Bill Hartzer

02/25/2026

Here we go again. Do we really need another "standard" for AI LLMs?

Capxel, an AI-native data company, announced the release of LLM-LD (Large Language Model Linked Data) (llmld.org), an open specification intended to make website content directly interpretable by artificial intelligence systems.

The company positions the standard as a missing layer between traditional web pages and modern AI assistants.

Because "AI can't read your website."

Meet LLM-LD: The New Web Standard Aiming to Control What ChatGPT and AI Assistants Recommend

https://www.billhartzer.com/seo/meet-llm-ld-web-standard-ai-assistants/

Capxel unveils LLM-LD, an open standard that helps AI systems understand websites. Experts say it could reshape online visibility and digital marketing strategy.

02/20/2026

Have a domain name that's a personal site, private, hobby, or family website? Then best if you transfer your domain name away from GoDaddy. At the end of Section 1 of GoDaddy's Terms of Service, it states that its services “are not intended for private, personal or household use.” A prominent domain attorney is advising that you move it from GoDaddy if your domain name is used for a personal site, private, hobby, or family website.

GoDaddy’s New Terms Quietly Reclassify Personal Domain Owners as Businesses

GoDaddy’s updated terms say its services aren’t for personal use, raising concerns about privacy, arbitration, and domain ownership rights.

02/12/2026

Expired domain names don’t get indexed quickly because they have “authority.” They get indexed quickly because Google can rediscover them. In a recent indexing test, the domains that showed up fast shared one trait: real crawl pathways still existed in Google’s link graph.

-- Prioritize unique referring domains over total backlink count.
-- Look for link diversity (many sites, many sources), not link concentration.
-- Favor contextual, topic-relevant links that still appear to be on active pages.
-- Use trust/quality metrics as a filter, not the decision-maker.
-- Ignore nofollow ratios as a primary predictor of indexing speed.
-- Always validate with a live test: publish a page and wait for reality.

More details in my latest post:

Learn what backlink signals help expired domain names get indexed quickly by Google, plus a practical checklist you can use before you buy.

02/09/2026

What a Recent Test Reveals About Expired Domain Names and Google Indexing

Expired domain names can index fast—or stall. Learn what drives Google discovery, how to evaluate drops, and why every buy should be tested first.

02/06/2026

I'm speaking at the SEOST Digital Marketing Conference 2026 April 29 – May 3, 2026.

Use my promo code 'Bhartzer26' for 15 percent off all ticket levels: https://seospringtraining.com/purchase-2026-tickets/

02/04/2026

Looks like I got a Grokipedia page:
https://grokipedia.com/page/Bill_Hartzer

Says fact-checked 2 weeks ago, but just noticed it.

Bill Hartzer is an American search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing consultant with over two decades of experience in the field, having begun practicing website marketing in 1996. He founded Hartzer Consulting, a firm that provides services in SEO, search engine marketing (SEM), techn...

02/03/2026

Is it normal to transfer a domain to a dev?

Absolutely not. Once you transfer the domain name to the dev, that's going to be an issue 99 percent of the time. You'll lose the domain name to the dev, and they'll now, technically. own your domain name and won't give it back to you.

I run a stolen domain name recovery service and I can tell you that's the majority of the calls and emails we get, asking for help recovering the domain for a client. Company transfers domain to dev or web designer. When the site is ready to go live, all of a sudden company owes $5k more (as an example) or they won't give the domain back. That's usually when the company comes to us.

At that point, we (DNAccess) step in, contact the dev or web designer, and they refuse to return the domain. So, at that point they've potentially committed a cybercrime and/or extortion and we instruct the company to file a police report. Sometimes that's enough for them to get it back.

You're not going to get any help from any domain name registrar because it's now a civil issue: you transferred the domain to the dev or web designer. You know who stole the domain name. The domain registrar will not have any thing to do with it anymore.

So, your options at that point are to file a UDRP (costs $1500 to do it yourself and $3k-5k with a domain attorney), or you can file a lawsuit against the dev or web designer.

Whatever you do, do NOT transfer a domain name to a dev or web designer. Way too risky, even if you 'trust them' to do the right thing.

Some registrars have a system where you can delegate access to someone to make some changes. But you'd better off using Cloudflare for the DNS and allowing the dev to access Cloudflare (you can share the account with them). Then you will not lose your domain name.

This is the equivalent of you signing over the title of your vehicle to your mechanic because they need to work on your car. They'll then sign over the title back to you when they're finished fixing your car. Uh, no.

01/27/2026

This is funny. I actually removed my GBP listing completely a few years ago and haven't had one since.

I wonder how many businesses actually fall for this scam?

+1 (833) 448-4128
Unknown – Jan 26, 2026 at 2:13 PM

Hey, it’s Beth with verified listings group. Your listing on Google search is coming back as flagged in our system with keyword issues. If we don't fix it, your business listing may be at risk of suspension. We'd like to get this fixed today, so please give us a call back at 951-416-6685. It will only take a few minutes. That's 951-416-6685 to opt out call us back and press 9.

11/24/2025

How a Simple Image Broke a Big-Brand Black Friday Campaign

A major retailer’s Black Friday email failed because of one simple image mistake. Learn the top email marketing errors to avoid and how to fix them.

11/24/2025

Aligned and Memorable: How Brands Create a Cohesive Presence Across Every Channel

Brand consistency builds trust. Learn how unified messaging, visuals, and brand voice strengthen recognition across platforms

09/18/2025

Now's the time to take control of your personal brand. Especially if you haven't even thought of it for a while.

Your Boss, Your Neighbor, and ChatGPT Already Know Your Personal Brand—Do You?
https://www.billhartzer.com/branding/boss-neighbor-chatgpt-personal-brand/

Bill Hartzer writes about search engine optimization, search engine marketing, and general topics. He's been writing articles and blog posts about search, marketing, tech, and domain names since 2001. Follow Bill Hartzer on social media as or keep up with Bill here on his website.