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
Server response codes made memorable as bus numbers and their destinations in this tech SEO analogies post from Jaz Hall:
moz.com/blog/technic...
moz.com/blog/technic...
It's things like this Periodic Table of HTML Elements that make learning more fun and therefore more memorable.
There's only one way trouble starts: a woman with time on her hands.
blog.alena.rocks/en/artifacts...
blog.alena.rocks/en/artifacts...
Periodic Table of HTML Elements
All 115 elements of the current HTML specification laid out as a periodic table: search, filters by spec section and links to MDN.
blog.alena.rocks
September 23, 2026 at 6:20 PM
It's things like this Periodic Table of HTML Elements that make learning more fun and therefore more memorable.
Each paragraph is quotable, so the best thing is to click and read.
"The best possible outcome from this summer of hype is that policymakers and the public at large learn to take a breath, hold onto our skepticism, and recognize this kind of hype for what it is the next time it comes around."
"The best possible outcome from this summer of hype is that policymakers and the public at large learn to take a breath, hold onto our skepticism, and recognize this kind of hype for what it is the next time it comes around."
From @timnitgebru.blacksky.app and me on what we should take from the 2026 summer of AI hype:
www.technologyreview.com/2026/09/22/1...
www.technologyreview.com/2026/09/22/1...
Don’t be fooled by this summer of AI hype
Breathless claims about AGI and new capabilities fall apart pretty quickly under scrutiny.
www.technologyreview.com
September 23, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Each paragraph is quotable, so the best thing is to click and read.
"The best possible outcome from this summer of hype is that policymakers and the public at large learn to take a breath, hold onto our skepticism, and recognize this kind of hype for what it is the next time it comes around."
"The best possible outcome from this summer of hype is that policymakers and the public at large learn to take a breath, hold onto our skepticism, and recognize this kind of hype for what it is the next time it comes around."
Maybe a 10% chance that we all die thanks to us burning and flooding thanks to the most wasteful technology in human history. Or that certain sections of media report that "AI" killed us even though it could've been switched off at any point...
What, an Anthropic researcher states (without evidence) that there is a 10% chance that AI will cause human extinction? Incredible, we have never before heard such a claim!
September 10, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Maybe a 10% chance that we all die thanks to us burning and flooding thanks to the most wasteful technology in human history. Or that certain sections of media report that "AI" killed us even though it could've been switched off at any point...
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
Another day, another compelling use case for `No-Vary-Search`! csswizardry.com/2026/05/bett...
Better Browser Caching with No-Vary-Search – CSS Wizardry
No-Vary-Search lets HTTP caches ignore irrelevant query parameters such as UTM tags, while still keeping meaningful ones like product variants in the cache key.
csswizardry.com
September 10, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Another day, another compelling use case for `No-Vary-Search`! csswizardry.com/2026/05/bett...
September 9, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Is anyone having problems with Chrome DevTools where it shows www.google.com/search/warmup.html instead of the rendered HTML for the webpage I'm on?
It happens on any website and has on and off for weeks. No problems with Canary.
It happens on any website and has on and off for weeks. No problems with Canary.
September 3, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Is anyone having problems with Chrome DevTools where it shows www.google.com/search/warmup.html instead of the rendered HTML for the webpage I'm on?
It happens on any website and has on and off for weeks. No problems with Canary.
It happens on any website and has on and off for weeks. No problems with Canary.
I've noticed lorem ipsum text regularly appears in Google Search, particularly for IMDb. The webpage has a meta description in raw and rendered code, but I haven't looked into it beyond that.
August 26, 2026 at 9:56 AM
I've noticed lorem ipsum text regularly appears in Google Search, particularly for IMDb. The webpage has a meta description in raw and rendered code, but I haven't looked into it beyond that.
My colleague David Ryan made a meme of me being chased by a grinning runner.
"Let me talk to you about GEO."
(Photo from Bryan Dale)
"Let me talk to you about GEO."
(Photo from Bryan Dale)
August 25, 2026 at 3:41 PM
My colleague David Ryan made a meme of me being chased by a grinning runner.
"Let me talk to you about GEO."
(Photo from Bryan Dale)
"Let me talk to you about GEO."
(Photo from Bryan Dale)
I'm on BBC Upload tonight, interviewed and reading a poem I started at 4 a.m. on Tuesday. It's broadcast across BBC West Midlands radio including Radio Stoke.
Inspiration: wildfires, parched grass at local parkrun The Wammy.
I was glad to show my disdain for billionaire tech bros on the radio.
Inspiration: wildfires, parched grass at local parkrun The Wammy.
I was glad to show my disdain for billionaire tech bros on the radio.
August 22, 2026 at 1:50 PM
I'm on BBC Upload tonight, interviewed and reading a poem I started at 4 a.m. on Tuesday. It's broadcast across BBC West Midlands radio including Radio Stoke.
Inspiration: wildfires, parched grass at local parkrun The Wammy.
I was glad to show my disdain for billionaire tech bros on the radio.
Inspiration: wildfires, parched grass at local parkrun The Wammy.
I was glad to show my disdain for billionaire tech bros on the radio.
Despite having decent sight, I do have weird visual brain things going on, including prosopagnosia, and it's quite difficult for me to spot the cats in this CAPTCHA, especially when one is dressed with a tie. At first glance I thought the top-right bird was a cat.
No accessible alternative, either.
No accessible alternative, either.
July 31, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Despite having decent sight, I do have weird visual brain things going on, including prosopagnosia, and it's quite difficult for me to spot the cats in this CAPTCHA, especially when one is dressed with a tie. At first glance I thought the top-right bird was a cat.
No accessible alternative, either.
No accessible alternative, either.
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
Any news report that starts “OpenAI says…” or claims “an AI” (sic) has “broken containment” or “gone rogue” is no longer doing journalism, but PR for the #AI industry. #OpenAI used their product to hack a third-party and failed to implement adequate safeguards. That’s it. That’s the story. #AIHype
July 23, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
A properly made website works well for AI agents ... and search engines, and LLMs, and above all, for actual people.
If you're trying to fix accessibility issues by making a separate "agent-friendly" version, you are just building technical debt. You'll have to redo it multiple times. Just fix it.
If you're trying to fix accessibility issues by making a separate "agent-friendly" version, you are just building technical debt. You'll have to redo it multiple times. Just fix it.
Sad truth: we are making the web accessible for AIs, not for people.
Some sites now offer a text version for LLMs, but still skip real accessibility needs like proper heading structure, landmarks that screen reader users need.
Some sites now offer a text version for LLMs, but still skip real accessibility needs like proper heading structure, landmarks that screen reader users need.
The Web Is Being Made Accessible for AI, Not People
Jonathan Zong and Frank Elavsky critique how AI-driven infrastructure changes obscure accessibility and reveal whose needs society chooses to prioritize.
www.techpolicy.press
July 6, 2026 at 3:24 PM
A properly made website works well for AI agents ... and search engines, and LLMs, and above all, for actual people.
If you're trying to fix accessibility issues by making a separate "agent-friendly" version, you are just building technical debt. You'll have to redo it multiple times. Just fix it.
If you're trying to fix accessibility issues by making a separate "agent-friendly" version, you are just building technical debt. You'll have to redo it multiple times. Just fix it.
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
If you make websites for a living, stop what you're doing and read this research by @tammyeverts.com; it shows what many of us have been saying for a long time: even if there is such a thing as "fast enough", it's generally *much* faster than you are targeting:
embrace.io/blog/research-co…
embrace.io/blog/research-co…
New research: The Core Web Vitals thresholds you trust might be wrong for your site
Core Web Vitals data from ten leading online retailers reveals that "good" for Google may not be good enough for your users or your business.
embrace.io
July 15, 2026 at 11:32 PM
If you make websites for a living, stop what you're doing and read this research by @tammyeverts.com; it shows what many of us have been saying for a long time: even if there is such a thing as "fast enough", it's generally *much* faster than you are targeting:
embrace.io/blog/research-co…
embrace.io/blog/research-co…
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
When people ask me what the phrase "artificial intelligence" means, my short answer is, it means "venture capitalists, give me some money".
But OUP asked me for a longer answer, given here and summarized in the section headings:
doi.org/10.1093/9780...
But OUP asked me for a longer answer, given here and summarized in the section headings:
doi.org/10.1093/9780...
July 8, 2026 at 4:46 PM
When people ask me what the phrase "artificial intelligence" means, my short answer is, it means "venture capitalists, give me some money".
But OUP asked me for a longer answer, given here and summarized in the section headings:
doi.org/10.1093/9780...
But OUP asked me for a longer answer, given here and summarized in the section headings:
doi.org/10.1093/9780...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
I wonder how Google search services will improve (if at all) and what will happen data-wise.
I wonder how Google search services will improve (if at all) and what will happen data-wise.
Further CMA action to secure a fairer deal for businesses and improve Google search services in UK
Two new conduct requirements introduced today will ensure Google’s search rankings, including AI Overviews, are fair and that users can benefit from sharing their data.
www.gov.uk
June 23, 2026 at 12:56 PM
www.gov.uk/government/n...
I wonder how Google search services will improve (if at all) and what will happen data-wise.
I wonder how Google search services will improve (if at all) and what will happen data-wise.
I wonder to what extent LLM outputs may be shaped by Google et al themselves, never mind existing biases and the pollution from third parties.
AI Mode output for "The output of LLMs aims to trick me into making further responses.":
(1/5)
AI Mode output for "The output of LLMs aims to trick me into making further responses.":
(1/5)
June 16, 2026 at 7:13 PM
I wonder to what extent LLM outputs may be shaped by Google et al themselves, never mind existing biases and the pollution from third parties.
AI Mode output for "The output of LLMs aims to trick me into making further responses.":
(1/5)
AI Mode output for "The output of LLMs aims to trick me into making further responses.":
(1/5)
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
But all the academic papers in the world exposing bad ideas won't stop companies from doing it, if it's profitable/fits into their quasi-religious beliefs that "AI" is the future, alas.
So let's look at what Google is up to now, or at least says they are, via TechCrunch as stenographer:
>>
So let's look at what Google is up to now, or at least says they are, via TechCrunch as stenographer:
>>
May 19, 2026 at 7:58 PM
But all the academic papers in the world exposing bad ideas won't stop companies from doing it, if it's profitable/fits into their quasi-religious beliefs that "AI" is the future, alas.
So let's look at what Google is up to now, or at least says they are, via TechCrunch as stenographer:
>>
So let's look at what Google is up to now, or at least says they are, via TechCrunch as stenographer:
>>
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
Wow some terrible reporting about Google's latest horrible ideas about how to distort information access in the name of "convenience" (or something):
techcrunch.com/2026/05/19/g...
A short thread
🧵>>
techcrunch.com/2026/05/19/g...
A short thread
🧵>>
Google Search as you know it is over | TechCrunch
Google is transforming Search from a list of links into an AI-powered experience filled with conversational answers, autonomous agents, and interactive interfaces — a shift that could further reduce t...
techcrunch.com
May 19, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Wow some terrible reporting about Google's latest horrible ideas about how to distort information access in the name of "convenience" (or something):
techcrunch.com/2026/05/19/g...
A short thread
🧵>>
techcrunch.com/2026/05/19/g...
A short thread
🧵>>
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
I thought this was interesting. My research indicates Google treats freshness as relative rather than absolute.
This means looking at what percentile you fall into with your content freshness versus the rest of the SERP, which is related to if you make 'significant' changes.
This means looking at what percentile you fall into with your content freshness versus the rest of the SERP, which is related to if you make 'significant' changes.
May 5, 2026 at 10:52 AM
I thought this was interesting. My research indicates Google treats freshness as relative rather than absolute.
This means looking at what percentile you fall into with your content freshness versus the rest of the SERP, which is related to if you make 'significant' changes.
This means looking at what percentile you fall into with your content freshness versus the rest of the SERP, which is related to if you make 'significant' changes.
E-commerce could learn a lot from government websites.
All content is written for a 9 year old reading age, which isn't just about literacy - it helps scanning and understanding too.
www.gov.uk/guidance/con...
All content is written for a 9 year old reading age, which isn't just about literacy - it helps scanning and understanding too.
www.gov.uk/guidance/con...
April 20, 2026 at 9:55 AM
E-commerce could learn a lot from government websites.
All content is written for a 9 year old reading age, which isn't just about literacy - it helps scanning and understanding too.
www.gov.uk/guidance/con...
All content is written for a 9 year old reading age, which isn't just about literacy - it helps scanning and understanding too.
www.gov.uk/guidance/con...
A very undiverse Google Images result. A search for [Staffordshire], my home county, shows only Staffordshire Terrier dogs.
The county appear at positions 16 & 62.
Is it like searching for [Brussels] and seeing only sprouts?
I've added a favourite Staffordshire photo; Apedale Pit Wheel in snow.
The county appear at positions 16 & 62.
Is it like searching for [Brussels] and seeing only sprouts?
I've added a favourite Staffordshire photo; Apedale Pit Wheel in snow.
![Google Images screenshot showing only dogs for [Staffordshire] search](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y3arowkhgiexpyvmmxvquavg/bafkreiakpufutp77u77snihrmaf66lofulzlw5kj6kv35cmargonwvkv3u)
April 12, 2026 at 9:58 AM
A very undiverse Google Images result. A search for [Staffordshire], my home county, shows only Staffordshire Terrier dogs.
The county appear at positions 16 & 62.
Is it like searching for [Brussels] and seeing only sprouts?
I've added a favourite Staffordshire photo; Apedale Pit Wheel in snow.
The county appear at positions 16 & 62.
Is it like searching for [Brussels] and seeing only sprouts?
I've added a favourite Staffordshire photo; Apedale Pit Wheel in snow.
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
We publish a major @citizenlab.ca report on Webloc, an ad-based mass surveillance system that monitors the movements and personal characteristics of hundreds of millions people globally based on data obtained from mobile apps and digital advertising. Customers include ICE, El Salvador, and Hungary.
NEW REPORT: “Uncovering Webloc: An Analysis of Penlink’s Ad-based Geolocation Surveillance Tech”
Our research confirms that ad-based surveillance tech Webloc is used by military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies across the globe.
citizenlab.ca/research/ana...
Our research confirms that ad-based surveillance tech Webloc is used by military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies across the globe.
citizenlab.ca/research/ana...
Uncovering Webloc: An Analysis of Penlink’s Ad-based Geolocation Surveillance Tech - The Citizen Lab
Location data collected from mobile apps and digital advertising can reveal habits, interests and almost any other aspect of someone's life. In this report, we uncover how a geolocation surveillance system called Webloc uses ad-based data to monitor hundreds of millions of people across the globe.
citizenlab.ca
April 9, 2026 at 3:33 PM
We publish a major @citizenlab.ca report on Webloc, an ad-based mass surveillance system that monitors the movements and personal characteristics of hundreds of millions people globally based on data obtained from mobile apps and digital advertising. Customers include ICE, El Salvador, and Hungary.
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
Doing a basic calculation using a chatbot instead of a calculator uses between 2.5 million and 62 million times more energy. And using chatbots for calculations is *extremely common* - the companies have marketed these systems as general purpose, everything-apps!
So, I put the calculation experiment from my article on this in
www.linkedin.com/pulse/chatbo...
Right answer! Cool!
But it went from 0.2 watt hours to 6.8 watt hours. IE, it goes from 2.5 million times more energy than a calculator to ~62 million times more energy than a calculator
www.linkedin.com/pulse/chatbo...
Right answer! Cool!
But it went from 0.2 watt hours to 6.8 watt hours. IE, it goes from 2.5 million times more energy than a calculator to ~62 million times more energy than a calculator
April 8, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Doing a basic calculation using a chatbot instead of a calculator uses between 2.5 million and 62 million times more energy. And using chatbots for calculations is *extremely common* - the companies have marketed these systems as general purpose, everything-apps!
Reposted by AlexHarford-TechSEO
The 2026 WebAIM Accessibility Report is out, and honestly, it makes me a bit sad.
After years of slow but steady improvement, accessibility on the web is getting worse again.
Full report: webaim.org/projects/mil...
After years of slow but steady improvement, accessibility on the web is getting worse again.
Full report: webaim.org/projects/mil...
April 3, 2026 at 7:30 AM
The 2026 WebAIM Accessibility Report is out, and honestly, it makes me a bit sad.
After years of slow but steady improvement, accessibility on the web is getting worse again.
Full report: webaim.org/projects/mil...
After years of slow but steady improvement, accessibility on the web is getting worse again.
Full report: webaim.org/projects/mil...
Doom CSS has a far smaller CSS and JavaScript footprint than every single client website's homepage I work on.
A good reminder of how unnecessarily weighty modern websites are.
A good reminder of how unnecessarily weighty modern websites are.
CSS is DOOMed!
I've build DOOM in CSS and every wall, floor, barrel, and imp is a div, positioned in 3D space using CSS transforms.
cssdoom.wtf
Try it out! But... not every browser can handle it. This is taking the browser to its limit. Chrome has some issues. Safari too. Bugs will be filed.
I've build DOOM in CSS and every wall, floor, barrel, and imp is a div, positioned in 3D space using CSS transforms.
cssdoom.wtf
Try it out! But... not every browser can handle it. This is taking the browser to its limit. Chrome has some issues. Safari too. Bugs will be filed.
cssDOOM
DOOM rendered entirely in CSS. Every wall, floor, barrel, and imp is a div, positioned in 3D space using CSS transforms.
cssdoom.wtf
April 1, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Doom CSS has a far smaller CSS and JavaScript footprint than every single client website's homepage I work on.
A good reminder of how unnecessarily weighty modern websites are.
A good reminder of how unnecessarily weighty modern websites are.