Despite being a popular talking point, people aren’t (yet?) abandoning Google Search and using ChatGPT search or other AI chatbots.
In fact, the number of Google searches increased year over year, and Google Search handles 373 times more searches than ChatGPT, according to a new analysis by SparkToro co-founder Rand Fishkin.
Why we care. Many search marketers, users, and analysts have speculated that AI tools are reducing Google’s dominance in search. However, this research finds no evidence that vast numbers of searchers are abandoning Google for ChatGPT and other AI search engines and chatbot experiences.
By the numbers. Even if all ChatGPT’s 1 billion messages per day were search-related, its total share of the search market would be less than 1%. (ChatGPT used search to answer 46% of queries, and only 30% of ChatGPT prompts fell into “traditional” search-like behavior, according to a Semrush study.)
ChatGPT saw an estimated 37.5 million search-like prompts per day, giving it a 0.25% market share. That’s less than Microsoft Bing (4.10%), Yahoo (1.35%), and DuckDuckGo (0.73%).
Google saw ~373 times as many searches as ChatGPT in 2024.
More Google searches. The number of Google searches grew 21.64% in 2024, compared to 2023, based on Datos data.
This data seems to confirm what Alphabet/Google CEO Sundar Pichai said about AI Overviews increasing search usage (“we are seeing an increase in search usage among people who use the new AI Overviews…”).
But. Just because people are searching more doesn’t necessarily mean Google is sending as many clicks or as much traffic to websites. As a reminder, an estimated 60% of Google searches ended without a click in 2024. That means more than 3 trillion searches in 2024 ended without a click.
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ChatGPT Tasks might be the most underrated tool in SEO today.
It can turn a single employee into a vast team – but only if you know how to use it.
And in this article, you’re about to see the future of SEO.
What is ChatGPT Tasks?
ChatGPT Tasks is a tool within ChatGPT designed to automate various tasks, including those related to SEO, such as content generation, keyword research, and link building.
This feature allows users to schedule tasks to run at specific times, either as one-time events or recurring actions, enhancing workflow efficiency and productivity.
As of writing, it’s in beta and rolling out to users on the Plus, Pro, and Team plans.
How to use ChatGPT Tasks: The basics
The key to maximizing ChatGPT Tasks is to approach it strategically and leverage its capabilities fully.
Start by identifying specific tasks you want to automate, such as:
Creating blog post outlines.
Generating meta descriptions.
Researching competitor backlinks.
Then, explore the tool’s features and experiment with different prompts to find the most effective workflows for your needs.
ChatGPT Tasks is powerful, but it’s not a magic solution.
You must carefully review and refine the output to ensure it aligns with your brand and SEO strategy.
Efficiency gains: The secret to ChatGPT Tasks
One of the reasons ChatGPT Tasks is so powerful is that it optimizes your time.
As an SEO professional using AI, your role will shift from doing work to checking work. That means you need to maximize your efficiency.
In the past, SEOs often outsourced work to overseas staff in different time zones. ChatGPT Tasks changes this.
Now, you can outsource tasks to AI, ensuring they are ready for you when you start your day.
Here’s how I use ChatGPT Tasks: At 7 a.m., AI sends me a batch of completed work.
Beyond that, I’ve also used Tasks to generate content throughout the day.
For example, I set up a content prompt that delivers product description pages to me every 30 minutes. (More on that later.)
Essentially, this feature allows you to maximize “dead time” – periods when you aren’t actively working.
While it doesn’t mean the tool is working around the clock, it ensures you get what you need when needed.
For instance, if you ask it to send you something at 7 a.m., it likely generates it at 6:59 a.m.
But I don’t need to know how it works. I just care that I get what I asked for.
Many SEOs focus on page title optimization, and ChatGPT Tasks makes this process easier.
I use a “dueling” method, where GPT generates multiple page title variations.
I then run them through a tournament-style evaluation to select the best one based on preset criteria.
Social media post ideas
Generating a steady stream of fresh and engaging social media content can be time-consuming. ChatGPT Tasks can help streamline this process.
Here’s an example prompt:
The output of that prompt looks like this:
This is just one of the many prompts I use.
While I only implement about 5% of the generated ideas, they often lead to new inspiration – especially on days when I’m feeling stuck.
Industry news summaries
Staying on top of industry news is essential for SEO professionals.
With ChatGPT Tasks, you can automate this process.
Each morning at 7 a.m., I receive a curated list of SEO and AI news from my preferred sources.
The future of tasks
SEO workflows are rapidly evolving with AI, and ChatGPT Tasks represents a significant step forward.
I suspect there’s still untapped potential. Could I schedule an entire week’s worth of SEO tasks in advance?
For example, if I know I need to work on a client’s account on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., could I schedule ChatGPT to conduct research or analyze content beforehand?
Looking further ahead, it may eventually ask you what needs to be done – and then suggest the best way to execute it using Tasks.
OpenAI may even develop a single model to streamline this process.
While ChatGPT Tasks is still in its early days, I believe it will evolve rapidly.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/How-to-access-ChatGPT-Tasks-KcG7Xp.png?fit=1600%2C561&ssl=15611600http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-03-11 14:00:002025-03-11 14:00:00How to use ChatGPT Tasks for SEO
500 errors are an HTTP status code that indicates you messed up something and need to start a late-night debugging session.
500 errors are offensive. I can only compare it to eating fermented shark in Iceland – something you’ll want to spit out almost immediately.
500 server errors create a poor user experience and can reduce your crawl budget. If they persist, Google may start ignoring your site altogether. Your website should be commitment-worthy.
If you’re an SEO professional, you’ve likely stayed up until 3 a.m. with coffee and your DevOps team trying to fix a 500 error. You’ll want to keep reading.
I’ll spare you the suspense and admit – it’s usually not a quick fix.
How do I fix ‘Server error (5xx)’ in Google Search Console?
1. Review all the pages under Server error 5xx report
First, I manually reviewed all the pages flagged in the Google Search Console Server error (5xx) report.
To access the report, go to Google Search Console > Pages > and look under the section Server error (5xx).
If the list is extensive, you’ll want to export it to a CSV, Google Sheets, or Excel file to determine a URL structure pattern.
It may only impact a specific subdomain or subfolder.
2. Inspect the URLs in Google Search Console
Once you’re in the Google Search Console error report, click the magnifying glass icon to inspect the URL in Google Search Console.
After you inspect the URL, you can confirm if it’s listed in your XML sitemap.
Start with the pages listed in your XML sitemap that are serving 500 errors. These are your priority pages.
3. Go to the crawl stats report in Google Search Console
Next, go to Settings > Crawl stats report in Google Search Console.
This report shows the crawl request breakdown. Ideally, you’d see less than 1% of server errors (5xx) listed.
4. Analyze server logs
If you’ve got a good relationship with your dev team, you likely have access to server logs.
If you don’t, I understand your struggle. It’s the developers’ natural defense mechanism not to give access to their domain.
The moment you get access to server logs, it feels like a kid at Christmas. Server log files show all the requests made by search engine crawlers.
Server logs give you access to all different kinds of gifts like:
How often a user visited your site.
Time of day.
Pages of your website with the most crawl requests.
If you’re using WordPress, check your outdated plugins. These can be culprits of 500 server errors.
You can either update the plugin or disable it.
Just be sure to backup everything before messing around with plugins.
6. Investigate .htaccess file
If you’re using a CMS like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace, the .htaccess file is created automatically.
If you’re using a more sophisticated angle of web development, check your .htaccess file for any recent configuration changes.
If you see any changes, save a copy of the new one and revert to the old version.
7. Go back to the most recent server update
If you recently updated your server, there may be some configuration changes that caused something wonky to happen.
While you and Dev dive into the issue, revert the most recent server update until you identify the root cause.
8. Reach out to your hosting provider
I mistakenly hosted my first-built website on GoDaddy in a shared hosting environment. It caused weekly outages on my site.
Eventually, I migrated off of GoDaddy and into a private hosting environment. It saved me hours of work.
9. Upgrade your server
It may be time to ditch your current server and upgrade to a more efficient server with more memory and processing power.
What is a 500 server error?
500 server error is a server-side error caused by your website’s server. This means Google cannot access or index your page.
Server-side errors are a “it’s not me, it’s you” type of scenario.
500 server error response code cheat sheet
Here are a few common 500 server errors and how to address each.
501 – Not implemented: Your server is outdated or has a virus.
502 – Bad gateway: Your server is overloaded or there was an outage – or connectivity issues. Try accessing the page in Incognito mode. If it still doesn’t work, flush your DNS cache.
503 – Service unavailable: The error is likely temporary and will resolve itself. But to be sure, check to see if your server is down. If not, increase your server resources and disable your CDN and plugins.
504 – Getaway timed out: This signals a temporary glitch in your connectivity or your server is overloaded. Always contact your hosting provider. Then, check your server logs. You can also temporarily disable your CDN and check plugins.
509 – Bandwidth limit exceeded: Thismeans your server is having a bandwidth issue. Contact your hosting provider to upgrade your server. Then, compress your website content and minify your code.
524 – Timeout occurred: The connection between your browser and the server is slow. Check your server memory usage and determine if you need to upgrade your server. Then, compress your website content and minify your code.
What if Google Search Console reports a 500 error, but my site is working?
First, double-check that you’ve cleared your cookies and cache files from your browser.
If you’re still seeing the error, this could be a 503 error,
As mentioned above, a 503 error is when your server is overstuffed like a dumpling with crawl requests. Your server can’t handle the number of requests.
In this situation, consider upgrading your server.
Consult your dev team before starting to maintain that solid relationship. This is a temporary and quick solution.
In the long run, you’ll want to identify uncompressed files and begin compressing them.
Don’t fall into the ‘Server error 5xx’ trap in Google Search Console with overloaded servers or poor configuration
If you’ve come across a “Server error 5xx” in Google Search Console, you know how frustrating it can be.
These errors are outdated and unwelcome – like finding a stack of VHS tapes at a flea market.
But 500 server errors can be dangerously unassuming.
Don’t make the mistake of avoiding it. You can’t ignore these errors. It’s one of those impossible errors like washing cigarette smell off your hands.
Grab some booze for a late night with your dev team if you want your website to be meant for search engine consumption.
Let your SEO instincts kick in. Eventually, you’ll develop a vested interest in fixing your 500 server errors.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/500-server-error-google-search-console-IWEeJw.png?fit=1660%2C1719&ssl=117191660http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-03-11 13:00:002025-03-11 13:00:00How to fix the ‘Server error (5xx)’ error in Google Search Console
Similarweb is powerful for digital intelligence. But like any tool, it has limitations.
You might want deeper insights into your competitors’ content strategies. Or need more reliable data for SEO planning. Or you’re simply looking for a more affordable solution.
I’ve spent months testing and researching the best Similarweb alternatives to see how they compare.
Four tools stand out as replacements.
This guide covers the top options for:
Market trends
Advanced SEO analysis
Ad intelligence
Similarweb Limitations
While Similarweb excels at competitor intelligence, it might not fit everyone.
Here are some key limitations:
Limited SEO and keyword research features: It lacks in-depth keyword rankings, SERP tracking, and backlink analysis, making it less effective for SEO professionals
Limited keyword and backlink databases: Similarweb’s databases are smaller compared to its competitors like Semrush and Ahrefs
Limited traffic source breakdown: It doesn’t show a detailed breakdown of where the website gets traffic from (e.g., organic search, social media, referrals, email, etc.)
No granular audience demographics: Unlike some alternatives, Similarweb lacks detailed demographic breakdowns, such as income level or interests, that could help with audience targeting
Similarweb Alternatives at a Glance
Before I review each tool in detail, here’s a quick comparison of the best Similarweb alternatives:
And you’ll get detailed insights into website traffic and visitor behavior that’ll help you refine your marketing strategy.
Let me show you how to use Traffic Analytics to spy on your competition.
Evaluate On-Site Engagement
Metrics like pages per visit, average visit duration, and bounce rate give you a snapshot of what happens when visitors land on the site.
Here’s what these metrics tell you about your competition:
A high bounce rate means most visitors leave without exploring other pages. This often happens when:
The content doesn’t match what visitors were searching for
Pages take too long to load
The site isn’t mobile-friendly
On the flip side, when you see a high average visit duration and multiple pages per visit, it usually means:
Their content keeps readers engaged
They’ve built effective content funnels
Their site navigation makes it easy to explore more content
Analyze Website Traffic Sources
Go to the “Traffic Journey” tab to understand where your competitors’ website visitors are coming from and which channels are driving the most traffic. For example, organic search, paid search, social, or referrals.
What do these metrics mean?
If you see most of their traffic comes from organic search (like in the screenshot above), you’ve struck gold. This usually means:
They’ve built a solid foundation of SEO-optimized content
They’re targeting the right keywords for your industry
They’re not overly dependent on paid traffic
Pro tip: Pay special attention to competitors maintaining steady organic traffic growth. These are the ones whose SEO strategies you’ll want to study and adapt for your own site.
Map Out the Traffic Journey
The Traffic Journey report is like a GPS for your competitors’ visitors. It tracks their exact path before and after they land on the site.
Here’s what different traffic patterns reveal:
Pattern #1: When you see visitors flowing from Google → Your competitor → Stripe (or other payment processors), you’ve found a winning formula:
Their content matches search intent perfectly (thanks to a solid SEO strategy)
Pattern #2: Notice lots of visitors bouncing back to Google.com? That’s a red flag indicating:
The content isn’t delivering what visitors want
There might be technical issues causing frustration
You’ve spotted a gap you can fill with better content
Discover Top-Performing Pages
Navigate to the “Top Pages” tab to identify which pages on a competitor’s site drive the most traffic.
These top pages reveal what resonates most with their audience. This offers inspiration for your content strategy.
Let’s say you run a personal finance blog. You might discover that NerdWallet’s most-visited pages are their:
Mortgage calculator tools
Credit card comparison guides
Student loan refinancing reviews
This tells you three things:
What type of content your audience want (interactive tools and comparison guides)
Which topics drive the most traffic (mortgages, credit cards, student loans)
Where to focus your content strategy for maximum impact
Market Explorer
Market Explorer helps you evaluate your market size and track up to 100 competitors at once.
The tool shows you who’s leading your industry, who’s growing fast, and detailed insights about your target audience’s demographics and behavior.
Here’s what you can do with Market Explorer:
Get a Market Summary
The Market Summary dashboard shows you a snapshot of your chosen industry.
Let’s say you’re just starting a business in the travel and tourism industry. This dashboard gives you the key metrics to evaluate the market and plan your strategy effectively:
Here’s what the key metrics on this dashboard mean:
Market consolidation: Shows if a few big players dominate your market (high consolidation) or if it’s spread across many smaller sites (low consolidation)
Market domains: How many active websites compete in your space
Market traffic: How many monthly visitors the entire industry gets (and whether it’s growing or shrinking)
Market traffic cost: How much you’d need to spend on ads to get the same traffic volume
Market size: Two key numbers that matter:
Total Addressable Market (TAM): Your maximum possible audience size (example: “all online shoppers”)
Serviceable Available Market (SAM): The audience you can realistically reach (example: “online shoppers in your country”)
Analyze Audience Insights
The Audience section provides a detailed breakdown of your industry’s demographics, socioeconomic data, and behavioral trends.
These insights help you understand your target audience on a deeper level. This will allow you to tailor your marketing strategies to their specific needs and preferences.
Market Explorer even shows detailed audience socioeconomic data. For instance, their employment status, education level, and household income and size.
You’ll also see an overview of your audience’s additional interests. And what social media they use the most.
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
Limitations
Understand where competitors get engagement from (organic search, social media, email, ads)
No mobile app intelligence
Tailored for SEO intelligence as it’s an all-in-one SEO platform
SEOs and content marketers analyzing SEO competition
Market researchers, businesses, or investors analyzing industries
Now, let’s review the key features Ahrefs Site Explorer offers.
View Your Competitors’ Top Pages
Site Explorer lets you identify the highest-value content on your competitor’s website. Plus, the top organic keywords driving that traffic.
Use these insights to replicate their success.
Let’s say you’re running a personal finance blog that competes with NerdWallet. You can analyze their top-performing pages to spot content opportunities.
In this example, the mortgage rates page is one of the most visited. This means that “current mortgage rates” is a high-demand topic worth covering on your website.
Review the Site Structures of Your Competitors
Ahrefs’ Site Structure feature shows a website’s architecture in a tree format with key SEO metrics across each section and subfolder.
This helps you analyze how competitors organize their content and which sections attract the most traffic.
For example, when you analyze one of your competitors, you can see:
Which content categories drive the most organic traffic (e.g., reviews, mortgage guides, or financial calculators)
The traffic performance of individual pages and subfolders
How much organic and paid traffic each section receives, pinpointing opportunities for content optimization
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Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
Limitations
Helps identify high-value content opportunities
Less emphasis on broader market research
Have a look at competitors’ site architecture
No data on your competitors’ audience (age, location, interests, etc)
Then, for each competitor’s domain, you can access detailed insights, such as:
Domain overview report: Get a bird’s-eye view of their SEO performance, including total organic traffic, keyword rankings, and estimated traffic value
Positions and keywords: See exactly which keywords they rank for, what position they’re in, and how these rankings change over time
Top pages: Discover their highest-traffic content and the exact keywords driving visitors to each page (perfect for finding content gaps in your own strategy)
Backlink profile: Analyze where their backlinks come from, which pages get the most links, and how their link profile grows over time
Site audit: Peek under the hood at their technical SEO setup, including site structure, loading speed, and potential technical issues you can learn from
Why do these insights matter?
They let you reverse-engineer your competitors’ success to improve your SEO strategy.
And find high-authority sites linked to your competitors. Then, reach out to these websites for backlink opportunities.
Best for entrepreneurs and marketers needing early trend insights to capitalize on emerging opportunities
Pricing: Free (paid plans start at $39 per month)
Exploding Topics is a market research and trend discovery tool that identifies emerging trends before they peak.
While Similarweb focuses on existing competitors, Exploding Topics helps you spot rising trends before they take off. The tool analyzes search data, social media, and startup activity to identify tomorrow’s opportunities.
Why is Exploding Topics better than Similarweb?
Let’s take a glance:
Exploding Topics
Similarweb
Primary Focus
Trend discovery and market opportunities
Competitor intelligence and market research
Trend Detection
AI-driven trend forecasting
Relies on historical industry data
Keyword Database
Identifies rising search trends
Tracks established search volume
Competitive Analysis
Limited, focused on macro trends
Detailed competitor insights
Who’s It for?
Entrepreneurs, product developers, investors
Market researchers, large enterprises
Here are the key features included in Exploding Topics:
Discover Emerging Trends Before They Peak
Exploding Topics analyzes millions of data points from search engines, social media, online discussions, and startup investments to identify growing trends.
What does this mean for you?
Let’s say you have an affiliate blog selling home technology. You want to see what’s trending to understand which products or keywords have rising demand before they become mainstream.
Using Exploding Topics, you discover that “walking pads,” compact treadmills designed for home offices, are rapidly gaining traction.
This early insight gives you three key advantages:
You can create content while competition is still low
You can rank for keywords before they get expensive
You can establish yourself as an authority before the trend peaks
In other words: you get more traffic with less effort by being first.
Spot Trends 12+ Months Before They Take Off
Exploding Topics’ forecasting feature can position you as an early authority and rank faster in search.
Imagine creating content around AI image enhancers.
At first glance, it’s hard to tell if the interest in AI-powered image tools will continue to grow or if it’s just temporary hype.
Instead of guessing, you check Exploding Topics’ forecasting data. And see that the search volume for “AI logo generator” is expected to rise steadily.
Knowing the keyword’s popularity may rise gives you the confidence to take action early and secure organic traffic before the competition.
Note: Forecasting is available in Exploding Topics Pro, but you can test it with a 14-day trial for $1. After 14 days, Pro memberships start at $39 per month.
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
Limitations
Provides long-term trend growth insights
Not focused on competitor intelligence
Predicts emerging trends before they peak
Doesn’t show competitors’ website traffic data
Match Your Similarweb Alternative to Your Growth Stage
Your business stage determines which tool you’ll need.
Just starting out? Exploding Topics gives you free baseline data to validate ideas.
Ready to scale? Semrush .Trends reveals overlooked opportunities in your space.
The right tool accelerates your market research. But knowing how to interpret the data is what drives real growth.
Ready to turn market insights into sales? Our proven market analysis framework shows you exactly how to spot and capitalize on gaps your competitors are missing.
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American desktop users perform 126 unique Google searches per month, on average, according to a new analysis of search behavior published by SparkToro co-founder Rand Fishkin. The median average was 53 Google unique searches per month.
By the numbers. Here are some additional findings about American searchers, beyond the headline statistic:
34% conducted more than 101 searches per month.
36% conducted 21-100 searches per month.
30% conducted 1-20 searches per month.
Google Search by vertical. A whopping 86.94% of Americans use Google.com (Google’s homepage search experience) to search. As for Google’s other vertical options:
Images: 10.62%
Video: 1.16%
Maps: 0.64% (which “is almost certainly undercounted,” according to Fishkin)
News: 0.38%
Shopping: 0.23%
Web: 0.04%
As the study notes about this section:
“This breakdown is looking at the searches that happen in those tabs/sections, not the ones that simply result in a click on a Google News or Shopping result that appeared in the default Google search tab.”
Why we care. There’s been much speculation that AI tools and answer engines will negatively impact Google’s search dominance. However, this data confirms that Google’s search volume is still massive. Future updates to this study could reveal whether there is any truth to Gartner’s oft-cited prediction that traffic from search engines will fall by 25% by 2026.
The intrigue. Hours before this report was published, we reported that Google processes more than 5 trillion searches per year. Datos’ estimate for the number of annual Google searches: 5.9 trillion. According to Fishkin:
“Our math above puts the number at 5.9 Trillion, a little high, likely because Datos’ panel focuses on wealthier countries where more search activity per person is to be expected. Still incredible that they’d come out with numbers the day we publish that help back up the veracity of these results, and the quality of Datos’ panel.”
About the data. Fishkin partnered with Datos (a Semrush company), which only tracks web browser activity. That means searches made within mobile apps (e.g., Google search, Google Maps) are excluded from this research. Only searches on Google.com and its five main vertical options were counted.
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SEO is a fast-moving, marketing-centric industry that will always keep you on your toes.
If you’re just getting started, it can be overwhelming without a guide.
There are many facets and specializations in SEO that come later in a career – local, technical, content, digital PR, UX, ecommerce, media – the list goes on.
However, that level of specialization isn’t something a junior professional needs to focus on right away.
Much like a liberal arts degree or an apprenticeship, a newcomer to SEO should first develop a broad understanding of the entire discipline before choosing a specialty.
This article covers several ways to build that foundational knowledge of search engine optimization.
1. Start with the business
Whether you’re in-house or at an agency, resist the urge to jump straight into “solution mode” when beginning an SEO project.
Instead of immediately focusing on meta tags, keywords, backlinks, or URL structure, start by understanding the business itself.
Here are some key questions to consider as you browse the website:
What product or service is being sold?
Who is the target audience? (If you’re in-house, who is your company trying to sell to?)
Why does the company believe customers should choose them over competitors? (Common differentiators include price, unique features, or benefits.)
If you have the time or opportunity, dig deeper by asking your boss or client these business-focused questions:
What are the company’s goals and targets?
What is the three- to five-year plan for the business? (Are there plans to launch new products or expand into new markets?)
Who are the main competitors, and what are they doing?
A sample of onboarding business questions from Building a Business Brain by FLOQ Academy
Even without that level of detail, the first three questions provide a useful frame of reference for determining the best SEO approach.
Because of that, SEOs often become social butterflies, regularly collaborating with other departments and specialties.
I’ve been in SEO for 15 years now (which makes me feel old), but I continue to ask my clients questions every day.
This field encourages curiosity, so rather than feeling frustrated by what you don’t fully understand, embrace being the one to ask the “dumb questions.”
There’s no such thing as a dumb question, by the way.
As mentioned earlier, SEO has many specializations. Some, like video or local SEO, are referred to as “search verticals.”
If you’re new to the field, start with the basics: the website and how Google presents search results.
Once you understand the business, try a simple exercise to analyze your site’s optimization.
Open a key product, category, or service page in one window. In another, search for a term you think users would enter to find that page.
Compare what appears in the search results with your own page and the pages that rank for that term.
For example, in a search for “running shoes,” a few things stand out:
The intent is somewhat mismatched. Nike’s category page targets users who are researching with intent to buy or are already planning a purchase. However, the search results display articles comparing different running shoes.
Scrolling down, you might see an image carousel, a “Nearby Stores” section, and “People Also Ask” results.
If I were a new SEO at Nike and assumed the “running shoes” category page could rank for the “running shoes” query, I would rethink that after reviewing the search results.
If ranking for that broad term were a priority, I would create a running shoe comparison article featuring high-quality images of real people using the shoes – maybe even a video, if budget allowed.
If your page aligns more closely with the search results, analyze the top-ranking pages and adapt successful elements to your own site.
Do most of them have an on-page FAQ while yours doesn’t?
A product video? Detailed specs? User reviews?
Be critical and specific about what you can improve. (Never copy content directly.)
At its core, SEO is about identifying what Google deems important for a given product or service, then doing it better than the competition.
Many SEOs get caught up in tools and tactics and forget to examine the search results themselves.
Break that habit early and make reviewing Google’s search results a key part of your research process.
4. Dabble in the technical side and build relationships with your developers
Technical SEO is one of the more complex specializations in the field and can seem intimidating.
If you’re using a major CMS, your technical foundations are likely solid, so today, much of technical SEO focuses on refinements and enhancements.
While it’s important to develop technical knowledge, a great way to start is by building relationships with your development team and staying curious.
Asking questions makes learning more interactive and immediately relevant to your work.
Exploring coding courses or creating your own website can also help you develop technical skills gradually instead of all at once.
Some argue that you can be a good SEO without technical expertise – and I don’t disagree.
However, understanding a website’s inner workings, how Google operates, and even how large language models (LLMs) function can help you prioritize your SEO efforts.
Code is Google’s native language, and knowing how to interpret it can be invaluable when migrating a site, launching a new one, or diagnosing traffic drops.
5. Learn the different types of information Google shows in search results
The way search results are presented today vastly differs from 10 or 15 years ago.
Those who have been in the industry for a while have had the advantage of adapting gradually as Google has evolved.
Newcomers, on the other hand, are thrown into the deep end, facing a wide range of search features all at once – some personalized, some not, and some appearing inconsistently.
This can be challenging to grasp, even for experienced SEOs.
Google has invested heavily in understanding user intent and presenting search results in a way that best addresses it.
As a result, search results may include:
Videos.
Images.
People Also Ask.
Related Searches.
AI Overviews.
AI-organized search.
Map results.
Nearby shopping options.
Product listings.
People Also Buy From.
News
Building visibility for each of these features often requires a unique approach and specific considerations.
These search result types are now industry jargon, so a glossary can help you learn SEO terminology.
6. Learn the different types of query intent classifications
Google’s mission is to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”
As part of this, Google works to understand why people search for something and provides the most relevant results to match that intent.
To do this, they classify queries based on intent.
The Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines, a handbook Google provides to evaluators who manually assess website and search result quality, also touches on understanding user intent:
“It can be helpful to think of queries as having one or more of the following intents.
Know query, some of which are Know Simple queries.
Do query, when the user is trying to accomplish a goal or engage in an activity.
Website query, when the user is looking for a specific website or webpage.
Visit-in-person query, some of which are looking for a specific business or organization, some of which are looking for a category of businesses.”
When conducting keyword research, it’s helpful to analyze both your site and the queries you’re targeting through this lens.
Many SEO professionals also use these broader, traditional intent categories, though they don’t always align perfectly with Google’s classifications:
Informational: Who, what, when, where, how, why.
Commercial: Comparison, review, best, specific product.
Transactional: Buy, cheap, sale, register.
Navigational: Searching for a specific brand.
Rather than focusing solely on keywords, take a step back and consider the intent behind the search. Understanding intent is essential for SEO success.
However, if you’re new to SEO, I strongly recommend completing at least one full project using tools like Google Search Console, Semrush, or Ahrefs without LLM support.
While AI can speed up the process, relying on it too early has drawbacks:
Slower learning curve: If an LLM does the heavy lifting, you miss the experience of making strategic trade-offs, such as choosing a low-volume, mid-competition keyword over a high-volume, high-competition one.
Lack of instinct for accuracy: Without firsthand research experience, it’s harder to recognize when an LLM generates inaccurate information or pulls from an unreliable source.
Reduced impact: Google is increasingly sophisticated in detecting “repetitive content.” Relying too much on LLMs for mass content creation could hurt performance, whereas a more focused, strategic approach might yield better results.
While it may be tempting to jump straight into strategy rather than hands-on execution, senior SEOs develop their strategic mindset through years of practical work across different clients and industries.
Skipping this foundational experience could make it harder to recognize large-scale patterns and trends.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/A-sample-of-onboarding-business-questions-from-Building-a-Business-Brain-by-FLOQ-Academy-LkMOlv.png?fit=1270%2C1020&ssl=110201270http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-03-04 15:00:002025-03-04 15:00:007 tips for SEO newbies
Search is evolving, and social platforms are now at the heart of discovery.
Pinterest, in particular, has emerged as a powerful visual search engine, driving traffic and engagement for brands, bloggers, and businesses.
Unlike traditional social media, which thrives on conversations and real-time interactions, Pinterest is built for intent-driven discovery – where users actively seek inspiration, ideas, and products.
This presents a unique opportunity for search marketers.
Pinterest users often arrive with high intent, making it an invaluable platform for organic visibility and referral traffic.
To maximize discoverability, understanding how Pinterest search works along with SEO best practices is essential.
This article breaks down:
How Pinterest functions as a search engine.
The key ranking factors that influence visibility.
The best ways to optimize your content for discovery.
How Pinterest works as a search engine
At its core, Pinterest is more than just a social platform – it’s one of the original discovery engines.
Unlike Instagram or Facebook, where content is driven by social interactions and chronological feeds, Pinterest prioritizes search intent and content relevance.
Users come to Pinterest with a purpose:
To find inspiration.
To plan projects.
To discover new ideas.
More importantly, they arrive with intent – often high purchase intent – making them ready and willing to become customers of the brands they discover on the platform.
Pinterest does not display content in simple chronological order. Instead, it uses a proprietary algorithm called the Smart Feed, which ranks and curates content based on user behavior, engagement, and search activity.
Key factors that influence Pinterest rankings include:
Relevance to the search query: Pinterest relies heavily on keywords in Pin titles, descriptions, board names, and even image alt text. Optimized content with clear intent performs better in search.
Engagement metrics: Pins with high engagement (saves, clicks, and close-ups) signal value to Pinterest, increasing their likelihood of appearing in feeds and search results.
Freshness of content: Pinterest favors newly created Pins over reshared or older content. Consistently uploading fresh, high-quality content boosts visibility.
Pinner authority and board quality: The credibility of the account posting the Pin matters. Established accounts with well-organized, keyword-rich boards tend to have better visibility.
Image quality and format: Pinterest prioritizes visually appealing, vertical images (2:3 aspect ratio) that encourage engagement. Clear, high-resolution images with compelling overlays perform best.
Differences between traditional search vs. Pinterest search
While Pinterest and traditional search engines like Google are search-capable platforms, their mechanics differ in several ways.
Keyword research for Pinterest SEO
Just like with traditional SEO, keyword research is the foundation of Pinterest SEO.
Since Pinterest functions as a visual search engine, understanding how users search for content is essential to optimizing your Pins, boards, and profile.
Unlike Google or Bing, Pinterest doesn’t provide exact search volume data.
However, it offers valuable insights through autocomplete suggestions, the Pinterest Trends toolkit, and third-party tools.
Conducting keyword research using Pinterest’s search bar
One of the easiest ways to find relevant keywords is by using Pinterest’s search bar autocomplete feature. Here’s how.
Start typing a broad keyword: Enter a general term related to your niche, such as “home decor.”
Look at Pinterest’s auto-suggestions: As you type, Pinterest displays popular search queries based on previous user behavior. These suggestions indicate high-interest topics.
Refine and expand keywords: Click on a suggested keyword to see additional related opportunities. This can help identify long-tail keyword variations.
Example: Typing “summer outfit” might generate suggestions like “summer outfit ideas,” “summer outfit for vacation,” or “summer outfit aesthetic.”
These variations can be valuable additions to your Pins and boards if you aim to rank for that type of query.
Using Pinterest Trends for search volume and seasonality insights
Pinterest Trends allows search and social teams to:
Track rising and declining trends over time.
Compare keyword popularity.
Identify seasonal patterns to plan content accordingly.
By analyzing search interest fluctuations, you can determine when specific topics gain traction and adjust your posting schedule to maximize visibility and engagement.
Enter relevant keywords to see interest over time and related trending searches.
Identify peak times for specific topics (e.g., searches for “Halloween costume ideas” spike in September and October).
Adjust your content calendar to publish content before peak trends to increase engagement.
Example: If searches for “Christmas gift ideas” peak in November, start publishing optimized Pins for that keyword in September or October to gain traction before competition increases.
Tools and methods to discover high-performing keywords
In addition to Pinterest’s built-in search and trend tools, external resources can help refine your keyword strategy. Here are a few options:
Pinterest Ads Manager: Provides keyword suggestions when setting up an ad campaign. Even if you’re not running ads, you can use it for organic research.
Google Keyword Planner: While not Pinterest-specific, it helps identify related search terms that users may also search for on Pinterest. You can then verify these terms using Pinterest-specific tools.
Buzzabout.AI: Helps analyze social media conversations around specific topics, offering insight into potential keyword opportunities.
Now that we understand keyword research and content trends, the next step is optimizing your Pins.
Since Pinterest is a visual-first platform, the design, format, and metadata of your Pins play a crucial role in performance.
Well-optimized Pins rank higher in search results and attract more saves, clicks, and engagement – fueling further algorithmic distribution.
An Anthropologie pin that showcases several of our recommended best practices.
Best practices for Pin design
The visual appeal of a Pin directly impacts its discoverability and engagement. Follow these design best practices:
Use the optimal image size: Pinterest recommends a 2:3 aspect ratio (1,000 x 1,500 pixels) to prevent cropping.
Include clear text overlays: Readable text on images improves engagement and quickly communicates the Pin’s value.
Maintain consistent branding: Use brand colors, fonts, and logos to establish recognition and build trust.
Choose high-quality visuals: Bright, high-resolution images with minimal clutter perform best. Lifestyle and product images tend to receive higher engagement.
Create fresh Pins regularly: Pinterest favors new content, so repurposing blog posts or redesigning Pins with updated visuals helps maintain visibility.
Example: A food brand sharing a recipe should use a high-quality image of the dish, add a clear text overlay with the recipe name, and subtly place the brand logo in a non-intrusive spot.
Like traditional search engines, Pinterest relies on text-based metadata to understand and rank content.
A well-crafted title and description with relevant keywords increases a Pin’s visibility in search results.
Tips for title optimization
Keep titles between 40–100 characters – concise yet descriptive.
Front-load primary keywords at the beginning.
Use an engaging hook to attract attention.
Tips for description optimization
Write detailed descriptions (up to 500 characters) incorporating primary and secondary keywords naturally.
Use a conversational, engaging tone to encourage interaction.
Include a clear call to action (CTA) when appropriate.
Example:
Pin title: “Best Morning Skincare Routine for Glowing Skin”
Pin description: “Looking for a simple yet effective morning skincare routine? This guide covers the best products and steps for glowing skin. From gentle cleansers to SPF protection, discover the essentials for healthy skin. Save this Pin for your daily routine inspiration!”
Analytics tools to monitor your performance
Pinterest SEO doesn’t stop at keyword research and Pin design.
Ongoing performance tracking is essential for refining your strategy.
How to optimize content for better visibility and engagement.
Additionally, Google Analytics offers deeper insight into Pinterest-driven website traffic and conversions.
How to track performance using Pinterest Analytics
Like traditional search, Pinterest Analytics helps measure content performance.
Available for Pinterest Business accounts, it provides valuable data on Pin engagement, audience behavior, and trends.
Key Pinterest performance metrics include:
Impressions: The number of times a Pin appears in feeds, search results, or category pages.
Saves (Repins): The number of times users save a Pin to their own boards. Saves signal value to Pinterest, boosting visibility.
Outbound clicks: The number of times users click a Pin to visit your website. A high click-through rate (CTR) indicates effective content.
Close-ups: The number of times users tap or zoom in on a Pin. A high close-up rate suggests interest but may indicate the need for clearer CTAs.
Engagement rate: A combination of saves, clicks, and interactions that indicate a Pin’s overall effectiveness.
Top tip: If a Pin has high impressions but low outbound clicks, test different images, headlines, and descriptions to improve engagement.
If a Pin has low impressions, revisit your keyword strategy to ensure alignment with user searches.
Using Google Analytics to track Pinterest’s impact
While Pinterest Analytics tracks in-platform engagement, Google Analytics offers insight into Pinterest’s impact on website traffic and conversions.
To track Pinterest referrals:
Open Google Analytics and navigate to Acquisition > Traffic Sources.
Filter by Referral Traffic and locate Pinterest as a source.
Analyze bounce rate, session duration, and conversions to evaluate Pinterest’s role in driving valuable traffic.
Final thoughts
I’ve long been an advocate for a “search everywhere” approach – and Pinterest is proving why that strategy is essential.
It’s clear that Pinterest is more than a social media platform. It’s a powerful discovery engine that lets you connect with an audience that is actively searching for inspiration and solutions.
By applying familiar SEO techniques like keyword research and combining them with social-driven best practices – such as high-quality visuals and a strategic posting schedule – you can enhance discoverability and drive consistent traffic to your website.
Whether you’re a blogger, ecommerce brand, or content creator, mastering Pinterest SEO gives you a competitive edge in today’s evolving search landscape.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Table-Differences-between-traditional-search-vs.-Pinterest-search-n1iHEC.png?fit=1121%2C824&ssl=18241121http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-03-04 14:00:002025-03-04 14:00:00Pinterest SEO: Your guide to brand discovery
Google updated its conversion terminology in Google Merchant Center, renaming “Conversion settings” to “Key event setup” in the Google Ads UI.
The terminology change aligns Google Merchant Center with Google Analytics 4’s shift from “conversions” to “key events,” creating more consistent language across Google’s marketing platforms.
The big picture: This change reflects Google’s broader move toward standardizing measurement terms across its suite of marketing tools, which began with Google Analytics 4’s introduction of the “key events” terminology in March 2024.
Why we care. The alignment with Google Analytics 4 means you will need to adapt your workflows, reporting, and possibly your strategic approach to measuring customer interactions.
First seen. We were first made aware of this update by Emmanuel Flossie when he posted about seeing the change on LinkedIn:
What to watch: As Google continues to align terminology across its platforms, marketers should expect similar updates to appear in other Google marketing tools to create a more unified measurement framework.
Growing your website starts with reaching the right people.
Not random traffic.
People actively searching for the solutions you provide.
That’s where organic traffic shines.
Unlike paid advertising or social media, organic traffic attracts visitors with clear intent.
At Backlinko, organic traffic brings us over 571K monthly visitors—each one specifically interested in SEO and digital marketing.
In this guide, you’ll learn all about organic traffic, including how to measure and increase it.
Let’s start with what organic traffic is and how it differs from other traffic sources.
What Is Organic Traffic?
Organic traffic refers to visitors who land on your website or blog from unpaid search engine results.
Think of it as people finding your content naturally when they search for information, products, or services.
These unpaid clicks are organic traffic.
For example, if someone searches “seo competitor analysis” on Google and clicks on a regular (non-ad) result, that counts as organic traffic.
The key word here is “unpaid.”
While you might see “sponsored” or “ad” results at the top of search results, clicks on these aren’t organic traffic—they’re paid traffic.
You earn organic traffic by creating high-quality content that matches what people are searching for (search intent) and optimizing it for search engines (SEO).
Understanding Organic vs. Other Traffic Sources
Search engines aren’t the only way people find websites.
Visitors might come from social media, email newsletters, or by typing your URL directly.
Here’s how different traffic sources compare:
Traffic Source
How It Works
Best For
Organic
Users find you through unpaid search results
Building long-term authority and consistent traffic
Paid search
Users click your ads in search results
Quick traffic for specific campaigns
Direct
Users type your URL or use bookmarks
Returning visitors and brand awareness
Social
Users find you through social media
Brand awareness and community building
Email
Users click links in your emails
Nurturing leads and customer retention
Referral
Users click links from other websites
Building authority and partnerships
Why Organic Traffic Matters
Organic traffic isn’t just about reaching your target audience.
It’s about building assets that continue delivering value long after you create them.
Here’s why investing in organic search makes sense for businesses of all sizes.
Cost-Effective
Organic traffic is one of the most affordable ways to attract qualified visitors to your website.
This is especially true when you compare it to paid advertising, which costs anywhere from $0.11 to $0.50 per click, according to a WebFX survey.
Now, let’s consider a leading home improvement site, The Spruce, as an example.
They attract 9 million organic visitors monthly.
This traffic would cost them an estimated $7.1 million if they paid for it through Google Ads.
Pretty impressive, right?
As you can see, organic traffic can deliver incredible ROI compared to the ongoing costs of paid advertising.
Myth vs. fact: While organic traffic doesn’t require paying per click, it’s not exactly “free” either. At a minimum, you’ll be investing time into content creation and SEO. Many businesses also hire writers and editors to scale content production.
Builds Authority
Consistently ranking for search terms helps establish your site as an industry leader.
NerdWallet demonstrates this perfectly.
With 13.2 million monthly organic visitors and 5.2 million backlinks, they’ve become the go-to source for financial advice.
Their approach?
Creating comprehensive content that displays E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness) signals:
Author credentials and expertise
Regular content updates with accurate information
Citations to credible sources
Real-world experience and testing
Clear website policies and contact information
When they rank #1 on Google for terms like “best high yield savings account” or “how to invest in stocks,” it reinforces their position as a trusted voice in personal finance.
And helps them build website authority and confidence with every click.
Drives Targeted Traffic
When someone finds your site through organic search, they’re currently looking for what you offer.
Think about someone searching for “how to optimize a blog post.”
They’re not casually browsing—they’re sitting at their computer, working on content, and need guidance right now.
If your site ranks highly for this search, you’re reaching them at the perfect moment:
When they’re most likely to read your advice, implement your tips, or purchase a solution that helps them succeed.
That’s the power of organic traffic.
By consistently appearing in these high-intent searches, you connect with people precisely when your expertise matters most.
While paid campaigns stop delivering the moment you pause them, organic traffic compounds over time.
The key is creating content that matches what your audience is searching for at every funnel stage.
Including when they’re researching a problem, comparing solutions, or ready to make a purchase.
This builds a sustainable pipeline of qualified leads that continues growing long after you publish the content.
The best part? You don’t have to depend on daily ad spend.
Important: Consider organic traffic an investment rather than a quick win. While your exact timeline will vary based on industry, competition, and content strategy, it can take four to six months (or more) before you start seeing significant organic traffic growth.
How to Check Organic Traffic
Tracking your organic traffic reveals which content drives visitors and growth opportunities.
It also proves your SEO ROI.
These three tools make it easy.
Organic Research
Semrush’s Organic Research tool goes beyond basic traffic metrics to show you the full picture of your organic performance.
Now, you’ll see an overview of your site’s performance, including organic search.
For a breakdown of which search engines drive the most organic traffic to your site, scroll to the traffic acquisition report.
Next, click the plus sign to add a secondary dimension.
Select “Session source.”
Now, you’ll see an organic traffic breakdown by search engine.
Pro tip: Want to see which individual pages get the most organic traffic? Go to “Engagement” > “Pages and Screens” and add a secondary dimension of “Session source / medium.”
Google Search Console
While GA4 tracks all search engines, Google Search Console (GSC) focuses solely on Google traffic—giving you detailed data about your Google search performance.
Start by opening your GSC account and clicking “Performance” > “Search results” in the left sidebar.
Scroll to see the top queries and pages that attract organic traffic to your site.
You’ll learn how many clicks and impressions each one gets.
The tool will return a long list of keywords and metrics for each one.
Including:
Search volume: How many times per month a keyword is searched
Keyword difficulty (KD): This is a score from one to 100, showing how hard it’ll be to rank in Google’s top 10 for the given term
Intent: The reason behind a user’s search: they want information (informational), they want to compare options (commercial), they’re trying to find a specific site (navigational), or they want to buy something (transactional)
“LinkedIn marketing” gets 4,400 searches per month but has a daunting keyword difficulty of 95.
Let’s filter the results so we can find terms with lower difficulty.
Click “KD” on the menu and enter “0” and “49.”
Now, you’ll see only terms that are “easy” or “possible” to rank for.
As you review the list, look for terms that have:
Search intent aligned with your content type (how-to, product reviews, etc.)
Realistic competition levels for your site
Enough monthly searches to be worth targeting
Pro tip: Enter your domain into the AI-powered search bar in the Keyword Magic Tool. You’ll get a personalized difficulty score that shows which keywords are actually within reach for your site.
3. Refresh Existing Content
Want faster results?
Update existing content instead of only creating new posts.
Since Google already knows these pages exist, you’ll be more likely to see improvements quickly.
Your first step is to identify underperforming content that could benefit from a refresh.
Head to Google Search Console and click “Performance” > “Search results.”
This helps Google and visitors understand what they’ll find on the linked page.
Pro tip: Every time you publish a new post, spend five to 10 minutes adding relevant internal links from your existing content. This can help Google discover and rank your new content faster.
Bonus Step: Optimize Your Link Flow
Prioritize link equity by linking from high-authority pages to newer or lower-performing ones
Use topic clusters to organize related content into silos that strengthen overall relevance
Ensure crawl efficiency by avoiding excessive links on a single page
6. Build a Backlink Strategy
Backlinks remain one of Google’s strongest ranking signals.
The more relevant sites that link to you, the more organic traffic you can attract.
But how do you earn these valuable links?
Start by creating content that naturally attracts them.
The most linkable content types we’ve found include:
Original research and industry studies
Comprehensive how-to guides that fill knowledge gaps
Free tools and templates
Expert roundups with unique insights
Attractive visuals (like infographics)
For example, we created a detailed analysis of Google’s ranking factors that has attracted 33.7K backlinks to date.
Why did it work so well?
Because it’s a comprehensive resource with over 200 ranking factors.
And we constantly update it to ensure it features the freshest information and studies.
But creating linkable assets isn’t your only option for boosting backlinks and organic traffic.
Build genuine industry relationships by joining relevant Slack, Facebook, and Reddit communities and participating in discussions.
Focus on adding value first—answer questions, share insights, and build real connections.
Only include links to your site when relevant and helpful (and if allowed by the community).
Want to accelerate your link building?
Study what’s already working in your industry.
Use Semrush’s Backlink Analytics to monitor your competitors’ backlinks.
http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png00http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-03-03 13:55:302025-03-03 13:55:30Organic Traffic: What It Is & How to Increase It (6 Ways)
JavaScript has enabled highly interactive and dynamic websites. But it also presents a challenge: ensuring your site is crawlable, indexable, and fast.
That’s why JavaScript SEO is essential.
When applied correctly, these strategies can significantly boost organic search performance.
For instance, book retailer Follet saw a remarkable recovery after fixing JavaScript issues:
That’s the impact of effective JavaScript SEO.
In this guide, you’ll:
Get an introduction to JavaScript SEO
Understand the challenges with using JavaScript for search
Learn best practices to optimize your JavaScript site for organic search
What Is JavaScript SEO?
JavaScript SEO is the process of optimizing JavaScript websites. It ensures search engines can crawl, render, and index them.
Aligning JavaScript websites with SEO best practices can boost organic search rankings. All without hurting the user experience.
However, there are still uncertainties surrounding JavaScript and SEO’s impact.
Common JavaScript Misconceptions
Misconception
Reality
Google can handle all JavaScript perfectly.
Since JavaScript is rendered in two phases, delays and errors can occur. These issues can stop Google from crawling, rendering, and indexing content, hurting rankings.
JavaScript is only for large sites.
JavaScript is versatile and benefits websites of varying sizes. Smaller sites can use JavaScript in interactive forms, content accordions, and navigation dropdowns
JavaScript SEO is optional.
JavaScript SEO is key for finding and indexing content, especially on JavaScript-heavy sites.
Benefits of JavaScript SEO
Optimizing JavaScript for SEO can offer several advantages:
Improved visibility: Crawled and indexed JavaScript content can boost search rankings
Enhanced performance: Techniques like code splitting deliver only the important JavaScript code. This speeds up the site and reduces load times.
Stronger collaboration: JavaScript SEO encourages SEOs, developers, and web teams to work together. This helps improve communication and alignment on your SEO project plan.
Enhanced user experience: JavaScript boosts UX with smooth transitions and interactivity. It also speeds up and makes navigation between webpages more dynamic.
Side note: JavaScript can impact PageSpeed and Core Web Vitals scores.
How Search Engines Render JavaScript
To understand JavaScript’s SEO impact, let’s explore how search engines process JavaScript pages.
Google has outlined that it processes JavaScript websites in three phases:
Crawling
Processing
Indexing
Crawling
When Google finds a URL, it checks the robots.txt file and meta robots tags. This is to see if any content is blocked from being crawled or rendered.
If a link is discoverable by Google, the URL is added to a queue for simultaneous crawling and rendering.
Rendering
For traditional HTML websites, content is immediately available from the server response.
In JavaScript websites, Google must execute JavaScript to render and index the content. Due to resource demands, rendering is deferred until resources are available with Chromium.
Indexing
Once rendered, Googlebot reads the HTML, adds new links to the crawl list, and indexes the content.
How JavaScript Affects SEO
Despite its growing popularity, the question often arises: Is JavaScript bad for SEO?
Let’s examine aspects that can severely impact SEO if you don’t optimize JavaScript for search.
Rendering Delays
For Single Page Applications (SPAs) — like Gmail or Twitter, where content updates without page refreshes — JavaScript controls the content and user experience.
If Googlebot can’t execute the JavaScript, it may show a blank page.
This happens when Google struggles to process the JavaScript. It hurts the page’s visibility and organic performance.
To test how Google will see your SPA site if it can’t execute JavaScript, use the web crawler Screaming Frog. Configure the render settings to “Text Only” and crawl your site.
Note: You’ll need an SEO Spider Licence to access this setting.
Expert tip: Use Screaming Frog’s “Disable JavaScript” feature. It simulates how search engines crawl your site without executing scripts. This allows you to identify missing content or rendering issues.
Indexing Issues
JavaScript frameworks (like React or Angular, which help build interactive websites) can make it harder for Google to read and index content.
For example, Follet’s online bookstore migrated millions of pages to a JavaScript framework.
Google had trouble processing the JavaScript, causing a sharp decline in organic performance:
Crawl Budget Challenges
Websites have a crawl budget. This refers to the number of pages Googlebot can crawl and index within a given timeframe.
Large JavaScript files consume significant crawling resources. They also limit Google’s ability to explore deeper pages on the site.
Core Web Vitals Concerns
JavaScript can affect how quickly the main content of a web page is loaded. This affects Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), a Core Web Vitals score.
For example, check out this performance timeline:
Section #4 (“Element Render Delay”) shows a JavaScript-induced delay in rendering an element.
This negatively impacts the LCP score.
JavaScript Rendering Options
When rendering webpages, you can choose from three options:
Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Client-Side Rendering (CSR), or Dynamic Rendering.
Let’s break down the key differences between them.
Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
SSR creates the full HTML on the server. It then sends this HTML directly to the client, like a browser or Googlebot.
This approach means the client doesn’t need to render the content.
As a result, the website loads faster and offers a smoother experience.
Benefits of SSR
Drawbacks of SSR
Improved performance
Higher server load
Search engine optimization
Longer time to interactivity
Enhanced accessibility
Complex implementation
Consistent experience
Limited caching
Client-Side Rendering (CSR)
In CSR, the client—like a user, browser, or Googlebot—receives a blank HTML page. Then, JavaScript runs to generate the fully rendered HTML.
Google can render client-side, JavaScript-driven pages. But, it may delay rendering and indexing.
Benefits of CSR
Drawbacks of CSR
Reduced server load
Slower initial load times
Enhanced interactivity
SEO challenges
Improved scalability
Increased complexity
Faster page transitions
Performance variability
Dynamic Rendering
Dynamic rendering, or prerendering, is a hybrid approach.
Tools like Prerender.io detect Googlebot and other crawlers. They then send a fully rendered webpage from a cache.
This way, search engines don’t need to run JavaScript.
At the same time, regular users still get a CSR experience. JavaScript is executed and content is rendered on the client side.
Google says dynamic rendering isn’t cloaking. The content shown to Googlebot just needs to be the same as what users see.
However, it warns that dynamic rendering is a temporary solution. This is due to its complexity and resource needs.
Benefits of Dynamic Rendering
Drawbacks of Dynamic Rendering
Better SEO
Complex setup
Crawler compatibility
Risk of cloaking
Optimized UX
Tool dependency
Scalable for large sites
Performance latency
Which Rendering Approach is Right for You?
The right rendering approach depends on several factors.
Here are key considerations to help you determine the best solution for your website:
Rendering Option
Best for
When to Choose
Requirements
Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
SEO-critical sites (e.g., ecommerce, blogs)
Sites relying on organic traffic
Faster Core Web Vitals (e.g., LCP)
Need timely indexing and visibility
Users expect fast, fully-rendered pages upon load
Strong server infrastructure to handle higher load
Expertise in SSR frameworks (e.g., Next.js, Nuxt.js)
Client-Side Rendering (CSR)
Highly dynamic user interfaces (e.g., dashboards, web apps)
Content not dependent on organic traffic (e.g. behind login)
SEO is not a top priority
Focus on reducing server load and scaling for large audiences
JavaScript optimization to address performance issues
Need to balance bot crawling with user-focused interactivity
Pre-rendering tool like Prerender.io
Bot detection and routing configuration
Regular audits to avoid cloaking risks
Knowing these technical solutions is important. But the best approach depends on how your website uses JavaScript.
Where does your site fit?
Minimal JavaScript: Most content is in the HTML (e.g., WordPress sites). Just make sure search engines can see key text and links.
Moderate JavaScript: Some elements load dynamically, like live chat, AJAX-based widgets, or interactive product filters. Use fallbacks or dynamic rendering to keep content crawlable.
Heavy JavaScript: Your site depends on JavaScript to load most content, like SPAs built with React or Vue. To make sure Google can see it, you may need SSR or pre-rendering.
Fully JavaScript-rendered: Everything from content to navigation relies on JavaScript (e.g., Next.js, Gatsby). You’ll need SSR or Static Site Generation (SSG), optimized hydration, and proper metadata handling to stay SEO-friendly.
The more JavaScript your site relies on, the more important it is to optimize for SEO.
JavaScript SEO Best Practices
So, your site looks great to users—but what about Google?
If search engines can’t properly crawl or render your JavaScript, your rankings could take a hit.
The good news? You can fix it.
Here’s how to make sure your JavaScript-powered site is fully optimized for search.
1. Ensure Crawlability
Avoid blocking JavaScript files in the robots.txt file to ensure Google can crawl them.
In the past, HTML-based websites often blocked JavaScript and CSS.
Now, crawling JavaScript files is crucial for accessing and rendering key content.
2. Choose the Optimal Rendering Method
It’s crucial to choose the right approach based on your site’s needs.
This decision may depend on your resources, user goals, and vision for your website. Remember:
Server-side rendering: Ensures content is fully rendered and indexable upon page load. This improves visibility and user experience.
Client-side rendering: Renders content on the client side, offering better interactivity for users
Dynamic rendering: Sends crawlers pre-rendered HTML and users a CSR experience
3. Reduce JavaScript Resources
Reduce JavaScript size by removing unused or unnecessary code. Even unused code must be accessed and processed by Google.
Combine multiple JavaScript files to reduce the resources Googlebot needs to execute. This helps improve efficiency.
Pro tip: Use PageSpeed Insights to find JavaScript issues, like render-blocking scripts. Follow its suggestions, such as deferring non-critical scripts or minifying code.
4. Defer Scripts Blocking Content
You can defer render-blocking JavaScript to speed up page loading.
Use the “defer” attribute to do this, as shown below:
This tells browsers and search engines to run the code once the main CSS and JavaScript have loaded.
5. Manage JavaScript-Generated Content
Managing JavaScript content is key. It must be accessible to search engines and provide a smooth user experience.
Here are some best practices to optimize it for SEO:
Provide Fallback Content
Use the <noscript> tag to show essential info if JavaScript fails or is disabled
Ensure critical content like navigation and headings is included in the initial HTML
For example, Yahoo uses a <noscript> tag. It shows static product details for JavaScript-heavy pages.
Optimize JavaScript-Based Pagination
Use HTML <a> tags for pagination to ensure Googlebot can crawl each page
Dynamically update URLs with the History API for “Load More” buttons
Add rel=”prev” and rel=”next” to indicate paginated page relationships
For instance, Skechers employs a “Load More” button that generates accessible URLs:
Test and Verify Rendering
Use Google Search Console’s (GSC) URL Inspection Tool and Screaming Frog to check JavaScript content. Is it accessible?
Test JavaScript execution using browser automation tools like Puppeteer to ensure proper rendering
Confirm Dynamic Content Loads Correctly
Use loading=”lazy” for lazy-loaded elements and verify they appear in rendered HTML
Provide fallback content for dynamically loaded elements to ensure visibility to crawlers
For example, Backlinko lazy loads images within HTML:
6. Create Developer-Friendly Processes
Working closely with developers is key to integrating JavaScript and SEO best practices.
Here’s how you can streamline the process:
Spot the issues: Use tools like Screaming Frog or Chrome DevTools. They can find JavaScript rendering issues. Document these early.
Write actionable tickets: Write clear SEO dev tickets with the issue, its SEO impact, and step-by-step instructions to fix it. For example, here’s a sample dev ticket:
Test and validate fixes: Conduct quality assurance (QA) to ensure fixes are implemented correctly. Share updates and results with your team to maintain alignment.
Collaborate in real time: Use project management tools like Notion, Jira, or Trello. These help ensure smooth communication between SEOs and developers.
By building developer-friendly processes, you can solve JavaScript SEO issues faster. This also creates a collaborative environment that helps the whole team.
Communicating SEO best practices for JavaScript usage is as crucial as its implementation.
JavaScript SEO Resources + Tools
As you learn how to make your javascript SEO friendly, several tools can assist you in the process.
Educational Resources
Google has provided or contributed to some great resources:
Understand JavaScript SEO Basics
Google’s JavaScript basics documentation explains how it processes JavaScript content.
What you’ll learn:
How Google processes JavaScript content, including crawling, rendering, and indexing
Best practices for ensuring JavaScript-based websites are fully optimized for search engines
Common pitfalls to avoid and strategies to improve SEO performance on JavaScript-driven websites
Who it’s for: Developers and SEO professionals optimizing JavaScript-heavy sites.
Rendering on the Web
The web.dev article Rendering on the Web is a comprehensive resource. It explores various web rendering techniques, including SSR, CSR, and prerendering.
What you’ll learn:
An in-depth overview of web rendering techniques
Performance implications of each rendering method. And how they affect user experience and SEO.
Actionable insights for choosing the right rendering strategy based on your goals
Who it’s for: Marketers, developers, and SEOs wanting to boost performance and visibility.
Use Screaming Frog’s robots.txt settings to emulate Googlebot. The tool can confirm if critical JavaScript files are accessible.
When to use:
Debugging JavaScript-related indexing problems
Testing rendering issues with pre-rendered or dynamic content
Semrush Site Audit
Semrush’s Site Audit is a powerful tool for diagnosing JavaScript SEO issues.
Key features:
Crawlability checks: Identifies JavaScript files that hinder rendering and indexing
Rendering insights: Detects JavaScript-related errors impacting search engines’ ability to process content
Performance metrics: Highlights Core Web Vitals like LCP and Total Blocking Time (TBT)
Actionable fixes: Provides recommendations to optimize JavaScript code, improve speed, and fix rendering issues
Site Audit also includes a “JS Impact” report, which focuses on uncovering JavaScript-related issues.
It highlights blocked files, rendering errors, and performance bottlenecks. The report provides actionable insights to enhance SEO.
When to use:
Identify rendering blocking issues caused by JavaScript
Troubleshoot performance issues after implementing large JavaScript implementations
Google Search Console
Google Search Console’s Inspection Tool helps analyze your JavaScript pages. It checks how Google crawls, renders, and indexes them.
Key features:
Rendering verification: Check if Googlebot successfully executes and renders JavaScript content
Crawlability insights: Identify blocked resources or missing elements impacting indexing
Live testing: Use live tests to ensure real-time changes are visible to Google
Example use case:
Inspecting a JavaScript-rendered page to see if all critical content is in the rendered HTML
When to use:
Verifying JavaScript rendering and indexing
Troubleshooting blank or incomplete content in Google’s search results
Pro tip: Use GSC’s “Coverage Report.” It can find resources blocked by robots.txt or delayed by heavy JavaScript. Regularly reviewing this report helps maintain optimal crawlability.
Performance Optimization
You may need to test your JavaScript website’s performance. These tools granularly break down performance:
WebPageTest
WebPageTest helps analyze website performance, including how JavaScript affects load times and rendering.
The screenshot below shows high-level performance metrics for a JavaScript site. It includes when the webpage was visible to users.
Key features:
Provides waterfall charts to visualize the loading sequence of JavaScript and other resources
Measures critical performance metrics like Time to First Byte (TTFB) and LCP
Simulates slow networks and mobile devices to identify JavaScript bottlenecks
Use case: Finding scripts or elements that slow down page load and affect Core Web Vitals.
GTMetrix
GTmetrix helps measure and optimize website performance, focusing on JavaScript-related delays and efficiency.
Key features:
Breaks down page performance with actionable insights for JavaScript optimization
Provides specific recommendations to minimize and defer non-critical JavaScript
Visualizes load behavior with video playback and waterfall charts to pinpoint render delays
Use case: Optimizing JavaScript delivery to boost page speed and user experience. This includes minifying, deferring, or splitting code.
Chrome DevTools & Lighthouse
Chrome DevTools and Lighthouse are free Chrome tools. They assess site performance and accessibility. Both are key for JavaScript SEO.
Key features:
JavaScript execution analysis: Audits JavaScript execution time. It also identifies scripts that delay rendering or impact Core Web Vitals.
Script optimization: Flags opportunities for code splitting, lazy loading, and removing unused JavaScript
Network and coverage insights: Identifies render-blocking resources, unused JavaScript, and large file sizes
Performance audits: Lighthouse measures critical Core Web Vitals to pinpoint areas for improvement
Render simulation: It emulates devices, throttles network speeds, and disables JavaScript. This alleviates rendering issues.
For example, the below screenshot is taken with DevTools’s Performance panel. After page load, various pieces of data are recorded to assess the culprit of heavy load times.
Use cases:
Testing JavaScript-heavy pages for performance bottlenecks, rendering issues, and SEO blockers
Identifying and optimizing scripts, ensuring key content is crawlable and indexable
Specialized Tools
Prerender.io helps JavaScript-heavy websites by serving pre-rendered HTML to bots.
This allows search engines to crawl and index content while users get a dynamic CSR experience.
Key features:
Pre-rendered content: Serves a cached, fully rendered HTML page to search engine crawlers like Googlebot
Easy integration: Compatible with frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular. It also integrates with servers like NGINX or Apache.
Scalable solution: Ideal for large, dynamic sites with thousands of pages
Bot detection: Identifies search engine bots and serves optimized content
Performance optimization: Reduces server load by offloading rendering to Prerender.io’s service
Benefits:
Ensures full crawlability and indexing of JavaScript content
Improves search engine rankings by eliminating blank or incomplete pages
Balances SEO performance and user experience for JavaScript-heavy sites
When to use:
For Single-Page Applications or dynamic JavaScript frameworks
As an alternative to SSR when resources are limited
Find Your Next JavaScript SEO Opportunity Today
Most JavaScript SEO problems stay hidden—until your rankings drop.
Is your site at risk?
Don’t wait for traffic losses to find out.
Run an audit, fix rendering issues, and make sure search engines see your content.
Want more practical fixes?
Check out our guides on PageSpeed and Core Web Vitals for actionable steps to speed up your JavaScript-powered site.
http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png00http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-02-27 14:05:152025-02-27 14:05:15What Is JavaScript SEO? 6 Best Practices to Boost Rankings
