Update: Since March 2024's Helpful Content Update, many people have again debated the value of links. So, I decided to update this piece to provide more context. Now, more than ever, quality links are more important than quantity. Google has put the pedal to the metal by using AI for evaluation. They Read more

Oct 28. 2024 Update:  The Helpful Content Updates have drastically altered this list. Overall, 94 sites have been hit by the updates in the past few years, and 50+ fell off of this list entirely because they dropped below the "quality" minimums set in the methodology below. Some are in recovery mode; Read more

Chrome extensions are a dime a dozen. If you’re anything like me, you try a new one every week. Extension Monitor saw the count at over 188,000 extensions a few years ago. That is a lot of extensions to try out. There are also a lot of duds out there. Luckily, I’ve done much of the legwork Read more

Building links is a time-intensive process. While it may be tempting to cut costs using shady SEO tactics to take advantage of Google’s algorithm, Google eventually catches up and penalizes many sites over time. So, the best way to generate links is to use white hat tactics to build links naturally. Luckily, Read more

Building links has benefits outside of just helping you rank for keywords. Link building is integral to getting your business online exposure. The right link can attract new customers in a way that other forms of organic marketing simply cannot. Link building can be especially beneficial in competitive Read more

Regardless of what you’ve heard, you should always care about how and where you are getting backlinks. Links are the main way Google traverses the web. Links help provide valuable context and will always remain part of Google’s algorithm. That will never change. However, as Google shifts its Read more

When I got promoted to SEO account manager at my previous digital marketing agency, besides all the excitement, I knew it would be a new challenge to create strategies involving Digital PR, Content, Design and other teams on top of my usual SEO work. I was also aware that my success in the new role Read more

When you start a new site, there seem to be dozens of new tasks to take care of everyday. It’s tough, and it can burn you out. And you feel it especially when it comes to link building. Not only does it require a lot of attention, but it can also be hard to navigate the world of backlinks Read more

If your pay-per-click (PPC) advertising budget is tight, you might want to look into bidding on exact match keywords. These keywords help you reach users searching for specific keywords or their very close matches. Going for exact match keywords can give you a better ROI on your ad budget by giving you Read more

You researched the right websites, the right contacts, wrote an exciting e-mail and now you're waiting for a story to pick up. This is the moment where a lot of us get anxious because the outcome is out of our control. Some journalists will get in touch right away, some will open your emails over and Read more