So we open with our first SEO Shorts. Bite size fundamental SEO. Stuff not told by the so called guru class. You know those guys that cry “fire” every time Google does an update? So today I discuss your real online competition that you probably never knew you had. And our natural need to attach causation to SEO events.
“Correlation does not imply causation” means that just because two variables change together doesn’t mean one is the cause of the other. The relationship could be due to a third, hidden factor (confounding variable), random chance, or reverse causality, and a correlation should only be a starting point for further investigation.”
SEO Shorts #1
Essential Search Engine Optimization Basics
- Correlation is Not Causation: Avoid assuming that a specific change you make directly causes a ranking improvement. Many factors are at play.
- The Web’s Growth Impacts Value: As the web expands exponentially, the value of individual pages decreases because there is more for Google to crawl and because of the competition for keywords.
- Page Value Fluctuates: A page’s value, whether based on PageRank or other models, can change over time, impacting the value of links to your site.
- Beware of Anecdotal Evidence: SEO success is rarely about a single “trick.” What worked for one person may not work for another due to varying circumstances.
- Difficulty Isolating Causes: It’s often impossible to pinpoint the exact reason for an SEO outcome because Google doesn’t reveal its algorithms, and multiple actions are often taken simultaneously.
- The Importance of Google Search Console: Give your information to Google, let them know of your existence through Google Search Console and make sure that Google is indexing your web pages.