What do you think of when you think of SEO?
It used to be this mysterious thing . You'd write your articles, then "SEO" them for greater success (as if SEO were a verb), hoping against hope that they'd move up the search engine result page. Then the uber cool and hip people came into town with this thing called content marketing that was ever so much more sophisticated and white hat, as opposed to the black hat techniques they assumed were used by SEO experts.
(Incidentally, if you're still thinking SEO something you "do" to your article," read on!)
With the transition to content marketing, it's easy to think that the two are somehow mutually exclusive. That SEO and content marketing are two opposed activities. And honestly – that's garbage, as is the idea that SEO is a verb – something that you "do" to your article.
Here's the thing. Using social networks, SEO, and content marketing together is more of a wholistic, step by step, synergistic process than it is something you do to information. It happens when you write interesting material that is relevant to your audience. You write it in such a way contextually that it naturally gives signals to search engines that your site is useful, relevant, and authoritative.
Together – social networks, content marketing, and SEO are three parts of a whole marketing strategy online that together, have amazing potential to build your business.
But these days, it's not just about building and growing your brand.
Honestly – it's also about staying open! You see, the idea that any of these pieces is just a fad is absolutely mistaken, and could have dire consequences for your organization! Look at it this way – your audience is online. When they are looking for any new product or service, what's the first thing that they're going to do? They're going to "google it!" They're going to look for more information or for someone who sells your product or service using the power of a search engine (most likely Google, but occasionally others as well).
And if you're not there, or if you're not close enough to the top of search engine results pages (SERPs), over time, prospects will stop finding you altogether. Unless you have a phenomenal amount of word-of-mouth traffic, that will be a step toward the death of your brand. The idea that you can skip social media marketing is nothing but pure bull, I tell you.
Now, I could list a whole list of tips, but honestly – it comes down to one key idea.
So what's the number 1 step to make these 3 tools work together to boost your organization?
It's still the same old unglamorous advice I've been giving since starting – but it still seems to surprise some people.
The very best thing you can do is to create content that people naturally want to share with a list of followers or friends. .
Simple, but it's easy to overlook in all of the back end work of marketing your business. But every time, interesting content that is shared organically beats anything optimized after the fact by some special technique.
Every time, I tell you!
What's the most challenging part of your online marketing – content, SEO, or social media? I'd love to hear – leave a comment below!
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[...] to beat out everyone jockeying for that number 1 spot? You can make it to the top with a strategic SEO content marketing plan. Do you know what that means? Not certain your strategy is working? I’m sharing my 5 [...]
I think one of the reasons so many people are confused about SEO is that so many "experts" out there insist that their way is the ONLY way it should be done. I love your simplified explanation that you do it by creating content people want to share with their friends. That's what I try to do by default as well.
I feel I produce good content, and I'm getting much better at the social media aspect of it through programs like Hootsuite and Crowdbooster. SEO seems the most daunting to me.
Thank you Patrick! I just love to see people put it together and make it work for them!
Right on! Great post
For me the hardest part of online marketing is social media. I'm not a very social person by nature so really have to work at it.
well you could have fooled me..;) You are working it well girly!
[...] know that using best SEO and Content marketing practices work and have used them to market and build my own companies for years. I share tips on this blog to [...]
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Hi Elizabeth, The most challenging part of online marketing for me is writing all of the content. That is the main reason why I finally decided to allow guest posts on my blog.
that’s a great way to get good content and new faces to your blog! Wonderful solution Paul.