Is it truly impossible to obtain server logs if your website is hosted on HubSpot or other hosting providers that do not allow logging?
Here’s how to get (most of) the server logs for ANY website (under your control):
- Set up an instance of matomo.org somewhere.
- Install a bot tracking plugin.
- Install a pixel on the target site.
Obviously, there are some drawbacks to this, such as tracking redirects, but it will allow you to see GoogleBot by URL, etc.
I track a significant number of GoogleBot requests, but it’s hard to say if this method is 100% effective without having originals to compare, writes Martin McDonald.
“I’ve delved into studying the trend that emerged after the HCU, and I have several insights I’d like to share,” writes Taleb Kabbara.
First and foremost, it’s crucial to understand that vanity metrics are just vanity metrics.
However, when the entire industry heavily relies on these metrics, they start to significantly influence rankings.
Here’s the gist of what I’ve observed: if your website tries to rank for a topic that doesn’t match your niche, especially if that topic is a high-value keyword, it distorts the assessment of your site overall.
Let’s break down what I mean by “keyword value.”
Essentially, it’s the search volume multiplied by the cost per click (CPC).
For instance, if you run a travel site and decide to review a job search site because the keyword seems lucrative, you might find yourself in a predicament.
Imagine the keyword “X job site review” has a search volume of 100K and a CPC of $0.5.
Then the keyword value is 100,000 x $0.5 = $50,000.
If this keyword, completely unrelated to your travel niche, has the highest value, and your site ranks in the top 10 for it, your site starts to be perceived as belonging to the job search site review industry.
This mismatch can lead to your site being demoted in rankings because your highest-value keyword is in the wrong niche.
So what can be done?
You have several options:
- Delete the article unrelated to the theme to avoid a penalty on the entire site.
- Transfer the article to a new domain focused on job search site reviews, diversifying your SEO efforts without risking the ranking of your main site.
- Completely redirect your site to the niche of job search site reviews, which is impractical for most.
After the HCU, many site owners rush to update content with the highest value keywords, thinking it will save them.
However, this often backfires against them.
Updating content triggers re-crawling, and if algorithms notice a niche mismatch, they will further demote your article.
This causes panic, leading many to mistakenly blame core updates for their traffic decline when the real issue lies in the mismatched article.
In my audits, I’ve shifted focus from “borderline terms” to identifying the highest-value keyword that doesn’t belong.
This approach simplified my analysis, allowing me to quickly pinpoint the root of problems.
A quick glance in Ahrefs or a similar tool can show whether your highest-value keyword is pulling you into the wrong niche.
Here’s a quick screenshot of where to look in Ahrefs for high-value keywords:
Here’s a practical example: an article ranking well in an unrelated niche peaked in traffic around the core update in August 2023, only to sharply decline by the core update in March 2024.
Note also the timid attempt to revive traffic in November 2023, but unsuccessfully.
Attempts to revive it were futile.
For brands, if your branded keyword leads in value, you’re generally safe.
But it’s crucial to check other highest-value keywords for any that may not match your niche to avoid potential issues.
“Intent” in SEO
In the year 2024, the concept of “intent” in SEO has become widely accepted, as stated by many.
Major and specialized tools incorporate it into their features, and Google has been using it for over a decade now.
However, it seems that the SEO sector still struggles to fully grasp this concept.
The crux of the matter lies in understanding “intent-based keywords” and recognizing that each type of content, catering to different needs, has its own set of terms and expressions.
When analyzing content – whether it’s a product page, interview, user manual, or news article – most people focus on keywords, typically primary noun phrases.
However, true insights can be gleaned by examining verbal phrases and prepositions, parts of content related to “actions” and “relationships“.
Such an approach reveals that while there’s little overlap between different content formats, strong linguistic similarities exist within the same formats/types.
The problem is that many still “keyword target“, focusing their content around the primary term they want to rank for, such as “handbag” or “luxury leather clutch“.
They overlook the importance of optimizing for content format and, consequently, the intent behind the search.
Optimizing for intent means acknowledging that there’s more to it than the standard three or four types usually discussed.
Google itself provides hints through SERP features, indicating which content formats are popular for specific search intents.
These features, ranging from local listings and ads to informational blocks and product carousels or images, imply different intents and formats depending on the audience and items considered.
For instance, a B2C audience typically isn’t searching for specifications/technical tables.
The type of comparison content and “social proof” depends on the audience and product, and much of this doesn’t require intricate keyword analysis – it should all be common sense and somewhat templated.
For each goal and format, there’s an optimal structure/flow and specific points to include.
For example, repair guides should list the necessary tools, a detail you won’t find in keyword analysis tools.
Understanding query formulations and wording is also crucial.
We often use shortened expressions, leading to hybrid results for ambiguous queries.
For instance, searching for “pizza” might yield a variety of results, including menus, orders, directions, and recipes, reflecting different intents and formats.
The main takeaway is that covering all intents shouldn’t be an issue.
Formats, their number, and priorities depend on the market, audience, and product, but overall, a website or business should have a standard set of content types based on its nature.
These include system/standard/site pages, core pages, sales support pages, educational pages, and after-sales service pages.
Essentially, there’s no magic or special tricks in understanding and optimizing for search intent.
It all boils down to common sense, logic, and considering the consumer journey.
By identifying relevant formats and clearly formulating “intent conditions” in your content, you’ll be better equipped to meet user needs effectively.
“I don’t know why I’ve never noticed this before, but how can you easily determine which sites are actively engaging in SEO?” – asks Amanda Orson.
The percentage of 3XX redirects from the total number of pages in the crawl.
It’s much easier to take positions away from competitors who are asleep at the wheel.
- Market leaders
- Active, acquisition-killed, declining, disorderly, loss-making at the last update.
- Old asset, new owner, on the rise.
- Active, acquisition-killed, declining
- Managed by an excellent, well-known SEO specialist
- Bought by the same guy who is the CMO of this brand.
- Old, well-managed, independent
- New brand
- No own SEO skills