The SEO Blog from cognitiveSEO

Not long ago, Google has released version 68 of the Chrome Web Browser. In this version, websites that don't run on HTTPS will be marked as Not Secure. This might lead to the following question: does Google value websites with SSL certificates more? Will they rank better? Is it worth to make the switch?   In this article (Updated 2020) you'll find out whether SSL certificates matter for SEO or not. You'll also learn exactly how to migrate your website from HTTP to HTTPS without suffering [...]

Google is pushing for a shift from http to https, there is no secret in this. This strategy would probably be effective anyway, but with Google behind, the shift starts to resemble a done deal. The question is no longer whether sites will follow, but when. After all, who in their right minds would give up geolocation, encrypted media extensions or application cache?   But aside from the technical complications of this move, there are other considerations as well. One such unforeseen side [...]

Ranking number one on Google is great. But ranking in a Google answer box, on position zero, is even better. Google answer boxes might be a blessing for both users (they get the desired info instantly) and webmasters (their website is in the foreground, above the top ranking websites).   But what steps do you need to take to make sure you get featured in Google's rich answer box? Everything you need to know about answer boxes, from what they are to how to win them, is thoroughly detailed [...]

Why did the chicken cross the road? We’ll likely never find out. But if you type this into a search engine, I’m pretty sure I can predict what the top results might return. Not only because I’ve searched for this myself, but also because of something called search intent, which basically means that search engines are trying to give you what you want by first understanding (or guessing) what it is exactly that you want and - more importantly - why you want it.    If you understand w [...]

Speed is very important for a website. It's so important that Google has made it an actual ranking factor. Over time, Google has taken action to improve the loading speed of websites by providing a set of tools for developers and webmasters. One of these tools is Google Lighthouse.   But how does this PageSpeed Insights Tool from Google actually work? And, more importantly, does page speed affect SEO? You'll find everything you need to know in this article.   The PageSpeed Insigh [...]

Web Directories have been the norm for the world wide web and for search engine optimization for a long time. But are they still relevant in this age of advanced AI Google Updates?   Well, as Head of Web SPAM at Google John Mueller said, "in general, no". But the key words in that answer are "in general". That's the usual answer we get from John and, as much as we'd like to say we will dissect it, the truth is that we can only be speculating and interpreting things based on own knowledge [...]

As your online business grows, it becomes obvious how important content marketing is for your business. And even if you're the one working on your business' strategy or you hire an agency to help you out, one thing is clear: you need to know the full list of content marketing services your company needs.      Before saying that you don't need to bother with this because you will hire a specialized digital agency to take care of all this, take this scenario: You get a great offer [...]

This article provides a comprehensive roadmap of 40 advanced SEO techniques designed to exponentially increase organic traffic and improve search engine visibility. Key strategies include leveraging Wikipedia link rot for authoritative broken link building, utilizing semantic synonyms to capture broader search intent, and benchmarking competitor link profiles to identify high-value opportunities. The guide emphasizes the integration of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) through structured data and [...]

Titles are among the most important things in SEO. But, although it is very basic to have your keywords inside the title, it isn't always easy to write SEO friendly title tags. That's why we've prepared this guide and set of best practices you need to follow in order to have well optimized titles on all of your website's pages.   If there's one thing I've noticed during many years of practicing SEO, it's that people heavily neglect titles. Countless times have I been told - "I've worked w [...]

Having a strong online presence is essential for every business, whether you operate from a single location or manage offices across multiple countries. In 2026, success isn't just about ranking on traditional search engines; it's about deploying advanced local SEO software to ensure visibility in AI-powered search experiences, voice assistants, and answer engines that provide users with direct recommendations.   Local search optimization remains one of the most effective ways to attract [...]