Keyword mapping: assign every keyword
How to do keyword mapping: group keywords by SERP overlap, give each topic one page, and set an action and owner so your own pages never compete.
Writing
Notes from inside the data
We spend our days looking at what is actually ranking. Notes on niche research, Google updates, link prospecting and programmatic SEO — no listicles, and no predictions we cannot back with numbers.
How does Google rank websites?
How does Google rank websites? Google names five signal groups: meaning, relevance, quality, usability and context. What each means and what it leaves out.
Exact match domains: do they still work?
Do exact match domains still work? Google says there is no magic EMD bonus. Why a keyword domain neither helps nor hurts, and what matters more instead.
Does guest posting still work for SEO?
Does guest posting still work? Yes, as exposure on real publications. As a bulk link tactic it is exactly what Google's link spam guidance targets.
How to write a content brief that works
How to write a content brief that works: audience, keywords, structure and a SERP review, with word counts set by the topic, not used as a ranking lever.
Server error (5xx) in Search Console
The server error 5xx Google Search Console status means Googlebot hit a failing server. How to find the cause, fix it and handle maintenance safely.
Redirect error in Search Console: fixes
A redirect error Google Search Console status means Google could not finish a redirect. The four causes Google names and how to fix each one.
Page with redirect in Search Console
The page with redirect Google Search Console status usually means a redirect is working. When to leave it alone, and when old URLs still need fixing.
Google chose a different canonical: why
Duplicate Google chose different canonical than user means Google overrode your tag. Why it happens and how to line up signals so it agrees.