Are you wondering how to incorporate SEO into your content marketing strategy? Check out this Facebook Live interview I did with Melanie Rembrandt, CEO of Rembrandt Communications for the inside scoop on what you really need with search engine optimization to help your business succeed.
I had the pleasure of working closely with Melanie the last two years with the writing and editing of my book, #GetSocialSmart – and I’m so excited to be able to bring her insight to you! For additional information on the services Melanie provides to help business owner’s succeed with SEO and content marketing, please go to: http://bit.ly/KLSEO.
Why do business owners need to use search engine optimization (SEO) as part of their content marketing strategy?
It’s a competitive advantage.
If your competitor has optimized their site for the search engines, their site is going to show up at the top of the rankings when potential customers look for a particular product or service. Then, customers will easily click on that link, and you’ve just lost sales to the competition.
The same goes for media members. If they are doing research on a story, they will be more likely to call the companies who appear at the top of the search rankings for particular keywords.
And guess who gets the media interview and free publicity?
It’s a huge opportunity for free advertising that provides third-party credibility you just can’t buy.
What are some myths about SEO?
It’s about the content… not just the technology.
The search engines basically look at a site and decide what it’s about overall. If you focus on a particular topic in your content, the search engines will rank you for that particular topic.
However, this does not mean that you “stuff” your content with a lot of keywords.
Instead, think about providing value to your target market. Use your keywords wisely in titles and sub-titles, and create user-friendly content that provides value.
Also, many people use big, high-tech services to do their SEO. And that’s fine for some of the back-end technology that is necessary. But, SEO is really about content, and most tech people are not professional, skilled copywriters.
Another myth is that you can optimize your pages once and leave it alone. However, this isn’t true.
You want to monitor your content regularly to see what’s working and what’s not. Then, you can make changes for better results in real-time.
What do people need to avoid when doing SEO?
As we mentioned, don’t use too many keywords in your content. You want to provide valuable information that is reader-friendly.
Another suggestion is to avoid having a technology company write your content. While they can handle many of the technology aspects of SEO, they aren’t necessarily trained and experienced SEO copywriters. ??Bad content can have a negative effect on your rankings and final results.
Also, be sure to check your SEO results on a regular basis. Set an initial baseline and then see what content is most popular. What keywords do you need to focus on each month?
How can people start with SEO and save money?
Start by researching keywords. ??Write down common-sense terms you would use to find your products and services online.
What would members of your target market enter into the search engines when looking for what you have to offer?
Also, look at your competitors. What words are they using on their sites?
Look at their source code to see which keywords they are using. To do this:
1. Search for “how to view the source code of a web page” on Google.
2. Then, use this information to look at the code of your competitors’ websites.
3. Search for the term “keyword” while looking at their site code, and see what shows up.
Add the words that you find to your overall, keyword list.
You can also add local terms, additional words that come up on Google when you search for keywords, and more.
Once you have your keyword list, add them to your overall editorial calendar. ??
Which words are you going to use in your blogs, eArticles, white papers, and more and when?
This way, you have an organized process to start using keywords in your content.
And when you start out with SEO, set a baseline. See where you rank for various keywords online now, and make a note of it. Then, later on, check your results again and see if you’ve move up.
Moving Forward with Your SEO Efforts
These are just a few tips to get started. You can do your own SEO. But, it takes a lot of time and effort, especially if you’re not a writer.
That’s why it’s a good idea to hire a professional and experienced SEO copywriter to help you. They can audit your site for errors, set a baseline, conduct regular keyword research, write great content pertinent to your marketing goals, and report results on a monthly basis. Plus, many of them can handle your SEO tech aspects too.
This means you can focus on your core, business responsibilities while your site rankings go up.
SEO is essential today if you want a competitive edge. Are you missing out?
If you’d like help getting started, check out our cost-effective packages at http://bit.ly/KLSEO. You can also contact us directly with questions at info(at)rembrandtwrites.com.
