ALL TOOLS AND SCRIPT FOR FREE

🔍 De-indexing bug hits Search Console reports | Smart speakers top tablets

Rise and shine, search marketers, unfortunately, the Google de-indexing nightmare isn't over just yet.

And, like any good story, here comes a plot twist: the bug has affected Search Console reports and the URL Inspection tool. Index coverage reports and enhancement reports may not reflect accurate data even after the de-indexing bug had been resolved. To boot, the URL Inspection tool that Google was telling SEOs to use to check the status of a page being indexed "might not reflect live status." Now we wait for Google to sort it out.

Smart speakers are expected to nearly double from 114 million units this year to 208 million worldwide in 2020, and to exceed the adoption of tablets the year after that. Despite the sector's size, there aren't many examples of smart speakers being effectively used for marketing campaigns. The growing base of smart speakers owners represents untapped potential for marketers that are creative enough and willing to experiment to find out what tactics might pay off.

Google Guaranteed and Porch or HomeAdvisor pre-screened businesses currently have a leg up on local service searches (such as locksmiths or plumbers) from the Google Assistant or Google Home. This presents a window of opportunity for pre-screened or Google Guaranteed service providers as they're not competing with all the other local businesses that might be found on traditional desktop or mobile search.

They can drive eyeballs to your content and generate ad revenue for your brand, but there's a lot more to know about Apple News, Google News and its subsection Google Newsstand. They don't all lend themselves to every purpose. If you're a content marketer, create an Apple News channel or Google Newsstand edition to help syndicate your content; if you're an industry news publisher, Google News can be a great way to get views and raise awareness.

Tons more below, including a few tips to boost your PageRank from Aleh Barysevich as well as your daily dose of search shorts.

George Nguyen,
Associate Editor

Quick links to stories mentioned above:
+ Apple News, Google News, Google Newsstand: What marketers need to know
+ De-indexing bug hits Google Search Console reports, tools
+ How to appear in local services listings in Google Assistant and Google Home
+ Smart speakers set to eclipse tablets globally by 2021

 
 
 
Pro Tip
 

Here's why we shouldn't forget about PageRank in 2019

"There's enough evidence to suggest PageRank still exists in 2019 even if the general public can no longer view their Toolbar PR score. PageRank is far from the only metric that matters, but that doesn't mean we should ignore it entirely or pretend it doesn't impact rankings," explains Aleh Barysevich of SEO PowerSuite. "Even though we can't see our PageRank score or measure it directly, there are a few best-practice steps you can take to preserve and increase your PageRank: 1) Build quality backlinks. 2) Maintain a shallow site structure. 3) Follow best-practices for links coming out of a page. 4) Tell users where links lead. 5) Leverage linkless mentions."

Read More »

 

Make the most of your YouTube advertising

Sponsored by Search Engine Land

If you're not already using YouTube videos as part of your marketing efforts, you should be. Researchers have found that a majority of consumers (81 percent) have been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand's video.

Take advantage of the meteoric rise in video advertising with the right tips, tricks and tools. Read more.

Read More »

 
Search Shorts
 

The good old days ...

Fax that over. Did you know that the Google local panel can show fax numbers?

Pruning content poll. This Twitter poll shows that most SEOs prefer to 301 pruned content to other URLs than 404 that URL.

New tools. Check out the new and improved TechnicalSEO.com toolset. They were just updated and they are free.

Where are you?. If you hide things from GoogleBot, then those things you hide will be invisible in the search results. "Ultimately, that's up to you," says John Mueller of Google.

 
What we're reading
 

We've curated our picks from across the web so you can retire your feed reader

Do You Want Google To Stay Stagnant & Not Improve? – Search Engine Roundtable

EU approves tougher EU copyright rules in blow to Google, Facebook – Reuters

Google Indexes Domains That Have Not Been Registered – Bill Hartzer

How to delete your voice recordings from Google Assistant – CNBC

How we're supporting economic opportunity in Iowa – Google Blog

Improving Page Load Time on WordPress Websites – Go Fish Digital

Why Publishing Frequency and Content Quality Both Matter for SEO – Stone Temple

 
 
 
Join Us
 

Gain expert SEO & SEM tactics to drive your campaign's success. Attend SMX Advanced, June 3-5!

Attend Search Engine Land's SMX Advanced, June 3-5, 2019 for expert-led sessions, networking (including the 2019 Search Engine Land Awards), and top amenities including WiFi, delicious meals, and snacks. This is your once-a-year event to learn only advanced SEO and SEM tactics. You'll come away with at least one tactic that you can immediately put to use… we guarantee it. View rates and register today!