The “Page with redirect” error in Google Search Console shows a page on your website is redirected to a different URL when the user or Googlebot attempts to access the URL.
This means all the pages listed in the report are not showing in search results.
Nothing new, right?
At first glance, this error in Google Search Console may not seem like the “nectar of the gods.”
But after reading through 138 questions in the Search Console Help community and seeing that Stack Exchange saw 278 views on a similar question, I realize there are probably many SEO professionals who would leave their entire life fortunes to solve this issue if they could.
In the name of very serious SEO needs, I had to investigate.
How do I fix ‘Page with redirect’ in Google Search Console?
1. Manually review all the pages flagged in the report
First, I manually reviewed all the pages flagged in the Google Search Console “Page with redirect” report.
To access the report, go to Google Search Console > Pages > and look under the section “Why pages aren’t indexed.”
Once in the report, I look for two things:
Is the chart rising?
Was the last crawl date recent?
If you answered yes, I recommend exporting the data to Google Sheets, Excel, or CSV to analyze further.
2. Determine if redirects are OK
Once you export the redirect file, you must determine if the redirects are OK.
Redirects are OK in two scenarios:
Permanent move: If you permanently move a URL to a new destination, a 301 redirect is ideal to maintain its value.
Broken links: If you were fixing a broken link to a relevant webpage, this redirect is OK.
If you audit all the redirects on this list and decide all the redirects listed are accurate and intentional, you can stop reading. You are done.
I recommend revisiting this report monthly and doing a deep dive every quarter.
3. Conduct a sampling of URLs using the Inspect tool
If you want to gut-check yourself, choose a sampling of 10-25 URLs from your export list to test in the Inspect URL tool in Google Search Console.
When inspecting the URLs, you’re looking to see if the status states, “Page is not indexed: Page with redirect.”
Also, the user-declared canonical tag should be the URL you created the 301 redirect to.
4. If redirects are a problem
There are a few scenarios where redirects become a problem.
302 redirects: If your 302 redirects are truly meant to be temporary (meaning less than a month or so), you can keep them. However, eventually, Google treats 302 redirects as 301 permanent redirects. When this happens, it can negatively impact rankings.
Too many redirects: If you notice redirect chains or loops, meaning URL A goes to URL B, then URL C, to get to its final destination of URL D, you will want to go back and create redirects for URL A, B, and C to point to the final destination of URL D.
Redirecting vital pages: If you accidentally redirected an important page, remove the redirect to avoid losing visibility in the SERPs.
5. Audit your XML sitemap
Always remember to double-check your XML sitemap. You want to ensure there are no redirects listed in the XML sitemap.
If redirects are listed in the XML sitemap, remove them.
Also, make sure the page you redirected the old URL to is listed in the XML sitemap.
You can filter submitted and unsubmitted pages from your XML sitemap in Google Search Console.
If you filter by submitted pages and see a list of URLs, you’ll want to remove these URLs from your XML sitemap if the redirect is accurate.
At the core of your “Page with redirect” error in Google Search Console lies a simple solution: taking a more mindful approach to your redirects and canonical tags. That’s it.
But just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s easy.
I run quarterly audits to review all canonical tags and redirect pages to ensure I follow proper protocol and the directives act as I want.
Plus, it’s a good habit. The fact that you’re adjusting canonical tags and implementing redirects is already a win in my book.
Even with that solid win, you, like many of us SEO professionals, still have room for improvement.
There’s nothing to fear with the ‘Page with redirect’ error in Google Search Console
Let’s be real: I’m not running to worship at the Google Gods alter to fix my “Page with redirect” error report in Google Search Console.
Nine times out of 10, there’s no action I need to take. However, moments of awe-inspiring glory have shed light on a URL that was not meant to be redirected.
The “Page with redirect” error report in Google Search Console has become a staple in my monthly SEO checklist routine.
If you have access to Google Search Console, you’re in the know now. You’re part of a community where holistic, clean, and effective SEO work is gospel.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/page-redirect-google-search-console-errors-dR9cRu.png?fit=1977%2C1376&ssl=113761977http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-01-06 15:20:002025-01-06 15:20:00How to fix the ‘Page with redirect’ error in Google Search Console
We’re still in (very) early days for LLM (large language model) search, but fast-increasing user adoption is helping us draw insights on effective tactics for brands to deploy to appear in results on platforms like Perplexity, ChatGPT search, Gemini, and more.
This article looks at those tactics from a B2B lens, broken down by the following SEO initiatives:
Note that many of these tactics – but not all – should be familiar to SEOs who have experience with traditional search engines.
Content strategy
The first step toward creating effective content for LLMs is to understand the nature of user queries.
LLMs, more than traditional search engines, are host to conversational queries, like “How can I protect my business from ransomware attacks?” (where a similar Google query might be “ransomware attack protection for businesses”).
To adapt your content strategy, study the nature of the queries and create content that directly answers them. This includes conversational headings like “The best software to protect businesses from ransomware attacks.”
In B2B, where the purchase journey is longer, it’s not as simple as optimizing for product-related queries; it’s essential to incorporate educational content to ease users into the awareness and engagement stages.
When it comes to the content itself, many of the principles of traditional SEO apply – particularly the need to go both broad and deep to establish authority and relevance.
Incorporate supporting content like guides, case studies, and user testimonials.
Make sure you’re working with pillar pages linking to in-depth blogs like “How CRM helps sales teams close deals faster.”
Remember that context matters a ton for LLMs for each piece of content (no matter the format).
Optimize for nuanced, contextual responses by addressing multiple facets of a topic in the same piece.
For example, a rich blog post for a fintech company could be titled “What is embedded finance? Benefits and challenges for SaaS platforms,” with subsections for:
Benefits for startups.
Use cases in real-world scenarios.
Integration challenges and how to overcome them.
Semantic SEO
“Semantic SEO” is a relatively recent SEO initiative that means approaching content with respect to the full topic, not just keyword elements.
For example, a cloud solutions provider can use schema markup to:
Mark up product pages with “Product” schema for solutions like “Cloud Data Storage Services.”
Build authority by linking to their business profile on Wikipedia, LinkedIn, and/or Crunchbase.
Because semantic SEO widens its focus from keywords, it’s essential to optimize for diverse phrases and synonyms instead of fixating solely on exact-match keywords.
Let’s use a marketing automation platform as an example.
Along with optimizing for a primary keyword, like “lead generation software,” include synonyms and variants like “Automated lead management tools” and “B2B marketing platforms.”
At this point, technical SEO for LLMs isn’t (by my understanding) all that different than technical SEO for traditional search engines.
To increase your chances of showing up in LLM searches, tackle the following:
Data accessibility
Confirm content is crawlable and indexable by search engines and available for API integrations.
Optimize page speed and mobile performance for enhanced usability.
Structured data
Leverage structured data to signal intent and relevance clearly.
Implement detailed schema, such as “FAQPage,” “HowTo,” and “Product,” to improve how LLMs process your content.
User intent matching
Advanced SEO in both traditional search and LLMs incorporates an understanding of user intent into content.
For B2B, this content should be strategically distributed across all stages of the buyer journey: awareness, education, technical understanding of solutions, and ultimately purchase intent.
For “instant” queries, provide actionable and direct responses, formatting answers in bullet points or concise paragraphs for LLM readiness while providing links to deeper resources.
For example, a business offering AI-powered analytics can create content like: “What is predictive analytics in B2B?” and provide direct answers such as:
“Predictive analytics uses historical data to forecast future trends. For B2B, this helps identify potential leads and optimize sales strategies.”
This is perhaps the area where we see almost no difference (yet) between LLMs and traditional search engines: establishing E-E-A-T principles is critical.
To do this (if you aren’t already), make sure your owned media:
Prioritizes experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness in all content.
Includes author bios, credentials, and citations to reinforce trustworthiness.
Cites reliable sources like Gartner, Forrester, or proprietary data studies.
Builds backlinks from authoritative domains to strengthen your site’s credibility.
Gains mentions in trusted publications to improve how LLMs perceive your brand.
For example, a logistics software company could secure backlinks from:
Industry publications like Logistics Management.
Mentions in business-oriented media like TechCrunch or Forbes.
This initiative is where SEO practices diverge most widely from traditional search engines.
The way users interact with LLMs differs from how they interact with the Google search bar.
For LLM-specific content enhancements:
Focus on content that answers “People Also Ask” and conversational follow-up queries.
Experiment with creating and optimizing content designed for direct API consumption.
For example, a tech consulting firm could create a resource hub for topics like “common cloud migration questions” with detailed Q&A formats that AI can surface easily.
If user behavior continues to feature more structured, question-based queries, make sure your content is designed to answer those directly.
For example, a company specializing in ERP software can design content to appear for queries like:
“What are the best ERP solutions for mid-sized companies?”
“What is the ROI of implementing ERP software?”
Some LLMs (and we expect more to move in this direction) are multimedia-focused.
For those, rich media integration – using videos, infographics, and charts to enhance engagement and improve content retrievability – will help spur inclusion in search results.
For example, a cybersecurity firm can enhance blogs with:
Infographics summarizing “5 types of cyberattacks businesses should watch for in 2025.”
Embedded videos explaining “How our threat detection tool works in real-time.”
At this relatively early stage of LLM SEO maturity (and our understanding of it), continuous testing, measurement, and adaptation are among the most critical initiatives.
Because LLMs are in their infancy and because user behavior is changing so rapidly across the search landscape, find and regularly reference trusted sources to stay on top of trends and developments.
In 12 months, this article might look woefully outdated, so it’s best to keep your finger on the pulse to adapt quickly.
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Since Search Engine Land launched, we have given SEO experts a platform to share their in-depth knowledge and timely insights – with the goal of helping you solve problems, manage challenges and understand the constantly shifting SEO landscape.
What follows are links to the 10 most-read, must-read Search Engine Land SEO columns of 2024 that were contributed by our fantastic group of Subject Matter Experts.
Dive into Google Search Console’s features and reports, plus how to navigate the tool like a pro, from basic setup to advanced SEO analysis. (By Anna Crowe. Published July 8.)
Get more done in less time with these must-have AI tools to automate tasks, optimize content and improve your search engine rankings. (By Ludwig Makhyan. Published Sept. 27.)
Steps for using GSC to review your traffic, analyze the search landscape and make impactful optimizations for quick results. (By Marcus Miller. Published Aug. 22.)
Leverage AI like ChatGPT to generate more human-sounding long-form content. Refine prompts with details to produce engaging articles. (By James Allen. Published Feb. 26.)
Google now highlights content creators as trusted sources in search results. Here’s why this matters for E-E-A-T and how SEOs can benefit. (By Jason Barnard. Published Sept. 25.)
Addressing common questions, critiques and concerns following the massive Google Search leak and how your approach to SEO should change. (By Michael King. Published May 30.)
Understand what GEO is, how it’s revolutionizing digital marketing and key strategies to optimize for AI-driven search. (By Christina Adame. Published July 29.)
This breakdown unveils potential Google Search ranking factors, including details on PageRank variations, site authority metrics and more. (By Andrew Ansley. Published May 30.)
An in-depth analysis of how Google’s complex ranking system works and components like Twiddlers and NavBoost that influence search results. (By Mario Fischer. Published Aug. 13.)
Here’s a comparison of genAI tools ChatGPT, Bard, Bing Chat Balanced, Bing Chat Creative, and Claude based on four metrics. (By Eric Enge. Published Jan. 26.)
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/seo-columns-2024-search-engine-land-800x450-CAPl8A.jpeg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1450800Dubado Solutionshttp://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.pngDubado Solutions2024-12-31 13:00:002024-12-31 17:42:04Top 10 SEO expert columns of 2024 on Search Engine Land
Want to know why some plumbing businesses dominate Google’s first page while others struggle to get noticed?
It’s not luck.
These plumbing companies all focus on the same core SEO strategies.
Take Deer Valley Plumbing Contractors, for instance.
They appear in Google’s 3-Pack when prospective customers in their area search for “plumbing company” and other related keywords.
And they have notably more reviews than the competition.
Their site also ranks for 3K keywords.
This helps Deer Valley Plumbing Contractors drive 2.7K organic visits to their website each month.
Traffic that would cost an estimated $44.7K per month in Google Ads.
The best part?
With SEO for plumbers, your business can achieve similar—or better—results.
In this guide, you’ll learn SEO fundamentals that’ll help your site rank higher, from local search to link-building.
But first, let’s start with a quick overview of what exactly plumbing SEO is.
What Is Plumbing SEO?
Plumbing SEO is a set of practices that increase a plumbing company’s website’s visibility in search engines like Google.
SEO for plumbers includes:
On-page optimization: Optimizing your service pages for key terms like “water heater repair” or “emergency plumber” by using strategic headers, meta descriptions, and location-based keywords that match how local customers actually search
Technical SEO: Making sure your plumbing website loads quickly on mobile devices, has intuitive navigation, including clear contact information, and works smoothly for emergency calls
Local SEO: Optimizing your Google Business Profile, service area pages, and local citations to show up in “near me” searches and Google Maps when homeowners need a plumber in your area
Content marketing: Creating helpful guides, FAQs, and service pages that answer common plumbing questions like “Why is my water heater leaking?” or “How to unclog a drain” to attract local homeowners searching for solutions
Link building: Building credibility and authority by getting featured in local business directories, home service websites, and plumbing supplier sites
What Are the Benefits of SEO for Plumbers?
SEO has many benefits for plumbers—especially if you’re at the top of the search engine results pages (SERPs).
This includes attracting more qualified leads, building authority, and increasing revenue—all without spending a dime on advertising.
Think about how people search for plumbers today.
When a homeowner’s water heater fails at midnight, or their kitchen sink backs up before a dinner party, they immediately grab their phone and search Google.
SEO increases your chances of showing up in these searches, helping you get more ready-to-hire leads.
And you have plenty of opportunities—246,000 people search for “plumbers near me” in the U.S. every month.
But that’s far from the only search term getting traffic.
Countless people search for standard and urgent plumbing-related terms monthly:
Emergency plumber: 27,100 monthly searches
Plumbing companies near me: 27,000 monthly searches
Best plumbers near me: 9,900 monthly searches
24 hour plumber: 4,400 monthly searches
When your website ranks at the top of Google for these terms, you’re essentially setting up a 24/7 lead generation system.
6 Essential Plumber SEO Strategies
Ready to outrank your competitors and capture more high-value plumbing leads?
These six SEO strategies work together to boost your search visibility. And convert website visitors into paying customers.
1. Keyword Research
The first step of any plumber SEO campaign is keyword research.
This involves identifying relevant keywords based on key metrics like search intent, volume, and keyword difficulty. And conducting research into your competitors’ keyword strategies.
Understand Keyword Metrics
A tool like Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool is helpful for conducting keyword research.
Enter a seed keyword like “plumbing company” into the Keyword Magic Tool.
You’ll see a list of keyword ideas and some important information about each term.
This includes “Intent.”
Search intent is the reason behind a user’s search—it tells you why they searched and what they were hoping to find.
There are four types of search intent.
Including:
Informational: These are searches where people want to learn something, like “how to fix a clogged toilet.” This type of content works best as detailed guides and tutorials.
Navigational: When searchers are looking for a specific plumbing business or page like “Jerry’s Plumbing Company” or “Plumbing Pros hours of operation”
Commercial: The person wants to know more about a product or business, such as “best plumbers in Austin” and “sink repair.” Use these in product comparison articles, testimonials, and service pages.
Transactional: The person is ready to hire and might search “hire a plumber” or “call a plumber.” Use strategic calls to action (CTA) and keywords like “hire” and “book now” on your site.
This means the user’s goal for this search is to research plumbing company options, read reviews, and view services, making it a good term to target on a service page.
But if someone searches “how to fix a leaky faucet,” (which has informational intent), they expect to find detailed DIY instructions with photos or videos.
See the difference?
Next, let’s look at two other crucial metrics:
Volume: The number of monthly searches for a keyword
Keyword Difficulty (KD): A rating showing how hard it is to rank for that keyword from zero to 100
While you’ll likely have broad keywords on most pages, if you have a newer site (or one that lacks authority), you’ll also want to target terms that’ll be easier to rank for in the SERPs.
Local keywords often have this perfect combination—moderate search volume with lower competition in specific service areas.
For example, “plumbing companies in phoenix, arizona” gets 70 searches per month and has a low keyword difficulty score of 27.
You might use this term on a location page to target local customers.
Continue researching keywords to target on each page of your site—making sure to adjust your focus for each page’s specific purpose:
Service pages should target specific plumbing solutions: Water heater repair, drain cleaning, radiator installation
Location pages need geographic terms: Local plumbing company, plumber in [city], 24/7 plumbers in [city]
About pages should emphasize trust and credentials: Licensed plumber, family-owned plumbing, plumbing company hours
Resource pages should answer common questions and concerns: How to fix a leaky faucet, signs you need repiping, water heater maintenance tips
Answer User Questions
Your target audience likely has a lot of questions about plumbing problems and hiring a plumber.
These questions make great topics for FAQ pages and blog posts.
Here’s how to find them using the Keyword Magic Tool:
Search for a broad keyword like “drain repair” and apply the “Questions” filter.
The tool will return options like:
How to repair tub drain: 320 volume; 29 KD
How to repair shower drain: 210 volume; 30 KD
How to repair a leaking shower drain: 170 volume; 23 KD
All of the above topics have informational intent, which means they’d work well as step-by-step tutorials on your blog.
Plus, answering these questions with high-quality content will help you establish expertise.
As you review the questions, pay attention to volume and KD scores—the lower the KD, the easier it’ll be for you to rank for each term.
Research Competitor Keywords
You don’t have to start from scratch when finding keywords—analyze what’s already working for your successful competitors.
A tool like Semrush’s Keyword Gap can help you with this.
First, enter your URL and up to four competitors’ URLs. Hit “Compare.”
Now, you’ll see an overview of your site’s keyword performance compared to your competitors.
Including how many ranking keywords you and each of your rivals have.
As you review the reports, pay special attention to three key opportunities:
Missing: Keywords your competitors rank for but you don’t
Weak: Keywords where competitors outrank you
Untapped: Keywords where at least one competitor ranks
These are opportunities to target these keywords on existing pages.
And create new content to knock your competitors off the SERPs.
If they have a blog post on how to clear a clogged drain, create a better version with step-by-step photos and videos.
If they list services, include pricing guides and customer case studies.
Aim to outrank them with higher-quality content that diverts traffic away from their site to yours.
Because when someone conducts a search with local intent, such as “plumber near me” or “plumber in [city],” Google shows three local businesses at the top of the page.
This is the 3-Pack I mentioned earlier in the article—and it’s prime real estate for plumbers.
Add your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) to your profile.
Double-check that you’ve entered everything correctly.
Accurate NAPs show Google your business is trustworthy, which helps increase your chances of ranking in the Map Pack.
Next, create a keyword-rich business description that includes important terms for your business.
This will be the services you offer and any standout features like “local plumbing business” or “emergency plumbing repair.”
For example, Maloney Plumbing and Drain Services included key terms like “plumbing repair” and “drain clearing” in their company overview.
They also referenced the location they serve: “Phoenix.”
Add as many relevant service categories as possible—from sewer cleaning to garbage disposal installation.
The photos section isn’t just about showing you exist.
Your images should build trust and show potential customers exactly what to expect:
Uniformed technicians (shows professionalism)
Branded trucks (proves you’re established)
Actual repair work (demonstrates expertise)
Team in action (builds credibility)
Finally, post updates.
This shows searchers and Google that you’re an active business with up-to-date information.
But it also lets you share vital details, communicate with customers, and highlight promotions and events.
With your GBP filled out, it’s time to focus on earning positive reviews—lots of them.
Collect and Manage Online Reviews
Reviews matter more than you may realize.
Seventy-one percent of consumers will not consider using a business if it has an average review rating below three stars.
Google also states that one of the three ranking factors for local search is “prominence,” which is defined by how popular a business is online and offline.
(Prominence includes review count and average review rating.)
So, how do you get more positive reviews?
You ask for them.
Most importantly, you make it easy for past clients to leave reviews.
For example, Total Service Plumbing created a dedicated review page on their website that links to each of their location’s Google Business Profiles.
Smart.
While having a page on your website is helpful, you’ll want to take a multi-pronged approach to collecting reviews.
For example:
Send a follow-up text right after completing a service
Include a review link in your invoice emails
Create QR codes on your business cards and service vehicles
Train your technicians to ask satisfied customers for reviews
Pro tip: Use a tool like Semrush’s Review Management to make it easy to track and reply to all your reviews (even negative ones) from your Google Business Profile and other directories. This shows you value customer feedback and want to improve your services.
Build Local Citations
A local citation is any mention of your business on the internet.
This includes your basic contact details, like your NAP.
Think Yelp, Angi, and Porch.com.
The key? Keep your information consistent everywhere.
Consistent business information tells search engines your business is legitimate and trustworthy.
But manually searching and verifying your citations is not a productive use of your time (or your team’s).
Use a tool like Semrush’s Listing Management tool to automate this process.
Listing Management automatically checks for issues like missing phone numbers and incorrect addresses and updates them for you.
This makes it easy to maintain updated and accurate listings across multiple directories and keep your local SEO on point.
3. On-Page SEO
On-page SEO is the practice of improving webpage elements so your website ranks higher in SERPs and earns more relevant traffic.
Here’s how to optimize your plumbing site.
Use Your Target Keyword in the Right Places
Every webpage has specific spots where keywords make the biggest impact.
This includes the following elements:
Title tag: This is the title that shows up in search results. Limit this to 50-60 characters and include the target keyword as close to the front as possible.
Meta description: This is the summary that appears under the title tag in search results. Include the target keyword and keep it under 155 characters.
Pro tip: SEO plugins like RankMath and Yoast SEO make it fast and easy to customize title tags and meta descriptions on your site. The plugins will also alert you when you’ve forgotten to add metadata, helping ensure you keep up with on-page optimization.
You’ll also want to add your target keyword to the H1 (aka the headline) of each page.
For example, plumbing company Benjamin Franklin uses the keyword “Residential Leak Detection Services” on its H1 for one of its service pages.
H1s tell Google and readers what your page is about.
Pro tip: Every service page needs a unique H1—aka, don’t use “Plumbing Services” on multiple pages.
Use subheads (H2, H3, H4) to organize your content. Include keyword variations in them naturally.
For example, Benjamin Franklin uses “The Types of Plumbing Leaks We Repair” as an H2 and has “Common Signs of Plumbing Leaks” underneath as an H3.
You’ll also want to add descriptive alt text to your images.
This helps Google understand what your images show and ensures your site is accessible for those using screen readers.
For example, alt text for this image could be: “Professional plumber in uniform inspecting under-sink plumbing while showing digital tablet to homeowner in kitchen.”
Enter the URL of the webpage and click “Start Tagging.”
This takes you to the webpage where you highlight or tag the content needed for the code.
Once you’re done tagging the page, click “Create HTML.”
Copy the script block and paste it to the head section of your webpage’s HTML.
Too technical for you?
Hire a developer or tech-savvy friend to help you with this step.
It’s worth the hassle, as it can help your plumbing business stand out in the SERPs.
Analyze Current Pages for On-Page SEO Opportunities
As you add more pages to your site and blog, you’ll want to make sure you’ve properly implemented on-page optimization.
Semrush’s On Page SEO Checker can help you with this—it automates the process, so you don’t have to check each page manually.
Enter your URL and click “Get ideas.”
Click the “View all pages & ideas” to view the full list of pages it found to optimize.
Click the blue “Ideas” button for any page to view the suggestions.
For example, you’ll see recommendations like avoiding keyword stuffing in content, creating more informative contentm, and providing more relevant meta descriptions.
It’ll also give you tips on how to score featured snippets for certain keywords.
Make the necessary changes to help give your site a boost in the SERPs.
It can also drive long-term results and steady organic traffic over time.
Let’s look at how you can use content marketing to attract leads and instill confidence in prospective customers.
Answer Questions in Your Blog Posts
People who have a clogged toilet might not want to hire a plumber right away.
They might first try to fix the problem themselves—this is when they try to find answers online.
As a plumber, you’re in the best position to teach them how to unclog a toilet.
Like Benjamin Franklin did on its blog:
With step-by-step instructions, Benjamin Franklin gives its target customers the information they need to handle the job themselves.
But they also include hiring a pro as an option to encourage those who don’t want to DIY to give them a call.
Nice.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Well, you’ll be competing in the SERPs with countless other plumbers who are targeting the same keywords for the same topics.
So, how do you stand out?
By following Google’s quality guidelines for content: experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T).
Here’s how:
Prove your expertise. Include an author bio at the end of your content and highlight your experience as a plumber, including any certifications, years of experience, education, and more
Include step-by-step photos and videos: Guide your readers through each step with high-quality photos and videos that show you know your stuff
Add expert insights and quotes: Share firsthand tips that showcase your experience and include quotes from SMEs on your team to infuse your content with more authority and trust
Create Location and Service Pages
Location and service pages are exactly what they sound like.
They’re dedicated webpages for every service and location of your business.
If you have 10 different plumbing services, you need to create 10 separate pages describing each service.
For example, Jimmy Joe’s Plumbing has a separate page for everything from backflow prevention to home remodeling plumbing.
If you have multiple locations, you’ll also want to create dedicated pages for each one.
Like John the Plumber did in Florida.
Its site has pages for each location with city-specific content on each one.
Pro tip: Create unique content for each location page—don’t copy/paste. Duplicate content is a big no-no in SEO and can negatively impact your rankings.
Include Semantic Keywords in Your Content
Semantic keywords are keywords that are related to your target keywords.
It’s important to add semantic keywords to your content because it helps Google understand the context of your content.
You can use keyword research tools to find related keywords based on a seed keyword.
But you can also type a word in Google and view the People Also Ask section.
For example, typing in “heater installation” reveals semantic and question keywords you can target in content.
5. Technical SEO
Technical SEO is the process of improving your website’s technical aspects.
In other words, it needs to be fast, mobile-friendly, and secure.
But if you’re not a technical person, don’t worry.
I’ll teach you how to run an audit and check your site’s speed with user-friendly tools.
Run an SEO Audit
An audit can identify issues with your site, particularly page errors that affect your site’s performance and health.
For instance, broken links and pages can damage your website’s ranking and authority.
For example, Semrush’s Site Audit tool lets you audit up to 100 pages per month on Semrush’s free plan.
Enter your website’s URL and click “Start Audit.”
You’ll get an email when the report is ready.
The tool will provide an overview of your site’s performance.
This includes everything from a site health score to categorizing site issues by severity: Errors (high), Warnings (medium), and Notices (low).
Click on the “Issues” tab to learn how you can improve your site’s pages.
Some common errors you might see include:
Keyword cannibalization: When multiple pages have the same or similar target keywords and the same search intent
Keyword stuffing: When target keywords are used excessively on the page
Thin content: The content doesn’t have any (or little) value to readers and doesn’t meet search intent
Improve Loading Speed
If it takes your site longer than three seconds to load, 53% of visitors will abandon it, according to Google Consumer Insights.
So, if you have a slow site, it could be causing you to lose valuable plumbing leads.
Use a free web speed analysis tool like GTMetrix to check your site’s loading speed.
Enter your website’s URL and click “Test Now.”
After the analysis, you’ll get a grade, which tells you how well your site is performing, along with an overview of Core Web Vitals metrics.
Core Web Vitals measure the speed, interactivity, and visual stability of your site.
Scroll to the “Top Issues” section to learn what your site’s errors are and how to fix them.
Prioritizing technical SEO helps ensure your site delivers the fast and intuitive experience users expect.
6. Link Building
Link building is the process of getting other sites to link to a page on your website.
These links, called backlinks, play a big role in your site’s search ranking.
Here’s how to build your backlink profile, starting with a little competitor research.
Spy on Your Competitors’ Backlink Profiles
Use Semrush’s Backlink Analytics tool to learn valuable information about your competitors’ backlink profiles.
This includes the total number of referring domains and backlinks they receive and their authority score.
View the “Referring Domains” report to see who is linking to your competitors.
(So you can try to get them to link to you, too.)
Some referring domains might be directories you can add your business information to, and others may be sites you can try to guest post on.
Find and Reach Out to High-Quality Link Prospects for Guest Posting
Think about plumbing-related content that a website within your industry might be interested in.
Some examples of websites that might feature plumbers include:
Home improvement blogs
Real estate blogs
Home insurance blogs
Here’s an example of a guest blog from Precision Air & Plumbing for a home insurance website.
Finding websites that publish plumbing-related content can take time.
One way to speed things up is to use a tool like Semrush’s Link Building Tool.
Enter your URL and click “Start Link Building.”
Add your keywords, like “plumber in chicago” and “emergency plumber chicago” and click “Keywords” on the bottom.
This brings you to the next page, where you can add competitors.
Click “Start Link Building.”
Click “View prospects” on the pop-up.
Sort the list by highest AS (Authority Score).
This shows you the most reputable websites on this list.
Use your judgment to choose websites that are likely to accept guest posts.
Click on the icon to open the link to see plumbing-related content that’s published on the prospect’s website.
In this example, we clicked on wikiHow’s link and learned that the co-author is a professional plumber.
This points out an opportunity to reach out to major sites and offer your expert input for articles.
This can be a great way to build backlinks for your site while highlighting you as an industry expert.
Make a list of prospects and pitch topics that match what the sites publish and are relevant to your target audience.
While not all sites will provide backlinks, it’s still a valuable way to get your name—and your plumbing business’s name—some positive press mentions online.
Once done, Google will no longer consider these links when ranking your site or pages.
Get More Customers with Plumber SEO
SEO isn’t a quick fix.
But it’s one of the most effective ways to get new plumbing customers.
With a bit of research and help from tools like Semrush, you can flood your business with high-quality leads (without spending a fortune on ads).
I’m talking crushing your local competition in Google Maps, ranking #1 for emergency plumbing keywords, and turning your website into a 24/7 lead generation machine.
Ready to rank higher for local keywords?
Check out the top local SEO tools for plumbers that will help you dominate the SERPs.
http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png00Dubado Solutionshttp://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.pngDubado Solutions2024-12-29 22:57:522024-12-31 17:32:29SEO for Plumbers: How to Rank Higher & Get More Customers
Here are 21 Google search tips that will help you:
Refine your searches to get the right answers faster
Search the web without typing a query
Discover cool things you never knew Google could do
At the end, we’ll also show you how you can get your site to appear in more Google’s search results.
(Spoiler alert—it involves something called search engine optimization, or SEO.)
But first, the tips.
1. Familiarize Yourself with the Basics
To do a Google search, launch your browser, navigate to the search engine, and type what you’re looking for into the search bar.
Alternatively, if Google is your browser’s default search engine, type your query into your browser’s address bar.
You can type:
Words (like “electrolysis”)
Phrases (like “electrolysis process”)
Questions (like “what is electrolysis”)
You don’t need to type in full sentences.
Then, hit “Enter” or “return” on your keyboard to run the search.
Don’t worry about your spelling or grammar. Google is good at autocorrecting misspelled queries.
After you run your search, Google will display relevant results. Use the tabs at the top to see only certain types of results.
For example, click “Images” to view only image results, or “News” to view results from news sites:
Google may also display topics at the top of the search results. Click them to add to your query and narrow your search:
For example, clicking the “women’s” topic that Google displays on the search engine results page for “cute shoes” will update the search query to “women’s cute shoes”:
2. Filter Your Results
Filter the results to see only those published within a certain period or that match your query word for word.
To do this, click the “Tools” option at the top of the Google search results. “Any time” and “All results” drop-down menus will appear.
Click “Any time” to filter for results published within the last hour, 24 hours, week, month, or year. Or within a date range of your choice.
Click “All results” to choose whether to see all results or only verbatim ones that closely (or exactly) match your search query.
For example, if you’re searching for a person named “Rob Downey,” turning on the “Verbatim” filter ensures you get results for people named Rob Downey.
And not Robert Downey Jr., the actor.
3. Search Within Websites
Add “site:[domain]” to your search query to view results from a specific site.
This Google search tip also works for viewing results from specific site subdirectories, like “[domain]/blog”:
Pro tip: Use other Google search operators to further refine your search and find exactly what you’re looking for.
4. Perform a Reverse Image Search
A reverse image search uses an image to look for information. It’s helpful for learning about something you have a picture of but don’t know the name of.
Run a reverse image search in Google by clicking the camera icon at the right of the search bar.
Upload your image to Google, or paste an image link into the provided field. Then click “Search.”
Google will analyze your image and suggest relevant results.
5. Search with Your Voice
If you can’t type your query, do a voice search—where you speak your query.
Select the microphone icon at the right of the search bar:
Let Google access your microphone if prompted. Then, say your query out loud.
Google will transcribe your speech and search for what you said. If the transcription is inaccurate, correct it and rerun the search.
6. Get a Direct Answer
Google has partnered with other sites to provide answers to certain types of queries directly on the results page. As a result, you don’t have to click a search result to get an answer.
This is useful when you just want a straightforward answer. Like a stock price:
Try these Google search hacks for triggering direct answers:
To Get a Direct Answer for:
Use This Query:
Weather in a certain place
“Weather in [country or city]”
Time in a certain place
“Time in [country or city]”
Stock prices
“[Stock ticker symbol] price”
Definitions
“Define [word]” or “[word] meaning”
Note: Direct answers are different from featured snippets and AI Overviews. Like direct answers, featured snippets and AI Overviews offer answers directly on the search results page. But featured snippets contain information extracted from sites, while AI Overviews contain AI-generated information.
7. Find Exact Match Results
Enclose your search query in double quotation marks to view results that contain your query exactly as it appears.
This Google search tip is helpful for looking up the sources of quotes.
Let’s say you want to check which blog post provided this advice: “You should never pay for dofollow backlinks.”
Doing a Google search for that line without quotation marks may get you results with some words missing or in a different order:
But rerun the search with quotation marks, and you’ll get the sentence’s source right away:
8. Exclude Certain Results
Add a minus sign before certain words to exclude results with these words from the search results.
Here’s an example:
Searching for “caterpillar” usually gets you information on the Caterpillar construction equipment manufacturer.
To get information on the insect, instead, search for “caterpillar -construction”:
Another Google search tip is adding the minus sign before the “site:” operator to exclude a certain website from the results.
For example, to find mentions of your brand on any site except yours, search for “[your brand name] -site:[your domain].”
9. Find Files
Get only results with a certain file format by adding “filetype:[file format]” to your search query. Supported formats include:
pdf: For PDF files
doc: For Microsoft Word documents
xls: For Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
ppt: For Microsoft PowerPoint slides
If you’re looking for a PDF document for example, search “[document name] filetype:pdf.”
10. Run an Advanced Search
An advanced search gets you results that meet requirements like:
Containing all of a certain selection of words
Containing none of certain selection of words
Being in a certain language
Originating from a certain country
Having certain usage rights
To run an advanced search, do a regular Google search first. Then, select “Tools” > “Advanced Search” on the search results page.
Fill out the advanced search fields as required, then hit the “Advanced Search” button to run the search.
11. Turn On Dark Mode
Google offers a dark mode feature for doing searches in a dark-colored interface.
Turning on dark mode may reduce eye strain. It may also decrease blue light exposure, which can make it easier to sleep after spending a lot of time in front of a screen.
Google automatically enables dark mode if this is your device’s default setting. Learn how to change your device’s color settings here:
Alternatively, if your device’s color setting is light mode, here’s how to enable dark mode for a one-off Google search:
From your desktop device, go to the Google homepage. Select “Settings” at the bottom right and then “Dark theme: Off.”
If you’re using a mobile device, the “Dark theme: Off” option will appear directly at the bottom of the Google homepage.
12. Manage Explicit Results
Adjust Google’s SafeSearch settings to control whether you see search results containing adult content and graphic violence.
Click the gear icon at the top right of the search results. Then click on “SafeSearch.”
You’ll see three settings:
Filter: Exclude explicit results entirely
Blur: Blur explicit images but not explicit text or links
Off: Don’t censor any results
Click your preferred option. Google will save your choice and apply it to all future searches.
Note: You may not be able to change your SafeSearch settings if your network administrator has locked them.
13. Do Math
Google can help with math calculations.
If your calculation involves simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division, type it into Google’s search bar and run the search.
The search results page will show the answer.
To perform more complex calculations involving trigonometric functions, logarithms, and more, search for “calculator.”
Google will give you a scientific calculator you can use.
14. Convert Units of Measurement
Convert units of measurement by searching “[number] [source unit of measurement] in [desired unit of measurement].”
For example:
6’2 in cm
100 kg in pounds
25 deg c in kelvin
15. Convert Currencies
Google “[number] [source currency] to [desired currency]” to convert currencies using the real-time exchange rate.
You’ll also see a chart of the exchange rate’s movements over time. Hover your cursor over the chart to learn the exchange rate on different days.
16. Start a Timer or a Stopwatch
Search for “timer [duration]” to have Google start counting down from that duration automatically.
Click “Stop” if you need to pause the timer and “Reset” to reset it.
Alternatively, search for “stopwatch” to get a stopwatch. Activate it by clicking “Start.”
Tip: Check your device’s sound levels if you don’t hear the timer go off.
17. Activate a Bubble Level
Google offers a built-in level tool—also known as a bubble or spirit level—on mobile devices. It provides a rough guide of how horizontal or vertical a surface is.
This Google search tip is helpful when you need to see whether that new shelf you’ve installed is straight, but you don’t have a level handy.
Use it by searching for “bubble level” or “spirit level” on your mobile device. Then, tap “Touch to activate.”
If prompted, grant Google access to your device’s motion and orientation sensors.
18. Set Up Search Alerts
Get notifications whenever there are new results for a Google search query.
For example, you can set up an alert for every time someone publishes a post that includes your name or your brand. Or topics relevant to you, like “vegan recipes.”
To do so, go to Google Alerts and type the query you want to monitor into the “Create an alert about…” field.
You’ll see sample results for your alert.
Click “Show options” to configure settings like how often you want to receive notifications and the results’ language and quality.
Then, click “Create Alert” to finish the setup. Google will start alerting you of new results at your preferred frequency.
19. Track Packages
Google can provide shipping updates for packages delivered by UPS, FedEx, and other supported shipping providers.
Just search for “[shipping provider] package tracking.” Provide your package’s tracking number and click “Track via [shipping provider].”
Google will display your package’s shipping status right there in the search results.
20. Play Games
You can play certain games directly from Google’s search results page.
This is less of a Google search tip and more of a fun way to use Google.
To play games, search “minesweeper,” “snake,” “pac man,” “solitaire,” or “tic tac toe” to load the relevant game:
Alternatively, you can play a text adventure where you’ll get a scenario in text format. And your response—also in text format—affects what happens next.
Try it by searching for “text adventure.” Then right-click the search results page and select “Inspect.”
Your browser’s developer tools will appear. Navigate to the “Console” tab.
Under the large “Warning!” heading in the console’s messages, you’ll see a question: “Would you like to play a game?”
And two response options: “Yes” or “No.”
Scroll to the bottom of the console log, type your response, and then hit “Enter” or “return” on your keyboard to start playing.
21. Discover Easter Eggs
You’ll sometimes find special messages or features on the Google search results for certain queries.
Here are some examples:
Search for fonts like “Calibri,” “Comic Sans MS,” and “Courier font,” and Google will display results in the respective font.
Ask Google “the answer to life, the universe, and everything” and it will reply “42”—which is a supercomputer’s reply to the same question in “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” a science fiction book by Douglas Adams.
Meanwhile, Google the “BTS” Korean boy band and you’ll see a purple heart near the top left of the search results page.
Select the heart, and purple balloons will appear on the screen. Click them to pop them. The balloons containing microphones reveal messages from BTS’s band members when popped.
Make Google Search Work for You
Applying this list of Google search tricks will get you more relevant answers to your questions—and quicker, to boot. Some of these tips also make Googling more fun.
But apart from learning how to search on Google effectively for others’ pages, how would you like your pages to appear in Google’s search results?
You can appear higher for relevant search queries by using SEO.
SEO is the process of helping search engines discover and understand your site so they can display your site’s pages for relevant queries.
Optimize your site well to increase its chances of ranking higher in search results and receive more organic traffic.
Read these guides to get a foundational knowledge of SEO:
http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png00Dubado Solutionshttp://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.pngDubado Solutions2024-12-27 14:33:562024-12-31 17:32:3021 Google Search Tips to Find Exactly What You Want
The world of digital marketing in 2024 has been nothing short of transformative, with Google once again taking center stage in many of the year’s biggest developments. From the ongoing debates about third-party cookies to advancements in Google Analytics and the rising distrust among advertisers, the year was marked by shifts that tested the adaptability and resilience of marketers everywhere.
As we enter the last few weeks of the year, let’s take a look at the top newsworthy headlines according to pageviews.
Advertisers expressed frustration, citing financial strain, loss of cashflow flexibility and lack of benefits.
Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin confirmed that only a small subset of advertisers would be impacted.
9. Google Ads ad copy: what works and what doesn’t in 2024
Optmyzr analyzed over 1 million Google Ads to uncover key insights into ad copy strategies, focusing on metrics like CPA, CTR, and ROAS. The findings challenge conventional wisdom and highlight opportunities for marketers to improve performance.
The report covered:
Ad strength – its misleading
Pinning Assets – against Google’s recommendations, it could be worth pinning all headlines
Sentence case vs Title Case – sentence case is a clear winner especially for RSAs
Creative length – shorter headlines performed better
8. Google is shutting down websites made with business profiles
This caused the need of a new site for brands who had GBP websites, using platforms like Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, WordPress, Google Sites, or GoDaddy
It took little coaxing to have several advertisers let us know why their trust is at an all time low. Advertisers complained of manipulative practices, lack of transparency, erosion of trust and much more.
The rise in ad spend and growing confidence in paid media suggest advertisers adapted to challenges in 2023, leveraging mobile and emerging platforms like PMax to drive performance.
Advertisers are used to the odd Google Ads reporting glitch here and there, however in August, a unique one happened where competitor data was exposed.
Advertisers were unable to manage campaigns or access critical performance data. Additionally, a serious data breach has exposed unrelated item IDs, product titles, and Merchant Center information, potentially revealing competitors’ sensitive information.
It took a week for the issue to be fully resolved.
In July, advertiser Brais Calvo Vázquez’s discovered that Google Analytics 4 (GA4) includes a hidden report that allows users to compare conversion data exported to Google Ads, helping to identify and explain discrepancies between the two platforms.
This tool, accessible by appending “/advertising/key-event-differences” to a GA4 property URL, provides advertisers with insights to improve campaign accuracy and performance.
Some users have had access to this report for over a year, indicating it may have been in extended testing. Google made no comment to this discovery.
The changes aim to provide advertisers with enhanced transparency and control, allowing them to safeguard their brand reputation. The SPN includes websites and apps that display search ads, extending beyond Google’s main properties like YouTube and Google Discover.
1. Third Party Cookies
There had been back and forth about third party cookies for years now and whether to deprecate it and in 2024, Google had high hopes of going ahead with doing getting rid of it. However, their hopes were dashed almost as soon as they started their tests.
In January the report was Google started phasing out third party cookies. They were axing cookies from 1% of browser traffic, and the speculation at that stage was that they would phase out third-party cookies by the second half of 2024 as a crucial move in its Privacy Sandbox initiative.
“The Privacy Sandbox initiative aims to create technologies that both protect people’s privacy online and give companies and developers tools to build thriving digital businesses.”
However CMA had lots (39 and counting) of concerns, the three key ones being:
Google would still benefit from user data whilst competitors would be limited form this data,
That they will show favoritism towards their ad tech,
Publishers and advertisers won’t able to detect fraudulent activity.
In April the deadline for third party cookie deprecation moved from end of 2024 to 2025, conceding to the concerns the CMA raised in February. The had put evidence together that they were still doing the right by the industry and wanted to give the CMA enough time go over all the documentation they had provided.
Later that same month the concerns increased to 111 with the primary concern now being that Google will become too dominant in the market if their Privacy Sandbox solution went ahead.
After a couple of months of silence, the final decision came – Google scraps plans to kill third-party cookies in Chrome. The new promise is to introduce a new experience in Chrome whilst the Privacy Sandbox AMI will continue to be developed for alternative solutions.
That is a wrap on 2024. Several major talking points there, unsurprisingly mostly focused around Google there. What do we think 2025 will bring us? I reckon a lot more AI updates and experts truly needing to different themselves from those who just use AI as their selling point. It would also be interesting to see whether the Google we know now will have all its brands still intact by this time next year.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ppc-news-2024-search-engine-land-dURRNR.jpeg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=110801920Dubado Solutionshttp://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.pngDubado Solutions2024-12-27 13:00:002024-12-31 17:42:04Top 10 PPC news of the year 2024 on Search Engine Land
Google Ads introduced Brand Report, a new dashboard tool that gives advertisers consolidated insights into reach and frequency across campaigns.
The tool simplifies how brand advertisers track campaign performance by providing deduplicated metrics in one place, rather than scattered across multiple reports.
The details. Brand Report consolidates data from multiple tools, streamlining analysis of KPIs and demographic performance.
Advertisers can filter results by age, gender, and other on-target demographics.
Accessible directly in the Google Ads dashboard under “Insights and reports.”
Why we care. This update is significant because it finally solves the headache of piecing together reach and frequency data from multiple places.
By providing deduplicated metrics in one dashboard, you can now easily see who they’re actually reaching across campaigns, spot where they’re overspending on the same audiences, and make faster, smarter decisions about their brand advertising investments.
Key requirements:
Available at the single account level (no multi-account or MCC support).
Metrics cover a max of 92 days and up to 10,000 campaigns.
Requires 10,000+ impressions per campaign for data to populate.
Search, Shopping, and Performance Max campaigns are excluded.
What’s next. You should now look out for when other campaign types, like Search, Performance Max and Shopping, will be included in the reports.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GfwI7kfXIAAYzoT-D5ftMW.png?fit=569%2C503&ssl=1503569Dubado Solutionshttp://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.pngDubado Solutions2024-12-26 22:52:422024-12-31 17:42:04Google ads rolls out Brand Report for enhanced advertiser insights
Google’s June 2024 spam update rollout is now complete. The spam update started on December 19, 2024, about seven days ago, finishing on December 26, 2024. This was the third spam update of the 2024 year and started a day after Google completed the December 2024 core update.
This update was a general and broad spam update, it was not a link spam update and did not automate the site reputation abuse policy, which is still only done via manual actions.
Google wrote, “The rollout was complete as of December 26, 2024.”
What we saw. While the update was announced the day after the December core update, it does seems that it hit very hard within a few days and was much more widespread than some previous spam updates. Although, it is still a bit too early to dig too much into the update. If you were hit by this update, you may notice the rankings drops in Search Console. Keep in mind, holiday traffic can be very volatile and low for many sites, so look at rankings and not traffic for this specific update.
Previous spam updates. The last spam update was on June 20, 2024 and was named June 2024 spam update, it completed on June 27.
Here’s our past coverage of confirmed Google spam updates:
Why we care. This Google update took a lot of us by surprise, since it happened only a day after the core update and just days before the holiday season. We were taken back by Google releasing an update that will end close to, or into the holiday season.
This is the 7th Google search algorithm update we had in 2024, including four core updates and now three spam updates. It is unclear exactly what type of spam this targets but if you noticed any ranking changes during this update, it might have been related to this spam update.
“While Google’s automated systems to detect search spam are constantly operating, we occasionally make notable improvements to how they work. When we do, we refer to this as a spam update and share when they happen on our list of Google Search ranking updates.
For example, SpamBrain is our AI-based spam-prevention system. From time-to-time, we improve that system to make it better at spotting spam and to help ensure it catches new types of spam.
Sites that see a change after a spam update should review our spam policies to ensure they are complying with those. Sites that violate our policies may rank lower in results or not appear in results at all. Making changes may help a site improve if our automated systems learn over a period of months that the site complies with our spam policies.
In the case of a link spam update (an update that specifically deals with link spam), making changes might not generate an improvement. This is because when our systems remove the effects spammy links may have, any ranking benefit the links may have previously generated for your site is lost. Any potential ranking benefits generated by those links cannot be regained.”
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/google-spam-can-1920-800x457-qhOq20.jpeg?fit=800%2C457&ssl=1457800Dubado Solutionshttp://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.pngDubado Solutions2024-12-26 19:04:382024-12-26 19:04:38Google December 2024 spam update done rolling out
Starting December, Google will expand its “Abusing the ad network” policy to explicitly disapprove ads pointing to destinations penalized for violating Google Search spam policies.
The details:
Ads directing users to websites subjected to manual actions under Google Search’s Spam Policies will face automatic disapproval.
Site owners impacted by manual actions are notified through Google Search Console, giving them a chance to rectify issues.
The move aims to curb deceptive practices where advertisers attempt to drive traffic to spammy or manipulated web pages that have already been flagged by search enforcement teams.
Why we care. This update directly ties PPC performance to a site’s overall search health. If a site receives a manual action for violating Google’s spam policies, not only will organic traffic suffer, but paid campaigns driving to that destination will also be disapproved.
Neglecting site quality could now cut off both organic and paid traffic, amplifying revenue losses and disrupting marketing strategies.
Between the lines:
This enforcement raises the stakes for PPC managers (as well as SEO managers) . Sites hit with manual actions could see a direct impact on ad campaigns, not just organic search performance.
You will need to monitor Google Search Console closely and resolve any manual actions to prevent ad disapprovals.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/google-search-1920-800x457-teNRVM.jpeg?fit=800%2C457&ssl=1457800Dubado Solutionshttp://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.pngDubado Solutions2024-12-24 14:05:422024-12-24 14:05:42Google tightens ad policies to align with Search spam rules
Finding competitor keywords is essential to building your SEO strategy.
Why?
Because they show what’s working for others, highlight opportunities, and uncover gaps in your approach.
At Backlinko, we’ve spied on Ahrefs, Moz, and Semrush’s keywords for years—and found many opportunities.
For instance, Ahrefs gets an estimated 2.5k monthly organic visits from the keyword “website authority checker.”
But this is only part of the story.
The page targets over 1.7k keywords and drives an estimated 30k monthly organic visits.
Clearly, A LOT of people are interested.
So we published a free tool with a supporting blog post on the same topic. Now this page ranks for 1,000 queries and gets over 13k clicks a month from Google.
That’s the power of finding competitor keywords.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
What competitor keywords are and how they fit into an SEO strategy
How to find and analyze these keywords, step-by-step
Where to integrate them into your content and SEO plans
The Power of Using Competitor’s Keywords for SEO
When you find competitors’ keywords, you uncover what content they’re ranking for.
But it’s more than just ranking for a specific keyword.
Think bigger: You’re getting a snapshot of your competitors’ SEO strategy.
Competitor keywords reveal opportunities to boost your SEO in three ways.
First, spotting patterns in your competitor’s keyword strategy and capitalize on gaps.
Say a competitor is going after terms like “best vegan protein powder.” But they might be ignoring budget-conscious customers.
That’s your chance to swoop in and target keywords like “affordable vegan protein powder.”
The goal?
Position yourself to win over the segments they’re missing. Whether it’s budget-friendly options, niche markets, or untapped audiences.
Second, understanding their focus.
Whether they’re targeting broad, high-traffic terms or niche, long-tail keywords.
Say a competitor is focused on targeting top-funnel keywords like “online course platforms.”
Here, you can take a different route.
Why not target bottom-funnel queries like “how to create an online course for free?”
It will help you reach an audience ready to buy.
Third, building a content plan based on your strategy.
Finding competitors’ keywords gives you ideas for a content calendar.
Use them to plan your next topics, decide on content formats. And, finally, create content that meets your audience’s needs better than anyone else.
Now, you’ll learn techniques to find competitors’ keywords.
Step 1: Identify Your SEO Competitors
If you want to find competitors’ keywords, focus on SEO competitors.
These are websites competing with you for similar keywords and rankings.
They may not even be direct business competitors.
Start with a manual search and analysis.
Imagine your business is in the crypto space.
Think of relevant keywords that your potential customers might use.
Like “best crypto platforms 2024.”
Search the keyword on Google.
Take note of the websites that rank for this keyword.
In our example: Investopedia, Alchemy, and NerdWallet.
These are your content competitors.
Next, check the “People also ask” box.
It’s a good tool for finding additional keywords and content ideas.
Now, let’s explore another method for finding competitors.
Click the “View all 35.3K competitors” button to show your rivals.
Now, locate the “Com. Level” column.
You’ll see a percentage showing keyword alignment with your competitor.
For Backlinko, Ahrefs has a 35% competitive overlap, and Moz has 25% overlap.
Both are close content competitors.
Now that you’ve identified your competitors, it’s time to analyze their keywords.
Step 2: Find Competitor Keywords Using Tools
By examining the keywords your competitors rank for, you can uncover opportunities to improve your SEO strategy.
This step will help you find the exact terms your competitors are targeting and how you can potentially outrank them.
We’ll continue with our Backlinko example.
Since we identified Moz as a competitor, let’s enter its URL into the Organic Research tool.
Click “Search.”
In the “Overview” section, you’ll immediately see key data such as the total keywords Moz ranks for, their traffic volume, and the estimated cost of that traffic.
Click the “Positions” tab to view a detailed list.
Here, you’ll find important data:
“Keyword positions” for each term
“Intent” showing the user’s goal behind searched query
“Traffic” generated from these keywords
“Keyword volume” (searches per month)
“Keyword difficulty (KD%)” telling you how competitive each keyword is
You can use this information to identify high-value keywords your competitor is targeting and analyze their performance.
How?
Look for keywords with high search volume but lower keyword difficulty.
Use filters to narrow your search and focus on the most promising keywords:
Set the position filter to “Top 10”: Focus on keywords where your competitors rank high but you don’t
Adjust the volume filter to “101-1,000 searches per month”: Target keywords with moderate volume so you actually drive organic traffic to your website
Set keyword difficulty (KD%) to “Possible”: Target keywords where you can rank without having to go all-in on building external backlinks
These filters help you pinpoint keywords that offer a good balance of traffic potential and achievable competition.
For example, a keyword like “seo terms” gets 1K searches per month. And has a KD% of 46.
Not bad.
Create better content and optimize it to close gaps and outrank your competition.
Pro tip: Don’t stop at organic keywords—check what terms your competitors are paying for, too. Using tools like Semrush’s Advertising Research, you can uncover the keywords they’re investing in. These paid keywords signal strong opportunities for your SEO campaign.
Step 3: Expand Your Keyword List Through Research
Nuanced research helps you better target and prioritize audience-focused keywords.
In the end, it helps you expand your keyword database in ways that align with your overall strategy.
Let’s explore more advanced techniques to find competitors’ keywords.
Customer Feedback Analysis
Customer feedback is one of the most underrated sources of keyword inspiration.
Customers often use natural terms not found in keyword tools.
By diving into reviews, you can discover keywords that reflect real customer needs.
Let’s say you’re competing with a project management tool like Monday.
Analyze customer reviews on platforms like G2, Trustpilot, or even Google Reviews for local businesses.
They might reveal phrases like “Monday.com prevents copying and pasting data without exporting.”
These kinds of comments give you direct insight into the pain points users are facing with competitors’ products.
And they’re a perfect example of long-tail keywords that you can tackle.
For instance, paste “project management software with data import/export” into Google search to see how saturated the space is.
Here, GetApp’s software comparison page ranks organically in the top spot.
Monday’s competitor, Asana, is also present.
This indicates that content creators see value in addressing this specific pain point for users.
If you’re selling project management software with data import and export features, you could create a blog post or comparison page.
These pieces help attract frustrated users seeking better alternatives.
Private Communities
Your competitor’s private communities like Facebook Groups, Slack channels and Discord servers are gold mines for keyword ideas.
Simply watch what people talk about. You’ll discover:
Questions they ask (that aren’t being answered)
Problems they face (that you could solve)
Terms they use naturally (not marketing speak)
For example, let’s say you’re competing with Nike Training Club.
Join a few fitness Facebook groups where their users hang out.
You might spot people asking about:
“Best bodyweight exercises for beginners”
“Home workout equipment”
“Affordable fitness gear”
These terms could be perfect keywords that a competitor isn’t targeting yet.
http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png00Dubado Solutionshttp://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.pngDubado Solutions2024-12-23 15:41:262024-12-31 17:32:30How to Find Competitors’ Keywords to Boost Your SEO
