**New Post for 2015 blogs can be seen here: Best SEO and Content Marketing Blogs to Follow in 2015**
As Google’s never-ending battle to curtail spam rages on in 2014, the guidelines for best SEO practices remain the same (at least for now): create unique, content-rich information for both users and search engines alike. Last September, Google introduced Hummingbird— a new search algorithm that aims to improve the relevancy of search engine results—in an effort to crack the whip on non-compliant SEOs, some of whom are still trying to manipulate rankings.
Odds are good that if your site contains algorithmic penalties such as irrelevant keyword stuffing or spammy links that were purchased from a link farm, then you’ll definitely want to brush up on your SEO tactics.
So how do you do that?
Remember the chorus line from that song in elementary school, “Knowledge is Power?” It’s cheesy but it does hold merit:
Knowledge is power. I know what I know.
The more you learn the farther you’ll go…
Obviously, the SEO parity here is to stay current and be well-informed. So with that finger-popping tune now stuck in your head, here are 12 blogs that you should bookmark in 2014 for the latest information on digital marketing and SEO best practices:
1. Moz
Main topics: SEO and Inbound Marketing
Why they’re awesome: Original Research & White Board Friday’s (Weekly video podcast with SEO advice, tools, and recommendations)
Check out this post: Handling User-Generated & Manufacturer-Required Duplicate Content Across Large Numbers of URLs
2. Search Engine Land
Main topics: Search Engine Marketing & Search Engines
Why they’re awesome: Extensive library of relevant SEO/SEM information complete with tools, guides, and “How to” instructions
Check out this post: Google Updates Its Page Layout Algorithm To Go After Sites “Top Heavy” With Ads
3. Search Engine Watch
Main topics: Search Engine Marketing, Paid Search Advertising (PPC), SEO
Why they’re awesome: Useful tips and industry analysis of search engines
Check out this post: Google: Here’s How to Make Infinite Scrolling Websites Search-Friendly
4. Occam’s Razor
Main Topics: Digital Marketing, Analytics
Why they’re awesome: Avinash Kaushik is a best-selling author and a digital marketing evangelist for Google (I.e., Digital Marketing Beast)
Check out this post: Digital Marketing And Analytics: Two Ladders For Magnificent Success
5. Content Marketing Institute
Main Topics: Content Strategy
Why they’re awesome: A great resource for webinars, whitepapers, how-to guides, and ebooks from a content marketing pioneer
Check out this post: Prove Your Commitment to Achieving Content Marketing ROI
6. Search Engine Journal
Main topics: Search Engine Marketing, Content Marketing, SEO, Social Media Marketing
Why they’re awesome: Great resource for advice, news, tools, and tutorials for search marketers
Check out this post: How-to Guide: 5 Ways to Use Google Webmaster Tools to Maximize Your SEO Campaign
7. SEO by the Sea
Main topics: SEO, Search Engines, Google Patent Research
Why they’re awesome: Provides in-depth, technical information about search engines and how they presumably operate
Check out this post: How Google Uses Taxonomic Classifications to Better Understand the Meanings of Words on Pages
8. CopyBlogger
Main topics: Content Marketing, Internet Marketing, SEO Copywriting
Why they’re awesome: Experts in creating content that “wows” and attracts lead generating traffic
Checkout this post: What to Do If Your Great Content Isn’t Getting Found
9. Blind 5 Year Old
Main Topics: SEO, Search Engine Marketing, Digital Marketing
Why they’re awesome: Owner, A.J. Kohn, is a search engine connoisseur with almost 20 years of industry experience
Check out this post: Stop Carly Rae Content Marketing
10. Rand Fishkin
Main topics: Digital Marketing, SEO, Entrepreneurship. More casual than the Moz blog and backed with Rand’s personal experiences.
Why he’s awesome: He is the Wizard of Moz and has a proven track record as an SEO guru
Check out this post: Survey Data on the Growth/Shrinkage of Web Marketing Channels in 2014
11. SEO Book
Main topics: SEO
Why they’re awesome: Widespread archive of training modules and free SEO tools
Favorite Tool: SEO Tool Bar
Check out this post: Optimizing Against Competitors
12. Matt Cutts
Main topics: SEO, Google Penalties, Webspam
Why he’s awesome: Head of Google Webspam Team with valuable insights into search ranking factors
Check out this post: The decay and fall of guest blogging for SEO
Honorable Mention: Google’s Blog, Inside Search
This is a follow-up post to our original article published last year: Best SEO Blogs to Follow
What are your favorite SEO blogs? Let us know in the comments below.