Conferences in Europe

Navigating SEO with a Former Googler: In-depth Discussion with Kaspar Szymanski

Published

5 months ago

November 28, 2023

Navigating SEO with a Former Googler: In-depth Discussion with Kaspar Szymanski

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Kaspar Szymanski is a renowned SEO expert, former senior member of the famed Google Search team and very few former Googlers with extensive policy driving, webspam hunting and webmaster outreach expertise. As Founder of the Search Brothers, Kaspar nowadays applies his skills to recover websites from Google penalties and to help clients to grow visibility of their websites in search engines results.

Kaspar will be speaking at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit that will take place on 26-27 March 2024, at Vienna House Andel’s Prague.

Hello Kaspar, thank you for taking the time for this interview. We are thrilled to find out more about you and learn from a renowned SEO expert and former Google Search team member! Would you please introduce yourself to our readers in your own words?

Hello and thank you for the opportunity to share from my experience. My name is Kaspar Szymanski. I’m a former Google Search team member and have worked on Google Search quality for several years. My scope of responsibility included investigating suspected Google Webmaster Guidelines violations, issuing penalties when necessary and lifting penalties in cases where the reconsideration request was deemed to be compelling. The insights and knowledge gained during my tenure working at Google Search are a huge advantage nowadays and one that our clients equally benefit from. Since leaving Google I’ve together with a fellow former Google Search engineer and an SEO industry giant, Fili Wiese built an SEO consulting agency under the brand SearchBrothers.com. Together we offer technical SEO consulting services to website operators in competitive industries. Next to the privilege of working with our clients, I equally enjoy speaking at select industry events such as the 2024 Prague Gaming & TECH Summit and sharing with the audience from my SEO experience.

Let’s dive straight into SEO: Given the dynamic nature of search engine algorithms, how do you perceive the current state of SEO and its significance for businesses?

While SEO is a rather dynamic industry, which is owed equally to technical innovation as well as to policy development, at the same time it is incredibly consistent. An SEO strategy to prioritize user experience above everything else serves today equally well as it had 15 years ago. That’s because Google is consistently prioritizing their users’ satisfaction as part of a grand vision. Which isn’t surprising, because Google’s dominant position in search is fragile and can only be maintained by constantly delivering on their users’ expectations.

Because organic traffic from Google and Bing can be a great lead source, SEO is tremendously significant for companies which operate in the online business. Search Engine Optimization is never at the center stage -that position must always remain reserved for the respective product or service- but it is not far behind for those businesses that seek to build or expand on their online sales.

As a former senior member of the Google Search team, you’ve had an insider’s view of how search algorithms evolve. Can you share a behind-the-scenes perspective on how Google adapts to industry changes?

In my experience, innovation is often stimulated by Google because of its current market position. That is not to say that Google does not have to evolve and adapt at times. Google Search Essentials, previously known as Google Webmaster Guidelines are a good example in this regard. These guidelines have been adapted and amended countless times and will in most likelihood continue to evolve along the lines of human and SEO ingenuity.

Let’s discuss the hot topic in everyones’ conversations: AI. With almost everyone using it to a certain extent, does generative AI influence SEO practices, and how can businesses leverage this technology for better search visibility?

There are no actual AI products available for commercial use as of this moment. Currently available so-called “AI” services are not sentient. They neither understand compassion, nor sense of humor. Because of these and other reasons they fall short of actual AI. The rather advanced language models are what’s on the offer for now. They tap into comparatively large, yet by far not exhaustive databases to reproduce what already exists in one form or another. Depending on the data source, the copyright of the content can represent a legal liability if it is republished. That is not to say that the so-called “AI” services available right now can not be leveraged in order to improve efficiency. In some areas, rudimentary source code generation or simple FAQ content generation, to name just two, these tools offer a most cost effective alternative to previously employed methods. In that sense, while the “AI” revolution isn’t coming quite yet, SEOs can enjoy yet another tool to scale up their efforts in an otherwise very competitive game.

Moving on with another popular topic, how do you anticipate the imminent elimination of third-party cookies to impact SEO strategies, especially in terms of tracking user behavior and personalization?

For readers who still depend on third-party cookies for SEO it is time to update their SEO strategies. Personalization is fine, but applied to logged-in users, that way it does not impact SEO signals -as Googlebot will never log in-and for tracking behavior. One method can involve self-hosting an analytics solution to avoid being dependent on third-party cookies and directly store relevant tracking information upon site visits internally.

In a comprehensive marketing strategy, and considering the “cookieless” future, how do you advise businesses to balance their SEO efforts with other digital marketing channels?

Some companies have already moved on from using third-party cookies to improve usability for the end-users. Some may still need to align their SEO efforts with other departments to make sure that the “standard” HTTP responses of the website are not dependent on any cookies, as this is how Googlebot and users coming from Google are experiencing the website.

And how do recommend businesses measure the success of their SEO efforts, considering the evolving landscape and changing metrics?

Next to conversion which is the ultimate goal of any business and the most important KPI, the web platform performance is critically important. This is due to the fact that all other signals being roughly the same, Google notoriously shows preference to faster websites, because of the well funded assumption that users prefer faster rather than slower websites. First Contentful Paint and Cumulative Layout Shift can be excellent indicators with regard to the website’s performance. Google Search Console also offers import KPIs and a potential avenue to growing sales, especially for websites with high impressions and low CTR simultaneously. In such cases the relevance for queries isn’t rewarded with clicks because of the snippet representation, which can be prioritized as part of a well rounded SEO strategy.

You will be making a Keynote Presentation at the upcoming Prague Gaming & TECH Summit about “Surviving SEO Disasters”. Can you share an overview of the topic and give us a “teaser” of your presentation?

I firmly believe that it is much more cost effective and safe to learn from mistakes someone else made. I’ll be sharing from real life examples where SEO decisions had unintentionally undesirable and occasionally catastrophic consequences. And most importantly what the learnings from these missteps are. And not just how to avoid these but also how to insulate one’s own websites against similar SEO risks. I look forward to this opportunity to share and also to the audience Q&A at the very end of my presentation.

Thank you for this amazing interview, Kaspar! We are looking forward to hearing your invaluable insights at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2024!

Thank you and I look forward to speaking at the 2024 Prague Gaming & TECH Summit.

Find out all about Surviving SEO Disasters by Kaspar Szymanski, at the most impactful Gaming & Tech Conference in Central and Eastern Europe:

Secure your seats for the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit Now!

Early Bird Rates Available until 7 January!

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Baltics

HIPTHER Announces the BALTIC & Scandinavian Gaming Awards 2024 Shortlists

Published

21 hours ago

April 30, 2024

George Miller

HIPTHER Announces the BALTIC & Scandinavian Gaming Awards 2024 Shortlists

Reading Time: 2 minutes

HIPTHER, the leading event organizer for Gaming and Technology industries in Europe, is excited to announce the Shortlists for the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards (BSG Awards), that will honour iGaming industry excellence in the Baltics and Nordics regions for 2024.

Hosted under HIPTHER’s Pioneering GameTech Event in the Baltics, the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit, the BSG Awards recognize and celebrate the achievements of the very best of the iGaming industry, as voted by their peers.

The Final Vote will be cast at the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit by the participants of the conference, and the Winners will be crowned at the BSG Awards 2024 Ceremony that will take place during the event on 4 June 2024.

HIPTHER is thankful to all the esteemed industry professionals who voted online and decided the Shortlists across a series of streamlined Categories covering iGaming Operators, B2B Providers, and Connected Services such us Testing Laboratories and Payment Service Providers.

View the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards Shortlists

Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards – BSG Awards 2024 Categories

Baltics: Operators Categories:

Best Online Casino in the Baltics
Best Sports Betting Operator in the Baltics

Baltics: B2B Categories:

B2B Providers (Sports): Best eSports Service Provider in the Baltics
Best Fantasy Sports / Virtual Sports Provider in the Baltics
Rising Star in Baltic Fantasy Sports / Virtual Sports
Rising Star in Baltic Sports Betting Technology
Best Sports Betting Provider in the Baltics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Online Casino Provider in the Baltics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Slots Provider in the Baltics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Live Casino Provider in the Baltics
B2B Providers (Casino): Rising Star in Baltic Online Casino Technology
Connected Services – Best Payment Service Provider in the Baltics
Connected Services – Best Testing Laboratory Provider in the Baltics

Nordics: Operators Categories:

Nordics: Best Online Casino in the Nordics
Nordics: Best Sports Betting Operator in the Nordics

Nordics: B2B Categories:

B2B Providers (Sports): Best eSports Service Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Sports): Best Fantasy Sports / Virtual Sports Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Sports): Rising Star in Nordic Fantasy Sports / Virtual Sports
B2B Providers (Sports): Rising Star in Nordic Sports Betting Technology
B2B Providers (Sports): Best Sports Betting Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Online Casino Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Slots Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Live Casino Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Casino): Rising Star in Nordic Online Casino Technology
Connected Services – Best Payment Service Provider in the Baltics
Connected Services – Best Testing Laboratory Provider in the Baltics
Connected Services – Best Hosting Provider in the Baltics

Congratulations and best of luck to all the Shortlisted Companies!

See you in Tallinn & the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit 2024 – Register Now

Compliance Updates

IAGR & IMGL Open Ticket Sales for 2024 Conference in Rome

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2024

Alan Campbell

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has opened registrations for its annual conference, taking place in Rome, Italy, from October 21 to 24.

With the theme Navigating the Future of Gaming Regulation in a Transforming World, this year’s event is a partnership with the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL).

“IAGR and IMGL’s Rome conference is a four-day event that brings together regulators, industry thought leaders and experts to share ideas and shape the future of gaming regulation across the world,” the President for the IAGR, Ben Haden, said.

The conference follows last year’s event in Gaborone, Botswana, which brought together the largest number of attendees in IAGR’s history.

“This year, participants can look forward to diving into themes that are at the forefront of the gaming regulation landscape including advancements in technology, the evolving regulatory challenges and strategies for future-proofing the global gaming industry,” Haden said. “In an era where technology is rewriting the rules of our industry, the question isn’t whether to adapt, but how swiftly we can. IAGR 2024 is about coming together as a global community to not only keep pace with change but to drive it.”

Confirmed speakers will be announced from May.

Conference highlights:

Expert-led sessions and panel discussions on the latest in gaming regulation
Joint conference sessions and events with IMGL, providing further networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities
Networking events set in the heart of Rome including an opening reception and gala dinner featuring the International Regulatory Awards ceremony

Early-bird pricing is available until July 31 with super-early bird prices available until May 31. Head to the IAGR website for more details and ticket sales.

Conferences in Europe

CasinoBeats Summit 2024: Providing the Tools to Balance Innovation and Regulation in the Digital Age

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2024

Alan Campbell

Reading Time: 2 minutes

As the industry seeks optimal methods to responsibly integrate innovative technology, the upcoming CasinoBeats Summit will provide delegates with an exploration of the latest emerging technologies, regulatory frameworks and future trends to ensure a safe yet immersive gaming experience for players.

The Industry and Leadership track will take place across both core days of the CasinoBeats Summit, May 22 to 23 at the InterContinental Malta. Panel sessions will delve into key topics such as global gaming regulations, the evolving digital payment landscape and an in-depth exploration of the world of M&A.

The panel entitled Responsible Gambling in the Digital Age will delve into the latest responsible gambling initiatives influencing the digital landscape. Expert speakers Pedro Romero (RG Consultant and psychologist, University of Gibraltar), Matthew Curtis (Head of Responsible Gaming, L&L), Georgia Wise (Head of Responsible Gaming, PlayNorth), Eduards Jakubovs (Head of Responsible Gaming, Betsson) and panel moderator Maris Catania (Senior SG Consultant, SG: Certified) will analyse the impact of landmark regulatory guidelines such as the 3.4.3 regulation on remote customer interaction and the United Kingdom’s ‘white paper’ as well as discuss the latest distinctions between regulated, grey and black markets.

The Industry Trends and Future Predictions panel will look at the future of the casino sector, examining upcoming industry trends and their potential impact. Industry leaders Itai Zak (Executive Director, Digicode, and former/ex-Chief Executive Officer, SBTech), Matthew D’Emanuele (Chief Executive Officer, Yolo Entertainment), Alexander Martin (Chief Executive Officer, SKS365), Inesa Glazaite (Chief Commercial Officer, iGaming Platform), Dmitry Starostenkov (Chief Executive Officer, EvenBet) alongside panel moderator Martyn Elliott (Project Director, SBC Media) will offer insights into key emerging markets, innovative game formats and strategies to effectively cater to evolving player needs.

Commencing the second day is the panel entitled The Evolving Landscape of Gaming Sector Payments, which will explore the current state of the industry’s payment sector. Expert speakers Sean Spiteri (Head of Payment Solutions, PressEnter), Enrico Giancaterina (Managing Director, Funtech) and Ian Perrygrove (Chief Risk Officer, Kwiff) will discuss the current payment innovations driven by the casino sector, analyse the future of digital payment methods and the potential risks of such rapid innovations.

The Navigating the Future: Global Gaming Regulations panel will explore strategies to effectively address the challenges posed by current and future global regulations. Regulator representatives Aideen Shortt, (Advisor to the Minister, Curacao), Andrew Lyman (Gambling Commissioner and Executive Director, Gibraltar), Andrew Rhodes (Chief Executive, Gambling Commission) and Brandon Debattista (Deputy Chief Regulatory Officer, Malta Gaming Authority) will provide insights into their respective markets whilst assessing the possibility of a unified global regulatory standard and the importance of cross-market collaboration.

Additionally, track attendees will have the opportunity to garner insights into the world of acquisition and investment during an exclusive IMGL-led masterclass, Acquisition Strategy: Gearing up for Investment, which is set to take place on Thursday, May 23, the second core day of the event.

For groups of three or more, you can purchase the Group Pass Ticket and gain access to all three days of the CasinoBeats Summit for the discounted price of €400 per person (a saving of €200 per ticket). Additionally, operators and affiliates can apply for a free pass to the event.

You can keep up-to-date with the latest news, speakers and exhibitor additions and conference content by subscribing to the bi-weekly CasinoBeats Summit LinkedIn newsletter.