With so many SEOs complaining about the Helpful Content Update demoting legitimate sites from the top of the SERP we ask: Is there really a problem with the Helpful Content Update? Rohan Ayyar joins the SEO Rant Podcast to separate the legitimate issues with the Helpful Content Update from just the usual SEO moaning and groaning. * The evolution of the Helpful Content Update means Google will get things wrong * Why a lot of the chatter about the Helpful Content Update being defective is a bit misguided * How the lack of incentive has led to a lack of helpful content Listen in as Rohan and host Mordy Oberstein share their insights about Google's Helpful Content Update. Visit our Sponsors: SE Ranking: https://seranking.com/?sou1=influencers&gr1=podcast&tg1=SEO_rant&kw1=com_podcast_sponsorship&utm_source=influencers&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=com_podcast_sponsorship_SEO_rant AlsoAsked: https://alsoasked.com/

SEO isn't a mundane process that can be boiled down to a checklist or cheat sheet. The best SEOs problem-solve and have a conceptual understanding of Search. Sarah Presch joins the SEO Rant podcast to share why critical thinking matters so much to doing SEO: * Don't use SEO tools unless you also use your brain * Why having a conceptual understanding is a huge SEO advantage * Why thinking critically about SEO is not optional - it's a necessity that can't be avoided Listen in as Sarah Presch and host Mordy Oberstein kvetch about the lack of critical thinking often displayed in "SEO".

Listen in as Pedro Dias and host Mordy Oberstein discuss the balance between honesty and courtesy and how it can impact the SEO conversation. As etiquette evolves is it important to ensure both civility and integrity are maintained. Having honest and open conversations are vital for pushing the SEO industry to new places but basic civility has to be maintained.

Google's "Discovered- currently not indexed" - is it a simple indexation status or is it much more? RickeyRoo's Melissa Popp joins the podcast to explain what the status of your indexation says about your site's quality. * Why looking for pages marked "Discovered - currently not indexed" should be one of the first things you check when working on a site * Why Discovered- currently not indexed can be an indication of site quality * Why too many pages marked as Discovered- currently not indexed can make it harder for future content to be indexed It's one thing if Google can't find your content (which obviously is a problem in and of itself). It's another thing for Google to tell you that they know the content exists, they just don't care. This is what Google is essentially telling you (all things being equal and at face value) when they say your pages are "Discovered - currently not indexed." Listen as Melissa Popp and Mordy Oberstein discuss what "Discovered- currently not indexed" says about your site's overall content quality. Visit the SEO Rant website for me: https://www.theseorant.com/

Google has come a long way from where it used to be and is far more communicative about its Google algorithm updates but is it enough? Caitlin Hathaway chimes in on: *Why Google updates are hard for SEOs *The case for Google being even more transparent about its algorithm *Confusion about where Google stands on the topic of AI content How transparent should Google be about its algorithm? It's a question SEOs (and beyond) have been dealing with for quite some time. While Google has been far more communicative in recent years some argue there is still a long way to go. It's hard for SEOs and content creators to align with Google's expectations if those expectations are a bit vague. While Google does try to offer guidance and examples the devil is always in the details and some SEOs argue there are just not enough details. Listen in as Caitlin Hathaway and Mordy Oberstein dive in!

When and where can you use AI-written content? It depends. One thing is certain you should be cautious. Ashwin Balakrishnan joins the SEO Rant to discuss the downside of over-relying on AI written content: * What AI lacks that makes it a terrible idea to use as a replacement for human content creators * Why making a business decision on a technology that is still emerging makes no sense * Why time will show that going all in on AI was a mistake for brands Listen in as Ashwin and Mordy kvetch about AI!

Do SEOs need soft skills to succeed? Russ Macumber joins the SEO Rant Podcast to share his thoughts on why soft skills for SEOs matter more than many think: * Why SEO communications are quite nuanced * The power of identifying client communication styles * How to deliver SEO communications that resonate with clients Listen as Russ and host Mordy Oberstein share what communication styles resonate with your clients.

What does it mean to be an LBGTQ+ ally if you're in the SEO community? Sarah McDowell stops by to share her thoughts: * Why brands should not fake their support for the LBGTQ+ community * Why being an LBGTQ+ ally is just good marketing * Why sometimes it's the subtle things that matter most when supporting the LBGTQ+ community

Rank tracking is a go-to practice for nearly all SEOs but that doesn't mean it's not without its problems and idiosyncracies. Jason Pollack (SEO manager at NBC Universal) and Gaby Alias (SEO specialist at Peacock) share their thoughts on rank tracking: * How Google's SGE will impact rank tracking * Why knowing your SERP is more important than ranking #1 * Living with rank volatility Rank tracking sounds simple at first glance. You throw your keywords that you want to track into an SEO tool and you see where you're ranking. Unfortunately, it's a lot more complex. First off, ranking is not the goal per se, traffic and conversion are depending on your business model. Then you have to factor in rank volatility, which can be its own headache. Even where you're ranking #1 it might not be what you really want (as crazy as that might sound. If you're in the news business like Gaby and Jason are, then the traditional organic results are probably not even your target (at least your primary target). Listen in as Jason Pollack, Gaby Alias, and Mordy Oberstein dive into it!

Should you be testing your SEO efforts? What if I told you probably already are? Logan Bryant joins the SEO Rant Podcast to share his thought on SEO testing: * How and when to do SEO testing * How to measure SEO testing and when every SEO test can't be statistically significant * Why we're all SEO testers We all see the value in SEO testing. Where we get a bit hung up is when trying to measure SEO efforts in this context. You might feel that you don't have the statistical background or proper volume to accurately test your SEO efforts. But does that mean you shouldn't test your SEO implementations? Logan Bryant and Mordy Oberstein talk the ins and outs of SEO testing.