Ep 18 - Google Leaks

Summary

In this conversation, Jay and Lindsie discuss the recent leak of Google's API documentation and its implications for SEO. They cover topics such as domain authority, the impact of clicks on rankings, the use of Chrome data, the categorization of links, the existence of a sandbox for new domains, the importance of authorship, and the concept of whitelists. The main takeaway is that building a notable, popular, and well-recognized brand outside of Google search is crucial for improving organic search rankings and traffic.

Takeaways

• Building a notable, popular, and well-recognized brand outside of Google search is crucial for improving organic search rankings and traffic.
• Domain authority exists in some form, although it may not align with how it is commonly understood in the SEO world.
• Clicks and user behavior, such as dwell time and impressions, have an impact on rankings.
• Chrome data is used by Google for ranking factors, and it provides valuable user behavior information.
• Links are categorized as low, medium, and high, and the freshness of links from high-quality sources has a bigger impact.
• There is a sandbox period for new domains where SEO efforts may be muted until trust is established.
• Authorship or the track record of expertise and authority of a writer can influence rankings.
• Whitelists exist for certain industries, such as travel, and Google may trust certain sites more for specific types of searches.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Speculation on Lawsuits

02:03 The Most Breaking News: Leaked Google Documentation

11:57 Understanding the Leaked Information: Key Findings and Insights

34:53 The Importance of Brand Building and SEO Complexity