Backlink Bonanza: Strategies to Skyrocket Your SEO Rankings
Guest post Don’t know what to do on a winter day in Adelaide? Want to get more traffic to your website or just simply want to know a tiny bit more about backlinks (who doesn’t like a bit of nerdy reading). If you are reading this article, you probably are a bit familiar with the concept of backlinks, but just to be clear, let’s take a step back and cover the basics. Backlinks, at its core, is your website getting a vote from another website. The vote in this context is the link. It’s like saying “hey this website is trustworthy, and I recommend it”. Ideally you want votes from websites where there is a logical connection to your business. So for a copywriting business the most obvious recommendation would be getting backlinks from other copywriters. But if we zoom out a little there are more opportunities – startup founders, small business owners, freelancers and marketing managers are just a few. Building backlinks is a long-term strategy but when done ethically and with no “quick wins” methods, it is one of the best ways to boost your SEO rankings and give your business more leads and more revenue. The goal of this article is not to go into details about the technical aspects and all metrics but instead giving you a more general overview how to approach building backlinks. Don’t think about links This is a link building article about backlinks. So the title may seem a bit strange but bear with me. Let’s say you are a Solar Installation company working in Adelaide and you want more business. Your primary instinct would probably not be “I need to hurry and build some backlinks”. No, you would probably have a few meetings (hopefully not too many of the boring ones) and define your ideal clients: what sort of clients do you want more of? What sort of clients do you want fewer of? The same goes for geographical areas. Are there any suburbs that are more interesting for your business? Maybe you see that the jobs you do in North Adelaide are bigger and more profitable than the ones you do in Marion. That is all very important and solid information that will help you when you are implementing a link building strategy. Getting the foundations right You can have the best and most relevant links in the world, but if you don’t have your on-page factors in place, they will do very little for your business. It’s all about getting the foundations right! So after you have done the first step it’s time checking how your own website is doing. These are some of the things you want to make sure are in place: What is working for your competitors? Whether we are talking about link building, SEO in general or some other business related topic – you should always assess the market and do some market research. So choose three competitors that offer the same products or services as you do and then analyse their backlink profile. The goal is not to steal their backlinks. Instead, we want to look for patterns. What kind of links are they building? What anchor text are they using? What prospecting angles can you discover? This is valuable information that you want to take notes on. Find people you like, not websites with names Human aspect first! To get valuable links you have to be able to actually make someone else understand that you not only looked at their website but show them in what way their audience would benefit from the type of link you are trying to pitch. So before you start emailing someone you need to determine what group (or ideally sub-group) you want to target and really define in what way they make sense to your business (if they don’t make sense to you, they will not make sense to search engines). Then it’s about finding these real human beings – and there are many ways of going about doing this. One suggestion is that you identify what specific keywords companies in that group or sub-group would rank for and add search operators such as +inurl: blog or “how to”, or “tips”. You can also go for an already pre-made list by typing your chosen subgroup and “100 best XXXX” XXXX being your subgroup. BOOM! 100 prospects right there. It’s all about being creative and thinking outside that very scary narrow box, because if you write target keyword + “write for us” (if you’re going for guest posts), chances are that thousands of link builders are before you in line and you will most likely have to pay your way forward. Email them and show who you are (quite literally) When you finally start doing outreach, make sure you email a real human being – not any info@addresses. You should have a clear plan of what kind of link you are going for, who you are targeting (and why) and what’s in it for the person receiving the email – and their audience. Let’s say you are going for a guest post, you want to make sure you do some research beforehand and check out what other blog posts the website (ideally the person you are emailing) have published before. Was there something in particular that you actually liked (not fake flattery). I recommend using a proper outreach tool like Buzzstream but if you are a small business owner you can do it via your normal email, as long as you don’t mass-email thousands of people. Show the person in the first email some suggestions on topics and why these topics would be relevant and helpful for their readers. Be personable, be prepared to negotiate and always think about the human aspect first. In this article I have discussed important steps to get more traffic and more leads from your website. The right types of backlinks are relevant to you and your
The Google Update is cutting down 40% of search results!
Google released a core search engine update in March 2024 and part of that update is to focus on a high-quality content. They predict that they will reduce search results of a low quality by up to 40% with this new algorithm update. Now you can join the dots here to see what kind of low-quality content they mean. Without saying it, it’s implied that AI-generated bland unhelpful content will be the first to go. So if your website is predominantly low quality content that doesn’t actually answer searchers’ questions or provide meaningful information using Google’s EEAT formula, then your SEO efforts will be a waste of time, and you won’t rank. ‘We’ve long had a policy against using automation to generate low-quality or unoriginal content at scale with the goal of manipulating search rankings. This policy was originally designed to address instances of content being generated at scale where it was clear that automation was involved. This is what Google said about automated content: … To better address these techniques, we’re strengthening our policy to focus on this abusive behavior — producing content at scale to boost search ranking — whether automation, humans or a combination are involved. This will allow us to take action on more types of content with little to no value created at scale, like pages that pretend to have answers to popular searches but fail to deliver helpful content.’ It’s not just your own content that will be reviewed and scrutinised but if you host third party guest posts or similar, that will also be taken into account. And you can’t afford to have even one poor piece of content on your site. You have until 5 May 2024 to change this. Take this opportunity to do a content audit of your site. ‘We’ll now consider very low-value, third-party content produced primarily for ranking purposes and without close oversight of a website owner to be spam,’ Google stated. As I repeat multiple times, the only way you can win with content when it comes to improving your Google ranking is by writing extremely well-written and high-quality content. Important to note: Google says ‘Expired domains that are purchased and repurposed with the intention of boosting the search ranking of low-quality content are now considered spam.’ Here are some helpful articles for improving your content: Does AI hurt your website? What is semantic search? How to write a blog post? Do your own website audit Get professional SEO content
Boost your SEO with 4 powerful tactics
In the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, staying ahead of the curve is essential to maintaining a competitive edge. Search engine optimisation (SEO) remains a cornerstone of online visibility, yet it’s crucial to adapt your strategies to align with the latest trends and algorithms. Here are four dynamic tactics you can incorporate into your SEO marketing to elevate your rankings and drive organic traffic. 1. Launch a YouTube channel and leverage it on your website Video content continues to dominate online platforms, with YouTube being the second-largest search engine globally. Starting a YouTube channel not only expands your reach to a vast audience but also presents an opportunity to enhance your website’s SEO. Here’s how: Create engaging videos: Produce high-quality, informative videos relevant to your niche. Whether it’s tutorials, product demonstrations, or industry insights, ensure your content is valuable and engaging. It’s best to do face-to-camera, as audiences respond so well to seeing someone’s face, and the YouTube algorithm will likely prioritise it. Optimise for keywords: Conduct keyword research to identify popular search terms within your industry. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your video titles, descriptions, and tags to improve visibility in both YouTube and Google search results. For example, if you have a channel dedicated to SEO, you might like to create a video about “how to boost SEO”. Embed videos on your website: Capitalise on your video content by embedding it strategically across your website. Whether on landing pages, blog posts, or product pages, incorporating videos enhances user engagement and dwell time, signalling to search engines that your site offers valuable multimedia resources. Remember that Google owns YouTube, so it actually counts towards your search results on your website.Identifying and optimising existing high-ranking content is a cost-effective strategy to bolster your SEO efforts. Rather than solely focusing on creating new content, allocate resources to amplify the performance of your top-performing pages. Do this by: Conduct content audits: Assess your website’s analytics to identify pages with high traffic, strong engagement metrics, and favourable search rankings. These pages represent valuable assets that can be further optimised for increased visibility. Optimise meta titles and descriptions: Refine meta titles and descriptions to align with current search intent and maximise click-through rates. Incorporate relevant keywords while maintaining readability and relevance to entice users to click through to your site. Refresh and expand content: Update outdated information, add fresh insights, and expand upon existing content to provide comprehensive resources for users. Refreshing content not only enhances its relevance but also signals to search engines that your site is regularly updated and authoritative within your niche. 3. Create link-worthy assets Earning backlinks from reputable websites remains a crucial component of SEO, indicating to search engines the credibility and authority of your site. To attract quality backlinks, focus on creating compelling, shareable assets that resonate with your target audience. Here are some examples: Infographics and data visualisations: Condense complex information into visually appealing infographics or data visualisations. Presenting data in a digestible format increases the likelihood of other websites citing and linking back to your content. Comprehensive guides and whitepapers: Develop in-depth guides or whitepapers addressing common pain points or industry challenges within your niche. Position your content as a valuable resource and outreach to relevant websites or influencers to encourage linking and sharing. These make the ultimate lead magnets, too – which are excellent tools for collecting email addresses. And you know that I’m a huge fan of email marketing because it’s so effective. Interactive tools and calculators: Engage your audience with interactive tools or calculators tailored to their needs. Whether it’s a budget calculator, interactive map, or diagnostic tool, providing value-added resources encourages user interaction and increases the likelihood of earning backlinks. You can see how valuable these would be if you’re in the finance or accounting industry, right? 4. Prioritise mobile-first optimisationWith the proliferation of mobile devices, adjusting your website for mobile users is no longer optional—it’s imperative for SEO success. Google’s mobile-first indexing spotlights the mobile version of your site for ranking and indexing, making mobile optimisation a top priority. Here’s what you can do:Responsive design: Ensure your website employs a responsive design that adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes and devices. A mobile-friendly layout enhances user experience and reduces bounce rates, telling the search engines that your site is user-centric. Essentially that means you need to make sure all your content fits on a tiny screen as well, without it all wonky looking. Reduce page speed: Mobile users expect super fast-loading websites, and page speed directly impacts user satisfaction and search rankings. Minimise unnecessary elements, leverage browser caching, and compress images to improve page speed and overall performance on mobile devices. It should ideally be under 3 seconds load time for positive SEO. Mobile-friendly content: Craft concise, scannable content optimised for mobile consumption. Use shorter paragraphs, descriptive subheadings, and bullet points to facilitate easy reading on smaller screens. By implementing these four focuses into your SEO marketing efforts, you can position your website for sustained growth, increased visibility, and improved organic rankings. And it doesn’t matter what the economy is doing, you can still remain ahead of the game and get the sales and clients that you desire. Get an SEO strategy today.
The Future of Web Design: Predictions and Trends for the Next Decade
This is a guest post. In this article, we’ll look at major trends and predictions for the next decade. We’ll briefly look at the benefits of keeping up with major trends. Then, we’ll focus on technological advancements, changing user expectations, and evolving design aesthetics in web design. Advantages of Keeping Updated Before diving into the article, let’s consider why you need to read this article. There are many benefits to monitoring the prediction and future trends. Some are as follows: ● Competitive advantage ● Increased creativity ● Future-proof skillset and technologies ● Effective marketing strategies ● Higher conversion rates ● Informed investments ● Building brand loyalty ● Enhanced user interaction ● Staying relevant All of this will contribute hugely to your company. If you focus on higher conversion rates, you can implement engaging WooCommerce Popup Carts that showcase added items and encourage further shopping. Technological Advancements How we experience the web is about to get a significant overhaul, driven by exciting technological advancements. In this section, let’s delve into four technological advancements redefining web design in the next decade. AI and Personalisation This technological advancement allows website owners to create content and layout tailored to customers’ preferences. For example, the top suggestions would be articles the customers would love to read and products they’d use. It works through AI algorithms, which analyse vast amounts of data, including user behaviour and design trends. This allows the AI to automatically generate personalised layouts, colour palettes, and design elements. It’s like having a virtual design assistant working to optimise your website for maximum engagement constantly. AI can go beyond layout, churning out personalised content like blog posts, product descriptions, and video scripts based on user preferences and real-time data. It saves time and resources while ensuring content resonates with your audience. Immersive Technologies These technologies allow you to create interactive and engaging experiences for your website’s visitors. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are two technologies that help create experiences that blur the lines between the digital and physical world. AR will transform e-commerce, education, and entertainment in the next decade. Thus, web design must adapt to create seamless and intuitive AR experiences. For example, consider overlaying virtual elements onto your physical surroundings, trying on clothes virtually, or exploring a museum exhibit right from your living room. VR technology enables people to attend virtual concerts, explore interactive stories, or collaborate with colleagues in a virtual workspace. Web design must master spatial storytelling and user interaction to create compelling VR experiences. Voice Search Optimisation As voice assistants become increasingly popular, websites must adapt to how people search for information. This means optimising content for natural language queries, focusing on long-tail keywords, and ensuring intuitive and engaging voice interfaces. Thus, websites will need to have a more conversational design. In the future, web design must focus on micro-interactions like quick answers and voice-activated buttons. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) PWAs are apps made using web platform tech. They feel like a native app and offer offline functionality, push notifications, and a faster, more responsive experience. PWAs blur the lines between websites and apps, offering a frictionless user experience regardless of device or internet connection. This leads to higher engagement and conversions, making PWAs a must-have for future web design. Moreover, PWAs load faster and work offline, making them more accessible to users with limited bandwidth or disabilities. Shifting User Expectations The future of web design isn’t just about technology; it’s about understanding and catering to the ever-evolving expectations of the people using it. Let’s look at some aspects shaping how users will interact with the web in the upcoming decade. Accessibility and Ethical Considerations As technology advances, it is necessary to ensure everyone benefits equally. Users are expecting accessibility and ethical considerations in every aspect of web design. For this, websites will have an inclusive design, with features like screen readers, keyboard navigation, and clear visuals for low-vision users. Micro-Interactions and Storytelling In the future, delightful micro-interactions and captivating narratives will become the foundation of engaging user experiences. Micro-interactions will act as emotional touchpoints, creating a sense of playfulness and delight and weaving user emotion into the very fabric of the website. The shift towards interactive storytelling means that websites will transition from static information hubs to immersive storytelling platforms. Focus on Emotions and Connection Design isn’t just about aesthetics but forging emotional connections with users. The future web will leverage design elements to evoke empathy, build trust, and create meaningful relationships. Website owners must understand user psychology to apply principles like colour psychology, visual hierarchy, and emotional white space. Trust and credibility building is also necessary. Design elements like transparency, user testimonials, and clear communication make users feel safe and secure while interacting with the website. Data-Driven Design and User Analysis In the age of big data, understanding user behaviour is no longer guesswork. Web design will increasingly integrate data analytics to tailor experiences and optimise engagement. Websites will learn and adapt in real-time, using data to personalise content, test different design elements, and optimise the user experience based on individual preferences and interaction patterns. Analytics will predict user intent and anticipate needs, allowing for proactive design adjustments like pre-filling forms or recommending relevant content before users ask. The Rise of Micro-Communities and Niche Audiences The web is no longer a homogeneous space; it’s a tapestry of micro-communities with specific interests and values. Web design must cater to these niche audiences, creating experiences that resonate and foster belonging. Understanding niche communities’ unique needs and preferences allows for tailored design elements, targeted messaging, and a sense of community built into the website. Websites that can be customised and shaped by the community they serve are part of the future. They will allow users to contribute content, design elements, and ideas, fostering a sense of ownership and belonging. Evolving Design Aesthetics The visual language of the web is in constant flux, reflecting technological advancements, evolving cultural currents, and user preferences. In this section, we’ll dive into some
SEO Services and Content Strategy | Case Study
SEO services case study for Adelaide client Overview Jones the Writer Copywriting Services (Ode Marketing’s former name) collaborated with an acoustics engineering firm to enhance their online presence and engagement through SEO services. The partnership aimed to address specific challenges related to visibility, client education, and time-sensitive communication. The client Resonate Consultants is an Australian firm specialising in acoustic engineering and vibration consulting services. This multi-award-winning company has offices across Australia and services a number of clients across multiple industries including building and construction, Defence, education, environment and marine, renewables, laboratories, transport and infrastructure and the arts. Objective The primary goals were to: With the overarching objective to establish credibility among potential clients, clarify the offered solutions, and educate the audience about the benefits of engaging the services early in a project. Challenges Strategies implemented I began working with this client in early 2021, where I devised an in-depth content strategy and audit, tone of voice guide and email marketing strategy. The marketing implementations included: Content example Results It also helped that the CEO knew the value of content marketing and SEO and backed the process and my proposals fully. Impact 31 out of 45 goal conversions during one quarter were directly attributed to organic Google searches. This meant that their SEO was working tremendously to bring in new clients who happened to search for any of their SEO keywords and click on their site. Once on their site, they demonstrated contact by phoning or emailing for an enquiry. That’s nearly a 70% rate of contact from organic Google searches. A remarkable 17.78% increase in goal conversions. Resonate Consultants experienced a notable surge in goal conversions, showcasing an impressive growth rate of 17.78% during the April to June 2023 period. The surge in goal conversions underscores the successful engagement and positive response from their target audience during this timeframe. Most quarters in the recent past have witnessed a consistent upward trajectory in goal conversions on Resonate Consultants’ website. This sustained pattern underscores the consistency of the approach, reflecting not only a one-time success but an ongoing commitment to meeting and exceeding their performance targets through SEO and content efforts. With my help and marketing services, the client successfully transformed their online presence, achieving substantial increases in visibility, engagement, and competitive performance. The implemented strategies addressed the challenges of client education, time pressures, and the need for a reliable online presence. The collaboration demonstrated the effectiveness of a holistic content approach in achieving tangible business results which will make a difference in the business’ bottom line for years to come.
Unleashing the Snowball Effect: Compounding Web Traffic
What is compounding website traffic? Compounding website traffic refers to gradually and consistently increasing the amount of traffic a website receives over time. Instead of relying on sudden, one-time spikes in traffic, compounding traffic relies on creating high-quality content that continues to attract visitors over the long term—my preferred SEO tactic, to be honest. This is typically achieved through search engine optimisation (SEO), which involves optimising a website’s content and structure to make it more visible and relevant to search engines. By creating content that addresses the needs and interests of a specific audience and by using the right keywords and metadata, a website can gradually increase its visibility and attract more traffic. Other strategies that can help drive compounding traffic include building a social media presence, guest blogging on other websites, and building an email list. The key is to create valuable content that addresses the needs and interests of a specific audience. You know- content that addresses questions and explicit topics that you know will improve their business or life. And then promote that content through a variety of marketing channels to reach as many people as possible. This will lead to a steady and sustainable increase in traffic to your website, resulting in more leads, customers, and revenue. How to grow your compounding traffic Content is key High-quality, relevant, and valuable content is essential for driving compounding traffic. By consistently creating content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience, you can attract visitors who are more likely to return to your site and share your content with others. Tip: You must, must, MUST hyperlink back to existing content (using relevant keywords and search terms) not just to help with SEO and site navigation but to encourage readers to check out older content. Aim for approximately two to six internal links to existing content. Don’t forget to go back through older content and update posts to including internal links to newer content also. Long-tail keywords Instead of trying to rank for highly competitive keywords, focus on long-tail keywords, which are more specific and less competitive. By creating content that targets these keywords, you can increase your visibility and attract visitors who are more likely to be interested in your offerings. Social media Building a social media presence can be an effective way to promote your content and attract visitors to your website. By sharing your content on social media channels and engaging with your followers, you can increase the visibility of your website and encourage more people to visit. Tips: Reshare old content, even if it is a few years old. As long as the information is relevant and not totally out of date, it’s worth sharing. Share a list of your top 5 best-performing web pages or blog posts. A BuzzSumo study found that long-form content (over 3,000 words) tends to receive more social shares and links than shorter content, which can help drive compounding traffic over time. Email marketing Building an email list can be another effective way to drive compounding traffic. By regularly sending out email marketing, newsletters or updates with links to your content, you can encourage subscribers to visit your website and share your content with others. Consistency Consistency is key when it comes to driving compounding traffic. By regularly creating and promoting high-quality content, you can gradually build up your website’s visibility and attract more visitors over time. Evergreen content Crafting praiseworthy evergreen content is the biggest key to creating and capitalising on compounding web traffic. Evergreen content is content that remains relevant and useful over time rather than becoming outdated or irrelevant. By creating content that addresses timeless topics or that provides ongoing value to your audience, you can attract visitors who are more likely to return to your site and share your content with others. Don’t forget your data! It’s important to track and analyse your website’s traffic over time in order to identify which strategies are most effective at driving compounding traffic. By using tools like Google Analytics (now known as G4) or other web analytics platforms, you can track your website’s traffic, conversion rates, and other metrics and use that data to make informed decisions about how to really your content and promotion strategies going forward. Tip: Find out your most visited posts or pages by using your G4 Analytics and doing the following: You will then be provided with a table that shows the slugs of the pages or post that get the most views. Now you can see your most popular and do any of the above suggestions to double down on their traffic. How many blog posts should be live on your site to get good compounding traffic? The number of blog posts needed to achieve good compounding traffic depends on a variety of factors, including your industry, competition, and target audience. No set number of blog posts will guarantee good compounding traffic, as it ultimately depends on the quality and relevance of your content. That being said, in general, websites that have a larger volume of high-quality, evergreen content tend to perform better in search engines and attract more traffic over time. According to HubSpot’s 2020 State of Marketing report, companies that blog regularly (more than once a week) are 13 times more likely to see positive ROI compared to companies that don’t blog at all. In terms of a specific number of blog posts, it’s difficult to give an exact figure, as it depends on a variety of factors. However, a good rule of thumb is to aim to publish new blog posts on a regular basis (such as once or twice a week) and to ensure that your existing blog posts are high-quality, evergreen content that is optimised for search engines. Ultimately, the key to achieving good compounding traffic is to focus on creating really terrific and information-dense content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. By doing so, you can gradually build up your website’s visibility and
Google Search Console: unveiling its crucial role in SEO
Why do you need Google Search Console? Further deep-diving into the world of SEO, let’s shed some light on a tool that’s absolutely essential for anyone serious about improving their website’s performance: Google Search Console. What’s Google Search Console? Alright, first things first. Google Search Console, often lovingly referred to as GSC, is a free web service that Google provides. It’s like the backstage pass to your website’s performance in Google’s search results. This nifty tool gives you a direct line to Google, where you can see how your site is doing regarding search visibility. The crucial role it plays in SEO Now, you might be wondering, ‘why should I bother with Google Search Console?’ Well, here’s where the magic happens. 1. Indexing Insights: GSC helps you understand how Googlebot (Google’s web-crawling robot) sees your site. You’ll be able to spot indexing issues, such as pages that can’t be crawled or indexed. Fixing these issues ensures your content can be found by the search engine. 2. Keyword Performance: Wondering which keywords are driving traffic to your site? GSC provides a treasure trove of information about the search queries that lead visitors to your pages. This data is gold for optimising your content and targeting the right SEO keywords. 3. Mobile Friendliness: In this day and age, mobile-friendliness is non-negotiable. GSC alerts you to any mobile usability issues on your site, ensuring that both desktop and mobile users have a seamless experience. 4. Structured Data: Structured data markup can make your site’s search results more informative and attractive. Google Search Console helps you validate and enhance structured data to make your listings stand out. 5. Coverage Reports: Ever wondered why some of your pages aren’t showing up in Google’s search results? GSC’s coverage reports reveal any issues preventing your pages from being indexed, allowing you to take corrective action. 6. Security Alerts: Your site’s security is paramount. GSC notifies you if Google detects any security issues, such as malware or phishing attempts, helping you keep your site safe. 7. Sitemap Submission: You can submit your website’s sitemap directly to Google via Google Search Console. This ensures that Google knows about all the pages on your site, making it easier for them to crawl and index your content. 8. Performance Metrics: GSC offers valuable insights into your site’s overall performance, including clicks, impressions, click-through rates, and average position in search results. This data helps you track your SEO efforts and measure their impact. In a nutshell, Google Search Console is your trusty sidekick in the world of SEO. It provides you with the information and tools you need to heighten your website for better search visibility and user experience. So, whether you’re a seasoned SEO pro or just dipping your toes into the digital marketing waters, make sure to add Google Search Console to your arsenal. It’s a powerful tool that can help you climb the ranks in Google’s search results and get your website noticed by a broader audience. Don’t worry, you don’t have to know how to navigate Google Search Console, especially since you already have enough on your plate. Why not sign up for one of my SEO packages today?
Top 5 Digital Marketing Blogs You Need to be Across
Do you work in marketing? Or want to become a successful blogger? Or are you the entrepreneurial type and want to improve your business’s marketing? Then you need to be across the following digital marketing blogs.
How To Find Your SEO Keywords
A step-by-step guide to choosing SEO keywords Choosing the right SEO keywords is essential for any successful SEO campaign. ‘Studies show that 93% of online journeys begin with a search engine.’ So you need to make the most of this and meet people (your potential customers and clients) where they are. It’s imperative that you have an SEO keyword or phrase for every single webpage and every single blog post you have on your website. You need it to include in your post and to optimise your images for SEO. To begin with, it’s a good idea to have one primary keyword (and a keyword can be comprised of more than one word – that term is a little misleading) and optimise the page or post for that primary keyword. For example, this post is optimised for the keyword “how to find your SEO keywords”. This is a longtail keyword because it’s a bit longer than most of my primary keywords, which generally sit around the 1 to 3 word mark. Eg, Adelaide copywriter. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you choose the right SEO keywords for your website: Brainstorm potential keywords Start by brainstorming a list of potential keywords that are relevant to your website and business. Use the language and terminology your target audience would use to search for your products or services. If you already have a website, go to your home and about pages or your main services of product pages and choose keywords of what they are about. If you’re new to blogging for SEO purposes and you haven’t really optimised any blog posts as yet, start with your main keywords. And your main keywords will be the primary focus of your business. For example, mine is “copywriter“. If you’re a lawyer, your main keywords might be “Australian lawyer” or similar. If you’re a chocolate maker (yes, I’m obsessed), your main keywords might be “buy chocolate online”. Or similar. Research search volume and competition Use a keyword research tool, such as Google Keyword Planner, to find out how often each potential keyword is searched and how competitive each keyword is. Look for keywords with a high search volume and low competition. Scroll down to see how to use Google Keyword Planner. There are several other keyword research tools available that can help you identify relevant keywords for your business, such as Ahrefs, SEMrush (my favourite), Moz, and more. These tools provide insights into search volume, competition, and related keywords. Scroll down to see how to use Semrush step-by-step. Learn to SEO your images in 18 minutes. What is a good search volume to aim for? The ideal search volume for your keywords depends on your specific business and industry. A high search volume means a high demand for a particular keyword, but it also means a lot of competition for that keyword. Regarding search volume, there is no specific number that is considered “good” or “bad.” It is more important to choose keywords that are relevant to your business and target audience and that have a search volume that is appropriate for your business goals. For example, if you have a small business with a limited budget, you may want to focus on targeting longtail keywords with a lower search volume but less competition. This can help you rank higher in search engine results pages and attract more targeted traffic to your website. This might be your tactic if you are just starting out. On the other hand, if you have a larger business with more resources, you may want to target high-volume keywords that have a higher level of competition. This can help you attract more traffic to your website and increase brand visibility. That being said, if I were to choose SEO keywords for a client, I would be looking at main keywords that have a higher search volume than 10 (averaged per month). That means that, on average, 10 people are searching for the word a month. That’s pretty low and is unlikely to convert to people clicking on your link (especially if the competition is high). So as an arbitrary guideline, look for keywords with low (to mid) competition and a search volume of at least 70 per month to begin with. When choosing keywords, it’s important to consider a balance between search volume and competition. A keyword with too high search volume may have too much competition to effectively rank for, while a keyword with too low search volume may not generate enough traffic to be worth targeting. It’s important to find the sweet spot where you can target keywords that are relevant to your business and have an appropriate level of search volume and competition. Consider longtail keywords Longtail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that people use when searching. They can be more targeted and easier to rank for than more general keywords. Consider including longtail keywords in your list. You might like to consider this as phase two of your keyword optimisation plan and just focus on your main keywords for now. Analyse your competitors Research your competitors’ websites and see what keywords they are targeting. Use this information to identify keywords that are relevant to your business and have low competition. Competition can be found by using software or Google Keyword Planner. You might like to read my post on reverse engineering your competitors’ strategy. Refine your list Once you have a list of potential keywords, refine it to include only the most relevant and effective keywords. Remove any keywords that are too broad or have too much competition. For example, if you’re that beloved chocolate maker, you might avoid using the keyword “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” because although it has an incredible search volume (33,000 at the time of writing this), its competition is fierce at 92/100. I used Semrush to discover this. Google Search Suggestions Google provides a list of suggestions as you type in your search query in the search bar. These
Definitive SEO Checklist
Here is a comprehensive SEO checklist that covers essential aspects of search engine optimisation. Go through the list one by one and make sure you have completed the actions to ensure your best possible SEO outcomes. Keyword research and selection On-page optimisation Technical SEO Content creation and optimisation Link building Local SEO (if applicable) Tracking and analysis Mobile optimisation Site structure and navigation User experience Ecommerce optimisation (if applicable) Local search optimisation (if applicable) Done all that? Now do the following to power up your SEO and leave others for dust. Social media integration Competitor analysis Voice search optimisation Video optimisation By undertaking all these items on your SEO checklist, you can ensure that you are taking a comprehensive approach to optimising your website for search engine performance and user experience. And start to get those mindblowing results that you’ve been dreaming of.
Choose Your Own SEO Strategy Adventure
Four different SEO strategies for you to tackle I know a lot of us are always trying to configure our SEO and tweak it here and there to really suck the juice out of it. And I encourage that. SEO is an ongoing puzzle. It’s not just “set and forget” type of marketing activity. So with that in mind, I’ve proposed four overarching SEO strategies or components of an SEO strategy that I encourage you to look at this year. Now, depending on the size of your site or your brand, this can be a really overwhelming task. It might even take a whole team to action if you don’t have the resources; I suggest picking one of the following four strategies and really perfecting it to the best of your ability this year. Anything you can do will make a difference. Like I said above, if you don’t have the resources to tackle all of this yourself or have a team to help you, I recommend picking one of the four above, focusing on it and getting it really right before moving on to the next. You are better off diving in and making something work rather than doing bits and pieces here in there. So my recommendation is to pick either one or four above if you haven’t done a deep dive on either before. SEO strategy 1 – keyword optimisation Keyword optimisation is the process of researching, selecting, and incorporating keywords into your website content, meta tags, and other elements in order to improve your website’s visibility and ranking on search engines such as Google. The goal of keyword optimisation is to identify the keywords and phrases your target audience is searching for and to make sure that your website appears as high as possible in the search engine results pages (SERPs) for those keywords. The process of keyword optimisation involves researching and identifying the right keywords, analysing the competition for those keywords, incorporating the keywords into your website content in a natural and effective way, and continuously monitoring and refining your keyword strategy to ensure maximum results. Keyword optimisation is an important part of search engine optimisation SEO, as it can help drive more traffic to your website and increase your online visibility and credibility. The following are some techniques and methods you can apply if keyword optimisation is your chosen SEO strategy for this year. Again, if you work with limited resources, pick one and perfect it until you move on to the next. Keyword optimisation techniques for 2023 I want to explain a few of these terms a little further since they may be new to you. What are LSI keywords? LSI (latent semantic indexing) keywords are semantically related words and phrases that provide context and meaning to the main keyword. They help search engines understand the content’s topic and theme and can improve search ranking for the target keyword. The use of LSI keywords can also help avoid keyword stuffing and make the content appear more natural and relevant to the user. Examples of LSI keywords for the main keyword “pizza” could include “toppings”, “delivery”, “New York style”, “crust”, etc. What are topic clusters? Topic clusters are a content marketing and SEO strategy that organises related articles into interlinked groups, with one main piece of content serving as the “pillar” that provides comprehensive information on a particular topic. Each cluster consists of the pillar content and several “cluster” articles that are linked to it, providing in-depth coverage of specific subtopics related to the pillar content. For example, where my main page (and SEO keyword and content focus) is “copywriter“, I would focus on creating and improving content (specifically blog articles) that are directly related to “copywriter”. That might look like topics such as “what’s it like being a copywriter”, “how to become a copywriter”, “what you need to know when hiring a copywriter”, etc. Using topic clusters helps establish the website as an authority on the subject (which we know is vital for the EEAT formula), improves user experience, and increases the chances of ranking higher in search results for relevant keywords. What are local keywords? Local keywords are words that include a geographic location, such as a city, region, or neighbourhood. They are used to optimise content for local search queries. These keywords are used to target users who are searching for products or services in a specific area. Examples of local keywords include “pizza delivery in Adelaide”, “best hair salon in Melbourne”, and “coffee shops in Sydney”. The use of local keywords can help improve a website’s visibility in local search results, attract local customers, and drive more relevant traffic to the website. If you’re a brick-and-mortar business, you would absolutely make this one of your SEO strategy priorities. Especially if you rely on face-to-face service as your business. When you run an online and remote business like mine, it’s not so important. But I still occasionally look at doing as, say, a third-level priority when it comes to improving my keywords and SEO activities. The way to tell whether you need to invest your time in this is by doing good quality SEO keyword research, and if you notice a lot of search volume for, say, “copywriter Adelaide” (if that is your local area), then it’s definitely worth popping it on your to-do list. What is user intent? User intent refers to the goal, need, or purpose behind a user’s search query. Understanding user intent is crucial in providing relevant and valuable content that satisfies the user’s search request. User intent can range from informational (searching for information), navigational (searching for a specific website), transactional (searching to purchase a product or service), or commercial (researching products or services before making a purchase). By understanding and targeting user intent, marketers and content creators can optimise their content to better match the user’s expectations, improve search ranking, and increase user engagement and satisfaction. You can see in the image below that SemRush tells
Does AI-generated Writing Hurt SEO?
Will Google automatically penalise you for using AI-generated content? No. Especially with their announcement that they will be releasing their own AI software, Bard, to the public mid to late February 2023. Here’s what Google says about using AI-generated writing when it comes to harming search engine rankings: ‘Our focus on the quality of content, rather than how content is produced, is a useful guide that has helped us deliver reliable, high quality results to users for years. Focusing on rewarding quality content has been core to Google since we began. It continues today, including through our ranking systems designed to surface reliable information and our helpful content system. The helpful content system was introduced last year to better ensure those searching get content created primarily for people, rather than for search ranking purposes.’ But be careful! It’s not all roses… ‘Using automation—including AI—to generate content with the primary purpose of manipulating ranking in search results is a violation of our spam policies.’ So what can you do to ensure you’re not penalised when using AI-generated content? ‘As explained, however content is produced, those seeking success in Google Search should be looking to produce original, high-quality, people-first content demonstrating qualities E-E-A-T.’ So if you are creating your content with the help of AI, you must make sure it’s meeting the EEAT standards. As I’ve mentioned in an earlier post, AI software is fine for filler content, but you really want to be doing all of the following to help appeal to search engines and your audience. Make the content your own You can do this by adding in personal anecdotes and case studies and really expanding out the text with examples of your own. Make sure you include examples that have actually happened in your real life or in your business life. Because, at the moment, the software can’t replicate that. Add recent statistics To stand out from other AI-generated content, consider adding statistics, quotes, and data that are recent. At the moment, chatGPT can’t access data after 2019. So you can set your content apart by adding in statistics from the past couple of years. And it’s good practice anyway to try and add statistics to back up your messages using data from the past 12 months anyway. And on that note, it might be worth you going through old blog posts and updating them with recent statistics, links and resources now. Did you really think you were going to read one of my blog posts without getting homework? As if! Create a tone of voice guide and use it One of the things about AI-generated writing is that it can often sound like a machine or robot. So one of the things that I’ve been doing with my content— and with my clients’ content— is deliberately making it sound more human-like so that it stands apart from the rest of the generic content that exists out there. And also ensuring that it talks more closely to their target audience. Before you start blogging or creating a website, I recommend creating a tone of voice document that you will always adhere to. If you’ve already started, it’s never too late to create this tone of voice document, or style guide, as it can be a really handy reference tool to go back to and pluck out words that you will use in your content. Plus, it really guides the language and style that you use time and time again. It takes some of the guesswork out of having to plan how to write something. Again, giving you a distinctive voice and sets you apart from the generic content that will soon hit many blogs. One of the easy ways I am able to be so prolific when it comes to my blogging and copywriting clients is that I use voice dictation to take down my key messages and write paragraphs for me. This gives the dual purpose of being able to produce content relatively quickly. Plus, it writes it in my unique voice because it’s so easy to talk in my natural sounding way, using everyday language. You might like to try this hack next time you write a blog post. And who knows, this actually might be a quicker way for you to write rather than getting generic content from AI and having to basically edit it from scratch. As a professional writer, I often find it takes just as long to edit a piece of work as to write it from scratch. And with voice recording, it’s done in literally a matter of seconds. Editing Always ALWAYS edit your content so that it sounds like you and it has personalised dialect and nuance in it. You would be crazy just to cut and paste any AI-generated content straight into your blog or website without editing it within an inch of its life. Rewrite it so that it sounds like you, your business or your brand because audiences are not dumb! They will know generic copy straight away and will zone out and won’t pay attention to the important stuff that you’re trying to tell them. Make sure that you check any AI-written stuff for plagiarism and spellcheck your work. Don’t forget that you need to add your SEO factors to the content as well to actually start ranking. It’s not enough just to have this content written for you. Want to learn to write better than software ever could? Join BLANK TO BRILLIANT now. This post contains affiliate links for software that I genuinely use and recommend.