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Best website builders for podcasts in 2024  CyberNews.com
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Search Engine Land » SEO » Google’s srsltid= parameter: What it means for SEO and attribution
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Back in August 2024, some site owners started to notice that a parameter called srsltid= being appended to their organic listings. 
The srsltid= parameter is nothing new. Barry Schwartz reported it here in February 2022 when Google started appending it to Google Merchant Center listings with “auto-tagging” turned on. Its purpose was to ensure that clicks from product listings to a merchant’s Web site were properly attributed to Google Shopping.
A subtle change happened in August. Suddenly, this parameter wasn’t just being added to listings under the “Shopping” tag and universal search results; it was now being added to organic listings.
Schwartz covered this extensively on his site on Aug. 12, including the official response that Google’s John Mueller made in a LinkedIn post:
This explanation seemed to satisfy most people. Everyone stopped talking about it and started to accept this as the new normal. 
While I’m a big fan of Mueller and appreciate all the Search Relations team has done over the years, something didn’t sit well with me.
I sense this is one of those rare moments where a poor decision was made at Google and there’s a bit of “circling the wagons” going on.
I will go through why I believe this is a major issue that needs to be fixed. Before I do, let’s recap the root of the problem:

The srsltid= parameter is generated upon every organic search impression. That means every time I refresh a SERP, Google appends a new, unique parameter to my organic listing.
Here is why I think Google completely missed the target on this one.
It’s easy to assume that Google Organic search and Google Shopping search serve the same purpose, but they are fundamentally different. 
From a user perspective, each serves a distinct function and always has. 
Since 1998, users have turned to Google organic for information, while since 2002, they’ve relied on Google Shopping (previously known as Google Product Search, Google Products or Froogle) specifically to find products. 
The technical differences are even more pronounced. Google organic indexes webpages across the web, casting a wide net to gather and categorize information.
In contrast, Google Shopping exclusively pulls data from a merchant’s product feed, focusing solely on items available for purchase.
From an SEO perspective, each ranking algorithm is completely separate.
Yes, the lines get blurred because of universal search. Product listings can be served on the main Google organic page, just as you can find paid search, local and news results.
But up to now, Google has been pretty good at maintaining a clear distinction. If a site’s store locator page happened to rank in Google organic, Google Maps wouldn’t take “credit” for it. 
But for some reason, when a site’s ecommerce product page ranks in Google organic, someone at Google decided that this should be attributed as a “Google Shopping” search for apparently no other reason than both having the name “Google.”
But something worse is happening than Google misattributing a few organic links.
Think of how people who run ecommerce sites share links. More often than not, they’ll go to Google, type in a product name, click the result and copy the URL from their address bar. That’s fairly standard.
Now, think about what happens when every Google organic result gets a unique parameter appended to it. 
Most people will not pay attention to the URL. They will share the URL they copied on their websites and social media. Because these URLs have srsltid= parameters, they will all be attributed to Google Shopping.
If you think this is just an edge case, just look at the number of X and Instagram results that contain this URL parameter. 
As the weeks and months go by, more and more will flood the web. These are all URLs that will be misattributed to Google Shopping.
This is SEO 101. Google Merchant Center injecting this URL into every organic result has the effect of, in Google’s own words:
Mueller says this query parameter “doesn’t affect crawling, indexation or ranking,” which may be true on a surface level. But anyone who’s been in SEO for a while knows that:
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Ironically, the point of the rel=canonical tag in the first place was to avoid a situation where Google indexes and serves up multiple URL variations.
Regardless of how Google indexes these URLs, the practice of Google serving variations of the URL on the fly in organic search effectively defeats the whole purpose of the rel=canonical tag.
Mueller does raise the option of turning off auto-tagging in Google Merchant Center but quickly hedges by saying, “Though it seems useful to me!”
His statement seems to brush off any suggestion that this is a problem and to tell everyone to accept this as the new normal.
Either that or he knows this is a problem but has to maintain a unified face to the world.

From my perspective, these are all pretty weighty implications, not just because they affect SEO hygiene but perhaps more importantly because the way they’re designed can result in a lot of misattribution to Google Shopping. 
The problem with Mueller’s advice that you can turn this feature off is that it contradicts Google’s own documentation, saying that auto-tagging is a required feature.
To make matters worse, the only link Google provides for manual tagging includes disclaimers stating it does not apply to GA4. 
Any SEO who wants to tell their team to shut off auto-tagging is in an awkward situation: They have to tell their team to shut off a feature that Google says “is useful” without providing a viable alternative.
This part is the most surprising of all. When I spoke with some Google engineers in the early 2000s, they took some pride in telling me that their organic search team was walled off from the rest of Google – literally. 
This was a large factor in their early success; while their competitors at the time routinely compromised their user experience to increase profits, Google organic was always independent from AdWords and other parts of Google. 
This is the first time I’ve seen another Google department mess with the organic results and it’s not a good sign.
So, how should Google fix this? Simple. 
Return to applying auto-tagging only to results in the Google Shopping tab and product listings in universal search. Leave the organic listings alone. 
Google already does this with the gclid= parameter on paid search results. There’s no reason it couldn’t do the same with product listings. 
Look, I get it. The Google Shopping team wants to enhance its analytics to report on how a product performs across Google’s paid, shopping and organic listings.
But hijacking Google’s crown jewel – organic search – is not cool. The Shopping team should treat links on Google organic just like they would from Bing, Facebook, X or ChatGPT.

Google used to be more transparent about these things. In this case, it would be nice if there was a little more communication about their plans to address it before a billion unwanted srsltid= parameters litter the web.
If you’re a site manager and you see the srsltid= parameter starting to appear in your inbound links, my suggestion would be to turn it off. 
Contributing authors are invited to create content for Search Engine Land and are chosen for their expertise and contribution to the search community. Our contributors work under the oversight of the editorial staff and contributions are checked for quality and relevance to our readers. The opinions they express are their own.
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Google Podcasts is making it possible to search for episodes based on what was discussed in a show.
According to Android Police, Google Podcasts is automatically transcribing dialogue and using it as metadata.
So users can search for specific episodes even if they can’t remember the name of the podcast.
Android Police discovered that transcripts are being logged in the page source of episode web pages on the Google Podcasts web portal.
It has been confirmed you can search for text in the transcript using the Google Podcasts app and find the right episode.
Transcripts cover the entire show, however, they’re not perfect. Since they’re automatically generated there are bound to be some mistakes.
For example, the name “Corbin Davenport” was transcribed as “Corbin dabbing port.”
Android Police also notes that transcripts are not being generated for all episodes. Although when they are generated it greatly improves the discoverability of the episode.
Last August, we reported on an interview Zach Reneau-Wedeen of Google’s podcast team in which he announced plans to make audio content more searchable.
It would appear we’re now seeing the first signs of Google’s plan coming to light.
This has the potential to help more podcasts get found by new listeners. It can also help podcasts get found by lapsed listeners.
If a former listener remembers a line of dialogue but doesn’t remember what podcast it was from, they may be able to find the exact episode thanks to these transcripts.
There’s much Google could do with podcasts transcripts in the future, such as publishing them on the web and making them even more searchable.
Matt G. Southern, Senior News Writer, has been with Search Engine Journal since 2013. With a bachelor’s degree in communications, …
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Park Seo Jun on self-care, friendships and well-being burnout  Tatler Hong Kong
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If there is anything the last 15 years has taught Seo In Guk, it is that the actor, singer — and recently — director should not be afraid of taking charge about the narratives that surround his life. Speaking with Men’s Folio, Seo In Guk shares how he has moved away from seeking perfection, and that the best kinds of gestures come from none other than yourself.

Seo In Guk wears a sweater and pants from ZEGNA, and the 142 mini bag with M LOCK 4810 buckle from Montblanc on the cover. 
There is a chance that anyone who is into K-dramas has some Seo In Guk-related memory. Perhaps you faintly recall knowing him as the love interest in Reply 1997 or as Prince Gwanghae in The King’s Face. Maybe his role as a timid rich heir in Shopaholic Louis stuck with you through the years. Even if you had only just been antiquated with K-dramas, it is still likely you might find him familiar as the main lead in Death’s Game, which stars Seo alongside Parasite’s Park So Dam. Maybe it was his music that you had listened to before. Those who can recall a time that predated streaming services may also collectively remember him from his win in the first season of Superstar K, a talent competition that ultimately changed his life. Even if you are not a super fan or even a fan at all, there is no escaping Seo’s presence in South Korea’s entertainment scene. But having spent the last decade and a half playing all sorts of roles, Seo is only getting started on his most pivotal one yet — as himself.
There is no shortage of vlogs on YouTube from the 37-year-old actor, singer and, recently, director. One of them, a day in his life, is as real as real gets. While others would opt only to have the cameras rolling after some form of “getting ready”, Seo starts it in bed, still undressed, bed head visible, and eyes still red from last night’s rest. At one point, he even shared statistics from his phone’s health monitoring app, which gave him a score of less than 40% on his overall well-being. Having had an illustrious career in the spotlight, you might assume that oversharing would be an artiste’s biggest concern. Short of that, though, is that this comes from someone who revealed his humble beginnings on national TV, where money was always an issue in his childhood, having won the hearts of South Koreans in Superstar K.

Cardigan, sweater, shirt, pants, all Hermès

But the vlogs that detail his life, which have been regularly posted since 2023, are part of Seo’s way of taking back control, something he lost as he reached the peak of his career. Thus, for the first time since altering his fate when he was just 22 years old, he believes he is finally ready to take charge of the narratives surrounding his life, thus eliminating the ones formed through the perspective of others. “I used to think I had to be perfect,” he shares. “Whether it be a character in a project or my vocal and musical abilities as a singer, I always had this belief that I had to be somewhat flawless in front of the camera at all times. This really troubled me, and even so, I often felt disappointed with the results.”
Perhaps 15 years of being on the scene can change your perspective. In recent years, Seo has veered his efforts towards producing his projects, including directing his short films. One of them, titled TRAP, sets itself around the premise of a troubled artist struggling to reveal his innermost imagination — one that is drawn from his very own experiences. It went on to win the Global Spotlight Award at the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. “I’ve realised that letting go of that pressure and simply showing my true self works best for me,” he adds. “I feel fortunate to have quickly moved away from seeking perfection for the sake of others’ opinions. This has given me the strength to present my most authentic self.” Clearly, there is so much more to his story.

Sweater, jacket, pants, all Fendi
Let’s start from the very beginning. What made you join Superstar K while in your early twenties?
I joined the competition in my twenties. I’ve dreamt of being a singer since I was young and participated in many auditions. Then, I heard about a large-scale audition happening in our country, and with my cousin’s encouragement, I decided to give it a shot. Thankfully, I ended up winning!
How did winning the competition changed your life?
My life completely changed. Before Superstar K, I was just an aspiring singer. After winning, so many people started to support and recognise me, allowing me to debut as a singer. It really feels like my life has completely transformed.
Was it hard to depart from being a singer to working as an actor? 
At that time, I think I was very desperate. I had debuted as a singer, but due to various circumstances, the opportunities to perform on stage were quite limited. Then, an opportunity to act came along. Initially, the role wasn’t significant or impactful, but I thought to myself that I really wanted to do this, even if it was just a small part. Fortunately, the character was a singer, so the director decided to hold auditions specifically for candidates with a singing background. I was lucky, and thanks to the director’s support, I was able to start my acting career.

Shirt, pants, all Givenchy; Extreme 3.0 Compact envelope bag with M LOCK 4810 buckle, Montblanc

We read in previous news articles about your relatively normal upbringing. Do you think having a childhood that was indifferent to most Korean teens affected how you approached being a singer and, eventually, an actor too?
I believe that the influences on me aren’t necessarily related to my profession. Rather, it’s my life environment, how I interact with the people around me, and how much joy I can find in my work that has contributed to my growth the most. I often say that I’m fortunate to have great people in my life. I’m really grateful and feel so lucky to have met so many good people around me. Whether it’s in work or outside of work, just in my life in general, I feel thankful for these people.

Reply 1997 was when you had your breakthrough in acting. What was your reaction when the show reached critical acclaim in the local entertainment scene?
I was incredibly happy. At that time, I had just been cast as the lead in my first role as an actor. Many people around me, including myself, doubted whether I could handle a lead role. This was largely because many viewers couldn’t envision me as an actor after appearing on the audition program. Plus, my previous role had been more of a comedic character, someone playful and light-hearted. Transitioning to such a serious and significant role in the next project raised many concerns. Fortunately, the director guided me well, which contributed to the positive outcome. I felt really proud, which was also a turning point in my life.

Sweater, pants, all ZEGNA; 142 mini bag with M LOCK 4810 buckle, Montblanc
What character archetype have you not tried yet that you wish you could? 
I’ve been acting for over ten years now, but I still feel that I lack experience compared to other seniors. However, I believe there are countless characters and expressions I can (still) explore. I’m quite ambitious, so even though I’ve played a villain, I don’t want to stop at just one type of villain. I want to explore different types of villains and characters who show pure love or express deep, heartbreaking love in a different way. If I had to choose a specific category, I think I haven’t yet played a character who uses superpowers. For example, my character in Doom at Your Service was somewhat of a supernatural being. While that character had abilities, I haven’t played a normal human who drives a story with superpowers or any abilities. I often find myself pondering that I’d like to try a character like that at least once.
What were some choices that changed your life? 
There are definitely things that many people can relate to. So first, there was Superstar K and Reply 1997, and some other projects after that. I mean, I did choose to do them, but honestly, it wasn’t like I could predict how things would turn out. I had a lot of worries like, “What if it doesn’t work out?” Thankfully, many people have shown love for the choices I made. I wouldn’t say I’m perfectly satisfied with everything, you know? But people ended up liking my work way more than I expected. That gave me confidence in my choices in acting and music, and it’s honestly what keeps me going.

T-shirt, Dior Men; Pants, Stylist’s own
Then, what were some choices that you were glad you made?
Oh, too many. I mean, definitely Superstar K and Reply 1997. Also, before that, every project and album after Love Rain. But, as I said, not every album or project was a hit. Someone once asked me, “How does everything you do succeed?” And I just told them, “Well, there are things that didn’t work out; maybe you just didn’t hear about them!” Still, I think the reason I can keep working hard and making choices is because so many people love my work. That’s why I’m always careful with each decision. Even if the results don’t always satisfy me, whether it’s ratings, audience response, or my feelings, seeing the people who really loved the work makes me think, “Okay, I’ve made the right choice.”
What keeps you in character, especially scenes that are uncomfortable to experience?
I don’t think there’s a specific method. I keep thinking about the scene and try staying in that emotional space. If I have a scene where I need to cry a lot, I probably handle it similarly to everyone else by focusing on the emotions I need to evoke. Some actors even start preparing days ahead. I don’t go that far, but on the day of the shoot, I continuously think about the scene and work on controlling my emotions.

Shirt, polo t-shirt, jeans, boots, all Balenciaga
Do you think you’re an emotional person?
I’m both a very emotional and very rational person. I have both sides. Sometimes, I handle things really rationally, and other times, I approach them emotionally. It varies. But seeing the people around me stick by my side makes me think that maybe it’s not such a bad thing after all.

Jacket, shirt, all Balenciaga
Has any of your characters changed the way you lived? For examples, did part of them become a part of you? 
Not really. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about that. However, I find that when I portray a character, especially during shoots that last about 6 to 9 months, I spend more time in that character than myself. Aside from sleeping, I immerse myself in their mannerisms, habits, and gestures, and those habits tend to stick with me for quite a while. But it doesn’t really influence my personality. While playing a challenging character can be difficult at times, it doesn’t change my core personality. I feel I’m still learning how to navigate social situations. Being part of a drama cast helps me develop my social skills, and I learn from different environments. I am gradually growing as Seo In Guk.

T-shirt, sweater, all Diesel
Who has given you the best advice in life?
When I heard the question, the first person that came to mind was senior Sung Dong-il. This is a story that really needs to be listened to carefully. When I worked on Reply 1997, he told me, “In Guk, make a lot of money, but do it through acting.”
At first glance, it sounds like, “Oh, I want to make a lot of money, sure.” But what he meant was that if you want to earn money as an actor or singer in this industry, there are many things you need to pay attention to. Being good at what you do doesn’t guarantee success, and simply being a nice person doesn’t mean you’ll get by. You really need to have everything in place to succeed, which means putting in a lot of effort. That conversation has stuck with me for over ten years.
Recently, I met senior Sung Dong-il again, and he asked me if I remembered that conversation. I told him I definitely do. So, I’m working even harder and trying to improve. Everyone works hard, but it’s about doing it well. I told him, “Yes, I’ll make sure to do it well.” His words carry a lot of weight for me. It’s not just a light comment about making money; it’s about how much I need to refine myself to achieve that goal.
Photography Chae Dae Han
Creative Direction & Styling Izwan Abdullah
Interview & Fashion Coordination Manfred Lu
Grooming Seung Mi Hyun
Hair Byun Ji Hyun
Set Design Jason Woo
On Set Stylists Yun Dae Hee, Lee Hye Jin
Photography Assistants Chung Se Bin, Yim Sang Min, Lee Hong Seok
Styling Assistant Kelly Hsu
Production Oh Seo Yul | SY Production
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our November 2024 issue.

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Podcasts have experienced tremendous growth in the digital landscape, becoming an increasingly vital marketing tool due to their rising listenership and audience engagement. An understanding and strategic implementation of SEO can significantly enhance your podcast’s visibility, making it more accessible to potential listeners and helping it stand out in a crowded market.
Podcast SEO refers to the optimization of your podcast and its episodes for search engines to increase visibility and accessibility. This process involves optimizing podcast titles, descriptions, and metadata and strategically leveraging keywords that potential listeners are actively searching for. Effective Podcast SEO can transform your podcast from just another series in the vast sea of available content to a standout feature that captures and retains audience attention.
By using the targeted podcast SEO best practices below, you can significantly increase your podcast’s performance:
Optimizing your podcast starts with the fundamentals: selecting a name and episode titles that resonate with both your content and the potential search terms your audience might use. Here’s how to integrate keywords effectively:
Having a dedicated website or a specific landing page for your podcast serves as the central location for all your episodes, providing essential information and engaging content to your audience. This digital home base for your podcast should complement your presence on popular podcast platforms, maximizing reach and discoverability among potential listeners.
With this digital foundation in place, you can leverage advanced analytics tools to further understand and expand your audience. Having your own podcast website enables the use of comprehensive analytics to gain deep insights into listener behavior, episode popularity, and demographic trends. These metrics are crucial for effectively tailoring your content and marketing strategies:
Podcasts are evolving from purely audio experiences into rich multimedia platforms. An October 2023 study by Cumulus and Signal Hill revealed that 28 percent of weekly podcast listeners now prefer YouTube for podcast consumption, surpassing the combined totals of Spotify (15 percent) and Apple Podcasts (12 percent). This marks a shift from October 2022, when YouTube and Spotify were tied as the most preferred platforms. A 2023 Gen-Z Podcast Listener Report from Edison Research found that “84% of Gen Z monthly podcast listeners listen to or watch podcasts with a video component.” This trend highlights how podcasts are evolving to meet the demands of younger audiences, making video and multimedia integration increasingly essential for capturing their interest.

Incorporating video and interactive transcripts can also provide substantial SEO benefits. Filming podcasts for YouTube and similar video platforms engages a broader audience, helping increase your listener base and diversify ad revenue. To maximize visibility on these platforms, optimize your videos with targeted keywords and strategies to enhance searchability.
As the podcast landscape continues to evolve, mastering effective SEO strategies and embracing multimedia content are essential for capturing and maintaining listener interest. By implementing these best practices today, your podcast will stay relevant and excel in the competitive digital media environment.
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