EDGE of the Web - The Best SEO Podcast for Today's Digital Marketer

Online Meeting Services are Collecting More Data Than You Think

An analysis of the privacy policies of Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx show that while they're basically "safe" to use, they are collecting call length and IP addresses of all participants.

By Chaim Gartenberg

Has Google Slowed Web Crawling Because of the Pandemic?

This is one story that just won't seem to die. John Mueller of Google has now announced again that crawling has not been slowed down at all because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

By Barry Schwartz

The Pandemic's Impact on Digital Marketing May Have Bottomed Out

The latest earnings reports and media buyer data seem to be signaling the worst is over in terms of ad spends, but plenty of companies are still cautious in the face of ongoing uncertainty.

By Ginny Marvin

This week's special guest is Bill Sebald, Managing Partner of Greenlane Marketing. He has always approached SEO work like a detective trying to solve a complex mystery. He's been doing this since 1996, so you can count on some incredible insights he has gained over the years. During episode 353 of EDGE of the Web we deep dive into how SEO agencies have been responding to the changes within the digital marketing industry from COVID-19. Whether you are an SEO agency or a client of an SEO agency, gain some knowledge of what you need to be doing during this time to keep business flowing.

Key topics discussed during the show:

• SEO Agencies During COVID19
• Key SEO Tips During This Time
• First 50 Days of Quarantine: What We've Learned
• SEO Reporting During COVID19

Work from Home Content Engagement Spikes on LinkedIn

The biggest rise in people engaging with remote working content on LinkedIn is in the US, but not just any content. What's resonating is an emphasis on support, care, and community. By: Matt SouthernFrom: Search Engine Journal

Facebook Expands Video Chat Capabilities with Messenger Rooms

The sudden huge rise in Zoom users is prompting Facebook to up its game with Messenger Rooms that can handle up to 50 participants, and doubling WhatsApp video chats to 8 people. By: Casey NewtonFrom: The Verge

When Search Results are Disappointing, Google will Offer Query Tips

The new feature in Google Search will be triggered when the search engine can't find good results for a query and will include suggestions for how to rephrase a search.By: Barry SchwartzFrom: Search Engine Land

When Google does core updates, there are inevitably winners and losers, and it often doesn't feel fair for sites that did nothing to intentionally violate and rules! Devaluations from Google updates and manual actions can feel like the end of the world but Kristine Schachinger of Sites Without Walls has advice. Kristine has spent years helping companies through the post-update recovery process. She also has 17 years of digital experience including a focus on website design and implementation, accessibility standards, and all aspects of website visibility involving SEO, social media, and strategic planning. Deep dive into the solutions of Google core updates during EDGE of the Web's episode 352.

Key topics discussed during the show:

• Timeline of Google Core Updates
• Updates do NOT mean Google is penalizing you
• Google is rolling out updates daily
• Key recovery tips
• Everything E-A-T; expertise, authority, and trust

Will the Pandemic Change SERP Permanently?

Google's coronavirus search results now has a "sticky" menu (it follows you as you scroll down) to give a pandemic-related set of topic categories. Will this approach become permanent for greater personalization?By: Mordy ObersteinFrom: Search Engine Land

Google Gives a Break to News Publishers by Waiving Ad Serving Fees

Google's latest way to help during the pandemic focuses on journalism and news sites that rely on Google ad placements for revenue. For five months, those publishers will not pay ad serving fees.By: Susan WenogradFrom: Search Engine Journal

Was There a Google Algorithm Update in Mid-April?

There's a lot of chatter out there about this one and people describing impacts they saw, but if there was an update, it was pretty minor. As we like to say, take a breath and check your data. By: Barry SchwartzFrom: SEO Round Table

Search behavior is something that has always been changing over time, but there have been unprecedented shifts caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Google continues its focus on E-A-T and page quality, but how a global pandemic impacts search behavior also has to be factored in. This week's special guest Lily Ray, SEO Director at Path Interactive, will shed some light on how digital marketing should respond to changes in search behavior. Tune in to episode 351 of EDGE of the Web to get ahead of your competitors by being smart with your SEO strategy during this time.

Key topics discussed during the show:

• Higher degree of online use during Coronavirus
• How has the Google search engine results page changed?
• Who has been the 'winners' and 'losers'?
• SEO tactics to leverage

Both Apple and Google are Mapping Social Distancing Performance

Without a vaccine, the best weapon to battle the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 is social distancing. So how well are we doing? Google and Apple weigh in with mapping data.

Need work? Amazon is Hiring

Amazon is having a hard time keeping up with orders and has had to hit pause on new signups for its grocery service. And it wants to hire 75,000 more people, even amidst criticism from many that it's not doing enough to protect workers.

How the Pandemic is Affecting Search Behavior

It's fascinating to see Google dig into what people are searching for during the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic, as well as provide bits of advice for how to respond to these emerging trends.

Change is the name of the game in digital marketing, and while many times the changes can be good, sometimes they're not. Change has been especially rapid during the pandemic, and that includes PPC and paid social. Episode 350 of EDGE of the Web's featured guest Amy Bishop, Owner of Cultivative Marketing has been seeing a lot of change happening in PPC and paid social during the pandemic, including shifts in Google Ads Benchmarks by industry and Google PPC Credits.

If you don't know Amy yet, you need to! Amy has built and implemented multichannel digital strategies for a variety of companies of all sizes ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 and global organizations spanning several industry verticals. Her expertise includes e-commerce, lead generation, and localized site-to-store strategies. She regularly speaks at industry conferences across the United States and internationally, including HeroConf and the SMX circuit among others. Amy is the local chair for SEMPO-Louisville. Amy also writes for leading industry publications Search Engine Land and Marketing Land.

Learn about the impact COVID-19 has on PPC across the digital marketing industry by tuning in to episode 350 of EDGE of the web!

Key topics discussed during the show:

• Effective top-of-funnel search campaigns
• The Impact of COVID-19 on the PPC Industry benchmarks changing per industry
• Google PPC Credits during COVID-19

The Economic Slowdown Hits Yelp Hard The coronavirus pandemic's economic impact has forced Yelp to lay off 1,000 of its workers and furlough another 1,100. Yelp is all about local business reviews, which has declined sharply with shut-downs and social distancing. During a Recession, SEO More Important than Ever Although the novel coronavirus outbreak has brought the overall economy to a screeching halt, a survey reveals SEO can and should be maintained as a high priority moving forward through the recession. New Google Blog Series on SEO Value with Case Studies A surprising number of businesses still look at SEO with skepticism, questioning its value as an investment among competing priorities for scarce resources. Google's aim is to convince them SEO is worth it.

Nearly 17 million have filed for unemployment in the past three weeks. The economy has come to an abrupt hard stop. What should digital marketing professionals focus on during an unprecedented crisis like the one we're now experiencing? This week's featured guest Jon Henshaw, Founder of Coywolf, has been in the SEO space for a long time now! He joins the show to share his knowledge of what digital marketers should be doing to help their clients during this time.

A few questions we get answered by Jon:

• Should I continue advertising during a crisis?
• • Statistics with social media during COVID19
  • eCommerce sites statistics
• What tactics should I be focusing on during this time?
• • During an economic downturn, you will find you have less competition
• Consumer behavior trends during a crisis?