Free Local SEO Expert Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Examples of "Sold here", "In stock", "Provides", and "Menu highlight"
- Gratifications
- Justifications (Correct answer)
- Google Posts types
- Branded Maps pins
Correct answer: Justifications
In the context of local search and Google Business Profiles, 'Justifications' are snippets of information Google uses to explain why a business is relevant to a user's search query. These phrases, like 'Sold here' or 'Menu highlight,' are pulled from various sources such as the business's website, reviews, or Google Business Profile attributes, and appear in local pack results or knowledge panels to provide immediate context.
Question 2: Which of the following is a Moz score that forecasts a page's position on search engine result pages (SERPs)?
- PageRank
- Domain Authority
- Page Authority (Correct answer)
- Search Visibility
Correct answer: Page Authority
Page Authority (PA) is a Moz metric that predicts how well a specific page will rank on search engine result pages. It's scored on a 1-100 logarithmic scale and is based on various linking root domains and other factors. In contrast, Domain Authority (DA) predicts the ranking strength of an entire domain or subdomain.
Question 3: The ____ upgrade, which took place in August 2018 and significantly impacted sites in the ____ vertical, was a change to the Google core algorithm.
- Possum / hyperlocal
- Medic / health & wellness (Correct answer)
- August Core / lifestyle
- Fiat / automotive
Correct answer: Medic / health & wellness
The 'Medic Update' was a major Google core algorithm update in August 2018. It primarily impacted websites in the health, medical, and wellness industries, leading to significant ranking fluctuations for sites dealing with 'Your Money Your Life' (YMYL) content. This update underscored the importance of E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) for sensitive topics.
Question 4: When someone does this sort of search, they frequently require expertise, such as the size of a queen mattress or rosebush maintenance instructions.
- Transactional
- Navigational
- Informational (Correct answer)
- None of the above
Correct answer: Informational
An informational search query is performed when a user is looking for information or answers to a specific question, rather than intending to make a purchase or visit a particular website. Examples like 'size of a queen mattress' or 'rosebush maintenance' clearly indicate a desire to learn or understand something. These searches often lead to blog posts, guides, or educational content.
Question 5: True or false: Google's ranking algorithm does not take link equity into account, and the order of search results is unaffected.
- TRUE
- FALSE (Correct answer)
Correct answer: FALSE
This statement is false. Link equity (also known as 'link juice' or 'ranking power') is a fundamental factor in Google's ranking algorithms. Links from authoritative and relevant websites pass value to the linked page, significantly influencing its position in search results. Google explicitly states that backlinks are a key ranking signal.
Question 6: The SERP rankings of your page are influenced by link equity, which is taken into account by Google's algorithms.
- Transactional
- Informational
- Navigational (Correct answer)
- None of the above
Correct answer: Navigational
Link equity contributes to a website's overall authority and visibility, which helps it rank prominently for its brand name and specific pages. When users perform navigational searches, they are looking for a particular website or its specific content. A strong link profile ensures that the intended destination ranks highly, making it easily discoverable for these direct searches.
Question 7: True or false: Including search intent in reporting aids in comprehension of users' actions and reasoning.
- True (Correct answer)
- FALSE
Correct answer: True
Understanding search intent is crucial for effective SEO and content strategy. By categorizing queries into informational, navigational, or transactional intent, marketers can better comprehend why users are searching, what they expect to find, and how their content aligns with those needs. This insight allows for more targeted content creation and improved user experience, which is vital for reporting on performance.
Question 8: True or false: Installing Google Analytics has a direct impact on your Google rankings.
- TRUE
- FALSE (Correct answer)
Correct answer: FALSE
Installing Google Analytics (GA) on a website does not directly influence its Google search rankings. GA is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic, providing valuable data for understanding user behavior and site performance. While insights from GA can inform SEO strategies that indirectly improve rankings, the mere presence of the tracking code itself is not a ranking factor.
Question 9: True or false: In Google queries and Answers, businesses may post their own queries and responses.
- TRUE
- FALSE (Correct answer)
Correct answer: FALSE
In Google Questions & Answers (Q&A) on Google Business Profiles, businesses can respond to user-submitted questions, but they cannot post their own questions. The feature is designed for customers to ask questions about a business, and for the business (or other users) to provide answers. Businesses can, however, answer frequently asked questions proactively through other GBP features or their website.
Question 10: Which of the ensuing on-page elements can boost your chances of being included in a highlighted snippet?
- Length of content
- Meta keywords
- H1 tag
- H2 tag (Correct answer)
Correct answer: H2 tag
While several on-page elements contribute to featured snippets, using clear, concise headings like H2 tags to structure content is highly effective. Google often pulls content directly following a question-formatted H2 tag or a list/table within an H2 section to create a featured snippet. This helps Google understand the content's structure and identify direct answers to common queries.
Question 11: Compared to ordinary keywords, long-tail keywords are frequently [blank].
- Higher volume
- Higher difficulty
- Lower difficulty (Correct answer)
- Lower conversion
Correct answer: Lower difficulty
Long-tail keywords are typically longer, more specific phrases than broad, 'ordinary' keywords. Due to their specificity, they generally have lower search volume and, consequently, face less competition from other websites. This often translates to a 'lower difficulty' to rank for them, making them an attractive target for SEO strategies, especially for niche topics.
Question 12: What does "disallow" imply in a directive?
- Don't crawl this page or directory (Correct answer)
- Don't rank this page or directory
- Block this page or directory from users
- Crawl this page or directory, but don't index it
Correct answer: Don't crawl this page or directory
In a robots.txt file, the 'Disallow' directive instructs search engine crawlers (like Googlebot) not to access or crawl specific pages, directories, or files on a website. This prevents those designated areas from being indexed and appearing in search results. It's important to note that 'Disallow' only prevents crawling, not necessarily indexing if the page is linked elsewhere.
Question 13: What is the most effective detail to include in reporting in regards to issues that haven't been fixed yet?
- The technical details around the issue
- A timeline of expected progress by prioritization (Correct answer)
- A detailed explanation of why the issue hasn't been fixed yet
Correct answer: A timeline of expected progress by prioritization
When reporting on unresolved issues, providing a clear timeline of expected progress, especially when prioritized, is most effective. This manages expectations, demonstrates a plan of action, and allows stakeholders to understand when fixes are anticipated. Simply detailing technical aspects or reasons for delay without a forward-looking plan is less actionable and less reassuring.
Question 14: The number of pages in the search index that match your criteria is displayed on every search engine results page, correct or incorrect.
- TRUE (Correct answer)
- FALSE
Correct answer: TRUE
On most search engine results pages (SERPs), particularly Google, a small text line is displayed, usually near the top or bottom, indicating the approximate number of results found for a given query. For example, it might say 'About X results (Y seconds).' This provides users with an idea of the scope of information available.
Question 15: True or false: You should have a single complete page on a topic rather than different pages for each keyword variant.
- TRUE (Correct answer)
- FALSE
Correct answer: TRUE
This statement is true and aligns with the concept of 'content consolidation' or 'pillar pages.' Creating one comprehensive, authoritative page that covers a topic thoroughly, rather than scattering information across multiple thin pages targeting slight keyword variations, helps avoid keyword cannibalization and signals greater expertise to search engines. This approach often leads to better rankings and a stronger user experience.
Question 16: In content marketing, there are typically three methods of promotion:
- Paid, earned, & owned (Correct answer)
- Ads, social media, & CTAs
- Paid, organic, & earned
Correct answer: Paid, earned, & owned
The PESO model (Paid, Earned, Shared, Owned) is a widely recognized framework for categorizing media types in content marketing and public relations. The core three traditional methods are Paid media (e.g., ads), Earned media (e.g., PR, mentions), and Owned media (e.g., your website, blog, social profiles). These represent the primary channels through which content is distributed and promoted.
Free Local SEO Expert Questions and Answers
Examples of "Sold here", "In stock", "Provides", and "Menu highlight"