Google Unveils Simplified SEO Starter Guide for Beginners

Google has released an updated, more concise version of its SEO Starter Guide aimed at beginners. This "pocket-sized" guide is about half the size of its previous iteration, focusing on the essentials of SEO for newcomers.

It has caused quite a stir among SEOs who now disagree about some key ranking factors that were previously thought to be (or not to be) ranking factors. Primarily discussed is the impact of Core Web Vitals and E-E-A-T.

Highlights:

• Streamlined Content: The guide cuts down on complexity, removing sections on glossary terms, structured data, mobile-friendliness, and site performance analysis to keep beginners focused on core SEO practices.

• New Sections: It introduces explanations on why certain SEO actions are necessary, including insights on duplicate content, SEO theories, and setting realistic expectations for SEO impact.

• Consolidated Guidance: Google has also compressed information across various sections to make the guide more accessible, while still covering key topics like site indexing, link importance, and site promotion.

You can find it here: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Starter Guide

Trade Secrets: You need to pay attention to what you share and what you keep a secret.

As an entrepreneur, safeguarding your trade secrets is pivotal for sustaining competitive advantages and building your business. Trade secrets are the “Secret Sauce” and they are highly valuable (and protectable under U.S. Federal Law).

The Uniform Trade Secrets Act (the “USTA”) defines a "trade secret" as:

“information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process that: Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.”

I am often asked: how do I figure out what trade secrets I have?

For this specific, and important task, I built a YES framework that will help you ID and protect trade secrets in your company. By YES framework, I mean a series of questions that you can ask yourself and either answer YES or NO. When answering YES you move to the next part of the analysis.