3 Steps to a Successful SEO Strategy (2024)

Step #1 - Keyword Research

In summary, the first step to creating a successful SEO strategy is to conduct extensive keyword research. When conducting keyword research, it is important to:

• Find low competition and high converting keywords.
• Do NOT create content and links around a keyword that no one is searching for.
• Do NOT create content and links around a keyword that is to competitive.
• Identify the opportunities and go after them.

How to Find Low Competition, High Converting Keywords?

The first thing you want to do is brainstorm and build a list of 50 to 70 keyword ideas for your specific product, service, or brand. After you have created a solid list of keywords, narrow the list by assessing keyword search volumes in the Google Keyword Planner Tool. Once you have assessed the search volumes, you should have a good idea as to what the competition is for the keywords you are interested in.

3 Free Tools for Keyword Brainstorming

1. Wikipedia - Think literally and find relevant keywords for a certain topic.
2. Reddit.com – Go Deep and find what people are talking about regarding the topic.
3. Ubersuggest.org – Go long tail which gives suggestions on more targeted keyword combinations.

Google Keyword Planner – How to use the tool for narrowing down the keyword list

1. Open the Keyword Planner tool in Google AdWords.
2. Get search volume data and trends and paste your keywords into search volume box.
3. Analyze the results provided by Keyword Planner.
4. Look for less competition for higher conversion.
5. Identify what keywords have a good monthly search volume.
6. Past your final list in to new tab in spreadsheet.

Finalize Your Keyword Selection – Assess the competition!

Enter each keyword one by one into google and use the MOZ bar chrome extension to view the data for your competition. Be sure to focus on PA (Page Authority) for all the top search results. Keep and eye open for pages that are under 30 PA for the keyword your are searching for. This will determine whether or not the competition is high or low. If the majority are 30 and below, you should be good to go with your selected keyword. If the average PA is 30-40, you will have to put a little more elbow grease into your SEO rank on page one. Don't forget to look at the number of links linking back to the page because this is an important factor in choosing your keywords. Assessing the competition is crucial if you want to rank on page one of Google.

Step #2 – On Page Optimization – How to Optimize your content around your keywords

URL Optimization

When planning your URL, be sure to use readable URL's only. Avoid using numbers and random letters. Search engines like Google like to see the keyword clearly inserted into your URL's. You also want to be sure to keep your URL's short and avoid long URL's if at all possible. Always use hyphens in your URL's and be sure to never use underscores.

Optimize Title Tag for SEO

It is essential that you always include your keyword in the title tag and keep the length to 55 characters or less. If it is longer than 55 characters, Google will cut it off and your entire message will not be displayed which looks unprofessional. Always include the keyword at the beginning of the title tag and make sure that the title tag is set for each page or post that is optimized for each keyword.

Side Note: If you are optimizing SEO for local business, you need to include location information in the title tag.

One way to increase conversion and click rates is to add a value proposition. What is a value proposition? It is an innovation, service, or feature intended to make a company or product attractive to customers. Let them know what they are getting to entice them to choose you above the competition.

When it comes to utilizing tools to optimize your on page SEO, Yoast SEO for WordPress is going to be your best bet.

Optimizing Meta Description to increase click throughs

Always remember to include the keyword in the meta description and start the phrase with a verb to have an action-based start to the description. It is also important to make sure that the description is less than 156 characters so that it will not be cut off on Google search results. Although ultimately does not have a huge SEO impact, it does help with click through rates.

Heading Tag and Copy Optimization – Using SEO friendly formatting

Use the following steps for optimization:

1. Place keywords in the H1, H2, H3 tags.
2. Try to have at least 2000 plus words on the page.
3. Use exact keyword in the copy 2-3 times.
4. Drop the keyword in the first 100 words.
5. Bold, italicize, or underline the exact keyword.

Image Optimization – How to appear in the google image search results

1. Make sure the keyword is in the alt text of each image.
2. Make sure the image file name has the keyword in it.

Finishing Touches - Interlinking between your pages

Interlinking is an important step when putting the finishing touches on your page. It helps people navigate between your content easily and ultimately helps with search engine rankings. If you do this correctly, it will increase your page authority by passing authority onto other pages using the links. Don't forget to make sure that the links open in a new window so people are not taken away from the original content.

Add outgoing links to your pages

Adding outgoing links to your page is an important piece in the SEO puzzle. By including links in your content to other authority sites within your niche, you show Google that you are in good company and a potential hub for quality information. DO NOT link to competitor sites that are trying to rank for the same keywords otherwise you are giving them a free backlink. Finally, in order to utilize this strategy you will need to add at least 2 to 4 outgoing links per 1000 words to related sites.

Step #3 Link Building Introduction – The types of links that really matter & how to get them

Below is are the types of links that really matter:

• Links from webpages relevant to your niche.
• Links from a ranking webpage.
• Links with effective anchor text. Don’t use “Click Here” but use anchor text with combinations of the keyword.
• Consistent backlinks.
• FOCUS ON THE QUALITY OF THE LINKS NOT THE QUANTITY OF THE LINKS.

How to get links? Earn Naturally!

Link building is a byproduct of building something genuinely worth linking to, whether it’s your products, services, the content you produce or the opinions you share with your industry and peers. Using editorial links which are one-way links placed within the body of your content are given naturally by other websites to specify a resource. Basically, it’s a form of citation on the web, which generally indicates that the destination of the link is the original source of the of the procured data, idea, concept, or statement.

How to get links? Manual Outreach!

There are multiple ways to conduct manual outreach. One way to do this is by emailing bloggers/webmasters for links. Another options is to create a value proposition by explaining to the link target why creating the link is in their best interest. At this stage of the game, you need to be a link sales person.

Follow Links vs. No Follow Links

Search engines see a link as a “vote” of confidence. i.e. that you are an authority for that topic. All links by default are “do follow”. This means a “vote” is passed through the link.

The “no follow” link attribute was developed by Google to tackle spam. No follow links do not pass a “vote” through the link e.g. <a href=www.yourlink.com rel=”nofollow”>Your Website<a>

Wikipedia, many blog comment boxes & social networks all have “no follow” links by default to prevent spamming.

If you have an extension installed such as Firebug, you can check the source code on other blogs to see examples of where to place follow and no follow links within your page. You can also add the No-Follow chrome extension to view easily what is follow and what is no follow.

Black Hat SEO – Are paid links worth the risk?

This is a little risky in my opinion. With paid links, you can create links through blog comments, forum signatures, PR directories or user profiles, directories, etc. These links offer the lowest value and are unlikely to be from authority sites in your niche.

Another thing to keep in mind is that recent updates to Google’s algorithm means a site can be penalized or suspended if they have engaged in manipulative link building.

Ahrefs Site Explorer backlinks checker tool is a great resource for link building www.ahrefs.com. Another great tool is Google Webmaster Tool - Disavow Backlinks

Social Signals – Social signals impact SEO indirectly

• Links posted directly on social media are typically no follow (as mentioned above).
• Social shares are not counted as backlinks.
• Social signals for the most part are not important for SEO.

3 Reason Why Social is still important?

1. Links build awareness of what you are offering (they don’t even need to be clicked, just seen).
2. Links can lead to profit (awareness, engagement, purchase).
3. Links can create more links (no follow can create follow).

Backlink Analysis: How to analyze your backlinks?

1. Type your keyword into Google.
2. Use the MOZ bar chrome extension tool.
3. Open up site explorer on MOZ.
4. Change filter to show only external sources.
5. Only look at follow links which have the SEO power.
6. Inspect the links.
7. Look at all of the search results to see how the top results are earning their links so you can replicate what they are doing.

Create Ego Bait – Get the attention of key influencers in your niche!

• Natural link attraction: building something genuinely worth linking to, whether it’s your products, service, the content you produce or the opinions you share with your industry peers.
• Creating awareness can be difficult: It’s not enough to push out on social channels.
• Need to be strategic: Get key influencers in your niche to put your content in front of their users.
• How to achieve this? Launching ego bait which is content made to flatter, include or get the attention of specific users while also providing utility to your audience.
• Best of Lists – Curate a list of the greatest content, writers, things in your space and give props to your target influencers.
• Interviews – Have a Q&A session with a popular thought leader(s) over the phone using Google voice.
• Crowd Sourced Posts – Reach out to influencers and ask them what they think about current events. This makes them feel important and allows them to voice their opinion on topics without having to write a full post themselves.
• Awards/Badges – Launch your own awards in your space and send the people you want to link to you badges that they can use to link back to you.

Modeling Success – A Content strategy that will guarantee links

1. Use the BuzzSumo tool.
2. Identify influencers for a specific keyword.
3. Identify the content that has been successful for the influencers.

Infographics – Create a visual resource to attract links

• Embed infographic on your website
• Link back to a page that an infographic is on.
• How do you make infographics? Use resources such as: Piktochart.com, Visual.ly, Infogr.am

Slideshare.com – Build links with a compelling presentation

Create smart presentations that ego bait influencers to want to share the slideshow with their network.

Guest Posting – Solidify your position as a thought leader

Publish a guest post on a key influencers blog and get your brand in front of their audience

Get More Links – 6 Ways to Maximize Links from your SEO campaigns

1. Contact those already linked to you.
2. Contact your influencers.
3. Reach out to your targets.
4. Leverage your mailing list.
5. Add to the conversation (blogs forums, etc.).
6. Find unlinked mentions.

SEO for local businesses

It is important for local business to be location oriented when setting up their SEO. Some good things to keep front of mind are whether or not the information for your business is mobile friendly, are you ranking high in the Google local pack, have you built up reviews to rank higher, and are your ranking for your brand name on page one of Google.

These are all very important for any local business looking to improve their SEO strategy.

Final steps to secure your superstar SEO status:

1. Is your website mobile friendly? Google Developers mobile friendly test can be found it in Webmaster Tools.
2. Do you need to increase a pages load speed? Faster pages increase conversions. You can use Google Page Speed Insights to test and analyze your page speed.

CHEERS TO BEING AN SEO SUPERSTAR!