David Mihm pointed out on Twitter that Google is hosting a partner workshop event named "Drive Traffic to Your Website with SEO." The interesting bit is that the workshop says it is "hosted by one of Google's internal SEO experts, this workshop will give you a behind-the-scenes view into how Google approaches SEO for its own sites."
This is 100% a partner program with Google but the issue some have with this is that an internal SEO at Google is talking at this event.
Doesn’t sound like that to me: “Hosted by one of Google's internal SEO experts, this workshop will give you a behind-the-scenes view into how Google approaches SEO for its own sites.”
— David Mihm (@davidmihm) February 25, 2022
But after I registered, I received a confirmation from the "Grow with Google Partners" with the Google Partner Program logo in the email confirmation.
Yes, Google has an internal SEO team, that is no secret. In fact, Google has said that their internal search teams are stricter with their internal SEO teams than they are with external SEOs. Google also said they don't give their internal SEO team preferential treatment.
Here is some of the concern over this, with John Mueller of Google responding:
Reply 2/2
— David Mihm (@davidmihm) February 25, 2022
What I find interesting is Google explicitly presenting SEO information under a partner. Googlers @Localuniv were always v. cautious wrt “SEO advice.”
Also concerned that what works for “internal SEO on Google sites” will not be realistic for SMBs.
For example, we've also presented at events run by 3rd parties, even when those are SEO providers / tools. That's not a sign that we recommend them specifically, it's more that it's just someone who happens to run a public event (which is a lot of work).
— 🐐 John 🐐 (@JohnMu) February 25, 2022
I don't think most will have any concerns over G giving SEO advice.
— Lyndon NA (Darth Autocrat) (@darth_na) February 25, 2022
It's when additional parties are tied in to it - and whether they then try to spin/bank/cash-in on that
("we have a relationships with...").
Remember the "cheap site + domain" thing,
worked out more expensive?
Here is a screenshot of the event:
I actually registered and confirmed to be in it - I'll do my best to listen and let you know if I find anything out of the norm that is unfair or anything else.
Forum discussion at Twitter.
Update:
Love the rant from @gregfinn at @MarketingOClock on the Nov 2021 core update https://t.co/8ycleaEg1p
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) November 18, 2021
Update 2: The presentation was given by an internal SEO at Google named Jason, here it is. In short, it was pretty vanilla and basic and nothing controversial was said.
