Optimizing Your Website and Identifying Quality
Content for SEO
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
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CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
A Little About Me
Creating websites for over 16 years. Performing SEO for 10 years. Working with WordPress for 5 years. Built or managed the build of over 800 websites. Performed SEO and built program used on over 450 SEO clients. Currently Director of Technology for an agency.
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Why Optimize?
On average, 71.33% of searches result in a page one organic click. Page two and three get only 5.59% of the clicks. On the first page alone, the first 5 results account for 67.60% of all the clicks and the results from 6 to 10 account for only 3.73%.
0
10
20
30
40
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6 to 10 2nd Page 3rd Page
1.603.993.735.506.979.8514.04
31.24 CTR
*Data from moz.com
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Why Optimize?
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
On Page SEO
Page Load Time / Performance Strong Information Structure Through HTML5 Linking Structure of Internal Links Relevant Content
On Page Key Factors
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
On Page SEO
Find a good host. Either build your own or use a service Use a good caching plugin. BE CAREFUL Use a CDN Optimize images Proper theme
Page Load Time / Performance
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
On Page SEO
Use HTML5 sectioning elements to organize content Sectioning elements: <header>, <footer>, <main>, <article>, <section>, <aside>
Strong Information Structure
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
On Page SEO
More links the better Link deep Avoid top-level links Anchor text Interlink blog posts
Internal Linking Structure
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
On Page SEO
Create Relevant ContentWrite relevant content utilizing a main keyword for each page. Keep this content natural. Do not keyword stuff. Create FAQ’s, blog articles, company history, high level and detailed product pages, neighborhood pages, etc.
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
Identify what to write about. Create a Title and Meta Description that will be clicked. Engage with your audience and invite to comment. Use existing content to identify new topics to write about.
Identifying & Creating Quality Content
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
Frequent questions you are asked. Solutions to problems you had to solve. Questions you have thought about. Things you do on a normal basis. How-To's for your industry or craft.
Writers block. What to write about?
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
See what is already out there. Is yours more up to date? Do they lack clarity? Are they tough to find? Spread out? Give enough information out for DIYers but not all your trade secrets. Write to help others, not promote. You will get business.
How To Make Your Content Quality
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
You worked to hard to beat the computer (Google), don’t let a human skip you over. Catch their attention. Answer their question but leave them wanting more.
Increase CTR with a Great Title & Description
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
Which Would You Click?
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
No more than 50-60 characters to avoid “…” Keywords towards the front Make it engaging, i.e. “Build A Blog Without Any Code Knowledge” If you have a well known brand, use it!
Great Title Tags
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
Curiosity Benefit Emotion Tangible
Appearance Sound Expectation
Moz’s Ingredients for a Worthy Title Tag
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
How To … Top X … List of … X Easy Steps to Create … In X Minutes
Great Title Tag Templates
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
Work the keyword in at least twice. Make it readable. Should be 2 short sentences that add to someones curiosity. Answer part of their question but no all. Keep under 156 characters.
Great Descriptions
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
Invite readers to comment. Ask a question and instruct readers to answer below. Use an easy to use commenting platform that allows guest posts. Respond back quickly. Tip: They’re giving you free extra SEO content ;-)
Engagement
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Identify Content
Use Webmaster tools to see what search terms your content is showing up under. Identify missed opportunities. Review comments and write new articles to address questions. Review popular articles and create new sub articles to expand on topics. Crosslink these articles with internal links on the original article.
Circle Back
Yoast SEO Plugin
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
• Easy Access to all your On-Site Data
• Multiple Features in One Plug-in
• Covers Meta, Titles, Social, Sitemaps, and Advanced Settings
• Allows you to fully control everything.
How does Yoast Help?
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Where Do I Start?
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 1: General Information● Your Info Tab: Fill in your Website
Name, and Company Name.● Webmaster Tools: Fill in your
Verification ID’s from Google, and Bing.
● Security: Disable the Advanced part of the WordPress SEO meta box (unless you are the only author or trust your authors)
@SunSandDesignCHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 1: General Information
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 2: Titles and Metas• Sitewide Title Settings ( - or | )• The ability to force rewrite titles• Create a Template for Yoast to Create your Titles and
Metas for your different posts, pages, taxonomies, and archives.
• Eliminate Duplicate content concerns
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 2: Titles and Metas
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 2: Titles and Metas
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 2: Titles and Metas
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 2: Titles and Metas
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 3: Social• Accounts: Provide your account URL’s in one place • Facebook: Provide your information for easy access to Facebook
Insight • Twitter: Easily setup Twitter Cards for rich pictures in your tweets to
drive traffic • Pinterest: Verify your site easily on Pinterest • Google+: Adds specific post meta data for Google+
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 3: Social
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 3: Social
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 3: Social
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 3: Social
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
Step 4: XML SitemapsAdds the Sitemap to your site and makes updates when you do!
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
On Page Edits
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!
On Page Edits
CHRIS EDWARDS @ChrisEdwardsCE!