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Categories
Tag Archives: google ranking
Are You “Leaking SEO” by Linking to Other Websites?
You’ve probably heard this SEO advice before:
Don’t link to other websites. You’re just giving away your SEO.
Sometimes you’ll hear this described as “SEO leakage” - the idea that when you put an external link on your website, you’re giving some of your hard-earned SEO value to another website.
And if that other website happens to be a competitor, that can sound even worse.
So should website owners be afraid to link out?
No. Not when the link is
... Continue readingDoes Google still use PageRank to rate your website?
"Ask David" short answer: yes. While you can’t see it anymore, PageRank is still a "core" part of how Google determines which websites are trustworthy and important.
Related: What Makes a Simple Website Feel Trustworthy? (From Real User Experience, Not Theory)
However, the PageRank of today is very different from the simple "0 to 10" score people obsessed over in the early 2000s.
How PageRank Works in 2026
In the early days, PageRank was the primary way Google ranked
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Posted in Ask David!, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Tagged ahref, Ahrefs Domain Rating, authority, backlinks, E-E-A-T, experience, expertise, google, google algorithm, google pagerank, google ranking, high value link, important, internal linking, Larry Page, link spam, low value link, moz, Moz Domain Authority, new york times, pagerank, reasonable surfer, seed set, stanford, trustworthy, useful, wikipedia
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The 10 Easiest Niches to Rank on Google – and the 10 Hardest
If you’ve ever thought about starting a blog or building a website, you’ve probably asked yourself: How hard will it be to rank on Google? The answer depends a lot on the niche you choose. Some niches are flooded with established competitors, while others are surprisingly open for newcomers.
Let’s break down the 10 easiest niches to rank in (low competition, lots of long-tail keyword opportunities) and the 10 hardest niches to rank in (high competition, big-budget players, and strong
... Continue readingDo Website Builders Hurt SEO?
If you’ve been researching how to improve your website’s SEO, you’ve probably heard the rumor:
“Website builders are bad for SEO.”
But is it true?
The short answer: It depends on the builder.
Let’s break down the facts, so you know what to look for - and what to avoid - when choosing a website builder that won’t hold back your rankings.
Not All Website Builders Are Created Equal
Many drag-and-drop platforms on the market today - like Wix
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Posted in Compare Website Builders, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Tagged bloat, clean code, clean urls, compare website builders, fast load times, google ranking, headers, messy code, meta tags, mobile-friendly, plugins, responsive, responsive app, schema, search engine optimization, search engine ranking, seo, seo tools, seo-friendly, sitemap, sitemap generator, structure, user experience, webp converter, WebP images, website builders, website speed
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Why Is Google Showing a Competitor’s Website for My Brand Name?
And How to Fix It with SEO & Branding Strategies
When users search for your company name, the last thing you want is for a competitor’s site to show up instead. But that’s exactly what can happen if your brand is new, lesser known, or has a name that’s similar to a larger competitor. A good reason not to choose a similar name even if the trademark rules don't prevent you.
Google’s algorithm often tries to “help” users by showing
... Continue reading
Posted in Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Tagged backlinks, bounce rate, brand identity, brand signals, branding, breadcrumblist schema, build backlinks, community forums, email newsletters, engagement, forums, google, google ads, google ranking, google search, headers, headings, high-quality content, keyword stuffing, meta description, organic seo, organic traffic, organization schema, page title, ranking signal, schema, schema markup, search engine optimization, search engine ranking, search engine results, seo, seo strategies, seo tipes, social media, socialprofile schema, spammy, structured data, subheadings, trust, typo, user behavior, visibility, website schema
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How to Leverage Broken Link Building to Get High-Quality Backlinks for Your Website
If you're looking to boost your website’s SEO and authority, broken link building is one of the most effective and ethical strategies to acquire high-quality backlinks. Also known as dead link building or broken link reclamation, this technique turns a website’s problem - a broken link - into an opportunity to offer your valuable, relevant content. It’s a win-win for both parties.
In this guide, you'll learn how to leverage broken link building step-by-step to grow your
... Continue reading
Posted in Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Tagged ahrefs, ahrefs site explorer, archive.org, authority, backlink profile, backlinks, broken link building, build backlinks, check my links, chrome, domain authority, drive traffic, firefox, google ranking, Google ranking algorithm, high-quality backlinks, high-quality content, link checker, majestic, moz, moz link explorer, ranking factor, screaming frog, screaming from seo spider, search engine optimization, semrush, semrush site audit, seo, user experience, wayback machine, white hat, white hat strategy
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How Social Media Marketing Can Boost Your Website’s SEO (Even If It’s Indirect)
Social media isn’t just about collecting likes and followers - it’s also a powerful way to strengthen your website’s SEO, even though it doesn’t directly impact Google’s ranking algorithm.
While Google has said social signals like shares or comments aren’t direct ranking factors, the indirect SEO benefits of social media marketing are very real - and they can seriously boost your online visibility and website traffic.
Here’s how social media helps your SEO and why it’s a smart
... Continue reading
Posted in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media
Tagged authority, backlink building, backlinks, boost traffic, boost visibility, bounce rate, branded searches, content marketing, credibility, digital marketing, engagement, facebook, faster indexing, google ranking, Google ranking algorithm, improve SEO, instagram, keywords, linkedin, local seo, match intent, related keywords, search engine optimization, search results, seo, seo benefits, seo content strategy, social media and SEO, social media marketing, social signals, trending topics, trust signals, twitter, user intent, x
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Should You Update an Existing Blog Post or Write a New One? Here’s the Smart SEO Strategy
"I have a blog post that i want to update with better content - should i update it, or create a new blog post, and add the link there?"
When you’re sitting on an old blog post and have better content to add, you’re faced with a key decision: update the original or create a new post. Both strategies can work - but choosing the right one depends on your goals, the quality of the original post, and the
... Continue reading
Posted in Ask David!, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Web Content
Tagged 301 redirect, backlink profile, backlinks, fresh content, google dance, google ranking, keywords, link juice, ranking history, search engine optimization, search engine ranking, seo, seo value, social shares, target keywords, update conetnt, update vs new post, user experience
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How Much Content Does Google Need to Trust Your Site?
If you're building a website or growing a blog, one big question probably keeps coming up: How much content do I need before Google starts trusting my site?
You’re not alone. Many site owners wonder if there's a magic number of blog posts or pages that unlocks search engine visibility. The truth is - Google doesn't rank websites based solely on how many posts you have. But content volume does play an important role when it comes to building trust
... Continue reading
Posted in Ask David!, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Web Content
Tagged authority, backlinks, engagement, expert, fast loading times, fresh content, google algorithm, google ranking, headings, helpful content, high-quality content, internal linking, internal links, keyword optimization, meta tags, mobile-friendly, organic traffic, relevant keywords, responsive, search engine optimization, search engine ranking, seo, target audience, target keywords, topical authority, trust, update content, user engagement, visibility
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How to Build a Website That Ranks and Converts with E-E-A-T
Creating a website that ranks well on search engines and converts visitors into customers requires more than just having good content. It requires a solid strategy, combining search engine optimization (SEO) with the principles of E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. These elements are key to Google's algorithms and can have a major impact on your site's visibility and user engagement.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you build a website that not only ranks but also converts effectively by
... Continue reading
Posted in Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Tagged a/b testing, authority, backlinks, call to action, content strategy, cta, digital marketing, E-E-A-T, easy navigation, engagement, experience, expertise, fast loading times, featured snippets, google algorithm, google ranking, Google SEO, high-converting website, high-quality content, mobile-friendly, organic traffic, responsive, search engine optimization, seo, SEO best practices, structured data, target keywords, trust, trust signals, trustworthiness, user experience, user trust, website conversions, website optimization, website ranking, website speed
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