Adario Strange says, “The rise and fall of Google Glass from cool edge tech to bar room punchline may be about to take another turn. A new set of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) documents filed by Google offers a peek at an upcoming device that is equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functionality, just like the first version of Google Glass. The documents detailing the device, termed “GG1,” doesn’t go into great detail about what the device does, but tidbits of information, surfaced by Droid Life, point toward the possibility that it might just be the second version... [...]

Russ Jones says, “Given this blog’s readership, chances are good you will spend some time this week looking at backlinks in one of the growing number of link data tools. We know backlinks continue to be one of, if not the most important parts of Google’s ranking algorithm. We tend to take these link data sets at face value, though, in part because they are all we have. But when your rankings are on the line, is there a better way to get at which data set is the best? How should we go about assessing these different link indexes like Moz, Majestic, Ahrefs and SEMrush for quality?... [...]

Amanda King says, “I’ve been in and out of Google Analytics (GA) for the past five or so years agency-side. I’ve seen three different code libraries, dozens of new different features and reports roll out, IP addresses stop being reported, and keywords not-so-subtly phased out of the free platform. Analytics has been a focus of mine for the past year or so—mainly, making sure clients get their data right. Right now, our new focus is closed loop tracking, but that’s a topic for another day. If you’re using Google Analytics, and only Google Analytics for the majority... [...]

Amy Gesenhues says, “According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, researchers from Columbia University and Harvard Business School claim Google is delivering a “degraded version of its search engine,” outranking its own services over more relevant results for local searches on restaurants and hotels. In a study sponsored by Yelp – one of the companies listed as a complainant in the EU antitrust case against Google, former FTC advisor Tim Wu from Columbia Law School and Harvard Business School’s Michael Luca found, when given the option, users were more likely to click on results... [...]

Kristi Hines says, “If you don’t know what Google Analytics is, haven’t installed it on your website, or have installed it but never look at your data, then this post is for you. While it’s hard for many to believe, there are still websites that are not using Google Analytics (or any analytics, for that matter) to measure their traffic. In this post, we’re going to look at Google Analytics from the absolute beginner’s point of view. Why you need it, how to get it, how to use it, and workarounds to common problems. Why every website owner needs Google Analytics Do... [...]

Brian Massey says, ““We aren’t worrying about our mobile traffic right now.” At my company Conversion Sciences, this is what we’ve heard from many — if not most — of our website optimization clients over the past three years. Businesses are just getting their heads around their big-screen websites. Mobile traffic is often small by comparison, and it converts terribly for my clients, often at half to one-third the conversion rate. But the decision to ignore it may be short-sighted. Mobile traffic is likely one of your fastest-growing segments. Have you done the calculations to... [...]

Kristi Hines says, “If you don’t know what Google Analytics is, haven’t installed it on your website, or have installed it but never look at your data, then this post is for you. While it’s hard for many to believe, there are still websites that are not using Google Analytics (or any analytics, for that matter) to measure their traffic. In this post, we’re going to look at Google Analytics from the absolute beginner’s point of view. Why you need it, how to get it, how to use it, and workarounds to common problems. Why every website owner needs Google Analytics Do... [...]

Patricio Robles says, “Even the smallest of organisations are using web analytics to improve their business, and Google Analytics is one of the most popular tools available today. Google Analytics might be free, but it’s a robust tool that can meet the needs of many businesses large and small. So where should beginners start? Here are seven tips. KISS Google Analytics has powerful capabilities and many go unused by even the most experienced users. For beginners, Google Analytics can be downright overwhelming. Fortunately, getting real value from Google Analytics doesn’t require... [...]

Thomas Smale says, “On April 21, Google unleashed its mobile-friendly update on the online world. However, most businesses and entrepreneurs were in the loop and had sufficient time to react and take appropriate measures. More recently, there have been rumors flying about a new “phantom” algorithm update, which was presumably applied towards the end of April or the beginning of May. As it turns out, if you’ve been noticing changes to your — or anyone else’s — search rankings as of late, you aren’t out to lunch. The reason some have been referring... [...]

Carly Stec says, “The words “Google algorithm update” are commonly followed by the following emotions: panic, confusion, terror, and frustration. Having seen strategies crumble as a result of Google’s frequent changes, it’s hard not to worry about your business taking a hit. However, Google isn’t out to be the bad guy. In fact, most algorithm updates aren’t intended to derail businesses. They’re designed to encourage them to make improvements. So rather than allow the fear of receiving a Google penalty cripple your efforts, check out this infographic... [...]