85: Questions from Listeners

Summary

In this podcast episode, Meredith's husband offers simple SEO advice for website owners. He discusses how to influence the images Google displays next to website links and explains the concept of minified JavaScript and CSS files. The episode helps website owners by highlighting practical steps to troubleshoot image display and downplaying the importance of unminified code, suggesting that it’s a low-priority issue compared to other SEO factors.

How to Improve SEO with Image Optimization and Minification

In the world of SEO, website owners are constantly looking for ways to improve their ranking on Google. In this episode of Meredith’s SEO series, her husband shares practical tips for dealing with two common issues: image display in search results and the use of minified JavaScript and CSS files. Let’s break down the key takeaways and how they can help boost your website’s SEO.

Image Display Optimization

One of the main points discussed in the episode is how Google selects the images that appear next to links in search results. These small images, often referred to as "thumbnails," can play a significant role in creating a first impression when someone finds your website.

Here’s how to influence which images Google shows:

1. Understand Google’s Process: Google decides what image to display based on its algorithms, and while website owners don’t have full control, they can influence the decision.

2. Check Your Images: First, look at the images on the relevant web page. Sometimes the image Google displays is hidden within a gallery or elsewhere on the page. By reviewing all the images on your page, you might identify which one is being pulled.

3. Replace the Image: If you find the image and it’s not the one you want to display, try replacing it with a more appropriate one. Be aware, however, that Google might not immediately adopt the change, and sometimes it won’t change at all.

4. Use Featured Images: Platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix allow you to set a featured image for each page. This is usually the image Google will prioritize, but it’s not guaranteed.

Although this process can be a bit tricky, website owners, particularly photographers or those with visually-driven businesses, should take advantage of this opportunity to present their work in the best possible light.

The Importance of Minified JavaScript and CSS Files

Another topic discussed is the technical aspect of SEO—minifying JavaScript and CSS files. These files contain code that helps structure and design your website. Minification refers to removing unnecessary spaces and characters from these files to make them smaller and faster to load.

Meredith’s husband emphasizes that while tools like Semrush may flag unminified files as an issue, it’s not something that should cause website owners too much concern. The idea behind minification is to make your site load faster, but in reality, the impact is usually minimal. More important aspects, such as user engagement and overall site content, should take priority.

In short, unless you’ve already optimized the more significant parts of your website, don’t worry too much about minification. If you're using platforms like Squarespace, you may not even have control over these files, so focusing on other areas of SEO will likely yield better results.

Bullet Points from the Episode

• Google controls which images appear next to search results, but you can influence it by reviewing and replacing images on your page.

• Featured images set in platforms like WordPress or Squarespace are often used, but not always.

• Minification of JavaScript and CSS files reduces file size for faster loading but is a low-priority issue compared to other SEO tasks.

• Tools like Semrush may flag unminified files, but they don’t have a significant impact on SEO unless other issues are already addressed.

Resources

If you’re interested in a step-by-step guide for SEO, check out the "SEO Roadmap" Meredith's husband mentions during the episode for a comprehensive plan to improve your website’s ranking.