Google is shutting down Google App Maker, a tool that allows you to make custom apps for your business. App Maker is included with G Suite Business and Enterprise editions, as well as with G Suite for Education. [Continue reading]
Kobe Bryant Dead – TMZ Website Down
Certainly no one expected this.
A Sunday morning helicopter crash with NBA star Kobe Bryant aboard. TMZ, the entertainment news service that first broke the news of Kobe Bryant’s death, did not expect this either. The website is getting so much internet traffic that the TMZ website appears to be down, as well. [Continue reading]
WeLeakInfo.com Search Engine Seized by US Government
The search engine called WeLeakInfo.com has been seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice. WeLeakInfo.com was a website that sold access to hacked personal information and account logins. … [Continue reading]
SEO Testing: TLD Bias in Search
As a search engine optimization (SEO) and domain name consultant, one of the questions I get asked most often about domain names is whether or not the domain name or TLD (Top Level Domain) matters. Will the domain name ending have an effect on SEO or … [Continue reading]
Google to Require TLS 1.2 or Higher on SSL Websites
Starting in January 2020 (this month), Google Chrome will start warning users when they visit websites that are not using TLS 1.2 or higher on their secure website. This is a change in Google's policy about SSL secure HTTPs websites, as they … [Continue reading]
Google Search Console URL Inspection Tool is Down
The URL Inspection Tool inside Google Search Console is down. Requests made to Inspect Any URL that is on a verified website in Google's Search Console has a message saying that you need to try back in a few hours. … [Continue reading]
Google Invites, Then Un-Invites, Users to Google Cameos
Apparently Google mistakenly sent out invites to their highly-sought-after Google Cameos app, then promptly un-invited many of those same people. In the second email, they claim that they made a mistake. Google Cameos is an invite-only Google App … [Continue reading]
Digital Marketing with Bill Hartzer Podcast
In the last Quarter of 2019, I've launched the Digital Marketing with Bill Hartzer Podcast. It can be found on most of the popular podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Podcast Addict, … [Continue reading]
Sales Calls Selling Amazon Alexa Voice Search Listings
Local businesses are getting unsolicited sales calls from a company saying they're from Amazon Alexa. The local business apparently can purchase a listing on Amazon Alexa for a one-time fee of $69 plus a monthly maintenance fee of only $19 per month. … [Continue reading]
Influencer Gets 14 Years in Federal Prison for Hijacking Domain Name
A social media influencer has been sentenced to 14 years in United States Federal prison for the attempted hijacking of a GoDaddy domain name. According to a United States DOJ press release, "Rossi Lorathio Adams II, age 27, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, … [Continue reading]
Results of Removing My Google My Business Listing
Every month, there are over 5 billion searches on Google for restaurants. 3 billion searches for hotels. 1 billion searches for clothing stores. 600 searches for hair and beauty salons. 5 million searches for coffee shops (Google My Business data, … [Continue reading]
Google AdSense Sunsetting iOS and Android Apps
Google AdSense is getting rid of their iOS and Android apps in favor more a more favorable mobile experience. According to an email sent out to Google AdSense publishers such as myself, that means that they will no longer support the Google AdSense … [Continue reading]
Network Solutions Suffers Data Breach in 2019
Network Solutions, a Web.com company, along with Register.com, has suffered a data breach (they got hacked) in late August 2019. They did not discover this data breach until October 16, 2019. They're just notifying customers on November 1, 2019 about … [Continue reading]
State of Search Digital Marketing Conference November 4-5, 2019
The Dallas/Fort Worth Search Engine Marketing Association, an organization I helped found back in 2004, is holding it's annual State of Search conference November 4-5, 2019. I'm the conference Chair this year--and it's being held again at the famous … [Continue reading]
Google My Business Congratulates Local Biz for Getting 1 Click
I manage several Google My Business accounts for my clients. Google My Business provides data about how many visits the business has received, as well as how many people have seen the local business listing. This data is available for verified … [Continue reading]
Google Indexing, Ranking Bing Search Results and Redirects
Here we go again. I've written about this before and Google again is indexing search engine results pages in Bing.com. When I pointed it out, Google eventually removed it. And, better yet, Google is also indexing and ranking those pages and pages … [Continue reading]
Yahoo Groups Shutting Down December 14, 2019
Yahoo Groups is shutting down. On October 21, 2019 they will lock down Yahoo Groups so that no one can upload any more content. Then, on December 14, 2019, all previously posted content will be removed forever. I have been getting used to Google … [Continue reading]
Google My Business Bug Causes 404 Errors on Websites
There is a bug in Google My Business website URLs that causes a 404 error on most websites. Users who use the Google Maps app to click through to a local business' website address with certain tracking parameters will encounter a 404 error. Depending … [Continue reading]
Bill’s List: Speakers to See and Meet at Pubcon Las Vegas 2019
Every year at this time I hand-pick a list of speakers that I recommend you meet and see speak--the information they bring to the industry and what you'll learn from them is invaluable. For all of the major search conferences, whether I'm speaking or … [Continue reading]
Google Bulletin is Shutting Down
Google is shutting down Google Bulletin, as well as the Google Bulletin App, which will stop working in about two weeks. Bulletin is an app where you could create stories about your local community using photos, videos, and text. It was in beta in … [Continue reading]