Post of the Week
Google’s December 2020 Broad Core Algorithm Update: Analysis, Observations, Tremors and Reversals, and More Key Points for Site Owners [Part 1 of 2]
Glenn Gabe's analysis of algorithm updates are always up there with my favourites. This one, like the many others, is super detailed and there's also a part 2 coming soon!
News
An update on the Structured Data Testing Tool
Google has listened to feedback and decided that the Structured Data Testing Tool will no longer be deprecated. Instead it will be updated and housed on a new domain. Hallelujah! 🙌
We read the paper that forced Timnit Gebru out of Google. Here’s what it says.
This is such an interesting article on the how the former Google star ethics researcher was forced out of Google.
Tech
According to Tomek: Partial Indexing
Another great post from Tomek Rudzki! He found that hundreds of popular websites have indexed pages with their main content not indexed.
A lot of results to ponder in this article and debate and study why results are partially indexed!
Processes & Frameworks
The 2020 Local Search Ranking Factors Survey Analysis
Started all the way back in 2008, I always enjoy reading this local study from Darren Shaw. Check it out to see the most important local SEO factors voted on by experts.
WebMD vs. Healthline - when industries shift
According to Sistrix, Healthline overtook WebMD in January 2020. The brilliant Kevin Indig analyses both websites and makes some educated assumptions on why the organic performance of Healthline has been greater than WebMD.
Tools
Learn how to chart and track Google Trends in Data Studio using Python
A Twitter thread from Hülya Çoban which includes a Python script that you can use to track Google Trends for keywords and the changes in popularity over time. Really neat!
three-o-none: Fixing redirect chains with Cloudflare Workers
Not only is the a clever title (three-o-none, love it), but it's also a genius way of flattening 301 redirect chains using Cloudflare Workers. From Simon Thompson 🔥
SEO Pro Extension [Chrome Extension]
Kristina Azarenko is killing it and she's recently released SEO Pro Extension, which is a Chrome extension to quickly check on page SEO for any page.
Hi there 👋
I'll be notifying the winner of Oncrawl's Ultimate Box straight after this email goes out, so keep a watch out in your inbox!
Can you believe this is my final issue of the year! 😲
2020 has been a crazy year for me personally and I know that sentiment is shared by the majority of you reading this email.
In 2021 I will be continuing the exciting, unpredictable and scary SEO consulting adventure and I also aim to scale futurethought.io and create an SEO forecasting course - as well as many other big plans!
Thanks for supporting and spreading the love for The Weekly SEO this year I hope you all have a great Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful 2021 🙏
Andrew Charlton