Episodes

  • Code Blue SEO with Michael Cottam Episode 1
    Jun 29 2025

    In this inaugural episode of Code Blue SEO, host Margaret Pacheco, SEO Strategy Consultant with The OAG interviews SEO expert Michael Cottam about the critical aspects of SEO emergencies. They discuss the difference between technical SEO issues and true crises, the importance of canonical tags, and share real-life examples of SEO catastrophes. The conversation also covers the impact of hacked sites and negative SEO attacks, emphasizing the need for regular monitoring and proactive measures to prevent SEO emergencies.

    #seo #searchengineoptimization #seoemergency

    00:00 Introduction to Code Blue SEO
    01:21 Understanding SEO Emergencies
    02:19 Technical SEO Issues
    11:08 Canonical Tags Explained
    15:02 Real SEO Crises: Case Studies
    17:29 Dealing with Hacked Sites
    22:10 Negative SEO Attacks
    26:47 Preventing SEO Emergencies

    Key Takeaways:
    - SEO emergencies can be categorized into technical issues and true crises.
    - Technical SEO problems can lead to significant revenue loss.
    - Canonical tags are crucial for managing duplicate content.
    - Robots.txt can cause indexing issues if misconfigured.
    - Hacked sites can lead to severe SEO consequences.
    - Negative SEO attacks are a growing concern for businesses.
    - Regular monitoring of your site is essential for SEO health.
    - Using tools like Google Search Console can help identify issues before going live.
    - Understanding your competition can inform your SEO strategy.
    - Due diligence is key to preventing SEO emergencies.

    Resources Mentioned:
    Screaming Frog SEO Spider (https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/)
    Google Analytics 4 (https://analytics.google.com/analytics/web/provision/#/provision)
    Google Search Console (https://search.google.com/search-console/about)
    TechnicalSEO.com's Fetch and Fender tool (https://technicalseo.com/tools/fetch-render/)

    Michael Cottam combines deep technical expertise with strategic SEO proficiency as a seasoned consultant specializing in organic SEO, Panda optimization, and Google penalty recovery. Founder of Realty Remotely, a SaaS provider that enhances realtor workflows, Michael has a robust programming background spanning military systems to corporate retail solutions. He co-founded TheBigDay Honeymoon Registry, leveraging SEO to drive business success before selling it in 2008. His broad technical skills across numerous programming languages complement his knack for optimizing search engine visibility, making him a pivotal asset to any project.

    Connect with Michael Cottam:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcottam/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/michael512

    ❓ If you need help with an SEO emergency, reach out to our team at: https://www.theoagseo.com/book-free-seo-call/

    👍 Keep up with The OAG SEO:
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    28 mins