Tips Tuesday – Google Ranking Change, OpenAI Atlas, IG vs TikTok
Tips this week include:
- Why I’m semi-unplugging for a day or two
- Making good use of cloud storage
- WP 6.9 Beta is out
- OpenAI Atlas browser released
- Brave finds AI browser security issues
- Utopian Labs joins Zapier – this is a good thing
- The problem with vibe coding
- October SEO update from Yoast – summary of trends
- Videos outrank posts
- Confirmation of Google is ranking more than posts
- Instagram vs TikTok
- Update on my new YouTube channel
Boo y’all.
It’s Halloween week and I have some nice treats and a few not-so-scary tricks for you today.
BlogAid Happenings
Unplugging for a Day or Two
My desktop PC needs a couple of upgrades due to me going full bore into series video creation.
I’m upgrading my primary drive due to the size of the apps I use being so big. I need a little more headroom.
And I’m upgrading my graphics card now that the one I’ve had my eye on has finally dropped in price. I want more graphics CPU and memory for not only running this complex software that builds worlds, but for doing the screen recordings at the same time.
So, I’ll be taking my PC into my fave repair shop today and I may not get it back until tomorrow. Hopefully it won’t be any longer than that.
I have all kinds of outings planned for Tuesday. And I’ll do some deep house cleaning on Wednesday, if I’m still without my PC.
I will have access to email and the internet on my iPad and Chromebook, so no worries with me being completely out of touch.
Cloud Storage
I have a secondary drive where I’ve been storing all of my videos, but it is filling up fast. I got an external drive to store videos that are no longer active projects, and it is filling up too, mainly from all the courses I’ve offered over the years.
So, I learned how to create zip files in my Camtasia video editor and I will be moving those really old projects off to AWS cold storage.
That gives me peace, as I have not had good experiences with external drives. They most definitely have a limit of input/output instances and when they break, all that data becomes unrecoverable.
Cold cloud storage is definitely the more secure way to go. And it’s cheaper than external drives anyway.
I’m running into the same storage issue with the new music files I’m creating. Plus, I need to do cloud storage copies of all of the voices and apps I’ve downloaded too. AWS is going to be the way to go with that as well. It’s cheaper than Google storage.
Have you considered using cloud storage as a way to free up space on your computer?
It might save you on backup costs too. I use Backblaze for that.
NOTE: if you do want to use AWS for more cloud storage, be sure to create a new bucket for it. Don’t use any of your site backup buckets. Holler at me if you need help with it.
WordPress Tips
WP 6.9 Beta is Available
Time to get a first look at what will be in WP 6.9 Beta.
Full release is expected Dec 2.
I won’t be testing until we get to the RC1 (first Release Candidate).
I’ll have a “What’s New” post for you near the final release time.
AI Tips
OpenAI Atlas Browser Released
OpenAI announced the release of their Agentic AI browser called Atlas.
Just like Perplexity’s Comet, it is not just a browser. It’s an AI agent.
I have zero intention of replacing my main browsers with either of them.
I know there are folks going all in with these things, including the AI Agent part that takes over the browser and does tasks for you.
And y’all are most welcome to be the security beta testers for the rest of us.
FYI, I believe Atlas is only available on macOS at this time, maybe mobile iOS too.
Brave Finds AI Browser Security Issues
I believe this is the first of many such posts we’ll see in the coming months, and through all of next year.
The Brave browser is ALL about security and privacy. And it is Chromium based. This is why it has become my go-to browser. FYI, I use Chrome for my back office stuff, which is on my Workspace account.
TIP: No matter what browser you use, log out of sites when you are finished with them, and get in the habit of closing tabs that you are not actively using. These two things alone help secure your online activity.
Utopian Labs Joins Zapier
I’m glad to see this.
Zapier has acquired AI Agent builder, Utopian Labs.
Zapier has been around a LONG time and they specialize in every type of integration and automation you can imagine.
They also have a LONG history of making all of those connections secure and keeping them that way. That’s super important, especially considering the types of integrations they do.
Utopian Labs is an AI startup, but they have done a very good job of focusing on AI Agents that have real-world applications.
So, this is a good pairing and it is the first Agentic AI that I’ve seen that I might actually use and recommend.
The Problem with Vibe Coding
Some of the LLMs are writing good, clean, secure code now.
Great!!!
But code languages change every year.
And security loopholes appear EVERY SINGLE DAY.
So, what passes muster today may not tomorrow.
And unless there becomes a way to routinely check code and a commitment from the dev to keep it maintained, no thanks, I would not use it.
That includes any code written by me if it has access to the outside world via the internet or an API connection.
And if you’re listening to folks about Vibe Coding that have zero background and experience in cybersecurity, you may want to rethink that.
SEO Tips
Oct SEO Update from Yoast
The nice folks at Yoast have prepared a good summary of SEO trends and observations for October.
Two of them stick out to me.
First, the removal of the num=100 parameter in GSC to help clean up the super useless ranking metrics we have been seeing since AIO appeared in regular Google Search.
Second, the need for content creators to write concise, expert info, and put it at the top of your post – all so AI can more easily consume it as a summary to show in AI Search results.
Basically, you have to give the punchline first. And if folks want more, they will click over to read your whole post.
Videos Outrank Posts
I’ve been digging deep into my YouTube Reach metrics.
Overwhelmingly, folks find my videos via a regular Google Search.
And they see and click on the video WAY more than they see my posts in regular Search.
THIS is the power of using video in your content marketing strategy.
Videos pay me money no matter where they are watched, including right there in Google Search (when they are a featured video that can be played in Search), on YouTube, or on my post.
Google Ranking More Than Posts
Here’s proof that it’s not just my videos that are getting seen more in regular Google Search.
An interview with Google’s VP of Search confirms that they plan to rank more short-form video, forums, and UGC (User Generated Content).
No timeline has been given for the full shift.
But what I see in this is that searchers want to ensure that they hear from real people, not AI spun content.
I think video is THE best way to do that.
And we may have to look harder into ways of creating more UGC too, including which platforms/methods are featured the most.
I can see us doing a deep dive on this in the DIY SEO Everywhere course next year.
Video Tips
Instagram vs TikTok
The nice folks at Blogging Wizard have a good comparison post between Reels on IG and videos on TikTok.
They frame it as an either/or situation of using one over the other.
I say, use both.
I’m sad I didn’t get into TikTok earlier, but who knew the shutdown would keep getting punted all year. And I haven’t heard definitive word about the sale to US firms, and what will become of the algorithm, the store, and other critically important factors.
New Channel Update
I’m almost through the project tasks for releasing my new YouTube channel that teaches how to create worlds using a complex software that I love.
The task list is:
- Write the scripts
- Record the screen videos, then in-person intros/outros in bulk
- Edit all of the videos
- Create descriptions and cover images for each video – I am at this step
- Prepare intro video, content, and graphics for the channel
You better believe that I’m focusing HARD on the SEO of the last 2 steps!!!!
In fact, I split my tutorial topics along SEO lines for this very reason.
So, I’m going to be very close to meeting my self-imposed deadline of launching by the end of October.
I plan to release a video every 2-3 days to help train the YouTube algorithm.
And, I will be going all in with short-form tip videos that I will post on all platforms that promote videos, including both TikTok and Meta Reels, once I get all of the videos in this series posted.
Are you doing videos?
If not, whatever excuse you have about it, now is the time to get over it!!!
Just do it.
The more you do, the better you’ll get at it, and the more comfortable you’ll feel with it.
