Notes from 20+ years of local SEO and web work
Some of these posts are old. The ones worth keeping have been refreshed for what's actually working in 2026. The ones that aren't are quietly retired.
Google AI Overviews: What 20 Years of SEO Tells Me About the Click Collapse (2026)
AI Overviews cut top-ranking click-through rates by 58%. Why ranking #1 isn't enough anymore, what Google actually took, and the AEO playbook working for home service companies in 2026.
Local SEO Ranking Factors 2026: The 40+ Signals Google Uses to Rank Plumbers, Roofers & HVAC Companies
Most plumbers, roofers, and HVAC companies optimize GBP and wonder why a less-polished competitor owns the map pack. Here's the full 7-category local relevance framework that actually moves the needle in 2026.
Should I Name My Roofing or Plumbing Company with Keywords? Google Just Answered (2026)
John Mueller spelled it out. If your site name is generic keywords, Google won't credit branded searches to you, and AI engines won't cite you either. Why this hits home service companies hardest and the branding fix.
Don't Lose Your Mind Over Yelp Reviews
How to handle the Yelp review system in 2026 without burning your business down: TOS rules, consumer alerts, responding to negatives, and the filter.
Interview with SEO Patent Expert Bill Slawski
A 2019 interview with Bill Slawski on Google patents, TF-IDF, links, E-A-T, and the Hummingbird patent. Republished from the archive.
How to Find an SEO Firm That Won't Ruin Your Business
Three tips for hiring an SEO firm without putting your business at risk: get educated, focus on content over rankings, and beware of cut-rate pricing.
Alan Bleiweiss SEO Audit Master Interview
A 2012 interview with Alan Bleiweiss on topical focus, duplicate content, subdomains, internal anchors, and the tools he uses to audit sites.
The Fun Side of Pubcon (2012 Recap)
A look back at the nightly events at Pubcon Las Vegas 2012: the Raven Tools poker tournament, Mike King at Beauty Bar, and Alan Bleiweiss's Epic Dinner.
Top Internet Marketing Experts to Follow (2012 Archive)
The 2012 list of must-follow internet marketers on Twitter and Google+. Republished as a time capsule. Most of these folks are still in the industry today.
How Social Media Impacts SEO (Now a Real Ranking Signal)
Social used to be an indirect SEO factor. In 2026 Reddit, YouTube, and brand mentions are direct ranking and AI citation signals. The 2013 post, rewritten.
How to Tell If Your SEO Company Sucks
13 red flags your SEO is taking your money and not delivering. Updated for 2026 with the AI search, AEO, and GBP red flags nobody was watching for in 2013.
The Advantages of Regular SEO Audits (2026 Edition)
Why a regular SEO audit still matters in 2026, what to actually check (Core Web Vitals, schema, AEO readiness, GBP), and how often to run one.
Will Your Domain Name Impact SEO in 2026?
Keyword domains were a real edge in 2016. In 2026 they're holding you back. Why AI Overviews need a real brand name, and why SEOs still pushing EMDs are about to get left behind.
What Is a Location Page (and How to Make It Outstanding)
Location pages are the backbone of local SEO for home service businesses. What they are, why they work, and how to build ones that rank in Google and AI Overviews in 2026.
Local SEO for Multiple Locations: The 2026 Playbook
How to run local SEO across multiple locations without cannibalizing yourself. GBP at scale, location pages that don't get demoted, review velocity, and the AI search angle.
15 Local SEO Trends to Boost Traffic
The 2019 local SEO playbook, rewritten for 2026. GBP, AEO, reviews, schema, Local Services Ads, and what actually moves the needle today.
7 Common Risks Involved in a Link Building Campaign
Manual actions, AI-detected spam, PBN exposure, anchor profiles, and the link building risks nobody saw coming. The 2019 guide, refreshed.
12 of the Best Google Doodles, Then and Now
The 2009 list of best Google Doodles, plus 8 modern picks that raised the bar. And what doodles can teach you about branding in 2026.
The Single Most Important Aspect to Rankings
In 2012 it was deep links to inner pages. In 2026 it's topical authority across every URL that matters. Same idea, bigger stakes.
Don't Mistake Your Crappy Links for Negative SEO
Most negative SEO panic is just old spammy backlinks finally catching up. How to tell the difference in 2026 and what to actually do about it.
The Best Online Reputation Management Tools
The 2012 list, rebuilt for 2026. Brand24, Mention, Birdeye, Podium, Brandwatch, and the AI answer monitoring nobody was doing back then.
Online Reputation Management for Ripoff Report
Ripoff Report still ranks for some brand searches in 2026. How to handle a complaint, push it down, and protect your name without making it worse.
2005 Called, They Want Their SEO Back
Penguin recovery in 2012 looked like one thing. The 2026 version looks like another. Here's what bad-SEO recovery actually takes today, from anchor profiles to AI Overviews.
What Does Google Authorship Mean for SEO?
Google Authorship died in 2014, but the idea behind it never did. Here's what replaced it, why E-E-A-T and author signals still matter, and how to set them up in 2026.
Top Web Design Tools and Resources
The 2009 toolkit, rebuilt for 2026. Figma, Tailwind, modern color and font tools, AI assistants, and what's still worth keeping from the original list.
How to Make a CAPTCHA with PHP and GD
The classic PHP + GD captcha tutorial, updated for modern PHP 8, with notes on when you should actually skip a custom captcha and use something tougher.