-Wow, how did you do that?

Ready? Continue reading on…

Despite many SEO tips found in the web, our approach is to focus on obtaining backlinks from authoritative websites within our portfolio of websites. That is where the real power of SEO lies. 

When selecting websites for our clients, we choose relevant websites from our portfolio, create tailored content, and integrate contextual links with carefully chosen anchor text; as a result, this comprehensive strategy exemplifies the essence of authentic SEO practices.

I really want to emphasize that if your website is not ranking well, it may be due to lack of authority. 

Ever wondered how to establish authority? It’s simple – get high-authority websites to link to you, they pass on their authority to you, which will then boost your credibility!

Here’s the way we do it: We use authoritative websites from within our blog portfolio to link to our clients. We do this by creating content that is relevant to our client’s niche and adding contextual links back to our client. Other than the links that we make appear naturally, the sites cannot be connected in any way. The goal here is to avoiding leaving a footprint that a search engine might flag as manipulation. But here’s the secret, SEO is manipulation – If you are attempting to subvert a search engine’s algorithm to rank your website on top of the Search Engine Results Page, which we are all trying to do, you are manipulating the algorithm. As I mentioned earlier, the key here is to make everything appear organic to avoid leaving a footprint. This is the correct way ONLY WAY to do SEO. Any other strategy is a waste of valuable marketing resources. You as a business owner, can better spend elsewhere.

In a future post, we’ll explain how to set up your own portfolio of authoritative blogs without leaving a footprint, but for now – This is what you need to know.

While I’d argue that 95% of actual SEO is link building and this is where your resources should go, we shouldn’t overlook other areas.

Fundamentals You Can’t Neglect

Keywords Are the Foundation

Keyword research is elemental to any effective SEO strategy. Identifying the right keywords—those frequently searched by your target audience and relevant to your content—is your initial step towards gaining visibility. Here is an image from our client’s Google Search Console Report:

As you may have noticed, this client specializes in fence installation. It is evident that the top-ranking keywords are related to fencing.

Authority and Quality Trump All

Search engines favor websites that are authoritative and exhibit high-quality content. Authority is often assessed by the number and quality of inbound links from other websites to yours. Quality, on the other hand, is multifaceted, involving relevance, uniqueness, and user engagement metrics.

Consider these questions: How do search engine crawlers know if content is helpful? THEY DON’T. How would a robot decide if content is helpful to a human? IT CAN’T. What exactly is their role? Essentially, they depend on backlinks originating from authoritative websites in your niche to boost your website’s credibility.

Its all starting to make sense.

Crawlability and Indexing

Search engine bots “crawl” the web, collecting information to add to the search engine’s index. Ensuring your site is crawlable, with clear paths for these bots to discover your content, is integral to being indexed and ranked.

If your website isn’t crawlable, Google will give you this message:

Uh-oh! If your site isn’t indexed, it’s like shouting into a void – no one will find you in Search!

Quick Tip – If you are having a no-index issue you’ll want to pop open WordPress and make sure this box is not checked the way it is here:

If you’re still with me, congratulations! You now know more about SEO than 99% percent of the people on this planet.

Now, lets work on perfecting your strategy.

Crafting an SEO Strategy

Developing an SEO strategy is crafting a blueprint for success, linking your goals to the many tools and techniques at your disposal. The following sections outline a comprehensive approach to engineering an organic search dominance plan.

On-Page Optimization

On-page SEO involves optimizing individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines. Tactics include incorporating keywords in strategic elements such as the page title, meta description, headings, and the page’s content itself. Here is a Basic SEO checklist every site should pass:

Note: The metrics will be different based on your targeted keyword.

Content Reigns Supreme

High-quality, relevant, and engaging content is the anchor of on-page SEO. It must align with user intent, answer questions, and provide value. This content should be guided by extensive keyword research and intelligently tempered with SEO best practices. Make sure your content is relevant to your niche.

Technical Optimization is the Base

The technical side of SEO, often overlooked, is fundamental. This encompasses optimizing website speed, enhancing user experience (UX), and ensuring mobile-friendliness—all factors search engines consider when ranking pages. Below is a client’s Google Page Speed Insights score.

STATUS REPORT? All Systems Go!

User Experience is Inseparable

A seamless user experience is intricately tied to on-page optimization. A well-structured site that makes navigation intuitive and content easily accessible ensures that visitors have a positive user experience and are more likely to stay on your site longer, engaging with your content.

Off-Page Optimization

Off-page SEO centers around activities undertaken outside the website. The primary objective is to build a positive reputation through the acquisition of backlinks from other reputable websites. This is where we separate ourselves from the pack.

How do these signals factor into ranking?

Link Building is Key

Link building is the process of acquiring backlinks from other websites to your own. This strategy’s ultimate goal is to increase your site’s authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines. Quality over quantity applies here, with a few high-quality links carrying more weight than numerous low-quality ones.

Content Marketing for Links

Content marketing can be a powerful ally in your link-building efforts. Creating content that is valuable, shareable, and link-worthy naturally attracts backlinks from relevant and authoritative sources.

Steering Clear of Common SEO Pitfalls

The path to SEO triumph is laced with pitfalls that can derail even the most well-conceived strategies. Understanding and avoiding these traps is essential to your campaign’s success.

Spammy Link Building

Acquiring backlinks through manipulative or low-quality means (e.g., buying links, link farms, or excessive guest-posting on irrelevant sites) not only is ineffective but can also lead to penalties from search engines.

Ever heard of Fiverr? Below is a link package you can purchase:

When you see this image, consider: Would this occur naturally?

The answer? No, a website would not receive 50 backlinks in one day. Why? Because that would send signals to Google that manipulation is happening! We want the links to appear as if they were acquired naturally over time.

Another note worth highlighting: They want $40 for 50 High Quality Backlinks?

Buddy… I was born at night, but not last night.

Neglecting Technical SEO

Neglecting the technical aspects of your website can sabotage all other SEO efforts. Errors in site structure, indexing problems, or poor mobile optimization all impact user experience and thus your rankings.

If your Page Speed Insights report looks like this, you’ve got work to do.

Focusing Solely on Keywords

Overemphasis on keywords can lead to unnatural content that is written for search engines rather than humans. Quality should always be the primary focus, with keywords naturally integrated.

Ignoring Analytics

Analytics provide vital insight into the efficacy of your SEO campaign. They offer a window into user behavior, which can inform future content strategies and highlight areas for optimization.

Failing to Adapt

Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving. Failing to adapt your SEO strategy to these changes can render your tactics obsolete.

Woah! Take a look at that drop!

You need to proactively gear up for Google’s inevitable algorithm updates. Notice how quickly we recover from the decline in rankings triggered by an algorithm update.

Advanced SEO Techniques

These advanced strategies can provide the edge needed to surpass competitors and claim a dominant position in search engine results pages.

Schema Markup

Schema markup can enhance the appearance of your website’s search results by providing search engines with additional context about your content. Rich snippets resulting from schema markup can lead to increased click-through rates.

Local SEO

For businesses that rely on local clientele, local SEO optimizations such as Google My Business listings, location-specific content, and consistent NAP (name, address, phone number) information across the web are critical. With these optimizations, our client now holds the top position in the Google Local Pack for the search term “fence company near me.”

SEO Penalties: What You Need to Know

Search engines like Google have guidelines that, when violated, can result in punitive actions that negatively impact a website’s rankings. Understanding these penalties is crucial for preserving and enhancing your SEO standing.

Common Causes of Penalties

Thin Content

Content that adds little to no value or fails to adequately address a topic is considered thin and can lead to ranking demotion.

Keyword Stuffing

Overusing keywords in a manner that detracts from the readability and value of the content can lead to keyword stuffing penalties.

Recovering from Penalties

Recovering from SEO penalties often involves meticulous review and repair of the aspects that led to the penalty. This may include disavowing harmful backlinks, improving content quality, and adhering more closely to search engine guidelines.

Staying Ahead of SEO Trends

Keeping tabs on the latest SEO trends and advancements is integral to maintaining a cutting-edge strategy. Continuous learning and adaptation will ensure you remain competitive in the dynamic field of SEO.

Industry News and Updates

Regularly reading SEO blogs, following industry experts on social media, and subscribing to search engine newsletters can keep you informed about algorithm updates and best practices.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

Being proactive rather than reactive is key. By anticipating trends and changes, you can update your SEO strategy before your competitors, maintaining a strong position in search results.

Conclusion

Elevating your website to the first page of Google search results is a multifaceted challenge, but with a thoughtful and comprehensive approach, it’s within reach. By grounding your strategy in SEO fundamentals, navigating past common mistakes, and constantly innovating, you can lay a solid foundation for sustainable online success.

Keep your finger on the pulse of the industry, learn from the latest trends, and always be ready to adapt. SEO is a marathon, not a sprint, and the race is on.

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