Search Engines
Understanding how search engines work, Google in particular, is important when working in SEO. The basics of crawling and indexing are amazingly useful to understand if you want to rank your own content.
Additionally, Google updates its algorithm several times a year. Understanding the more significant updates, and how they work, can help you to craft content and SEO strategies that are up-to-date.
We've written extensively about how search engines work, and included some of the top resources here. You can also browse the latest posts on search engines from the Moz blog below.
How Search Engines Work : New to SEO? Start with the basics of how search engines operate with our free beginner's guide.
Search Engine Ranking and Visibility : Learn the fundamentals of how search engines rank content on search engine result pages.
Google Algorithm Update History : A complete history of Google algorithm updates since 2000. This includes important links and references for understanding how Google works.
How Search Engines Value Links : Search engines work off a number of signals, but two of the most important are content and links. In this video, Rand Fishkin explains the basics of link evaluation.
MozCast : Is Google updating it's algorithm as we speak? MozCast is the Google algorithm weather report, so you can see how much Google results are changing each day.
There's Gold In Them Thar SERPs: Mining Important SEO Insights from Search Results
Search engine results pages (SERPs) are the mountains we’re trying to climb as SEOs to reach the peak (number one position). But these mountains aren’t just for climbing — there are numerous “nuggets” of information to be mined from the SERPs that can help us on our journey to the mountaintop.
YouTube Dominates Google Video in 2020
In a study of 2.1M searches and 766K videos, YouTube accounted for 94% of all video carousel results on page one of Google, leaving little room for competition.
The Theory Behind Ranking Factors — Whiteboard Friday
In this brand new Whiteboard Friday, Russ Jones discusses the theory behind various ranking factors, which have been with us since day one of search engine optimization, and gives us some improved definitions and vocabulary for those ranking factors to clear up our communication around them.
How to Choose Google Business Profile Categories (With Cool Tools!)
Your choice of your primary and secondary categories contributes a lot to Google’s understanding and handling of your business. With so much riding on proper categorization, let’s empower you to research your options like a pro today!
Google Ads Mistakes to Avoid — Best of Whiteboard Friday
SEO and PPC can work together for benefits all around, especially when it comes to optimizing your Google Ads. In this informative Whiteboard Friday, Dana DiTomaso explains how you can harness the power of both SEO and PPC for a better Google experience overall.Level Up Your SEO Skills With Our Free Training
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Desktop, Mobile, or Voice? (D) All of the Above — Best of Whiteboard Friday
Since more searchers are home and not on-the-go, we're left wondering where to focus our optimization efforts. Is desktop the most important? Is mobile? What about the voice phenomenon that's now become part of our day-to-day lives? As with most things, the most important factor is to consider your audience.
What Do Dolphins Eat? Lessons from How Kids Search — Best of Whiteboard Friday
We're bringing back this slightly different-from-the-norm Whiteboard Friday, in which the fantastic Will Critchlow shares lessons from how kids search.
Is Google E-A-T Actually a Ranking Factor? - Whiteboard Friday
Showing expertise, authority, and trustworthiness in your site content is important to ranking well. But why is that, exactly? Cyrus Shepard explores whether E-A-T is a true ranking factor, making your E-A-T goals SMART, and how to communicate it all to curious stakeholders.
Understanding & Fulfilling Search Intent
Understanding what your target audience is searching and why is more important than ever. Britney Muller shares everything you need to begin understanding and fulfilling search intent, plus a free Google Sheets checklist download to help you analyze the SERPs you care about most.
Google's May 2020 Core Update: Winners, Winnerers, Winlosers, and Why It's All Probably Crap
The May 2020 Core Update was the second-hottest update since the August 2018 "Medic" Update. Dr. Pete takes a hard look at the numbers, including why measuring winners and losers is tricky business.