Tag Archive for: search marketing
8 Easy SEO Tips to Boost Your Ranking
Use 8 Easy SEO Tips to Boost Your Rank
If you are like the many people who try to rank their content on the first page of Google and the other top search engines, you could be wondering what steps will improve your odds of success. Trying to do search engine optimization without putting in the effort to follow the correct path will cause you to waste time and energy on an approach that won’t work. If you learn effective tips and follow each step, you will be pleased with the outcome.
Discover Winning Keywords
Some people make a list of random keywords related to their business without doing keyword research, and you don’t want to make that mistake. You must target keywords that indicate buyer intent if you don’t want to waste your time. People looking for reviews or price comparisons are in the late stage of the buying process, and going after the right keywords will let you get their attention.
Keyword competition is another factor you need to consider when you use SEO. If you enter your desired keyword into Google and find several news sites or other authority domains, ranking for that term will not be easy. Keywords that produce random blogs and websites won’t be too hard to rank, and you can enjoy some success within the first few weeks.
Focus on Engagement
Focusing on engagement is a smart move when your mission is to improve SEO as soon as you can. Too many marketers and business owners only pay attention to their keywords, but that oversight will harm their bottom line.
Inability to produce engaging content will reduce your odds of getting your message to appear on Google, but it will also make your content boring. Writing with an active voice and using terms and phrases to which your prospects can relate will improve your engagement and help you rank. Use short paragraphs and subheadings to make each article easy and fun to read, and you will notice the difference. No matter what you would like to achieve, keeping your prospects’ needs near the front of your mind will take you far.
Increase Article Length
You likely create blog posts and articles containing between 300 and 600 words, which is a good place from which to start. But if you want to improve SEO, you need to make your articles a little longer. Content with 1,000 to 2,500 words will outrank short articles and send plenty of people to your website before you know it. Writing long articles will take some time, but the rewards are worth the dedication.
Enhance Your Website’s Speed
Some people only work on their articles and off-site factors when they want to rank on the No. 1 page of Google, but they are making a mistake. The loading speed of your website plays a role in the rank you can expect, so you can’t afford to overlook that fact if you would like to get long-term results. You can take your loading speed to the next level by optimizing your code, removing unnecessary pictures and upgrading your hosting package.
Target Topics
Using keywords as the main focus of your content won’t get your website or blog to the first page of Google. You can combat that problem by targeting topics related to your desired keywords, and you will get much better results. Use the main keyword to generate topic ideas for your next article, and you can then include other keywords related to your topic.
Focus on Quality Backlinks
Quality backlinks from authority domains are vital for anyone who wants to use search engine optimization to grow and expand a business. Writing guest posts for popular bloggers in your industry is a powerful way to get a few backlinks that will boost your rank. If you want to take this tip to the next level, look for press release companies that have high standards.
Use Local SEO
Local search terms have a lot less competition than broad keywords that appeal to people from all locations. While local businesses commonly take advantage of this method, large chains and corporations can also benefit. Write keywords that target major cities around the nation, and you won’t be disappointed.
Final Thoughts
Even though search engine optimization comes with a range of challenges and setbacks, you can simplify the process by using the right tips. You can use a winning blueprint to rank your content in no time, and you will smile when you see what it can do for your profit. The best keywords will get you moving on the right path, but building quality backlinks and improving your website’s speed will enhance your results. The rank of which you have been dreaming is not as far as you might think, and you can take the critical first steps right away.
10 Great Resources to be Reading Over the Holidays
If you have some down time, have a look at these ten excellent resources that every digital marketer should be reading over the holidays.
1. Mashable
It’s no secret that we love Mashable. There is a ton of great content constantly being uploaded to inform marketers about updates to networks, as well as how-to guides and industry news. It is definitely a resource to check out periodically over the holiday season. We have even included it in a list of great resources for sourcing blog content.
2. Hubspot
Another blog that every marketer should be reading over the holidays (and during business-as-usual) is the Hubspot blog. The largest inbound services provider is always sharing great information that can be used by a marketer in any field.
3. Social Media Today
If your looking for a great set of content being shared by social media industry experts, then Social Media Today has you covered. With articles being published regularly, you can expect to find some brand new content over the holiday season.
4. Search Engine Journal
If you want to know about search, then Search Engine Journal should be one of your top stops. There is always a selection of great content to choose from covering everything from organic SEO to paid search tactics.
5. Alltop
Guy Kawasaki’s content curation site is always pulling in some of the best content from around the web. While it is not limited to industry content, you can easily filter your searches to include only results in search or social.
6. Moz
The Moz blog is a little more technical, but highly informative. Though the core discussions of the blog are primarily search-based, you can expect to find a lot of information about social as well.
7. Social Media Examiner
At this point, most social marketers know about Social Media Examiner. The website won’t miss a beat over the holiday season, continuing to share great content every day that marketers can really use.
8. Occam’s Razor
Although Avinash Kaushik’s blog is not updated on a daily basis, there is plenty of content (relaying information at a very high level) that marketers can use. Why is this a good resource for reading over the holidays? Well, simply put, articles are not easy reads. There is a ton of information here, but with this down time it is a perfect opportunity to absorb what he has to say.
9. Jeff Bullas
Again, Jeff Bullas is not publishing new content every day, but what is available is years of published content with a ton of great information. Jeff Bullas focuses primarily on lists and statistics, and what you can find on his blog can lead you to more great content all over the web.
10. Top Rank Blog
Lee Odden’s blog is another great resource being updated regularly over the course of the holidays. Be sure to stop by to see what great new information he has to share.
And there you have it. Ten great resources that you should be reading over the holidays. We hope you are relaxing and getting some much deserved R&R. Enjoy!
Changes to Google in 2014
Google updates its algorithm roughly 500 times per year, so we can expect some significant changes to Google in 2014.
Changes to Google are not uncommon. Very recently, Google completely overhauled their primary algorithm and introduced the world to Hummingbird. In 2014, we won’t necessarily see a move quite as significant (the last time Google implemented such an update was over a decade ago) but we can surely expect to see some changes to Google and the way we, as marketers, should adapt for it.
Focus on Conversation
If we know one thing for certain about Hummingbird, it is that it focuses on the conversational aspect of search. The assumption should no longer be that people are looking for, “Buy black winter hat cheap,” but rather, “Where can I buy a cheap black winter hat?”
The latter is referred to as a ‘soft search’ and this is the direction in which we need to focus our efforts as search and social marketers. Google made it clear when they introduced Hummingbird that it will integrate very heavily with Google’s social layer, which focuses on conversation in Google+ and other social networks.
In 2014, we should expect this focus to increase and optimize our content for these kinds of soft searches as opposed to focusing on keyword density (but that’s nothing new).
Focus on Social (Even More)
Expanding on that point about the social layer, changes to Google in 2014 will surely include an even greater focus on social activity. The reason why Google has transitioned to a soft search approach is because of how many people turn to social media in order to conduct their searches now.
When over 95% of people trust the recommendations made by friends and family, you know they are more likely to quickly post a question (like the winter hat example above) to Facebook while conducting their own research on Google. Considering links on social networks contribute (quite significantly) to improved search rankings – and we can expect that contribution to rise in the coming year – this should continue to be a focus for your brand in 2014.
Focus on Mobile
The world is going mobile. In fact, estimates suggest that by the end of 2013 (so, in other words, now) there will be more mobile devices than there are people on Earth. And by 2017, there will be an estimated 1.4 mobile devices on Earth per person. Suffice it to say that mobile is important.
As mobile devices become smarter and more user-friendly, people will increase their use of their mobile devices and slowly move away from their desktop. Not to mention the fact that in the developing world, mobile devices are much more readily accessible than desktops. One of the major changes to Google in the coming year is going to be an increased focus on mobile.
Ensure that your website, app and all of your content are optimized for mobile in order to ensure that it is easily shareable and discoverable. Over the course of the year, Google will be sure to incorporate mobile readiness into search rankings in a much bigger way.
Focus on Google+
The fact that there are still detractors from the platform is mind-blowing. This is a social network owned an operated by a search giant that openly tells people to focus on social media. What better place to share your content than on that platform’s social network?
Every year, Google+ becomes more important to search. Bit by bit, Google is transforming their business structure to become a more social company. Doesn’t it behoove your brand to be active on the networks they own?
These are just a few of the changes we can expect to come from Google in 2014. What will you do differently? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!
