Episode: 139 The Insider's Inbox - News from a Pro SEO
- Meredith's Husband
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Blog Post: Insider SEO Tips and Why Owning Your Platform Matters
In this episode of the podcast, Meredith’s husband takes listeners inside his “SEO inbox” to share four key updates that impact online businesses and website owners. These short but insightful notes provide a pulse on current trends and help business owners make smarter decisions in their digital strategies.
1. Keep Your Google Business Profile Clean
The first email came directly from Google and served as a reminder: keep your Google Business Profile accurate and compliant. This includes updating information regularly, responding to both positive and negative reviews, and steering clear of prohibited content. For any business relying on local visibility, this is crucial. Even small missteps can lead to suspensions—something Meredith’s husband has experienced firsthand.
2. Google’s New AI Mode
Next, he discussed Google’s experimental AI mode that shows generated answers above traditional search results. While not yet available to all users (especially those with paid Workspace accounts), it marks a significant change in how people interact with search. For website owners, this means adapting content for AI summarization as well as traditional search rankings. As Google continues to roll out and refine this feature, staying ahead of how AI affects visibility will be essential.
3. YouTube Channel vs. Website for Monetization
A forum post raised the debate: should content creators focus on building a YouTube channel or a traditional website? Meredith’s husband offers an insightful breakdown:
Social media platforms can remove or limit your reach without warning.
Building a business on someone else's site is risky—you don’t own the audience.
Websites allow you to collect emails and control your messaging.
You can still use social platforms for traffic but should always aim to direct users to your own site.
Monetization through a website (via products, services, or ads) can be more sustainable long-term.
This discussion drives home the principle: “Don’t build your house on rented land.”
4. Business Profile Suspensions and Bureaucratic Frustration
Lastly, he shares that his Google Business Profile—titled Meredith’s Husband—was once again suspended, possibly due to the name sounding “non-business-like.” Despite having a valid business license, he's forced to navigate a vague and often unhelpful appeals process. It’s a reminder that free platforms come with limits and headaches, further reinforcing the value of owning your platform.