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SEO Tips for 2013

We've all been saying it: Content is King. Not just for the user experience, but to satisfy those picky search engines as well. And, this is a good thing. As users, we are able to find the information we seek more easily, and as optimizers working with talented content creators, we can put down our swords and shields and work together.

So, without further ado, here are some tips to help you move forward with your SEO strategy in 2013:

 

1. Focus on the Long-Tail

With over 70% of online searches containing three or more words, users are getting smarter in finding the information they need and search engines are adapting to meet those needs. Focus your SEO efforts on developing those long-tail, cumulative keyword phrases that really encompass what your brand/website is about and optimize around those phrases. This way your content will be discovered by those who truly want it.

 

2. Provide Content That Solves Problems

Users are usually conducting searches because they have a problem to solve. Don't shy away from offering up eBooks and whitepapers. And, here I'd like to remind you all to take full advantage of Google Trends. Do a search on the key terms related to your industry and create a piece of content around the ones that are trending. Not only will you be playing to the whims of searchers, you'll be solving someone's problem too.

 

3. Share Content Via Social Media

Social likes and shares are quickly becoming important indicators to search engines when designating relevant and high SERP-worthy content. Sharing content not only promotes your brand, it provides links, and establishes you as a thought leader. So, start tweeting!

 

4. Pictures, More Pictures!

With websites and social media becoming more visual - Instagram, Pinterest, infographics mania - it is becoming more and more important to make your brand more visual. Post infographics, get an Instagram account, don't fire that graphic designer, and always use alt tags to ensure the search engines can "see" your images.

 

5. Become a Thought Leader

Establishing a presence on social media, tailoring content to solve your audience's problems, and utilizing techniques such as setting up rel=author tagging to stand out in search results will put you on the path to becoming an expert in your industry. And, experts stand out, they get noticed, they perform well in search.

 

6. Track Your Efforts

Don't be afraid to measure your results. While the "important" metrics are constantly changing, keeping an eye on key stats can help you understand what is or isn't working for your website. And, always keep in mind what your ultimate goal is - it's the only to way to really know which metrics are worth looking at. Numbers can often blind and numb us, scaring us from moving forward with more innovative and risky ideas. If you always keep your main goal in mind, you can sort through all the nose to focus on the one or two numbers that really matter.

What's Happening?

Hello and welcome to Media Minded!

As an SEO and social media specialist touting the benefits of this ever-evolving field, I feel it's important to stay up to date on what's happening online. I also hope to share with others on how and why they need to be taking advantage of all that social media has to offer - and this blog will help me do just that.

Social media and SEO are now tied together like never before, and should go hand-in-hand when developing an online marketing strategy for yourself or your company.  Through this blog I hope to write and comment on the latest happenings in the SEO and social media world, as well as, provide tips and tricks for strategies that work. But first, some definitions, please?

Social Media
Social media comprises various communication tools online that connect us to people with similar interests. The goal of social media is to discover and share content. And, for branding purposes, you want that content to be relevant to your target audience.

Content is king and good content is SHAREABLE.

SEO
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, can refer to paid or organic strategies to build traffic to your site. Ideally, you'd like to focus your efforts on organic traffic like keywords and inbound links to help your SEO, and therefore, decrease any spending you may have to do to increase page views.

I'll address SEO techniques like site structure and writing for the web best practices in this blog. 

Social Media & SEO
From Twitter to Pinterest, the effects social has on SEO cannot be ignored. Google has recently announced they will be giving more weight to social links in search, so if your company isn't currently employing a social strategy, you better start now. As it turns out, what your friends like is now considered relevant content.

However, this blog isn't call social media minded...it's called Media Minded, because like most everyone I have many interests and they aren't just limited to social and SEO. I also love new media design, videos, blog memes (who doesn't?), and just general fun stuff we can find on this wild and wacky webernet. So I'll be bringing all that cool stuff to cool people like you. Because, remember, good content is shareable content.

OK. That about sums it up for now. Till next time.