SEO Tips and Tricks for 2017 | #023

With more than 97% of people beginning their search for a local business online, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) continues to be one of the most effective forms of marketing available today for local businesses. Because it registers as one of the more complex and technical marketing tactics, it often leads to the confusion and dismissal of the opportunity entirely. Don't let your eyes glaze over just yet. This episode breaks down valuable and easy-to-implement SEO tactics so you can start benefiting from a business boost that only high search engine rankings can deliver.  Episode Discussions: How to optimize for the user experience Keyword placement Latent Symantec Indexing Importance of making shareable content How to build links    01:52  Adam's experience with SEO -Over the last 5 years, SEO has been the primary driver of traffic and business for Adam's digital marketing agency, Siren Consulting Firm -Roughly 60% of all revenue and business gained was from an online search -Adam's marketing consulting business, AdamErhart.com, uses referrals, content marketing, and paid traffic.  -They're different business models which mean different traffic sources.   02:54  Insight into search engines - Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo -All have algorhythms: the math behind how they calculate the rankings "Search engines tell no lies. The evidence for who's ranking well is clearly put there right on the 1st page". -Through studies and case studies, we're able to deduce what type of strategies and tactics we need to apply   3:49  Start applying these tactics today to immediately get an SEO boost in your business. +Optimize for the user experience: no keyword stuffing, no unnatural looking linking. - Ensure there's sufficient content on your website -Make sure it's clean, organized, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly! -over half of all web browsing is done from something other than a desktop computer   5:00  Using Keywords One way search engines decide what websites are going to appear for certain search terms -Type, number, and placement on your website -Ensure adequate coverage of terms (proper keyword density) -Don't overdo it (keyword stuffing)   Key places for keywords:  The URL  The titles (H1's need the primary keyword) Body copy (rich and helpful content) Page descriptions  Images   8:13  The balance: using the right keywords for your business and respecting the user experience by not keyword stuffing.  +Latent Symantec Indexing (LSI)  LSI is a mathematical method used to determine the relationship between terms and concepts in content.- Search Engine Journal "Basically, LSI is fancy talk for synonyms or similar words". -Adam +Use similar terms that are relevant. -Example: Ranking for a keyword like "car" - use "auto, vehicle, truck,    transportation, driver" +Keep it natural and conversational -Adds to search engine crawl and user experience.    9:14  Make it shareable. +Step outside of your website.  -Search engines get proof through quality and number of links that point back to your website.  -Long-term strategy to acquire high-quality links is through an SEO-focused content marketing strategy   9:46  Basics of an SEO Content Marketing Strategy -Create good content -Put it on your website -Build links to it   Methods and suggestions to ensure you're creating shareable or linkable content:  +Create different types of content on your website -video: future of internet content -infographics: visual and fun-to-share format  -images: have at least 1 high-quality image every page   Cliché yet totally appropriate takeaway: Quality is far more important than quantity.    11:37  How to start getting links +Manual outreach: Link to someone else and let them know you did it +Paid traffic: advertising using paid traffic -Facebook ads-- cost-effective, allow detailed targeting, and use retargeting pixel. (Listen to episode #7 on retargeting and remarketing!) +Social media: videos and infographics work well. "If you're going to be spending any considerable amount of time on social media, make sure you're using a platform that your customers actually use."  +SEO: Consistently creating high-quality and shareable content -use the right keywords in the right places -keep end user in mind +Go for more specific topics  -Less competitive -Use long-tail keywords Example: Rather than ranking for "SEO", try "SEO tips and tricks".    Mentioned in this episode: Modern Marketing Podcast episode #7- "The Power of Retargeting and Remarketing"   Contact Adam: [email protected]   Click here to subscribe via iTunes Modern Marketing on Stitcher Modern Marketing on Pocket Casts