SEO strategies - Express Writers

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Conduct an SEO Audit with Lexie Kimball of Netvantage Marketing

December 31, 2020September 29, 2017 by Rachel Moffett

Have you ever conducted an SEO audit for your website? If not, you should! However, if you’ve never done one before, you might be wondering how to get started… If you’re in that boat, there’s no need to worry! That’s exactly what we talked about in this week’s #ContentWritingChat. And as always, our participants had some amazing advice to share. If you’re ready to turn your website into one that Google loves, keep reading for the valuable tips! #ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Conduct an SEO Audit for Your Website with Lexie Kimball of Netvantage Marketing Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, September 26th to learn how to conduct an #SEO audit for your site with Lexie of @netvantage! ? pic.twitter.com/kPvQArxxwu — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) September 19, 2017 Our guest host this week was Lexie Kimball of Netvantage Marketing. Lexie is their account manager and she really knows her stuff when it comes to SEO! As a frequent #ContentWritingChat participant, it was great having her step into a guest hosting role. Q1: Share the basic process you go through for an on-site SEO audit. If you’ve never conducted an SEO audit before, you’ll need to know where to begin. To help you out, our chat participants shared some essential steps the process includes. Here’s what you need to know: A1: The first step of an audit is keyword research. We use that keyword research for page titles, metas & body copy. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 26, 2017 A1.2: We also do a technical audit of the website to check for potential red flags @Google won’t like. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 26, 2017 Lexie’s first step in conducting an SEO audit is keyword research. As she mentioned, the chosen keyword for a piece of content goes in page titles, meta descriptions, and body copy. The team at Netvantage also does a technical audit of the website to locate any red flags. A1: In a nutshell: Discussion with client, keyword research, on-site recommendations, implementation of changes. #contentwritingchat — Michael Hall (@allmikehall) September 26, 2017 Michael, also from the Netvantage team, knows that chatting with your client first is a must. It’s important to understand their business and needs. He then suggestions moving on to keyword research, on-site recommendations, and implementation of changes. A1: My basic SEO process- 1. Google the site 2. Use analytics to ID keywords 3. Start looking at specific pages#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/2ZAFZ5xB6r — Mallie Rust (@malliefe2o3) September 26, 2017 Mallie starts by Googling the site, using analytics to identify keywords, and then she looks at specific pages. A1: We start by running the site thru @screamingfrog, then perform our UX/design/technical/mobile-friendly/etc. audit.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/O4ysptZmpm — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) September 26, 2017 Sarah and the team at ThinkSEM start by running the site through Screaming Frog before moving forward with other key steps. A1: I use @semrush to check out where my website stands and take their suggestions into consideration. #ContentWritingChat — Sarah Nelson (@Blogging_Geek) September 26, 2017 SEMrush is a go-to tool for Sarah! She takes the tool’s suggestions into consideration. A1. Have a clear understanding of your goals and target audience. Start with a plan. #contentwritingchat — YourWebContentWriter (@WebContent4U) September 26, 2017 It’s also important to have an understanding of your goals/your client’s goals and who the target audience is. From there, you can create an effective plan. A1 FIRST step: Talk to your client and outline solid KPIs you’re judging content by when auditing. #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) September 26, 2017 A1 2: Use @screamingfrog to grab ALL site links. Do manual checks across all the content per KPIs. It’ll take a while. #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) September 26, 2017 For Julia, she feels talking to the client is the first step. This allows you to outline solid KPIs you’re judging content by when auditing. From there, she also likes to use Screaming Frog to grab all site links. Q2: Where do you start with keyword research? When it comes time to conduct keyword research, where do you begin? Check out this great advice from Tuesday’s chat: A2: We always ask clients first. They know their business the best & have the best suggestions for keywords. #ContentWritingChat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 26, 2017 A2.2: We also ask them for their competitors. Looking at competitor’s sites is another great way to look for keywords. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 26, 2017 To get started with keyword research, Lexie knows it’s important to talk to the client before beginning. Because the client has plenty of knowledge on their business, they’re able to provide some great suggestions for keywords. She also suggests looking at competitors to see which keywords they’re using and ranking for. A2: A consultation with the client. We question them on their ideal clients/products or services, etc. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/bsBm7zqaML — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) September 26, 2017 A consultation with the client is a must for Sarah! Sarah and her teammates use that opportunity to question the client on their ideal audience, products, and services. A2: Ask client to provide a list of what they consider high priority keywords. It helps our KW research stay relevant. #contentwritingchat — Michael Hall (@allmikehall) September 26, 2017 Michael knows it’s helpful to ask the client to provide a list of keywords that are high priority. After all, they likely have a good idea of which ones are best for their business. A2: We interview clients & their clients. G Trends is a place to start, and Keyword Planner (https://t.co/1hcNesBoNM) #contentwritingchat — Ray Sidney-Smith (@w3consulting) September 26, 2017 For Ray, it all starts with interviewing the client. Then, he moves onto tools like Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner. A2 Start by defining which keywords you want your site to rank for. Then, record your ranking for each one. #contentwritingchat — Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) September 26, 2017 Dennis knows it’s important to define which keywords you want your site to rank for. You can then record … Read more

20 SEO Experts & Resources You Should Be Following Today

June 19, 2024May 14, 2015 by Adam Oakley

If you want to learn to do something well, one of the best ways is to follow the leaders. This is as true in SEO as it is in any other industry. Luckily, the modern digital marketing world is filled with a huge assortment of SEO experts who are ripe with valuable information. Here’s a breakdown of the top influencers you should be following. 20 SEO Experts Every Content Marketer Should Follow Whether you’re a new marketer or an experienced professional just looking for some ways to improve your approach, these 20 SEO experts have lots to teach you: 1. Rand Fishkin: @randfish The self-proclaimed “Wizard of Moz,” Fishkin is the founder of Moz and one of the foremost SEO experts on the web. Fishkin and his team conduct regular “Whiteboard Friday” sessions about the ins and outs of SEO and content marketing, and are some of the web’s biggest leaders in quality content. 2. Neil Patel: @neilpatel Neil Patel is the founder of CrazyEgg, Hello Bar, Quick Sprout, and KISSmetrics. If you need advice on how to grow your online business, he’s the top person to follow. Considered one of the best analytics experts in the world of digital marketing, Neil Patel is also a columnist for Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and the Huffington Post. 3. Danny Sullivan: @dannysullivan The Founding Editor of Search Engine Land and Marketing Land, Danny Sullivan is the go-to expert when it comes to solving SEO problems. He is also the Chief Content Officer of Third Door Media and has been an active member of the search marketing and search engine world since 1996, way before SEO was a as big as it is today. For more Danny Sullivan, visit his personal blog, where he shares interesting information on a variety of topics related to Google and SEO. 4. Barry Schwartz: @rustybrick Barry Schwartz is a reputable SEO expert, editor of Search Engine Roundtable, and the President and CEO of New York-based web service firm RustyBrick, Inc. A self-defined “Search Geek,” Schwartz knows a thing or two about search engine marketing, and stands out as a leader in his field. 5. Joe Pulizzi: @JoePulizzi Joe Pulizzi is a Content Marketing Evangelist and the founder of Content Marketing Institute, which puts on the largest in-person content marketing event on the globe – Content Marketing World. He has written four books, including Epic Content Marketing. 6. Eric Enge: @stonetemple If you’re inspired by active people who are natural multitaskers, you will love Eric Enge, the “Digital Marketing Excellence Practitioner,” from Stone Temple Consulting. For more than three decades, he has reinvented himself as a passionate speaker, talk show host, author and entrepreneur. Declared the 24th most influential individual in the content marketing sector, Eric firmly believes that passion is the key factor in success. 7. Ann Handley: @MarketingProfs Ann Handley is the Head of Content at Marketing Profs. She’s also the author of the bestseller Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content. Known as a first-class speaker, author and content creator, she does a great job of “Waging a war on mediocrity” in online content. 8. Henneke Duistermaat: @HennekeD The UK-based business writing coach and “irreverent marketer” is a regular contributor at Copyblogger, and a trusted source for anyone who wants to learn to streamline and enhance their content marketing. 9. John Doherty: @dohertyjf A professional marketer, entrepreneur, and startup advisor, John Doherty is the Founder GetCredo, an organization that helps companies find the right agencies to work with. 10. Ann Smarty: @seosmarty Ann Smarty is the founder of MyBlogU and the Brand Manager at NinjasMarketing. She’s a fantastic source for all things modern SEO, and offers great, minute-to-minute insight into the industry. 10 Top Resources to Follow (Guest Blogs, Search Engine News, & More) Now that you’re familiar with the top ten SEO influencers, it’s time to consider the best SEO resources out there. These organizations, firms, and companies are sources of quality content and insider information: 1. Social Media Today: @socialmedia2day In case you are looking for a way to develop your own content strategy and explore social networks, look toward Social Media Today. Showcasing a cutting-edge mix of technology and data, and social business news, tips, and marketing advice, Social Media Today is one of the primary leaders in the world of social media marketing. 2. Marketing Land: @Marketingland If you want to become a part of dynamic search marketing landscape, you’ll want to check out the weekly recaps from Marketing Land. One of the most respectable sources of fresh information, stats, and how-to guides. Marketing Land offers information on everything from mobile marketing to retail marketing, and covers all the aspects an SEO-savvy marketer should consider when developing a first campaign. 3. Search Engine Journal: @sejournal If you’re interested in a trustworthy source focused on things like paid search, social media, content marketing, SEO, and search engines, then Search Engine Journal is a great pick for you. Featuring daily doses of well-written, informative, and engaging content, Search Engine Journal is your one-stop shop for search news. 4. Search Engine Land: @sengineland Still can’t tell the difference between Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM)? If that’s the case, Search Engine Land is your go-to source. Designed to share the most comprehensive reports, webcasts, and white papers, Search Engine Journal is your source for breaking news and PPC and SEO analysis. 5. SEMRush Blog For people who want to learn more about online marketing, keyword research, social media, SEO and PPC without having to read hundreds of pages, there’s the SEMRush Blog. SEMrush represents an amazingly complete source of inspiration. This blog delivers a full picture of modern SEO and marketing in a way even beginners can understand. 5. Hubspot Blog The Hubspot Blog focuses on delivering quality marketing, sales, and agency content in a convenient package. With more than 2 million monthly visitors, this source is widely regarded as one of the most trustworthy on the web, and consistently ranks … Read more

The 25th Anniversary of the Web: Key Highlights

January 1, 2021March 18, 2014 by Adam Oakley

It’s hard to imagine what a web-less world would look like. Just like most of us probably find it quite difficult to picture life without electricity, cars, and of course (smart) phones. Looking back, you could say that history has a way of allowing us to take a leap by coming up with something big every century. It’s the light bulb in the 19th, and everything else that we’ve accomplished through electricity. The automobile, and then air travel in the 20th. As for the 21st century- its first two decades , at least- it’s the web and the digital world it made possible. Yes, the web has come of age. On March 12th, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the web. Okay, we have this great and powerful tool. Do we make the most of it? Can more people benefit from it? How can the web become truly global? How can it be more useful and more secure? In this USNews.com piece, its inventor, Tim Berners-Lee talked about the significance of this anniversary. The 25th Anniversary of the Web: Looking Back No one can argue that the 25th anniversary of the web is a milestone. It’s a time when you look back to see what happened during this quarter of a century, and ahead, toward what might come next. Here are some key highlights. The Birth of the World Wide Web 1989 is not only the year when the Berlin wall fell, putting an end to the Cold War, and opening the gateway to democracy throughout Eastern Europe, but also the year when the idea that would make the democracy of information possible was born. That’s right, we’re speaking about the web. In the first spring month of that year, Tim Berners-Lee submitted his proposal with what was to become the blueprint of the web to his boss at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Although this physics lab in Geneva, Switzerland, could not support software projects, Tim Berners-Lee was allowed to work on his idea, which he did, creating what today we know as the world wide web. The Advent of Commercial Internet Web Landmarks in the 1990s. A Basic Timeline 1990: The Web Goes Public. 1991: WorldWideWeb After his proposal in 1989, Tim Berners-Lee got down to work and came up with the world’s first browser. Originally dubbed WorldWideWeb, it was later renamed Nexus. 1992: Internet Surfing The terms “surfing the Internet” and “net surfing” are first used. 1993: Mosaic This was the first cross platform browser, and the first browser with a graphic interface. Easy to install and use, it fueled the exponential development of the Internet in the early 1990s. 1994: Netscape Navigator Mosaic turned into Netscape Navigator which was the first commercial browser. It dominated the browser scene in the early 1990s, until it was displaced by Internet Explorer. 1995: E-Commerce The mid nineties witnessed beginnings of e-shopping which was to change the way we buy and sell things. From amazon.com selling its first book online in 1995 to sales totaling over 1 trillion dollars in 2012, e-commerce has become instrumental for business success. 1997: Google Google.com becomes a registered domain. From then on, search engines and browsing change for good. 1995-2000: The Dot-Com Boom and the Dot-Com Bubble. SEO According to Wikipedia, the term “search engine optimization” was first used in 1997. Search engine optimization, that aimed to increase website ranking in search engines, came a long way since its inception days. Along the way, in the battle for visibility, webmasters and website owners used black hat strategies, such as link farming and spammy content to increase ranking. Now, recent Google updates such as Penguin and Panda, made it clear that this is not the game to play if you want to thrive online. Instead, organic search engine optimization and white hat SEO practices are not only encouraged, but a must. According to moz.com, Google refreshes its search algorithm about five to six hundred times every year. In SEO terms, 2011- 2013 are perhaps the most important years in web history so far. Google released several updates that marked a radical shift in search engine optimization practices during the past two years. Penguin, Panda, Hummingbird and several other updates are reshaping the way we relate to the web and the meaning of online presence, for both businesses and users. To get a more accurate idea about the impact of Google updates, check the above mentioned article on moz.com where you’ll find a detailed timeline. It’s enough to mention here only three of the most relevant updates released by Google starting with 2011. Google Panda Fist released in February 2011, Panda targeted ‘low quality’ websites, penalizing counterfeit links and duplicate, spammy content. Google Penguin Released in April 2012, it declared a war against black hat SEO tactics, making it clear that link schemes were no longer tolerated to promote search engine ranking. Hummingbird Update For its 15th anniversary, in September 2013, Google launched a new algorithm update. It was called Hummingbird and it aimed to make search more conversational. What’s the effect of the updates released by Google in recent years? What’s their impact on SEO strategy? What does it mean for your web presence? Where is the web headed? Read on for some answers. Google’s Algorithm Changes and SEO Having a solid SEO strategy is no longer optional. It is mandatory for for business success. A well crafted SEO strategy makes the difference between being visible and being swamped in the online clutter. From No Man’s Land to Integrated Architecture Today, the cornerstones of an effective SEO strategy and successful web presence are original content, white hat link building and social media. What does this mean? Creating Value and Building Authority Through Organic SEO and Original Content Onsite content is paramount to build credibility online and ultimately convert. Content and SEO work in tandem because the role of good SEO is to structure, organize, and optimize the content on your pages. The … Read more