Author Archives: Josh Laughtland

About Josh Laughtland

Founder/CEO

Google Penguin 4

Google Penguin 4 Algorithm Update Released Sept 23

Google announced today the final release of Penguin as we know it. Websites hit by previous iterations of Penguin now get their chance to escape from ranking purgatory. With the new update, the Penguin ranking signal will now be included with real-time algorithm updates, which means no more waiting for the next version if a site is penalized.

In addition to real-time updates, Google was also keen to mention that Penguin targeting is now more granular. Meaning, individual pages on a website can be affected instead of receiving a site-wide penalty.

This is good news for companies previously affected by Penguin and for those here on out. With Penguin going real-time and more granular, businesses can identify potential penalty culprits and make corrections that will be quickly indexed by Google.

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Google Penguin Information
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Penguin refers to a specific Google Algorithm ranking signal introduced in April 2012 that targets webspam; websites engaging in tactics that vary from keyphrase stuffing to link schemes in an effort to manipulate search engine rankings.
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Current Release: 4.0 on September 23, 2016
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Google Mobile Website Speed Test Tool

Test Website Speed and Mobile Friendliness with Google’s New Tool

Google Mobile Website Speed Test Tool

The days of testing site speed and mobile friendliness with two different tools have recently come to an end. Because of their importance as search engine ranking signals, Google has consolidated both tools into a new tool in addition to making overall effectiveness improvements.

 

google-mobile-speed-email

After the scan completes, you can elect to receive a report from Google that contains expanded information about how to improve your website speed and mobile optimization.

Test Your Website

Contact Jtree with Site Speed and Mobile Optimization Questions >

SEO vs PPC vs Social Media

The Classic Showdown: SEO vs PPC vs Social Media Marketing

SEO vs PPC vs Social Media Marketing in One Graph

The Google Trends graph below compares organic search interest over time for “SEO”, “PPC” and “Social Media Marketing” search terms.

According to Google, the graph numbers represent search interest relative to the highest point on the chart for the given region and time. A value of 100 is the peak popularity for the term. A value of 50 means that the term is half as popular.

So, why the total domination of SEO?

We have a few theories, neatly placed in bullets below.

  1. In absolutely every circumstance that we’ve experienced, visitors from organic search engine results convert into customers at a much higher rate than PPC and Social Media Marketing. Translation: people continue to trust organic search engine results over paid ads and social media.
  2. SEO is getting easier to measure and understand as metrics are combined with website analytic data. Further reinforcing the value of SEO with regard to website visitors.
  3. The costs associated with PPC are ever-increasing as bid rates in competitive markets soar.
  4. Social Media Marketing continues to be difficult to directly measure, although the indirect benefits are undeniable.
  5. Paid Social Media Marketing is following in the footsteps of PPC concerning ever-increasing costs.
  6. Every click and/or interaction costs within paid search and social environments. SEO costs the same each month no matter how many clicks or interactions occur.

Please contact us with questions or comments!