoobian-Seybold: https://twitter.com/Ehoobi Adrian Stein: https://twitter.com/adrianakstein John Mueller: https://twitter.com/JohnMu Resources: SERP's Up Podcast: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast  Wix SEO Learning Hub: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn SEO Plus: https://seoplus.com/ User-first SEO: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/user-first-seo What creators should know about Google's helpful content update: https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2022/08/helpful-content-update What site owners should know about Google's core updates: https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2019/08/core-updates How to source ideas for user-first content: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/find-user-first-content-ideas News: Google Business Profiles Removes Health & Safety Attributes: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-business-profiles-drop-health-safety-attributes-34180.html

SEO in 2022 is basically *deep breath* one messy map of meeting multiple needs of multiple users at multiple stages. Say that five times fast. As we wander the winding woods and walk wearily through core update after core update, host Mordy Oberstein (Wix) and co-host George Nguyen (Director of SEO Editorial) guide us all through the twists and turns of SEO across multiple user intents. The pathway of users is non-linear. These people are all over the map. They’re all up and down this funnel, walking around the beach, through the forest, down the docks, and up the mountain...standing on the grass…okay, that’s enough of that. So how should SEOs understand the nature of the client, and the user, as much as Google does? Know Your Audience  Know Your Subject Matter  Know the SERP Also joining us along the journey is Rejoice Ojaiku, Content Strategist at Rise At Seven. Here’s the thing: Google isn’t the only place these people wander. Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Tumblr, Spotify, Reddit, we have to map all of them: Meeting these users where they want to meet you, how they want to meet you, is the name of the game. And each new platform has a special tool we can leverage: search. Key Segments: [00:01:51] What's On This Episode of SERP's Up? [00:03:50] Focus Topic of the Week: Mixed Search Intent [00:19:36] Focus Topic Guest: Rejoice Ojaiku [00:25:51] Fun with People Also Ask [00:31:49] Snappy News [00:34:59] Follow of the Week Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Crystal Carter: https://twitter.com/CrystalontheWeb Mordy Oberstein: https://twitter.com/MordyOberstein  George Nguyen: https://twitter.com/geochingu Rejoice Ojiaku: https://twitter.com/RejiYates Rise at Seven SEO Agency: https://riseatseven.com/  Luke Carthy: https://twitter.com/MrLukeCarthy Glenn Gabe: https://twitter.com/glenngabe Resources: SERP's Up Podcast: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast  Wix SEO Learning Hub: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn  The power of keyword intent for organic success: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/semrush-webinar G-Squared Interactive: https://www.gsqi.com/  Why Google’s 10 Blue Links Will Have to Go (Eventually): https://www.semrush.com/blog/google-results-need-change/ News: All The Google Announcements From Search On 2022: https://www.seroundtable.com/search-on-2022-34164.html  10 biggest announcements from Google Search On 22: https://searchengineland.com/google-search-on-22-recap-388296  Search On 22: Google Debuts 9 New Shopping Features: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/search-on-22-google-debuts-9-new-shopping-features/466430/

This week’s SERP’s Up episode is brought to you by the letter 'L' for Learning! Wix's Head of SEO Branding, Mordy Oberstein, and Head of SEO Communications, Crystal Carter, are back together this week to answer the big question, "How do you Learn SEO?" Mordy and Crystal pull in the most critical first steps in your SEO learning journey, figuring out how you learn - what's your methodology for learning? The team covers solid CMS understanding as a foundational space and a place to grow and refine your talents. There are a few core concepts that every SEO should know. But beyond that, it's up to you to find your niche. Knowing the SEO ecosystem is a must to understand where the resources are. Check out some of the references of who to follow in the show. But what does it mean to learn SEO? Share a Deep Thoughts moment with Mordy and Crystal on today's show! [00:01:58] What's On This Episode of SERP's Up? [00:03:38] Focus Topic of the Week: Learning to Learn About SEO [00:13:16] Focus Topic Guest: Luke Davis [00:16:32] Deep Thoughts with Mordy and Crystal [00:25:07] Snappy News [00:28:16] Follow of the Week Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Crystal Carter: https://twitter.com/CrystalontheWeb Mordy Oberstein: https://twitter.com/MordyOberstein Luke Davis: https://twitter.com/LukeDavisSEO Chima Mmege: https://twitter.com/chimammeje Resources: SERP's Up Podcast: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast  Wix SEO Learning Hub: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn How to Know Good SEO Advice from Bad: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast/episodes/how-to-know-good-seo-advice-from-bad Luke Davis SEO Consultancy: https://lukealexdavis.co.uk/ Nick LeRoy: https://nickleroy.com/ Search Engine Roundtable: https://www.seroundtable.com/ Write high quality product reviews: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/specialty/ecommerce/write-high-quality-product-reviews News: Google Product Reviews Update Goes Live in Search Results: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-product-reviews-update/401822/ Google releases September 2022 product reviews update: https://searchengineland.com/google-releases-september-2022-product-reviews-update-387293

Wix’s Head of SEO Branding, Mordy Oberstein, and George Nguyen, Director of SEO Editorial, share how to know good SEO advice from bad. Learn how to pick out SEO advice that leads to poor practices with packaged, “wash, rinse and repeat” tactics. Listen in as our hosts deliver their rubric for knowing when you should or should not follow the SEO advice you come across!  Himani Kankaria, the founder of Missive Digital, shares how some great SEO advice prevented her sites from being hit by Google’s Penguin algorithm updates.  Want to know where you should look for good SEO advice? Mordy and George share their personal list of great sources of SEO advice and strategy! [00:01:31] What's On This Episode of SERP's Up? [00:02:50] Focus Topic of the Week: Good SEO Advice vs. Bad [00:17:32] Focus Topic Guest: Himani Kankaria  [00:22:16] Is This New?  [00:31:24] Snappy News [00:34:10] Follow of the Week Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Crystal Carter: https://twitter.com/CrystalontheWeb Mordy Oberstein: https://twitter.com/MordyOberstein George Nguyen: https://twitter.com/geochingu  Himani Kankaria: https://twitter.com/himani_kankaria  Resources: SERP's Up Podcast: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast  Wix SEO Learning Hub: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn Learning SEO by Aleyda Solis: https://learningseo.io/  Search Engine Roundtable: https://www.seroundtable.com/  Search Engine Land: https://searchengineland.com/  Semrush Blog: https://www.semrush.com/blog/ Moz Blog: https://moz.com/blog Lily Ray: https://twitter.com/lilyraynyc 0000  News: Google expands enhanced product experiences to more eCommerce sites, releases new Search Console reports https://searchengineland.com/google-expands-enhanced-product-experiences-to-more-e-commerce-sites-and-releases-new-search-console-reports-387888 Google Review Guidelines Now Prohibit Incentivizing Removal Of Negative Reviews https://www.seroundtable.com/google-review-guidelines-prohibit-negative-reviews-removal-34077.html

Keywords sure aren’t what they used to be. Google is challenging SEOs to understand the user first. Here’s where to start. Crystal Carter, Head of SEO Communications at Wix, kicks off this episode with an explanation of keywords in search and how Google has evolved its understanding of user intent (as opposed to the literal use of the word). Along with Mordy Oberstein, Wix’s Head of SEO Branding, they break it down like this: Understanding what’s already on the SERP (like the actual SERP) gives you the full picture of how Google understands user intent. Analyzing the current real estate shows how users are being affected along their search pursuit. SEO legend Cindy Krum of Mobile Moxie, also jumps in and provides a solid overview of how leveraging topic-cluster knowledge guides an understanding of user intent. Entities matter a lot, and they continue to make keywords less relevant. Oh, and one more thing. We need to talk about the WixVerse and Featured Snippets. Mordy and Crystal catch up with Idan Segal, Head of Organic Growth & Brand Development at Wix, as we go Inside the WixVerse. Let’s dive in. [00:01:46] What's On This Episode of SERP's Up? [00:02:57] Focus Topic of the Week: The Real Deal on Keyword Research [00:16:47] Focus Topic Guest: Cindy Krum [00:24:12] Deep Thoughts, with Crystal and Mordy [00:30:13] Inside the WixVerse: Idan Segal [00:41:43] Snappy News [00:42:07] News: New Google Featured Snippet With Multiple Answers, New Design, Callouts & More? [00:42:54] News: Google Announces September 2022 Core Algorithm Update [00:46:31] Follow of the Week   Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Crystal Carter: https://twitter.com/CrystalontheWeb Mordy Oberstein: https://twitter.com/MordyOberstein Cindy Krum: https://twitter.com/Suzzicks Idan Segal: https://twitter.com/M0b1leF1rst Lazarina Stoy: https://twitter.com/lazarinastoy Resources: SERP's Up Podcast: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast  Wix SEO Learning Hub: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn Featured Snippets In 2022: https://www.slideshare.net/CrystalCarter21/featured-snippets-in-2022-search-london  Lazarina Stoy SEO Resources: https://lazarinastoy.com/ Google’s shifts from authority to content diversity on the SERP https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/google-authority-to-content-diversity News: New Google Featured Snippet With Multiple Answers, New Design, Callouts & More?: https://www.seroundtable.com/new-google-featured-snippet-designs-callouts-answers-34048.html Google Announces September 2022 Core Algorithm Update: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-announces-september-2022-core-algorithm-update/464195/

Nothing is more frightening to SEOs than the possibility of a Google update hitting their sites.  This is all the more true as Semrush data shows Google is rolling out updates to its algorithm more than it ever has before!  Wix’s Head of SEO Branding, Mordy Oberstein, and Head of SEO Communications, Crystal Carter, dive into Google algorithm updates.  Learn how to best respond when your site is negatively impacted by a Google update by understanding how to analyze ranking trends and the significance of ranking losses. It’s insightful advice on how to best deal with Google algorithm updates!  Get a contextual understanding of how the Google algorithm has evolved as special guest Barry Schwartz of Search Engine Roundtable joins the show. Survey the history of Google algorithm updates and how their scope has changed.  Plus, learn how to track Google updates as our hosts run through the various algorithm tracking tools available to you!  [00:01:38] What's On This Episode of SERP's UP? [00:03:57] Focus Topic of the Week | When to Worry About a Google Algorithm Update [00:15:40] Focus Topic Guest: Barry Schwartz [00:20:45] Tool Time: SEO Weather Tools [00:25:51] Is This New? [00:29:33] Snappy News [00:29:53] News: Google On Why Helpful Content Update Seems Quiet [00:31:03] News: Google tests Quick Read, 5 Min. Read labels in search results [00:32:10] Follow of the Week Hosts, Guests, & Featured People: Crystal Carter: https://twitter.com/CrystalontheWeb Mordy Oberstein: https://twitter.com/MordyOberstein Barry Schwartz: https://twitter.com/rustybrick  Lily Ray: https://twitter.com/lilyraynyc Aleyda Solis: https://twitter.com/aleyda Resources: SERP's Up Podcast: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/podcast  Wix SEO Learning Hub: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn Search Engine Roundtable: https://www.seroundtable.com/  Semrush Sensor: https://www.semrush.com/sensor/  Mozcast: https://moz.com/mozcast  Rank Risk Index: https://www.rankranger.com/rank-risk-index  Sistrix Update Tracker: https://app.sistrix.com/en/google-updates  Assessing Algorithm Update Impact: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/assess-impact-of-google-algorithm-updates  Crawling Mondays: https://www.aleydasolis.com/en/crawling-mondays-videos/  SEOFomo Newsletter: https://subscribe.page/s/seofomo  Learning SEO: https://learningseo.io/  News: Google On Why Helpful Content Update Seems Quiet https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-on-why-helpful-content-update-seems-quiet/463218/  Google tests Quick Read, 5 Min. Read labels in search results https://searchengineland.com/google-search-quick-read-5-min-read-labels-387599