AlexHarford-TechSEO
@alexharfordseo.bsky.social
#TechSEO, mentor, former web dev. UX/accessibility/sustainability.
15+ years an SEO. Always learning.
Find me on Moz, Search with Candour, SEO Mindset.
Loves outdoors, travel, running, writing, 90s Nintendo.
Short stories & photos @AlexHarford.bsky.social
15+ years an SEO. Always learning.
Find me on Moz, Search with Candour, SEO Mindset.
Loves outdoors, travel, running, writing, 90s Nintendo.
Short stories & photos @AlexHarford.bsky.social
Pinned
18 Real-Life Analogies to Explain SEO to Anyone
moz.com
My colleague @jasmine-seo-200ok.bsky.social pitched this article to Moz after a few months as an SEO!
My favourite analogies are her bus numbers as server codes and JavaScript as house tech built on the foundations of HTML.
A great read for any SEO learner/teacher. 🔥
moz.com/blog/technic...
My favourite analogies are her bus numbers as server codes and JavaScript as house tech built on the foundations of HTML.
A great read for any SEO learner/teacher. 🔥
moz.com/blog/technic...
Double triple quadruple yes please!
The DevTools waterfall could be much more usable and useful.
The DevTools waterfall could be much more usable and useful.
Do you want a better Waterfall in Chrome DevTools?
Then plus 1 this bug:
issues.chromium.org/issues/34649...
It's one of the things we're considering working on next but need to see that the interest is there, and it's not just a thing I'd like to see...
Then plus 1 this bug:
issues.chromium.org/issues/34649...
It's one of the things we're considering working on next but need to see that the interest is there, and it's not just a thing I'd like to see...
Chromium
issues.chromium.org
November 20, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Double triple quadruple yes please!
The DevTools waterfall could be much more usable and useful.
The DevTools waterfall could be much more usable and useful.
The below post from Barry reminds me that this User Agent Directory - chrisleverseo.com/user-agents - by @chrislever.bsky.social is a brilliant #TechSEO resource.
A while ago I spent a couple of hours searching for and reading up on various user agents and didn't need to leave Chris' site.
A while ago I spent a couple of hours searching for and reading up on various user agents and didn't need to leave Chris' site.
November 13, 2025 at 1:38 PM
The below post from Barry reminds me that this User Agent Directory - chrisleverseo.com/user-agents - by @chrislever.bsky.social is a brilliant #TechSEO resource.
A while ago I spent a couple of hours searching for and reading up on various user agents and didn't need to leave Chris' site.
A while ago I spent a couple of hours searching for and reading up on various user agents and didn't need to leave Chris' site.
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
Consistency is the biggest technical SEO factor.
November 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Consistency is the biggest technical SEO factor.
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
I guess it's thrilling to imagine oneself to be part of a mad chase to the creation of artificial life. But it's not just fun and games when that chase is being used to concentrate wealth & power and involves despoiling the physical & information ecosystems + massive labor exploitation.
>>
>>
November 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I guess it's thrilling to imagine oneself to be part of a mad chase to the creation of artificial life. But it's not just fun and games when that chase is being used to concentrate wealth & power and involves despoiling the physical & information ecosystems + massive labor exploitation.
>>
>>
"Search has changed. It is no longer about rankings or clicks but about whether systems understand and trust your information."
chrisleverseo.com/blog/the-con...
From @chrislever.bsky.social
chrisleverseo.com/blog/the-con...
From @chrislever.bsky.social
The Confidence in Search Systems Framework - Chris Lever
TL;DR Search has changed. It is no longer about rankings or clicks but about whether systems understand and trust your information. The Confidence in Search Systems Framework helps close that gap. It ...
chrisleverseo.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:54 PM
"Search has changed. It is no longer about rankings or clicks but about whether systems understand and trust your information."
chrisleverseo.com/blog/the-con...
From @chrislever.bsky.social
chrisleverseo.com/blog/the-con...
From @chrislever.bsky.social
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
Google AI Overviews hallucinating as usual. I won't let it poo-poo my sci-fi short story ideas. 🙃
![Screenshot of Google search for [Bacon grease lubricate black hole] with AI Overview: The concept of 'lubricating' a black hole with bacon grease is a nonsensical idea based on a fundamental misunderstanding of black holes.'](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:relqcjqqz5stdzdr24rnv7k5/bafkreiga6qdmhjthcmr3ifzzsmp4eay6qelcs2f2xsayjqacgbw5xizc5e@jpeg)
November 7, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Google AI Overviews hallucinating as usual. I won't let it poo-poo my sci-fi short story ideas. 🙃
Now Google has said it, I hope more people listen.
Google published guidance emphasizing context-driven technical SEO audits over tool-generated scores, explaining when high 404s are normal. via @mattgsouthern.bsky.social
#seonews #Google
#seonews #Google
Google Warns Against Relying On SEO Audit Tool Scores
Google published guidance emphasizing context-driven technical SEO audits over tool-generated scores, explaining when high 404s are normal. via @mattgsouthern.bsky.social
#seonews #Google
www.searchenginejournal.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Now Google has said it, I hope more people listen.
I'd guess Collins are on the OpenAI payroll or trying to get on it or something...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Vibe coding' named word of the year by Collins Dictionary
The art of making an app by describing it to artificial intelligence (AI) tops 10 new terms on the shortlist.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I'd guess Collins are on the OpenAI payroll or trying to get on it or something...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
How to Use Chrome to View a Website as Googlebot - via @alexharfordseo.bsky.social #seo
How to Use Chrome to View a Website as Googlebot
The author's views are entirely their own (excluding the unlikely event of hypnosis) and may not always reflect the views of Moz.
moz.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:27 AM
How to Use Chrome to View a Website as Googlebot - via @alexharfordseo.bsky.social #seo
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
Little reminder that an inaccessible website means lost customers, and lost revenues.
From the article: "Research shows UK businesses collectively lose £17.1 billion a year because shoppers using assistive technology abandon websites that don’t work for them...
From the article: "Research shows UK businesses collectively lose £17.1 billion a year because shoppers using assistive technology abandon websites that don’t work for them...
Black Friday and Cyber Monday: why accessibility could be your biggest sales advantage
Businesses lose nearly £446 million every BFCM weekend because of inaccessible websites. Learn how accessibility boosts conversions, loyalty, and sales, and how to prepare for the biggest shopping weekend of the year.
davedavies.dev
October 28, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Little reminder that an inaccessible website means lost customers, and lost revenues.
From the article: "Research shows UK businesses collectively lose £17.1 billion a year because shoppers using assistive technology abandon websites that don’t work for them...
From the article: "Research shows UK businesses collectively lose £17.1 billion a year because shoppers using assistive technology abandon websites that don’t work for them...
Competitions that get entrants to improve search engine CTR seem to be back in vogue. I've seen a couple recently.
October 26, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Competitions that get entrants to improve search engine CTR seem to be back in vogue. I've seen a couple recently.
OpenAI accelerating our regression to 1984 (especially with point 3 in the article)...
Imagine a browser where you type in “Taylor Swift” and it doesn’t even admit that her website exists. I write about Atlas, ChatGPT’s new anti-web browser that should come with a warning label. www.anildash.com/2025/10/22/a...
ChatGPT's Atlas: The Browser That's Anti-Web - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
www.anildash.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:03 AM
OpenAI accelerating our regression to 1984 (especially with point 3 in the article)...
Is it possible to return 410 Gone on Shopify sites without resorting to the edge?
I'm auditing a Shopify website that has 84% of its 20,000+ products either out of stock or discontinued.
I don't want to recommend anything for the majority of that other than 410 GONE!
#WebDev #TechSEO
I'm auditing a Shopify website that has 84% of its 20,000+ products either out of stock or discontinued.
I don't want to recommend anything for the majority of that other than 410 GONE!
#WebDev #TechSEO
October 16, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
Here come the AI Search core systems. My latest post -> AI Search & the growing importance of developing strong core visibility systems, site-level quality scoring, & anti-spam systems
IMO, there is no way the AI Search platforms can let people game visibility while destroying user trust over time.
IMO, there is no way the AI Search platforms can let people game visibility while destroying user trust over time.
AI Search and the growing importance of developing strong core visibility systems, site-level quality scoring, and anti-spam systems
Glenn Gabe explains the growing need for AI Search platforms to develop strong core ranking systems, site-level quality scoring, and anti-spam systems.
www.gsqi.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Here come the AI Search core systems. My latest post -> AI Search & the growing importance of developing strong core visibility systems, site-level quality scoring, & anti-spam systems
IMO, there is no way the AI Search platforms can let people game visibility while destroying user trust over time.
IMO, there is no way the AI Search platforms can let people game visibility while destroying user trust over time.
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
This post by the good folks at @tetralogical.com is a fantastic article that debunks common misconceptions about screen readers (and their users)
"Common misconceptions about screen readers"
🔗 tetralogical.com/blog/2025/10...
Highly recommended read. #a11y
"Common misconceptions about screen readers"
🔗 tetralogical.com/blog/2025/10...
Highly recommended read. #a11y
Common misconceptions about screen readers - TetraLogical
Screen readers are familiar to many in digital, but how they work in practice can be less clear. In this post, we shed some light on the topic.
tetralogical.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
This post by the good folks at @tetralogical.com is a fantastic article that debunks common misconceptions about screen readers (and their users)
"Common misconceptions about screen readers"
🔗 tetralogical.com/blog/2025/10...
Highly recommended read. #a11y
"Common misconceptions about screen readers"
🔗 tetralogical.com/blog/2025/10...
Highly recommended read. #a11y
Shopify apps are spamming a website's backend now?
Is it just me or is that a red flag? The app's reviews are overwhelmingly positive, so it's a shame they feel the need to resort to this.
I blocked out the app's name to avoid advertising them.
Is it just me or is that a red flag? The app's reviews are overwhelmingly positive, so it's a shame they feel the need to resort to this.
I blocked out the app's name to avoid advertising them.
October 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Shopify apps are spamming a website's backend now?
Is it just me or is that a red flag? The app's reviews are overwhelmingly positive, so it's a shame they feel the need to resort to this.
I blocked out the app's name to avoid advertising them.
Is it just me or is that a red flag? The app's reviews are overwhelmingly positive, so it's a shame they feel the need to resort to this.
I blocked out the app's name to avoid advertising them.
I admire Tim Berners-Lee's generosity and optimism but can't see any government I'm aware of taking notice.
Thirty-two years ago, we were given the web as a gift.
Today, we must live up to such a gift and defend it.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Today, we must live up to such a gift and defend it.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Why I gave the world wide web away for free | Tim Berners-Lee
My vision was based on sharing, not exploitation – and here’s why it’s still worth fighting for
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I admire Tim Berners-Lee's generosity and optimism but can't see any government I'm aware of taking notice.
I'm there for the log files and more. I need to convince clients they're losing out by not having log file analyses.
Never underestimate my ability to be snarky *and* right
moz.com/webinars/dar...
moz.com/webinars/dar...
The Practical Marketer Webinar - SEO Hot Topics for 2025
Join Chima Mmeje and guest Jamie Indigo for a Hallowen special edition where we'll go behind the scenes to uncover the dark side of AI SEOs need to know about and how to use the AI search index to opt...
moz.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I'm there for the log files and more. I need to convince clients they're losing out by not having log file analyses.
It's very annoying when websites hijack Ctrl+F, especially considering their own searches usually add to a poor user experience.
Lazy loading often breaks Ctrl+F too.
Lazy loading often breaks Ctrl+F too.
October 1, 2025 at 6:22 PM
It's very annoying when websites hijack Ctrl+F, especially considering their own searches usually add to a poor user experience.
Lazy loading often breaks Ctrl+F too.
Lazy loading often breaks Ctrl+F too.
Thanks Google for clarifying the incorrect time in two time formats.
I'd just listened to the Edwyn Collins song "Low Expectations."
I'd just listened to the Edwyn Collins song "Low Expectations."
September 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Thanks Google for clarifying the incorrect time in two time formats.
I'd just listened to the Edwyn Collins song "Low Expectations."
I'd just listened to the Edwyn Collins song "Low Expectations."
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
Lol, we need the "AI" that is killing the environment and guzzling untold amounts of resources to save the environment. This is 1984 type of marketing, like "ministry of peace" that is actually the war department.
Without artificial-intelligence technologies, balancing human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions with carbon removals by 2050 is out of reach
go.nature.com/41LtWWk
go.nature.com/41LtWWk
Net zero needs AI — five actions to realize its promise
Without artificial-intelligence technologies, balancing human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions with carbon removals by 2050 is out of reach. Action in five areas is needed to keep this goal alive.
go.nature.com
August 22, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Lol, we need the "AI" that is killing the environment and guzzling untold amounts of resources to save the environment. This is 1984 type of marketing, like "ministry of peace" that is actually the war department.
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
Everyone should know that accessibility is a priority. It baffles me (but sadly doesn't) that most companies don't care.
I read the below article this morning thinking "Maybe optimising for LLMs will make companies care about accessibility."
bsky.app/profile/deja...
I read the below article this morning thinking "Maybe optimising for LLMs will make companies care about accessibility."
bsky.app/profile/deja...
Writing an introduction to accessibility.
It's meant to be the type of introduction that you want to share with everyone. The one that answers questions so you don't have to.
What resources/links/content should certainly be in there? What should -everybody- know about accessibility?
It's meant to be the type of introduction that you want to share with everyone. The one that answers questions so you don't have to.
What resources/links/content should certainly be in there? What should -everybody- know about accessibility?
August 21, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Everyone should know that accessibility is a priority. It baffles me (but sadly doesn't) that most companies don't care.
I read the below article this morning thinking "Maybe optimising for LLMs will make companies care about accessibility."
bsky.app/profile/deja...
I read the below article this morning thinking "Maybe optimising for LLMs will make companies care about accessibility."
bsky.app/profile/deja...
I'm auditing a music website and Google is treating PDPs of CD compilations with "Not Found" in the title as soft 404 pages. 😀
They do happen be out of stock, but according to Search Console none of the other thousands of products are treated as soft 404s.
They do happen be out of stock, but according to Search Console none of the other thousands of products are treated as soft 404s.
August 20, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I'm auditing a music website and Google is treating PDPs of CD compilations with "Not Found" in the title as soft 404 pages. 😀
They do happen be out of stock, but according to Search Console none of the other thousands of products are treated as soft 404s.
They do happen be out of stock, but according to Search Console none of the other thousands of products are treated as soft 404s.