SEO 101

In this episode of SEO 101, Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte explore the impact of AI Overviews on organic and paid search click-through rates, Google's controversial ad changes, removal of lesser-used search features, and recent experiments with AI mode. They also highlight actionable tips for adding AI-generated multimedia to content, and discuss the evolving role of SEOs in the AI era. Adverti...

In this episode of SEO 101, Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte share a comprehensive guide to maintaining SEO rankings during a site redesign, including backup strategies, content audits, URL management, and redirects. They also discuss Chrome’s upcoming HTTP warnings, AI-powered browsers, new Google Search Console features, local SEO news, and the evolution of ranking algorithms with AI advancements....

In this episode of SEO 101, Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte cover the WPBakery vulnerability, Google’s changes to ranking report tools, optimization tips for AI and generative search, LLM visibility tracker accuracy, local SEO updates for Bing Places and Google Local Pack, the impact of fake dates on AI rankings, and best practices for content credibility. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.co...

In this episode of SEO 101, Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte dive into ChatGPT’s instant checkout, answer engine optimization trends, ranking report disruptions, ChatGPT’s growing referral traffic for retailers, YouTube’s dominance in AI search, Google’s August spam update, AI overviews impacting local packs, Google’s ongoing review spam struggles, and domain history affecting SEO results. Advertisin...

In this episode of SEO 101, Scott V an Achte covers improvements to core web vitals across major CMS platforms, Google removing support for certain structured data types, Apple’s plans for an AI-powered search engine, the latest on Google’s AI Mode, LLM traffic conversion rates, and how ChatGPT compares to Google and Bing as a traffic source. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Pri...

In this episode of SEO 101, Scott Van Achte covers the August 2025 Google spam update, Ahrefs’ new traffic tracker comparing LLMs and search engines, Googlebot crawling issues, practical Search Console tips for duplicate content, a survey on AI Overviews and zero-click searches, and advice for recovering from website hacks and strengthening site security best practices. Advertising Inquiries: http...

In this episode of SEO 101, Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte cover Perplexity’s bold bid for Chrome, Google’s new Preferred Sources feature, the impact of AI on SEO conversions, attribution challenges, behavioral shifts toward Reddit and YouTube, GPT-5’s rocky rollout, a hilarious Gemini bug, and Google’s claims about AI-driven search trends and website traffic. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcirc...

In this episode of SEO 101, Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte cover critical WordPress plugin vulnerabilities, ChatGPT conversations appearing in Google Search, the rise of generative engine optimization, AI’s impact on visibility, local SEO review issues, Google’s Query Fan Out technique, ChatGPT sourcing Google data, and Bing’s lastmod tag recommendation for AI indexing. Advertising Inquiries: https...

In this episode of SEO 101, Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte break down the June 2025 Google core update, discuss AI Overviews eroding web clicks, share updates on Core Web Vitals data in Search Console, cover OpenAI’s crawling behavior, CSS and image best practices for SEO, product pricing by state, and Google’s latest advice for handling e vent pages and AI-driven search. Advertising Inquiries: htt...

In this episode of SEO 101, Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte discuss the June 2025 Google core update, its impact on local SEO, new Google Search Console features, possible Core Web Vitals bugs, issues with online reviews, disavow file relevance, AI-generated content in rankings, and best practices for site indexing and high-quality content creation. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brand...

In this episode of SEO 101, we explore practical uses for the Google Search Console URL Inspection Tool, including indexing checks and troubleshooting page rendering. We also discuss Google's new guidelines on service area businesses, prohibiting the addition of countries or states, and analyze the recent decline in AI Overviews' search rankings, exploring the implications for SEO strategi...

In this episode of SEO 101, we explore the latest SEO developments, including Yoast plugin support for LLMs.txt, Google's removal of seven structured data markups, and the integration of AI Mode traffic data in Search Console. We also address a question from a viewer about niche blogging strategies, emphasizing the benefits of focused content and multimedia for better engagement. Tune in for e...

In this episode of The SEO 101 Podcast, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte interview SEO expert, friend, host of Webcology on  WMR.FM , owner of Digital Always Media and StepForth’s first employee, Jim Hedger. The topics discussed range from the early days of SEO to Jim’s predictions for generative engine optimization over the coming years and what business types can succeed. Advertising Inquirie...

 In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte explore key updates in the SEO landscape, including Google's testing of recently viewed labels in search results and the significant launch of AI Mode for U.S. searchers. They also discuss insights on managing crawl budgets effectively for improved indexing. Tune in for valuable strategies and the latest developments that could i...

Join us for the 500th episode of SEO 101, a special celebration of our journey together! In this milestone episode, we reflect on key moments, including significant Google updates, essential SEO best practices, and memorable guest interviews. We share personal insights and stories that highlight our growth and connection with you, our loyal listeners. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer,...

In this solo episode of SEO 101, Scott Van Achte explores Google's recent core update that impacts organic ranking overlaps and highlights the importance of high-quality content. He reviews the updated Quality Raters Guidelines, discusses AI's influence on search visibility, and shares actionable strategies to enhance engagement and optimize for AI-driven searches. Advertising Inquiries: h...

In this episode, we explore signs of a potential Google core update affecting rankings, Reddit's sneaky ranking successes using AI, and Google's new AI-generated summaries in Knowledge Panels. We also discuss an exciting opportunity for an AI crawler version of the robots file called LLM.text. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/priv...

In this solo episode, Ross Dunn explores the key insights from Google's March 2025 Core Update, including the effects of AI on search strategies. He discusses how to adapt to the latest changes and compares selling on marketplaces versus your own website, offering practical tips to enhance your online presence. Tune in for expert advice! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Priv...

 In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte discuss Google's March 2025 core update and its focus on quality content. They explain a mistake that can cause search engine result click-through rates to plummet, and they address the challenges of AI accuracy in search engines and its implications for digital content creators. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brand...

In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte explore the recent VOX Media survey revealing declining trust in Google Search, with a shift toward AI tools. They discuss Google's updates for personal info removal, local SEO strategies, and AI ranking volatility, emphasizing the need for diverse content to improve visibility in evolving search landscapes. Tune in to learn how t...

In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte explore the recent Google search updates, including the renaming of the “All Results” feature, the removal of pagination numbers, and new image search capabilities. They discuss the impact of local listings on organic results, the benefits of audio versions for SEO, and review count bug fixes. Don't miss these essential takeaways!...

In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte explore the significant decline in click-through rates due to Google's AI Overviews. They discuss new guidelines for recipe blogs to enhance user experience, and address a recent bug affecting local reviews. Tune in for insights on these critical SEO developments and their implications. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com...

In this episode of the SEO 101 Podcast, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte discuss Google’s removal of mobile breadcrumbs, disruptions to SEO tools from JavaScript requirements, DeepSeek updates, site reputation abuse enforcement in Germany, and Google AI Overviews offering coding assistance. Tune in for essential SEO insights! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out...

In this solo episode of SEO 101, Scott analyzes the December 2024 Google Spam Update and its effects on site rankings. He discusses the reintroduction of continuous scroll for Image and Video results and explores the importance of blogging for authority and fresh content, along with best practices for optimizing your website. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: h...

In this episode of SEO 101, Ross and Scott share their predictions for 2025, and Bing's removal of the cache link and Google's December 2024 core update; analyzing their potential impacts on search rankings. They also explore the features of ChatGPT Search now available to free users, highlighting its usefulness for research and its limitations for commercial queries. Advertising Inquiries...