Are you the type of person that sees “SEO” and just keeps scrolling?

Most small business owners are intimidated by the topic.

We get it. It’s an important part of your business. Not to mention, the modern marketing landscape builds SEO up to be this big, mystifying monster.

Well, fear no more! We’re here to slay this dragon for you. Feast your eyes on the next 1000 questions of SEO glory.

By the time you’re done reading this you’ll be a bona fide SEO genius!

Let’s dive in…

How to Use This Article

There’s a lot of information going on in the paragraphs below, so a little guidance is necessary.

All the research we’ve done for you is broken down into 6 main areas:

General SEO Questions: General “how-tos” and definitions of some terms
On-page SEO: Everything that can be handled on the pages of your site
Off-page/Technical SEO: These are elements of SEO that are handled out there in the “wild internet” or on the back end of your site; links, HTML code, etc.
Search Engines: This covers everything search engines(mostly Google). Algorithm updates, how search engines interact with your content, and so on.
Content: All things content: blog posts, photos, and metadata.
Future: Where is SEO headed? What are trends and techniques you need to focus on to optimize your site as web search evolves?

And now, without further ado, we give you 1000 SEO Q&As for your viewing pleasure…

General SEO

What does SEO stand for
1. Search Engine Optimization
What is SEO
1. There is so much information on the internet that it can get complicated, but simply put: SEO is the process of making a website more visible in search engines like Google, Bing, etc. can find it more easily.
Is SEO Dead
1. No. SEO is very much alive and well, and will be as long as the Internet is alive. However, SEO does keep evolving and changing, so strategies that used to work may be “dead”, but making yourself more visible on the web will never go out of style!
Why is SEO Important
1. Your marketing strategy is about attention. SEO is a crucial part of getting you that attention. In today’s world, you can’t get by on just one marketing channel (i.e. JUST SEO or JUST Facebook). Making yourself more visible on the web through SEO can help you to amplify other marketing channels. SEO can also generate leads on its own via customers searching you on Google or Bing.
Can people find my website online right now
1. You can test this by going to Google and typing in “site:[mydomain.com]”. (We just did it. It works).
Do I need SEO for my business
1. Do you NEED it? Well, no, I guess you don’t NEED anything really. SEO can get a bad reputation sometimes because results aren’t immediate. But, when done right, it can be one of the most reliable, cost-effective ways for your business to bringin customers.
Do I have to do it myself
1. No, you don’t HAVE to. If you have the money to hire an SEO Agency right out of the gate, go for it! However, it can be helpful to do it yourself for a short time until you get a handle of the basics. That way you know what to look for when working with an Agency, and you can measure their performance.
Do I need to hire someone
1. Unless SEO is your main business, it would be a good idea to hire someone at some point. As a business owner you want to focus your efforts on your highest revenue-producing activities. If you’re in the baseball card business, SEO wouldn’t fall into that category. So, unless SEO is your bread and butter, HIRE SOMEONE! Let them take care of all the dirty work.
What are the 2 types
1. We’re going to dive into this in more detail but for now just know that there are 2 types of SEO: On-page and Off-page.
What are the 4 pillars of SEO
1. On-page SEO: Everything that’s on the page of your site
2. Off-page SEO: All of the behind the scenes stuff (linking, HTML, etc.)
3. Content: blog posts, product reviews, etc.
4. Technical SEO
What is on-page SEO
1. As the name suggests, On-page SEO deals with everything on your page. This means your content, keywords, images, video, etc.
What is off-page SEO
1. Off-page SEO concerns everything that can’t be seen on your site: Sitemaps, backlinks, site structure, site speed, etc. Off-page SEO also includes “amplifying” your content through social media, people sharing your content, and customers sharing or writing about your content.
What is technical SEO?
1. Technical SEO works together with on-page SEO. While on-page SEO deals with your content, images, and video, technical SEO deals with the metadata behind them.
What is a technical audit
1. A technical audit examines your website to see if there are any issues as far as hosting, structure, speed, and whether links are hurting your site (this is why we don’t buy links).
How are rankings affected by traffic
1. When talking SEO, you’re really talking about two main things: rankings and traffic. Traffic being the amount of people that visit your site, and your ranking being your position on the page of search results. It’s unclear how much traffic can move your ranking but, according to some studies, it seems there may be a slight connection between the two.
What are some SEO best practices
1. By the end of this article, we will talk about these in MUCH more detail, but here are some commonly agreed-upon things your site needs to do well:
  1. QUALITY content
  2. Backlinks
  3. On-page Optimization (optimizing images and video on your site)
  4. Optimized meta data (title tags, meta descriptions, etc.)
  5. Technical (site structure, navigation, interlinking, etc.)
What type of SEO budget do I need
1. This varies based on your location, your industry, and the keyword you’re trying to rank for. Popular keywords in major cities would require the biggest budget. This is why an SEO Agency that is good at what they do will use multiple tools to research keywords. You may need to go after long-tail, or slightly less common short-tail, keywords to maximize your budget.
How soon can I expect to see results
1. SEO is definitely a long-term strategy. Search algorithms that are put out by Google and Bing are becoming more intelligent. There is no easy way to “game the system” anymore. All that being said, how fast you see results depends on a lot of factors: the keywords you’re trying to rank for, the market you’re in, how often you’re putting out content, how often you’re linking, etc. SEO requires some patience, but it is WELL worth the wait
What does PPC Stand for
1. PPC means Pay Per Click
What is PPC
1. So far we’ve been talking about SEO. SEO drives organic traffic to your site which costs you nothing more than some elbow grease. PPC is a paid traffic channel provided by Google where you can pay to rank for different keywords within your industry
Will PPC help my SEO
1. PPC can be helpful for finding and testing new keywords, but just giving money to Google alone isn’t enough to enhance your search rankings.
Which is better: SEO or PPC
1. SEO and PPC are two sides to the digital marketing coin. While SEO is organic, PPC is paid traffic. SEO will give you great results, but it just might take a little longer to get there. Whereas, with PPC, you can get results a little more quickly. You can also turn PPC on and off as needed, which helps with keyword research and testing.
Does Social Media affect SEO
1. Yes! Social media is a great way to amplify your content and extend the reach of your site. Not to mention that engagement with your content is becoming increasingly more important.
What is the ROI of SEO
1. It varies from industry to industry. The question you should ask is: how valuable is it to you to be the number one recommendation when customers search for your product/service?
What parts of SEO should I focus on first?
1. Talking to an SEO expert is a great place to start here. Generally, if your site’s authority is below 40, you should be focusing on increasing Authority. If your site’s Authority is above 70, then you should focus on increasing relevancy.
Are there any industries that don’t need SEO
1. No. Every business can benefit from a sound SEO strategy. Even if you own a local “brick & mortar” business, you can benefit from a strong Local SEO strategy. Sure, there may be businesses out there surviving without it, but they’re missing out on a big opportunity by not leveraging the internet.
How long does SEO take
1. SEO is a long-term strategy. Although you may not see results today, every tweak you make to your website, keywords, etc. can bring you increased results. If you give SEO the proper time and attention, it could eventually become your biggest lead source.
How has SEO evolved
1. Google has put a stop to spam and black hat SEO techniques. There is also more of an emphasis on mobile devices today, as we move away from desktop computers. Today, SEO is more of a requirement than an option due to these changes.
What should your SEO roadmap look like
1. Each site and industry are different. Drawing up an appropriate SEO roadmap requires auditing your site and then making a game plan to execute, measure, and retool your results.
What are some of the most significant SEO updates
1. Google is constantly updating. The most recent update, BERT, has caused significant changes to the way we search and the way Google understands us. We’ll get into that in more detail later. It’s both amazing, and creepy, at the same time. Prior to BERT, though, the most relevant Google update was RankBrain. RankBrain was issued in 2015, and created the artificial intelligence and machine learning that lead to BERT.
Why can’t I just buy ads and skip SEO
1. SEO works together with paid ads to amplify the effects. Keywords can be approached from multiple angles, and ad copy can be used across channels to create a unified marketing strategy. You can just buy ads, but you would be missing out on a lot of opportunities. You can’t think of SEO as just one marketing channel anymore. Think of it more as multiple strategies being used to make a unified message more visible in internet search.
How do you report on SEO
1. Since SEO is a long-term strategy, there are a lot of metrics you can track. Leveraging tools like Google Analytics, SEM Rush, Google Search Console, and Google My Business comes in handy here. Google Analytics will have the largest amount of data, and should be good enough if you’re just doing SEO for your own business site. If you’re an SEOer by profession, then you may want to look into the other platforms.
What can SEO do for me tomorrow, next week, next month
1. SEO is a long-term strategy, so you may not see results from SEO right away but SEO is always helping your other marketing channels in the background. SEO may be different than PPC, but if tracked correctly, you will still see the changes you’re making achieve measurable results.
Do I need to know code to do SEO myself
1. Knowledge of basic HTML goes a long way when doing SEO, but HTML is used in the more advanced off-page SEO strategies. So, while knowledge of code is helpful, it’s not absolutely necessary for every step of SEO.
What’s a good goal to set for SEO
1. Don’t think about getting the MOST traffic. Focus more on getting the most QUALITY traffic. What good is being #1 on Google for pizza when you sell monkey wrenches? Catch my drift? Set goals that are based around your whole marketing funnel, and not just based on traffic.
How will I know I’m getting results
1. If your SEO is working properly, you will start to see your position in Google move up for a particular keyword. You should also start to see more “clicks” and “impressions” on your web pages. Most importantly, however, you should start to see more qualified leads come through your site. Google Analytics, or an SEO website plug-in like Yoast, can help you to monitor this. Also, if you’re working with an Agency, you should get a report to review every so often that will break down your metrics.
What goes into SEO
1. SEO deals with traffic volume, traffic quality, and organic results. Organic results show up naturally in Google based on your SEO efforts, as opposed to PPC results which are paid ad traffic.
How does it work?
1. When you type into a Google search bar, or speak into Alexa, search engines send out crawlers to gather all the information they can relating to your search query. This crawler brings all of that information back to the search engine in an index, which is then ran through an algorithm that tries to match all of this internet data to your original search query.
What is White Hat vs Black Hat SEO
1. White Hat SEO is all of the good tactics we discuss here in this article: using keywords sparingly, getting high-authority, organic backlinks, writing “user first” content that is the proper length, etc. Black Hat SEO is for the bad guys! Now, that’s not to say we can’t learn from Black Hat strategies but by-in-large, Black Hat strategies are a no-no. These are things like thin content, buying links, negative SEO (which we’ll go into later), just to name a few. They will hurt your SEO results, and although they may offer results in the short-term, you’ll eventually be left wondering why your website is still sitting on Page 10 of Google.
What to avoid with SEO
1. Basically you just want to stay on Google’s good side. Don’t pay for links, don’t keyword stuff, make your content useful to the reader, and get high-quality backlinks and you’ll be fine. When in doubt, ask yourself “would I appreciate this if I was a user searching for my business?” That should get you headed in the right direction.
What are SEO toxins
1. Manipulative SEO techniques similar to Black Hat strategies that artificially alter ranking signals.
How do you do SEO
1. SEO is approached from several angles. It involves knowing the keywords your customers are searching for, and then using those keywords in quality, helpful content presented in the most useful format possible. In addition, linking to other credible sites in your industry and getting other credible sites to link to you increases your authority and helps search engines to find you. Finally, SEO is also done with the technical aspects of your site: Site speed, page speed, page structure, menu navigation, HTML markup, and Schema markup.
How does UX relate to SEO?
1. We’ve already talked about this in previous questions, so I’ll just touch on it briefly: User Experience has become a crucial ranking factor with the introduction of BERT. At the end of the day, a search engine’s goal is to provide you, the user, with the most useful content, in the best format possible, and as quickly as possible. BERT is just the beginning. Google is constantly learning and I would imagine UX will only become more important.
Is SEO Difficult
1. SEO is not rocket science. In its simplest form, SEO is just finding out what search engines want and taking the steps necessary to give it to them. People may get the misconception that it’s difficult because results aren’t immediate, and it needs to be tested and tracked, but anybody could do SEO well enough if they just take the time to learn. This article is a great place to start! 🙂
How do all the SEO components work together?
1. A great analogy I’ve come across is to think about SEO like a bowl of soup. Your technical SEO is the bowl, your content is the soup, and quality backlinks are the seasoning you put on it.
How can I learn SEO
1. SEO is constantly changing, so it requires constant study. Especially now in 2020. Fortunately, for you, there are tons of free resources on the internet. Just be careful where you get your information from. Some sources are better than others.
What is Grey Hat SEO
1. Grey Hat SEO, as the name suggests, is somewhere in the middle of White Hat and Black Hat strategies. Gray Hat techniques aren’t defined by Google so you could possibly gain visitors without being penalized or losing your rank the next day.
What is the most important metric for SEO
1. Conversions. Traffic, CTR, Clicks, and impressions are all great indicators of performance. But if you’re not getting users to buy your goods/services then what’s the point?
What are conversion funnels?
1. Conversion funnels are similar to a sales funnel. They start by bringing users onto your site and then walk them through multiple “touches”(emails, landing pages, or other marketing) and ultimately drive them toward making a purchase, signing up for your newsletter, etc.
What is internal data
1. Customer questions, feedback forms, complaints, marketing reports just to name a few. Anything you can compile from within your site or business.
How does SEO affect Google visibility
1. SEO is crucial to being more visible in Google and any other search engine. The more SEO you do, as long as it’s done properly, the more visible you become.
What is lead tracking
1. All of these analytics are great, but the people that convert are most important. Lead tracking is the practice of looking at your analytics and breaking down your leads from Google, as well as other sources, and figuring out which ones become customers.
What is lead validation
1. This step follows lead tracking. Basically you want to “validate” each lead and make sure it’s an actual lead. Not just a scam or telemarketer.
What are common mistakes with SEO
1. Spreading your marketing budget too thin. Not having pages associated with one, focused keyword. Giving up too quickly. Purchasing a package SEO deal.
When did SEO start
1. SEO began in 1990 with the release of the first search engine: Archie. Later that decade, in 1996, a search engine called BackRub was created. Backrub would eventually become what we know today as: Google.
What are the best SEO tools
1. We’ve already touched on Google Analytics(GA), but two other popular tools are Ahrefs and SEMrush. Both can be used to run a variety of analytics on your site.
Why do businesses still need SEO
1. At one time, even since the dawn of the new millennium, a business could get away without SEO and an online presence. Now, it’s virtually impossible to stay relevant without being visible in Google. We see this in our everyday lives. People search even the littlest thing on Google, because it’s the fastest, easiest access to information that we have.
What are your goals with SEO
1. Everybody’s goals vary but businesses in general have 3 main goals with SEO: Maximizing ROI, optimizing lead generation, and increasing organic traffic.
How do I get started
1. Use online resources like this one to understand how search engines rank websites. Then, from there, you’ll learn enough to do some keyword search and start to optimize your on-page SEO(all of your content). Once that’s done, you will start to dig deeper into your technical SEO. The goal is to do both simultaneously, so once you start to get a hang of the on-page stuff, be sure to sprinkle in backlinks and other behind-the-scenes strategies.
How do I put all of this together
1. Having a clear goal in mind when you start is the best way. All of these techniques are to get a desired result. What is it? There are a variety of metrics you can track, but you need to figure out what the goal of your strategy is for your particular business. It could be traffic, it could be visibility, it could be online conversions, or you may want to use SEO to increase the amount of visitors to your brick and mortar location. The possibilities are endless!
What is a winning SEO strategy
1. Identify your goals, get a list of focused keywords and topics, do your research, create GREAT content that is both useful and engaging, and promote/amplify that content across various channels.
What skills are required for SEO
1. Patience, consistency, effective writing skills, basic HTML, and the ability to analyze data and realize trends.
How has SEO changed recently
1. SEO has been shifting more toward a “mobile-first” model since 2018.
Does traffic only come from search engines
1. No way! There are a wide variety of traffic sources: Social media, direct searches from other marketing, etc.
Why is local SEO so important
1. Because local results show first in Google.
Should I work with an SEO agency
1. It depends on where you are currently. If you have the money to spend, then it definitely will help you. If you have more time than money right now, then maybe you’re better off doing these things yourself.
What is Negative SEO
1. Posting negative reviews and low quality links to a competitor’s website. This is considered a Black Hat strategy. We don’t do Black Hat, right?
What is the SEO periodic table
1. The SEO Periodic Table is a cleaner, visual representation of all the things Google considers when ranking your site.
What is online lead generation
1. Online marketing efforts outside of SEO that are designed to bring your ideal buyer leads. This may include a sales funnel, facebook ads, YouTube Ads, etc.
Do I need online lead generation if I’m doing SEO
1. As the online landscape gets more competitive, business owners will need to use both together to reach their desired customers.
How do I hire an SEO
1. Conduct an interview. Check their references to make sure their strategies are ethical(White Hat). Make sure they start with a Site Audit. Their proposed strategy should be able to cover long-term site health and enhancing UX.
Which search engines use SEO
1. Google isn’t the only search engine using SEO. They have just collected so much data that they dictate how other search engines play the game. But any search engine you use, Bing and Yahoo included, use SEO.
How is SEO Dynamic
1. Ranking factors constantly change, and your site will need constant updating to maintain a high ranking
What is my best SEO weapon
1. Great Content
Will using SEO increase website conversions
1. It may take some time but if done properly SEO can increase your conversion.
How do I tell what needs improvement
1. Use user behavior tools and run user behavior reports.
How do I make my SEO more targeted & efficient
1. Develop an ideal customer profile and buying persona
How do I develop a customer profile
1. Focus on demographics: age, socioeconomic status, location, and gender to name a few.
How do I develop a buying persona
1. Once you have a customer profile you create your buying persona by describing them in a way that brings them to life. Give them a name and go into detail about where they live, what they’re likely to care about, and so on. Making the character come to life in this way makes it easier to determine how they would want to be marketed to.
What falls under primary SEO
1. Primary SEO is similar to on-page SEO.
What falls under secondary SEO
1. Secondary SEO contains all of the off-page factors.
What is a “Bounce”
1. If a visitor leaves your page in less than 3 seconds that’s considered a bounce
On-site vs. Off-site vs. Technical SEO
1. On-site is everything contained on your page. Off-site is everything off of your page(backlinks, social signals, etc.) and Technical is all of your “behind-the-scenes” SEO like meta tags, HTML, and Schema.
What does a GOOD SEO Company do
1. They should be able to create a customized plan for you based on your business objectives. They should be able to provide you customer-first keywords, high quality unique content production, technical SEO, and linkbuilding.
What is the best source for SEO info
1. Google’s SEO Starter Guide and Webmaster Blog
What is conversion rate optimization
1. Optimizing your site to push users along through your funnel and ultimately have them make a purchasing or subscription decision
What are the disadvantages of SEO
1. SEO can be time-consuming. It’s also hard to rank for keywords where you’re challenging big, established brands. You also need to continuously monitor and tweak your SEO strategy.
What specific factors affect local SEO
1. Google My Business; Name, Address, Contact Info; and Schema Markup
Does the same SEO strategy work for everyone
1. Every industry, site, and market are different. Some keywords that are more competitive may require more SEO techniques while other less competitive industries may require less.
Manual vs Automatic SEO
1. SEO content creation CAN be handled automatically, but it’s not so Google-friendly. The most effective way to handle SEO content is to manually add it to your site.
Do I have to choose between National or Local SEO
1. Depends on your product or service. If what you’re offering can reach outside of your local area, then a blended approach is recommended.
What type of questions should I be asking for effective SEO
1. The best way to answer would be to put yourself in your customers perspective. Any, and all, questions you can ask to better understand what your customer is searching for and why will make your SEO effective.
Can your website be found without SEO
1. Yes, but you won’t be anywhere near the first page.
What isn’t SEO
1. SEO isn’t paid traffic, it’s not just for Google anymore, it’s not a scam, and it’s not a quick fix.
Why is SEO about more than just Google
1. There was a time where Google was the only place people searched the web. Now, search exists across so many platforms that SEO has become important for many sites.
What does CTR stand for
1. Click-through Rate (an SEO metric)
What is a search query
1. “Search query” is just a fancy term for what your customer is searching in the Google search bar.
What are common black hat strategies to lookout for
1. Keyword farms, Doorway pages, keyword stuffing, and comment spam
Which has more traffic opportunity: SEO or PPC
1. PPC can give you more opportunity FASTER, but in the long-run you will get more benefit from SEO. Anyone can pay to have their link thrown in front of a user’s face, but what are you doing with those users once they click?
How do I get the most out of SEO
1. Work it consistently and have a comprehensive strategy that pairs it with other marketing channels. The trust that ranking high in Google gets you cannot be replicated.
What are the benefits of SEO
1. Increased visibility, increased Trust, and increased Authority.
Is SEO the same for every industry
1. No. Every industry has different keywords and different keywords can be easier or harder to rank for.
Is SEO the same for every market
1. SEO will differ depending on how many people are competing for the same keyword in your local area.
What is SEM
1. Search Engine Marketing
How is SEM different from SEO or PPC
1. SEO and PPC are different sides of the SEM coin
How do you calculate the ROI of SEO
1. By using the search volume and CTR for a particular keyword, and the conversion rate of your website, you can roughly calculate how many new customers you could expect to gain by ranking first for that specific keyword and its variants.
How does SEO ROI compare to Paid Search ROI
1. A study was done where an SEO campaign was run for “Downtown Denver Apartments” and a PPC campaign was set up for that very same keyword. The SEO campaign had an astounding 26.6% CTR compared to just 1.91% for the PPC campaign.
Will SEO lead to sales
1. SEO alone will not lead to more sales. It will make your website more effective and get people knocking down your door, but after that it’s up to you.
What is SMO
1. Social Media Optimization
What is SMM
1. Social Media Marketing
What is Social Bookmarking
1. Getting links by answering user questions on discussion boards like Quora and Reddit.
What is SEO split testing
1. Testing 2 different versions of headlines, meta descriptions, etc. across your website to see which does better with clicks and rankings.
What is SEO TextOptimizer
1. A website plugin that helps to optimize the text within your content.
What does it mean to “spin” web copy
1. Repurposing an article, but altering the content slightly, to use for a tiered linking strategy.
What is SEO framework
1. A website plugin that helps your site rank better in Google.
What is SEO hindrance
1. Something that would prevent the success of your SEO efforts
What is an SEO Profiler
1. A web app that helps you to rank higher on Google
What is a directory submission
1. Listing your website in a directory that is relevant to your business
What is SEO cross-linking
1. A type of SEO linking where you link directly to the links on other websites.
What is SEO competitive analysis
1. Analyzing your competitor’s site to find out their strengths and weaknesses.
What is SEO Scraping
1. Using content scrapers to automate SEO strategies
What is a content scraper
1. An automated computer bot that crawls the internet for particular keywords, etc.
What is SEO Migration
1. Migrating your site to a new domain
Can SEO work in a saturated market
1. It will work wherever you choose to work it. It’s going to take time, consistency, and some keyword creativity in a saturated market but it can be done.
Can SEO be done to rank my site internationally
1. Yes it can. In fact, some marketing experts use this as a primary method for growing their business.
What is SEO VMA
1. Visibility, Measurability, Actionability
What is “seeding” content
1. Getting a piece of content out there to the masses on the internet
What are the best ways to “seed” your content
1. Email bloggers, share it on bookmarking sites, contact influencers, share it on an infographic website, etc.
What is SEO Quake
1. A plugin that provides you with SEO metrics
How do I setup a domain
1. Go to godaddy.com or any hosting platform and buy a domain. They will walk you through how to get it set up.
How do I setup hosting
1. Domain sites will usually help you get set up with hosting as well.
How much traffic should I actually be getting
1. It depends on where you rank, but if you rank in the first 5 results on Google, you should expect to see about 67% of the traffic for that particular keyword
Is SEO scalable
1. Absolutely!
What metrics should I track
1. CTR, clicks, impressions.
What are subheads
1. Subheadings, and they are great for structuring your content(NOT your data) and making your pages more scannable.
What is the best resource for UX
1. A website’s mobile-friendliness
Will building my personal brand help SEO
1. More and more experts are beginning to stress the importance of building a brand. Having a brand is huge for establishing Trust, a big part of Google’s EAT algorithm.
What is the easiest way to optimize internationally
1. Creating multilingual content is the quickest and easiest way to optimize your site internationally.
What is geo-targeting
1. Geo-targeting is how Google tailors search results to an international user’s location. Geo-targeting can pinpoint a user’s location down to the city level.
How do I boost my local SEO
1. In addition to following general White Hat SEO practices, don’t use “virtual office” locations. Accurate business listings are important as well.
How do I handle bad reviews
1. Bad reviews can be a gold mine for local SEO. Make sure you are actively engaging on social media content threads, as well as Google reviews. When bad reviews pop up, reach out to your customers and clean them up. This makes for great customer service opportunities.
Can inconsistencies in company info affect search rankings
1. YES! Company info must be 100% correct across all platforms or it will hurt your SEO results
How do I do SEO for ecommerce
1. Schema and structured data become more important. More and more searchers aren’t looking past the product carousel, or Google Shopping, on SERPs. Ranking #1 organically for your industry won’t cut it anymore. Structure your data so you can show up in the Google product carousel.
How do I do SEO for niche markets
1. Analyze the search volume for your industry, and then do a competitive analysis. You can gain an advantage by filling in the “gaps” that your competitors aren’t trying to rank for, and mining Google manually for alternative keywords and search phrases.
What is Enterprise SEO
1. Enterprise CEO deals with Enterprise Sites that are 1,000+ pages in size.
Why does Enterprise SEO matter
1. Making changes to an enterprise site, because of their size, become the rule for resources and time needed to make changes
How is enterprise SEO different
1. Sites are slower and bigger. Work naturally becomes more complex because of more store locations, more website pages, and more technical aspects like subdomains, etc.
Why do small businesses need SEO
1. SEO enables you to compete with bigger brands in your industry. Although you may not be able to compete for the same keywords as bigger brands, you can still use SEO to your advantage with a little creativity and elbow grease.
Where should I start for a new website
1. Start with your hosting. Having a solid web hosting platform for your site builds a solid foundation for all of the other SEO techniques.
Can advertisements on my site hurt my results
1. Advertisements are ok as long as they are not “spammy” or distracting.
What are the rules of SEO
1. Don’t abuse keywords, don’t compete for crowded keywords, create unique content, no low-quality links, regularly update your site, follow Google’s guidelines, and watch your site speed.
What is a PWA
1. Progressive Web App
What are the benefits of making my site a PWA
1. The biggest advantage is about a 50% reduction in load time for pages.
What does AMP mean on Google Search
1. AMP stands for Accelerated Mobile Pages
What is web accessibility
1. An approach to web design that includes the widest range of requirements possible. Web accessibility focuses on helping people with disabilities navigate and contribute to the Web.
Why is web accessibility important to my site
1. Accessible websites are currently not common. There are legal cases popping up over the lack of accessibility. Also, there is a large percentage of the market that are disabled. You could be missing out on a large sector of the economy. And making websites more accessible to people with disabilities ties back into the emerging trend of User Experience.
How do I make my website more accessible
1. Ensure your pages have proper headline structure; Mark up content with HTML5; review alt tags; review color palettes; review readability; ensure buttons/forms are correctly labeled; make sure animated/video content can be paused; and provide audio/video transcripts, just to name a few.
What can I do for SEO with a small budget
1. Go after long-tail keywords. They’re considered “low-hanging fruit”. Write in-depth blog posts. Focus on page speed. Do keyword research. Make your website mobile-friendly. Minify code. Optimize images. Focus on URL structure.
What SEO strategies should a “brick and mortar” business use
1. Pay close attention to titles and meta descriptions. Optimize your Google My Business account. Create content that’s geared toward your local audience. Use inbound links to raise your domain authority. List your business in online directories like Yelp and yellowpages.com
How does branding work from an SEO perspective
1. Branding allows you to generate direct searches from branded queries. It enables you to remain relevant for multiple SERP queries from your users. And it will minimize the effect of zero click search.
What is user journey mapping
1. Marketing has evolved to the point where businesses recognize that buyers go on a “journey” before they buy from you. The internet has made researching a regular part of buying a product/service. The user journey just outlines the steps a buyer will go through before finally making a decision to purchase from you.
What are micro-moments
1. Micro moments are points along your user’s journey. The 4 most important of these are: “I want to know” moments, “I want to do” moments, “I want to go” moments, and “I want to buy” moments. If you notice, these micro moments closely mimic the different types of user search intent.
What is a CRM system
1. CRM stands for Customer Relationship Manager. This is a software that enables you to keep data on all of your customers, schedule contact with them, and generally keep you and your team more organized.
Can having a CRM system help with SEO
1. A CRM doesn’t directly boost rankings. However, using one to keep your team more organized does help SEO. It will help you to pay closer attention to your leads, be consistent with your message to them, and get your team on the same page to further enhance your business’ User Experience.
What are some underrated SEO tactics
1. Some underrated SEO tactics are: updating your content, internal linking, growing your brand, and optimizing for click-through rate(CTR).
What are mentions
1. Mentions refer to anytime your brand is mentioned on a social media platform. They are usually signified by an “@” symbol.
What are common site SEO issues
1. Some common site issues are: meta length, broken links, internal links that redirect, outdated sitemap file, page speed, orphan URLs, site structure, thin content.
How will using unethical/outdated SEO practices affect my ranking
1. Doing this on your site could result in a penalty from Google.
Is it true the more traffic, the better
1. Traffic only gets your users in the door. Once they’re there, you have to rely on your content to nudge them to take your desired action.
What is the importance of cumulative optimization
1. Cumulative SEO is the practice of constantly updating your site. It’s important because even the most minor change can boost your rankings significantly. Effective cumulative optimization is about constantly asking yourself: what do my customers need? What do my customers want?
What are QR codes
1. QR codes are scannable “barcodes” that can be scanned by your mobile device.
Does SEO change during times of crisis
1. Things can be very different during a time of crisis, even SEO. Things tend to become more “local” during times of crisis.
How do I adapt my SEO during a crisis
1. Knowing about your audience, and caring for them, become even more important. In addition, things may take on a more “local” perspective. Communicating all updates, showing delivery routes online, as well as adding free products on Google are all things businesses can do to help out, and thrive, during times of crisis.
Do other traffic channels (PPC, Social Media, etc.) drive more traffic than SEO
1. They should all be used in conjunction for a more holistic marketing approach. PPC can generate more traffic short-term, but over time SEO can match it and maybe even surpass it. Every channel has its own use, and the success of any particular channel is going to depend on where you invest your time and money.
What is the “Assists vs Last click only” debate
1. SEO may not be the reason a user makes that “last click” before becoming a conversion. But even if it isn’t, it most likely helped in the process. This is where analytics come in. Look at your conversions and see where they are coming from.
Will my SEO even work with SERPs full of ads now
1. While there are a lot of ads for high-priced keywords, you can still have SEO be effective if you target the right long-tail keywords. Plus, people don’t just buy right away. They like to do research. You need to think about the whole user journey and not just the conversion.
Can I just do SEO or PPC or do I need both
1. With the way search, and its users, are becoming more advanced a more comprehensive approach to marketing is needed. SEO and PPC do great on their own, but they are more effective when you use them both.
Sure, SEO can drive traffic. But can it drive the RIGHT traffic?
1. Is your SEO bringing you people that are actually going to buy? Great question. If you invest in SEO and your audience, you will start to bring in the right kind of traffic without a doubt. Also, SEO may not be the “final touch” before the sale is made sometimes. But you can bet using SEO well, and having a web presence, helped.
How can I make sure my SEO efforts are more highly targeted
1. Paying attention to how and what your audience searches can make your SEO very targeted. This is why Analytics are so important.
Can I expect an immediate growth explosion from SEO
1. SEO takes time. Which is one of the biggest reasons that business owners avoid it. But if you develop a sound strategy, stay consistent with it, and give it time it will pay off in the long run.
Is my ROI from SEO even measurable
1. The ROI from SEO is measurable, but most people want it to be predictable. It’s hard to sit with a business owner and tell him “you can expect $X back for every $1 spent on SEO”. The ROI can be measured through analytics tools.
How can I get the quickest results from my SEO
1. SEO is typically a long-term game, but you can use an SEO sprint to get the quickest results.
What is an SEO Sprint
1. An SEO strategy built around a specific marketing campaign. The idea is to be visible at the most important “touch point” of a customer’s journey.
What does an SEO Sprint consist of
1. 5 steps: Strategy, Data, Insights, Execution, Measurement.
How do I make my SEO Sprint successful
1. Identify and target low-competition keywords that are important to your industry.
What is holistic SEO
1. Holistic SEO is SEO approached from all angles: content, technical SEO, site design, user experience, etc.
How is mobile SEO different than desktop SEO
1. Mobile SEO becomes more local in nature and you may get different results on a mobile device than on a desktop. Rich snippets also stand out more on mobile.
Is mobile SEO more important
1. More people are searching on mobile devices now than ever before. Google rolled out its first mobile-first index in 2016. And in 2019, Google switched to the mobile first index.
Should mobile visitors to my site take priority
1. Google came out and said: we are switching to mobile-first. They came out with this statement in 2019. Start optimizing for mobile as soon as you can!
What are the 3 pillars of local SEO
1. Proximity, prominence, and relevance are the 3 pillars.
Does online marketing change in uncertain times
1. If things outside your control are causing a lot of panic and uncertainty in society, the natural tendency is to put everything in your business on hold. This isn’t the best idea. Sure, things will be different, but you can still navigate the online landscape. Even though it appears everything is going to pieces in the outside world.
Growth vs current client retention during uncertain times
1. Keeping, and catering to, your current clients takes priority over gaining new business. Who knows? You may gain some incidentally by being awesome to your current users. If that’s the case, it may be even better than normal because the new users will most likely come to you by your users sharing your content on social.
How do uncertain times affect my local/small business
1. We went over this a little bit earlier in the article, but just to reiterate: be more transparent and make yourself available. If your hours change let people know. If your delivery routes change let people know. If you’re offering new products/services through these times let people know. And it also can’t hurt to offer some products/services for free on Google.
What’s more important: rankings or conversions
1. Conversions are what you’re after. The goal of ranking high is to increase conversions. After all, what good is getting 1 million website visitors per month if they’re not buying what you’re selling.
What’s the easiest way to grow website traffic
1. The easiest way to grow traffic is through growing your business internationally. Lately, Amazon and other large companies have been putting tons of resources into certain parts of the developing world. We can only imagine that they’re doing so for a reason. Normally we don’t advise copying other businesses, but if Amazon is doing it I don’t think it can be bad for us small fish.
Can SEO do as well as paid traffic
1. This is a concept that’s up for debate. While some experts say that, given enough time, SEO can perform just as well others beg to differ. Neil Patel, a leader in the online marketing world, discovered that paid traffic performs better. This was a lesson he learned after 30 million visitors to his site. The reason, he says, is because with paid traffic you can drive users to a landing page that will convert more. Whereas if you focused on organic SEO, the page you drive your users to will have to revolve more around content.
What is remarketing
1. Remarketing(aka retargeting) is the process of tracking visitors to your website and then remarketing to them across their other social platforms(Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, etc.).
Is there insight to be gained from blackhat SEO
1. Many “Blackhat” SEOers use White Hat strategies as well. They’re not all bad people! You should give Blackhat World a read. Sometimes people using Black Hat strategies uncover interesting trends that you can take advantage of using White Hat strategies as well. Learn from them, but still stick to White Hat tactics!
Can I ever “coast” with my SEO
1. You’ve ranked your website in the top 3 in Google. You want to kick your feet up now, right? Don’t! If you’ve been posting consistently for a long time, a break as short as a month can drop your traffic dramatically.
Is it worth it to attend an SEO conference
1. It’s worth the trip. You may get some hidden gems of advice from other people in your field.
Why should I consider international SEO
1. Most internet searches are done in languages other than English.
Why should I care where big companies are investing
1. When a company like Amazon puts billions of dollars into developing regions around the world, you can bet they know something we don’t. The investments they make are analyzed and calculated well beforehand.
How can I expand internationally
1. You’ll want to partner with people who live in the country you’re targeting. People that speak English fluently and also have some SEO background. Your content will do better if it is transcribed by a native speaker and not just translated by software or an app.
What are some people/blogs I can follow to improve my SEO
1. There’s a variety of great SEO blogs and personalities. Some of the most useful we’ve found are: Backlinko, Neil Patel, Search Engine Journal, Moz, Yoast, and Search Engine Watch

Search Engines

What is a search query
1. A search query is just a fancy name for what your user is searching for in Google. If you want to order pizza, and you type “pizza” into Google, that is a search query.
What is an algorithm
1. This is the formula that a search engine will use to rank your page
Do I need to worry about search engine algorithm updates
1. Algorithm updates are happening so often that if you worried about every single one you would wind up insane. Just stick to focusing on SEO best practices and you’ll weather the storm just fine.
How did Google change the face of SEO
1. Google became the best in the business at finding documents relevant to your search query and forced users to change their behavior along with it.
What’s most important in ranking on Google
1. The search landscape is changing fast. Even Google’s staff has admitted that internet search is just as much a guessing game to them as it is to us. There are reportedly over 200 factors that Google takes into account when ranking your site. Also, things like a user’s device, location, and search history can affect the position of a particular link they see. You may see a certain link in position #2 on Google, and I may see it in position #5 based on those factors. All these variables can make SEO tricky at times, but there are some “tried and true” best practices to get your site to perform well.
What is a Google penalty
1. Google will issue penalties when sites directly violate the Webmaster Guidelines. Some things that can get you penalized are: spammy link building practices, exact match domains (when your domain matches keywords exactly), and keyword stuffing.
What does Google want
1. Google wants a website that is well-maintained, not full of spam or ads, and that answers users questions.
I used to get twice as many visitors from Google. What happened?
1. Odds are that you’ve been hit with a Google penalty. No need to worry. You can recover from algorithm penalties.
How do search engines pick results
1. A user’s search query is ran through the billions of websites available globally, and checked against various algorithms. Then the search engine will populate the results it thinks matches most closely to the user’s original query.
Can search engines follow your site navigation
1. Not only do crawlers need to discover your site from other links on the web, but it also needs links to discover your site from page to page (this is where internal linking comes in). Make sure your mobile and desktop navigation show the same results. Also make sure that navigation links are in your HTML. Search engines are getting better at crawling JavaScript navigation, but it’s still a work in progress. Using too much personalization, favoring one visitor over another, can sometimes be viewed as cloaking and hurt your visibility. Just keep in mind that links are like the “highway” crawlers use to get around your site. Remember to keep clear navigation and URL folder structure and you’ll be fine.
How does google treat robots.txt files?
1. When Googlebot (Google’s crawler) can’t find a robots.txt file for a site it continues to crawl the site. The only time Googlebot will not crawl a site is if it encounters an error trying to access a site’s robots.txt file.
Can crawlers find all your important content
1. Search engine bots may be unable to reach certain pages of your site. If you are using login forms or search bars, crawlers will not be able to access those pages. Also, you should not put any text you want indexed over an image or GIF. Ask yourself: Can the bot crawl THROUGH my site, or will it be stopped once it gets TO my site?
Can I see how a Googlebot Crawler sees my pages
1. The Cached version of your page will let you view a snapshot of the last time Googlebot crawled it. A link to it can be found below your link in Google, next to the meta description of your page.
Are pages removed from the index?
1. A page can be removed from the index for a number of reasons. If you think a page of yours that was once in the index isn’t there anymore, you can inspect the URL.
How do search engines rank URLs
1. Algorithms. And they are updated constantly. If your site seems to have suffered after an algorithm update, comparing it to Google’s Quality Guidelines is a good way to find out why.
What do search engines want
1. Let’s keep it simple: Search engines want useful, relevant answers to users’ searches in the most helpful formats.
What is RankBrain
1. RankBrain is the Machine Learning component of Google’s algorithm.
What does RankBrain mean for SEO
1. RankBrain is constantly learning. And Google will constantly use RankBrain to make sure users get the best information and best…you guessed it: User Experience possible. Keep those thoughts in mind when writing your content and RankBrain will be your new best friend.
What are the critical ranking factors
1. The Top 10 are: well-targeted content; crawlable website; quality & quantity of links; satisfies user intent; unique content; EAT: Expertise, Authority, Trust; fresh content; click-through rate(CTR); website speed; works on any device.
How do we classify search queries
1. Search queries can either be Navigational – you’re looking to go somewhere, Informational – you’re looking for facts or an answer to a question, or Transactional – you’re buying goods or services.
What is SERP?
1. SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page
How does SERP affect my results
1. SERPs are constantly evolving. They are produced by algorithms that filter the indexed search data to find what best matches a user’s query. Because the algorithms are being updated constantly, you may rank #1 for your keyword one day and then be knocked out of the top spot the next day. The reason why SERPs, and their algorithms, are so important is because your click-through rate(CTR) changes drastically from one position to the next.
What are SERP features
1. Ranking #1 for your keyword is great. But a lot of people don’t know that there is a “position 0” to consider in Google also. Position 0 is a more visual search result that appears at the top of the SERP, above all of the other organic results. As a result, the CTR of even the #1 organic result is lowered.
SERP vs Rich Snippets
1. Rich Snippets power features like “position 0” and Google’s Knowledge Graph. These snippets are important because they are starting to change the way users interact with SERPs. Starting to figure out how you can optimize for them would make a lot of sense. We may even cover it in this article 😉
Tools to analyze SERPs
1. Just like many of the other SEO metrics, there are tools available to analyze how rich snippets affect user behavior. You can search any keyword and location and these tools will rate the impact of SERP features on organic results.
What is search console
1. Google’s newest tool for analyzing your site’s performance in Google.
How does search console work
1. GSC connects to your site and monitors your CTR, impressions, possible penalties, as well as other important metrics.
Can I set search console up myself
1. Google is very good about giving instructions on how to set these things up. A few clicks, you may have to install a pixel or tag, and you should be good to go.
What is Google Analytics
1. GA works similarly to GSC. Think of it as your website’s dashboard. You can monitor anything going on with your website from one location.
How do I use Google Analytics
1. Use GA to monitor important search metrics to see how your site is performing. Things like click-through rate, clicks, and impressions can all be monitored here. You’ll even have access to Google Keyword Planner from here.
Can I set Google Analytics up myself
1. Yes. Google Ads will have instructions for you to walk through.
What does Google Analytics track
1. Click-through rate, impressions, traffic…everything you would want to know regarding your website’s performance.
Can google penalize me for bad links
1. If your links are spammy and low-quality, then yes, Google can penalize you. This is why we advise against purchasing backlinks. However, if poor links come to your site from a source outside of your control, Google understands. They may just not count the links or, worst case scenario, you’ll have to disavow them.
What is the anatomy of a google search listing
1. An organic search listing has the same basic anatomy: the hyperlink text with a meta description underneath. Now, depending on your search intent, different rich snippet features may show up such as: product carousels, featured snippets, maps, and local results. Paid ads always show up on top, and at the very bottom of every page you have your People Also Ask(PAA) section.
What are the different Google Algorithms
1. Google’s most recent algorithm is BERT. We talked about him. But some of the other influential updates were: Panda, Penguin, and Hummingbird
What is the purpose of each google algorithm
1. Panda rewards good content and penalizes bad content: Penguin started to police spammy links and sites. And Hummingbird was an update to both Panda and Penguin. These three updates paved the way for BERT, and for Google to become more “human”.
How do I avoid making web crawlers angry
1. Don’t keyword stuff, put alt text on your images, use proper headings, and make your URLs well-formatted.
What is customer intent
1. The reason behind a user’s search
How does customer intent affect SEO
1. Algorithms are constantly being updated to match search results to user intent as best as possible. Google will bring up search results based on that intent.
What is the EAT algorithm
1. Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness
What percentage of traffic do results on the 1st page get
1. 90.5% of traffic
How does Google think about SEO
1. Start small for big results – small incremental changes can really move your ranking. Don’t be scared of changes/updates. Consolidate pages, content, you name it. Smaller means faster, and Google’s got the need for speed!
What does trust have to do with SEO
1. Trust is a part of the EAT algorithm which Google lists as an official ranking factor. Trust is created by high quality backlinks among other things.
Will personalizing my site help me rank better
1. Yes. If google knows your profile, and someone searches for your good or service, you may show up higher because of being located in the same state, country, or neighborhood as the searcher.
What is BERT
1. BERT is Google’s latest algorithm update
How has the recent BERT update affected SEO
1. BERT has essentially made Google more human. A new feature called Natural Language Processing(NLP) enables Google to understand more of our search language.
What is the knowledge graph
1. The knowledge graph is another SERP feature within Google. It shows up on the right-hand side of the screen and includes a brief rundown of the topic your user has searched. Think of it as a search result “flashcard”.
How does the knowledge graph change SEO
1. Featured snippets like the knowledge graph and “position 0” are changing SEO because they push organic results further down the screen. They also provide instant answers to some search queries, so users may not even scroll past them to do further research.
How do I keep up with search engine requirements
1. Keeping an eye on the newest things Google is doing is important, but there’s no need to constantly freak out about the newest update. Keep an ear to the ground for any major changes, follow White Hat strategies, and monitor your analytics regularly and you will be well on your way to SEO success.
How does direct search affect SEO rankings
1. Branded searches help your rankings because it means people are looking for you specifically. This means you’ve positioned yourself as someone who has the answers your users are looking for
What is a featured snippet
1. Structured data that will usually show up in Google’s new SERP features like “position 0” and the Knowledge Graph
How do you test & see how google sees content on a page
1. The cached version of your site is how Google sees your page.
What is Google’s Rich Answer Box
1. It is “position 0” just below Google’s search bar. It will attempt to answer a user’s search directly.
How do SERP direct answers affect SEO
1. Direct answers are taking eyes away from organic search results and changing how users behave on Google.
Does a searcher’s history affect rankings
1. If a user has visited the same page before, or even visited your site in general, you’re more likely to show up in their search results
What is the QRG
1. Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines
What are the types of snippets
1. Rich snippets, featured snippets, Knowledge Graph, product carousels.
Are any snippets more important than others
1. The Knowledge Graph and the “Position 0” featured snippet are most important because they have become the most influential to how users interact with SERPs
Can Google crawl my links
1. This is a question you need to ask yourself. If anything prevents Googlebot from reaching a page of your website, that page cannot be crawled, indexed, and “seen” in Google.
What makes a link crawlable
1. In order to be crawlable, a link has to have: anchor text, an href attribute, a URL, and a closing tag.
How do I check my links’ crawlability
1. If you are using Google Chrome, you can right-click any link and then click inspect. A window will open to show you the HTML code and you can check to see if your link is in acceptable format.
What are rich results
1. Rich results are the new features in Google: Local results, direct answer boxes, knowledge graph, etc.
How do I help search engines find my images
1. In addition to using HTML images and alt text to make your image visible, an image sitemap will also help Googlebot crawl and index your content.
How can I analyze user behavior on my site
1. Using SEO tools like Google Analytics and heatmaps will help you get a better idea of how users are interacting with your site.
How can I choose what Google does and doesn’t crawl
1. Nofollow links a great way to “guide” Googlebot through your site’s content
How can I protect my website against spammy comments, etc.
1. Adding nofollow links to message boards and comment threads is a great way to do this. The good news is that most website builders already automatically nofollow these features of your site. You may just want to double check with your website provider, though.
What is Google doing to protect against web spam
1. Google has been working hard with developers to combat spam. Google discovered approximately 25 billion pages per day that were deemed “spammy”. Due to their hard work, Google has reduced user spam by 80% in 2018.
How does Google evaluate page experience
1. In order to rank well in Google’s new page experience guidelines pages will need to be fast, responsive, safe, and mobile-friendly.
What are Core Web Vitals
1. The new user-centric metrics Google is using to address page experience. Core Web Vitals created the backbone of BERT, Google’s latest algorithm update.
What is GoogleBot
1. GoogleBot is a web bot that does the actual crawling and indexing of your site.
What kind of links can googlebot discover
1. To be discoverable, links need to be HTML links.
What kind of URLs are ok for Googlebot
1. If the URL can be copy & pasted into your web browser, and it still works, then it should be fine for Googlebot.
Can Googlebot understand fragmented URLs
1. Fragments are fine to use when linking to a piece of content within the page. Sometimes websites will use fragmented (or hash) URLs to link to different content and that’s when things can get dicey.
Should I use Google’s website translator for international SEO
1. Translating your content is one of the quickest ways to optimize internationally. However, experts recommend hiring a native speaker to translate your content. Google translate is great for what it does but, unfortunately, Google doesn’t understand all of the nuances of human language just yet.
How can I test my site’s rich results
1. You can either add Guided Recipe structured data to a page, and then submit the URL, or you can use the Rich Results Tool provided by Google.
What is Google Tag Manager
1. GTM is a dashboard that helps you monitor various features of your website
How can I use it to help with SEO
1. Using GTM, you can add pixels from other websites like Facebook to monitor traffic, conversions, etc.
What is Element Visibility
1. The newest feature of Google Tag Manager(GTM) that helps you keep track of your site’s speed.
What is the default page in Google Analytics
1. The default URL in GA is used to fix an issue where the same page of your website may load several times.
What is Direct Traffic according to Google
1. Direct traffic is any traffic that has accessed your website directly, according to Google.
What are the different types of direct traffic
1. Bot traffic, “Type-in” or Bookmark traffic, clicking on a link from HTTPS to HTTP page, redirect traffic, clicking on a link from a document, mobile apps, shortened URLs, and missing Google Analytics code
How can I fix direct traffic issues
1. You will have to explore the different causes and figure out what exactly is causing your increase in direct traffic. The best place to start, though, is to review your tagging process.
What is Google Search Console (GSC)
1. This is your “dashboard” for dozens of metrics dealing with your organic Google traffic.
How do I set up Google Search Console
1. GSC needs to verify that you actually own the site you’re tracking. Create a GSC account, click ‘Add Property’, then enter all of the information for the site you’re wanting to track. That’s it! You’re all set up!
What is Google AMP Viewer
1. A hybrid environment where you can collect data about your users.
What is Signed Exchange
1. A signed exchange shows your content as coming from its origin, and permits you to use first party cookies to track data and analytics about your users.
Google AMP Viewer vs Signed Exchange
1. Google prefers linking to content that’s a signed exchange rather than using Google AMP Viewer in browsers that support Signed Exchange.
How does structured vs non-structured data affect AMP
1. Signed exchange is currently only supported on rich results(structured data) and regular results. And with Google prioritizing Signed Exchange, structuring your data only makes sense to provide the best User Experience with AMP. Structured Data will also enable you to be seen in a host of special features on mobile.
What are Google’s guidelines for structured data to be included in search results
1. Logos need to be a certain image file and size and if you have a subscription-based site, Google recommends structured data for a subscription page and paywalled content.
What is a domain property in GSC
1. A property in GSC that reports metrics for every combination of protocol and subdomain for the domain.
What are the main benefits of a domain property
1. Easy to identify subdomains and indexed versions of your site; easy to spot indexing issues; protect against hacking; track changes in traffic overall for your entire domain.
What are search engines NOT looking for
1. Any of the Black Hat SEO strategies will hurt you in SERPs. It can be tempting to use them, but don’t do it. It will just hurt you in the long run.
What is the “zero-click search landscape”
1. Rich results are changing the way that users interact with SERPs. People don’t even have to scroll through organic results anymore to get what they’re after. Direct answer snippets, the Knowledge Graph, and Featured Snippets can give people answers they need without even clicking a single link.
How do I adapt my website for “zero-click” searching
1. Target the featured snippet positions. Look for clicks-per-search when you do your keyword research. Make sure your site is optimized on Google’s own products.
How can YouTube help my SEO
1. Not many people know this, but YouTube has become the second most popular search engine behind Google. That’s it. That’s enough reason to start digging into YouTube and start developing a strategy.
What kind of YouTube channel should I make
1. You should create a Business Channel on YouTube. You can allow multiple users to login and access this type of channel, and it also gives you analytics which will be very helpful.
What metrics should I watch on YT
1. A quick google search can give you an answer to this. The reason we’re not diving into it here is that there are many metrics to follow(just like with Google). Like any SEO strategy, set your goals before you start leveraging YouTube. This will be the “guiding light” that tells you which metrics are going to be most important to YOUR business.
Is paid YT traffic effective
1. YouTube is the 3rd most popular paid traffic platform. 48% of marketers are putting money toward YouTube. We would say it’s a good time to jump in!
Have PPC ads become more effective recently
1. We’ve just gone through, and are still going through, a global pandemic. Everyone being quarantined has caused an increase in online sales. However, as a society, online sales have been increasing for years. That trend is only going to continue. Yes, PPC ads have become more effective recently. And with our economy making a massive shift to the internet, we believe they will only continue that trend.
What are common PPC ad mistakes
1. Running ads without contact information, No quicklinks or favicon, and ads are typically not optimized for the Google Display Network.
What is the Google Display Network
1. This is the network of websites where your ads can appear. There are over 2 million sites.
What is a favicon
1. A small, clickable icon/logo image. Similar to a desktop shortcut. An example would be the “W” from Wikipedia. Clicking that from within any article will bring you to Wikipedia’s search home page.
How do I set up an effective PPC campaign
1. PPC ads are considered contextual ads because they’re made visible based on the context of a user’s search. With the search and marketing landscape changing, you really need to see how contextual ads are performing before you jump in and start to spend your marketing budget on PPC. Analyze ads you’ve ran in the past and ads from competitors to get a clear picture on what is working and what isn’t.
What metrics should I analyze for PPC
1. Like all marketing strategies, it depends on the goals of your campaign, but some key metrics are: click-through rate, conversion rate, cost per opportunity, customer acquisition cost, and customer lifetime value,
What is Google Keywords Planner
1. Keywords Planner is a free tool provided by Google that is a great resource for finding out what terms Google users are searching around your product/service.
How do I use Google Keywords Planner effectively
1. Keyword Planner not only gives you access to what users are searching, but how often they’re searching it. Use these search volume metrics to your advantage. It may help you identify opportunities within competitive industries/areas.
How can I identify emerging topics through keywords
1. Keyword Planner tracks volume metrics from year to year. You can keep an eye on certain keyword terms/phrases and start to identify emerging topics where you start to see an increase in search traffic.
What is Answer the Public
1. Answer the Public is a “discussion board” site similar to Reddit or Quora.
How can Answer the Public be used to improve SEO
1. Some SEO experts are using Answer the Public in conjunction with Keyword Planner to get a more well-rounded idea of what terms/phrases would be useful to their industry.
Can I defend my #1 ranking for paid traffic
1. Understand that there will naturally be some fluctuation to ranking positions. However, that being said, you can use a couple strategies to protect your ranking position. The first is to scan your top-ranked competitors for trademark infringements and report them to the search engines. The second would be having and enforcing clear partnership/affiliate agreements.
What is “Position 0”
1. Position 0 sits right above the #1 ranked organic search result in Google. It is typically a direct answer snippet, and can be targeted by optimizing for featured snippets.
What is Quora
1. Quora is a “discussion board” site like Reddit or Answer the Public.
How can Quora help my SEO
1. Quora can help SEO because it can be another source for keyword research. Also, Quora is structured in an “FAQ-type” format. Not only can you get a better idea of keywords/keyword phrases, but you can also see how your users are phrasing their questions and use this info to further enhance their UX. You can also drive traffic to your site by interacting on Quora on threads that relate to your industry.
What is the “Barnacle Method” of SEO
1. Combine Quora’s traffic with traffic from Google. Quora ranks high in Google for a large number of questions. If you give a helpful, insightful answer on a Quora post, users will find it there and in Google as well.
How do I adjust my SEO after Google’s removal of “Spot 0”
1. Gotcha! This is a trick question! Google’s Spot 0 wasn’t removed. What happened at first was, if your site ranked for Spot 0 it would show up twice. Once in Spot 0 and then again down lower in the organic results. All Google did was remove the redundant listing down below in the organic results.
How will Google BERT affect my rankings
1. If you’re doing things the right way, and making your pages as fast, helpful, and simple as possible, you will be fine. Google wants their search engine to deliver the best experience for internet users. That’s their goal. BERT is just the most recent update moving Google toward this end. However, BERT is only in the beginning stages so it’s best to get in line now!
Which SERP gets the most clicks
1. Featured snippets get the highest number of clicks out of all SERP features.
What if I’m seeing more impressions than clicks
1. This could mean that the SERP for that particular keyword has a featured snippet that is getting the majority of the clicks.
What is an impression
1. An impression just means that your ad/link was seen. Whether it was clicked or not is not taken into account.
What is Branded SEO
1. Branded SEO is a movement away from traditional ranking factors. In the near future, users will be looking at whether your business is a reputable brand. Work on increasing your brand searches on Google in order for users to find you.
What is a YMYL site
1. Any page that Google thinks can affect someone’s health, financial stability, happiness, or safety.
What is a product feed
1. The product feed is a Google feature allowing users to filter by item, style, department, size, etc. This is where your product descriptions come into play.
What is a NAP
1. NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone Number. In order to properly optimized, your NAP must be IDENTICAL across all platforms and listings.
What is Google’s newest notification update
1. Websites that ask for an opt-in as soon as their page loads are now only allowed to use quiet notifications.
How will the notification update affect my site
1. You know that guy at the used car lot? The one who runs up and asks you if you need help as soon as you step out of your car? We don’t want to be that guy. That’s what this update is doing. Just play it cool. Don’t rush to ask for an opt-in right away. When you do ask for an opt-in make sure your users understand the benefits of opting in and let them choose what notifications to receive and how often.
What is average position on Google
1. This was a metric on Google that is no longer available. It showed how a particular ad/link performed with top vs. side placement.
How does the retiring of average position on Google affect SEO
1. People are no longer bidding based on a certain position. It’s just another step in the bigger plan for Google to move away from metrics and focus more on users.
What is top vs side CTR
1. This shows how the click-through rate of your ad/link is affected by either a top placement or side placement.
Should I really worry about top vs side CTR
1. No. Don’t get caught up in these metrics. You want to look at them as part of a bigger picture, but you should just be optimizing them toward your own individual goals and KPIs.
What are “People Also Ask” results
1. At the bottom of the Google SERP you will see People Also Ask. These are other queries users are searching that relate to the original query.
Can I use “People Also Ask” results for SEO
1. People Also Ask results are a good “hack” for keyword research. In addition to your original query, PAA is also showing you the other most popular ways users are phrasing similar searches.
How do Google & Amazon help each other
1. Amazon is buying Adwords from Google and Google places Amazon products in their carousels, as well as ranks Amazon for about half of the organic results below the carousel.
What is Searchmetrics
1. Searchmetrics is an independent company that studied the relationship between Google and Amazon. Two of the giants of the internet. The relationships Searchmetrics has uncovered can help many other business advertising on the internet.
Why is Google Adwords important
1. The amount of money Amazon is spending on Google Adwords gives them a dominant position on results pages for product searches. If Amazon is putting that much money into Google Adwords, wouldn’t it help you in your industry?
How does Amazon’s strong presence in Google affect me
1. Amazon has a “strong presence” for one domain because of consistent ad spend on Adwords, as well as many top-ranking organic results. This means everytime you search for a product on Google, Amazon will probably be in your face.
Can Google help me with branding
1. Yes. The analytics tools Google offers allow you to get a detailed vision of who your audience is, and also what their behaviors are.
What Google features can I use to increase my visibility in searches
1. Google My Business can help you to be more visible in searches.
How can Google’s G Suite help me with branding
1. Google’s G Suite is a cloud service that allows you to create custom domains and even host a store server.
What is the secret key for leveraging Google for branding
1. Filling out your NAP(Name, Address, Phone Number) and keeping it consistent across all entries is key for leveraging Google.
How is the consumer driving changes in SEO
1. Google is focusing on things like customer experience and search intent. There has also been a rise in voice and mobile searching. All of these consumer behavior changes are going to change the face of SEO over the coming years.
What role does machine learning play in search
1. Google is using machine learning to rank content based more on factors like EAT and user experience, rather than traditional SEO metrics.
What are entities
1. Google defines an entity as something that is singular, unique, well-defined, and distinguishable
How are entities changing the search landscape
1. Entities are basically Google’s link to understanding and processing things the way humans do.
What is NLP
1. Natural Language Processing
How is NLP affecting user search experience
1. NLP enables Google to better predict our search intent and bring us better results based on our search queries.
What is AI
1. Artificial Intelligence
What will AI-driven SEO look like
1. SEOers will be able to use AI and smart automation to scale up their efforts.
What media are modern search moving toward
1. The modern search landscape will move more toward visual and voice search.
What does modern internet search mean for SEO
1. The way society, and modern search, are moving puts SEO at the forefront of the marketing table.
What is an Algorithmic penalty
1. When a Google update is introduced, if you’re not following the new guidelines your ranking could suffer.
What is a manual penalty
1. This happens when your website is penalized directly by a Google employee. These are more drastic punishments used for spammy behavior.
How do I keep up with Google’s constant updates
1. You can’t. Google is constantly releasing updates. Best practices are to focus on providing the best user experience possible and keep your own business goals in mind.
What can I do to rank better on Google
1. Focus on the holistic “digital experience” of your website, don’t chase the algorithm updates, and just follow Google’s rules.
Does how much time my users spend on my site matter
1. Not necessarily. People used to think users had to be on your site for a long time. Now, it might actually be a good thing if they leave quickly. It could mean that you provided them the answer they were looking for in a short time, which is what Google wants.
Is “amount of unique visitors” an accurate metric
1. No, not really. You need to dig deeper into the demographics of your audience in order to find out what type of content to provide them.
Are traffic reports enough to identify a successful campaign
1. You need to analyze data from all reports within Google Analytics. It’s the only way to get the whole picture of what’s going on with your site.
What is Quantum Supremacy
1. In addition to everything else they’ve done, Google has now achieved Quantum Supremacy(shocking, I know). This basically means that they’ve developed a quantum computer that can quickly process tasks it would take current supercomputers several thousand millenia to accomplish.
What should I know about the new BERT algorithm
1. The biggest thing to get about BERT is that it’s making Google more human. Think of anybody you know attempting to learn a new language. They don’t learn it overnight, right? That’s what Google is doing. Each consecutive update – from Panda to Penguin to Hummingbird – was basically Google getting more “fluent” in human communication. What does all this mean? Well, it’s the first huge step away from traditional SEO metrics. BERT is launching a new age of search where results are going to truly be merit and relevancy-based. You can’t backlink your way to the top anymore!
How does BERT affect content
1. BERT is not only moving us toward more merit and relevancy-based content, it’s also moving us more toward NLP-based content.
What is NLP
1. Natural Language Processing
Do I need to be an expert to leverage BERT and NLP
1. I would argue the opposite. NLP is just a fancy way of saying that BERT and Google are getting better at understanding human interaction. To me, that means the more naturally your content flows, the better.
Is there a tool to help analyze NLP
1. In true Google fashion, there is already a tool to test how your content does from an NLP perspective. Just google “Google NLP Tool” and you should have no problem finding it.
What is a branded query
1. When users type your brand name directly into Google search.
How does Google treat entities
1. Entities are the next step in Google becoming more human in the way it processes queries. Entities are viewed as a singular, unique, distinguished object. It could be a person or theory. Entities are Google’s way of getting better at predicting the results that will be most helpful to users based on their search and search intent.
Can entities be used to boost my ranking
1. Entities are typically shown in the featured snippet sections of Google’s SERPs. If you can focus on optimization for these areas of Google SERPs then they can definitely boost your rankings.
How do search engines use entities
1. Search engines are using mathematical models to map entities to user queries. Entities are a truly amazing update because now search engines have a way to map things that are complex thoughts and theories. It has nothing to do with language or spelling anymore. Essentially, search engines are “thinking” now(Creepy!). Because entities are fairly new to the search landscape, we don’t know how they’re going to affect search results just yet, but we’d be willing to bet they will be important.
What effect does BERT have on entities
1. Entities are at the core of natural language processing models like BERT. What BERT does is it allows Google to return results that include the small nuances of human communication. What does that mean for the user? Less digging and quicker answers.
Are entities a ranking factor
1. Entities aren’t officially a ranking factor, but they affect keywords and links; 2 very important ranking factors.
How long have entities been around
1. Entities have been showing up in search for over ten years.
Why do Google and SEO struggle with user search
1. Google is attempting to understand what users are searching for without seeing or hearing them, and then SEOers are attempting to work backwards from what they think Google will understand most about a certain site or topic. It’s like that game telephone. Someone starts off by saying a phrase, and by the time it gets to the end of the line it’s totally different than what it started as.
What is semantic mapping
1. Semantic mapping is the way search engines connect the dots between concepts and entities.
What is semantic coding
1. Semantic coding allows websites to show the meaning of content, and not just how it’s presented.
How does semantic markup help
1. It all boils down to communication. Semantic markup helps Google understand the key information on our site.
What is an intent table
1. Any particular search query can have multiple intents behind it. An intent table is a search engine’s way of identifying and mapping out the intent behind a search.
How do intent tables help bridge the gap between search engines and users
1. Intent tables bring search engines a long way closer to really understanding users. Users can now get the results they need faster because search engines are able to assess the intent behind their queries. And they’re usually spot-on!
Does Google My Business (GMB) become more important during times of crisis
1. Since things take a more “local” approach in uncertain times, GMB becomes very important. You’ll want to make sure to update any changes in hours, delivery routes, locations, etc. to make sure your customers are kept in the loop.
What are Google Alerts
1. Google Alerts allows you to filter new internet results for particular topics. Just type in a word, or phrase, into Google Alerts and you’ll be notified when it pops up in Google results.
What is Google Alerts link building
1. Google Alerts can be a powerful tool for SEO by setting up alerts for keywords/key phrases you would like to rank for. It’s kind of like a “back door” link building strategy.
How do quotation marks help in targeting fresh mentions
1. Quotation marks enable you to search for a whole string of terms, rather than just individual terms. You can target more long-tail phrases this way.
Should I set up more than one Google Alert
1. Yes, set up more than one. Set up alerts for your brand, your product and services, focus keywords, or personalities associated with your brand.
What is the Blank Sheet of Paper Test
1. The Blank Sheet of Paper Test is a quick way to see if your site is optimized for NLP. If you wrote just the title of your content down on a blank sheet of paper, would people know what it’s about?
How does the Blank Sheet test help with NLP
1. If the title of your content, when written on a blank sheet of paper, makes sense to a stranger who has never encountered your brand before, it means your content should do well with NLP.
What does “word frequency” mean
1. Word frequency is the amount that any word shows up in a given piece of content, and it’s helpful for conducting the Blank Sheet of Paper Test with machines.
Does word frequency still work with BERT
1. To an extent. BERT is smarter than former algorithms. BERT is also looking at the order of our words, parts of speech, and is also checking to see if there are any entities present in our content.
How will snippets affect my site
1. Snippets are affecting the search landscape because of the real estate they take up in Google. In addition, they are also tied to entities, which are becoming a larger part of the search landscape.
How does Google value links
1. Think of links as a “vote”. The more votes a page gets, the more popular it becomes. And the more popular it becomes, the more weight gets assigned to its future votes.
What does the removal of “position #0” really mean
1. Position 0 is the featured snippet that sits right above the #1 organic search result. It wasn’t removed. In the past, a site that ranked for the snippet also had their same link visible down below in the organic results. Essentially giving them 2 spots on the first page. All Google did is remove the repeat listing in the organic search results.
Does this mean I should turn off featured snippets
1. When Google made the position 0 removal announcement, the SEO community went nuts. Talking about deoptimizing their content for snippets. You’re essentially shooting yourself in the foot by doing that. You’re deoptimizing your content(aka taking a hit to your CTR) just to avoid taking a hit to your CTR. You can’t chase every Google update. Relax, roll with the punches, and keep optimizing the best way you know how.
What is a Google “Core Update”
1. Google does several core updates throughout the year. These are changes to the algorithms Google uses, as well as ranking factor adjustments.
What do Core Updates mean for my site
1. The most recent core update was May 2020. Certain industries took a hit in rankings. These drops in rankings are short term though. Your best plan of action is to learn the new things Google is asking for and continue to optimize accordingly.
What did the most recent update affect
1. Websites with apps and newer sites were being rewarded.
Which industries were most impacted by the recent Core Update
1. The industries most affected were travel, real estate, health, pets & animals, people & society. However, things went back to normal 2 days later when Google reversed the update.
What should I do if my site was hit by a Core Update
1. Negative ranking changes may not indicate there is anything wrong with your site. Google has issued a list of questions to ask yourself if your site has been negatively affected by the update.
Can I protect my site against future Core Updates
1. The only way you can protect your site is to continue to abide by Google’s best practices for SEO.
What can I improve to balance Core Update effects
1. According to Google, the best thing you can do is keep creating quality content.
What questions should I be asking after a Core Update
1. Ask yourself if your site is as optimized as it can be. How are your headlines, tags, HTML, meta descriptions? Can you make your site faster? There is no “magic question” that will help you address post-update damage. Keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll be fine. Google has a more detailed list of questions available, but I’m sure it will look very familiar to you. Google’s best practices still hold true.
Can I mass-produce content to combat the most recent update
1. People may think this is a bright idea, and it may give you a rankings boost in the short term, but ultimately it will negatively affect you. Google doesn’t want spammy content that is mass-produced and then thrown up on several different websites. Google wants unique, relevant content.
Why exactly is page speed important to Google
1. Google hasn’t directly been incorporating page speed into its ranking factors. They care about it more from a user experience perspective.
What are CrUX metrics
1. These 5 metrics track aspects of your site’s speed that will affect user experience. They are: first paint, first input delay, DOM content loaded, onload, and then contentful paint.
Where do I get CrUX data
1. The best way to get this data is to look at PageSpeed Insights.
What are Google’s Core Web Vitals
1. Largest Contentful Paint – how long it takes for the largest elements on your site to load; First Input Delay – how long it takes your site to react to the first interaction by the user; Cumulative Layout Shift – does stuff jump around on screen.
What are the metrics used by Lighthouse
1. First Contentful Paint, Speed Index, Largest Contentful Paint, Time to Interactive, Total Blocking Time, Cumulative Layout Shift.
How can I use “near me” searches as a local business
1. Google is starting to like these searches more and more. They focus heavily on providing answers to searches like these because it’s how we, as humans, ask questions. You may have to get creative and optimize for a few different keywords and variants to optimize for these types of searches.
What sites is Google’s newest update pushing to the top
1. Google’s newest update is aimed at forcing sites that people love the most to the top of the rankings.
How does Google’s newest update affect branding
1. Branding, and branded queries, are more important now than ever before. People need to know, trust, and interact with your brand in order for you to do well in the modern search landscape.
What is Google Discover
1. Google Discover is a “Top Stories”-type newsfeed available through Google on your mobile device. It can be a good resource for finding out what people are talking about around a given industry.

Content

What should I know when it comes to organic keyword research
1. Organic keyword research is instrumental in helping you understand your target market. It allows you to put yourself in your customers’ shoes and see how they’re searching for your brand, what words they’re using, and what questions they ask. Once you understand your customer, you want to dig deeper into specific long-tail and short-tail keywords. Make sure that the keywords you choose to target are searched enough times to make an impact in your industry.
Where do I find keywords?
1. Google has tools available for keyword research. You can create a Google Ads account and get access to their Keyword Planner. But if you’re just starting out, you can use Google itself. Have you ever gone to Google, and as you start typing your search more options pop up below it in bold? Those options that pop up are based on what the most popular searches are in Google. You can jot them down and use them as a jumping off point for your keyword research!
Why are keywords important
1. Depending on your industry, keywords can be very competitive. That is why research is so important. Finding the right keywords will help drive more traffic to your site. And not just more traffic, but more targeted traffic who want what you’re selling.
What is ‘keyword stuffing’
1. Keyword stuffing is the act of abusing your keyword within your website content. Let’s say you’re trying to rank for the term “puppy food”. Keyword stuffing would just be repeatedly working the term “puppy food” into your article to the point where it sounded unnatural to the reader.
How do I know when I’m using the right number of keywords?
1. Experts differ on this subject. The main thing to keep in mind is the flow of your content. It’s worth repeating: you should write your content, and then go back and add keywords/key phrases at the end. Writing content this way will ensure you keep a nice flow to your article or post. If you’re one of those people that absolutely NEED a number, try to stick to once every 250 words.
How long do SEO articles need to be
1. This will vary based on the keyword you’re trying to rank for, and there has been some debate on it, but experts say that articles should be between 1400-1600 words to be considered quality content.
What does long-tail mean
1. Long-tail keywords are longer phrases made up of multiple words. For example, if you were a real estate agent one of your long-tail keywords may be “need to sell my house fast”.
What does short tail mean
1. Short-tail keywords are individual words. For example, if you were a real estate agent one of your short-tail keywords might just be “house”.
How do I write SEO-friendly copy
1. Making your content useful and informative is the best way. In fact, experts suggest going back and adding your keywords AFTER you’ve written the article. That way you don’t get so preoccupied with including your keywords that it disrupts the flow of your content.
Does duplicate content affect SEO
1. Yes. Duplicate content can hurt your site’s ranking on-page and off-page. Duplicate pages, duplicate domains, and copying content across pages are just a few of the things that can hurt your SEO results.
How do I improve my site’s relevancy
1. It all starts with keywords. Find out what your customers are searching for online, and then make sure search engines understand that your site is about what your customers are searching.
What is organic content and how does it work
1. Organic content consists of the videos, infographics, and product pages that you put on your site. You can either have content with the purpose of driving traffic into your sales funnel, or broad content like blogs. The ultimate goal of your content is to rank higher in Google SERPs, which will then increase your visibility and traffic.
Why do I need alt text on my images
1. Contrary to popular belief, search engines do not have eyes. YET. (I’m pretty sure they’re working on it). But for now, their lack of eyes leaves them unable to see your images. Alt text helps search engines discover what the images on your site are about. Also, if your page has trouble loading, people can still figure out what your images are by reading the alt text.
How do you SEO images
1. Add text in the HTML markup of your webpage
What role does content play in SEO
1. Content is more than just an article or post. It’s what users are searching for. Content serves as a vessel for links and keywords. Links, keywords, and the fact that your content is helpful, will help search engines to see it among the other thousands of results that come back for your user’s search.
What questions should I ask for keyword research
1. What are people searching for? How many people are searching for it? How do they want the results?
Should I do high-volume or lower volume keywords
1. Big brands tend to dominate search results for the higher-volume keywords. Why? Because they can throw the most money at them. Your best bet is to shoot for the middle of the pack, or focus on some high-volume long-tail keywords that may not be as popular. This is where having a great Agency to work with comes in handy. They can come up with a nuanced “sneak attack” strategy to get you right in there with the big dogs!
How do I get strategic with search volume
1. Try to rank for high-volume keywords that your competitors aren’t ranking for. Also seasonal trends(i.e. Christmas) are a good thing to take advantage of with your content strategy. You could also vary keywords by region. Take, for example, the great soda debate: some people call soda “soda” and other areas of the country call it “pop”. Taking those regional differences into account may be a way for you to compete on more popular keywords.
Which format of keyword are searchers most likely to use
1. There is no one “best format”. Google favors 4 different formats based on the user’s search intent. They are: “know”(find information), “do”(accomplish a goal), “website”(find a specific website), or “visit-in-person”(visit a local business).
Are there tools to help with keyword research
1. There are a variety of tools: Google Keyword Planner, Moz Keyword Explorer, AnswerThePublic, and SpyFu Keyword Research Tool.
What is SEO writing
1. SEO writing is a form of copywriting that involves using content to rank for relevant keywords. It involves doing keyword research and then using that keyword in a relevant, useful article.
What are meta tags
1. Meta tags are important HTML code that describe a website’s content. The most important are meta titles and meta descriptions
How do meta tags affect SEO results
1. If there is an instance where Google doesn’t understand your content well enough, it will lean on meta tags to paint a clearer picture of what your site is about.
Do I need to SEO videos and infographics?
1. Yes. All content on your site should be optimized. Now, it’s not as simple as text, where you can just work in keywords. Optimizing your multimedia content is where HTML and meta tags come into play.
What is people engagement
1. This refers to all of social signals we know and love: likes, shares, upvotes, double-taps, etc.
How powerful is people engagement
1. Again we’re back to User Experience. Engagement on your content is HUGE. It’s basically one of your user’s saying “I found this content so interesting, so useful, and so valuable that I want to pass it along to a friend”. That’s SEO gold!
What do I focus on for Blog SEO
1. For a blog to rank well you need: original content, original research, original data, quality over quantity, be consistent with posting, and cooperate with companies and influencers.
What do I focus on for Product Pages SEO
1. Simplicity is very important for product pages. Describe the product clearly, show how much it is, and have a clear call-to-action (CTA). Use professional photos when you can, and make sure your web speed and UX are off the charts!
What is content SEO
1. Optimizing the text, photos, videos, etc. on your page to provide great UX.
What do I focus on for product review SEO
1. Choose a specific topic, don’t let your 5-star reviews be bought, create your own standard of what’s great and what’s poor, and be consistent.
Can case studies affect SEO
1. Case studies are always unique and are a great way of presenting fresh data. In that regard, they are great for SEO.
Can testimonials affect SEO
1. Testimonials won’t directly affect your ranking, but they are a HUGE step forward with respect to the EAT ranking factor.
How does original research/content affect SEO results
1. According to experts, anytime you can spend a little extra time, or money, doing your own research and compiling your own data, it’s a win. The best part is once you have your data you can repurpose it. You may post it as a blog article, and then make an infographic and video off of it as well.
Can the right headline boost my SEO
1. Yes. But you want to focus on making your headlines compelling so your users click them. Using keywords in them is great, but getting your users to engage with them is more of what you’re after.
Is there a way to test the optimization of my headline
1. Google “headline analyzer” and you will get some options to work with
What is the ideal blog post length
1. Opinions vary, but based on our research 1400-1600 words seems to be the sweet spot. Another way to look at it is that posts with a 7-minute reading time seem to be ideal.
Will duplicate content on other pages within my site hurt
1. First off, let me say: DO NOT copy someone else’s content. It’s plagiarism and not only is it wrong, but it will hurt your results. That being said, Google can tell whether or not you duplicated content on purpose, or just happened to do it as part of new content you were creating. If you are genuinely trying to provide great content to your users, and there happens to be some overlap, I wouldn’t worry. There are tools out there to detect plagiarism. Copyscape is one of them, and I’m sure a quick Google search can give you others.
Where do I find keywords
1. Google suggestions(those options that pop up in bold as you start to type your search) is a great place to start. You can also use one of the many keyword tools available on the internet.
What’s a keyword tool
1. When you search a particular keyword in a keyword tool, it will bring back all of the searches related to that keyword. It’s a great way to see variations of the keyword you’re trying to rank for. It will also show you search volume for each keyword. That way you can develop a targeted strategy of which ones to go after.
What are some good keyword tools
1. Google Keyword Planner, Moz Keyword Explorer, SpyFu Keyword Tool, AnswerThePublic, Quora, Reddit
What is the tripod rule (keywords)
1. Before choosing a keyword to target, make sure that it is: Popular – it has high enough volume; Rankable – the SEO difficulty isn’t too high; and Relevant – the search intent jives with your content.
Long tail keywords vs search volumes
1. Long-tail keywords generally have lower search volumes and can present a lot of opportunity for your SEO strategy.
What is keyword difficulty
1. This shows how difficult your keyword will be to rank for. It is generally scored 0-100. Any keyword with a score of 50+ will be challenging. Any keyword with a score of 85+, you should probably just scratch from your list.
How do I assess keyword difficulty
1. If you’re using a keyword research tool already, chances are that they evaluate keyword difficulty within that tool. Just be sure to use the same tool to evaluate difficulty, because sometimes the same keyword can have two different scores in two different tools because their algorithms are different.
What is search intent
1. This is the motivating factor behind your user’s search. What do they want to find out? What brought them to the web? How can you help them? These are all things to think about. It’s a good idea to keep search intent in mind when creating content. Constantly asking “how will this benefit the user” or “why would someone search this content out” is a great way to write high quality content.
Why is search intent important
1. Search intent goes hand-in-hand with UX. And Google is constantly updating to optimize for them more and more. We all know how frustrating it can be when you search for something and get results that aren’t helpful. That’s why search intent is important.
How do I find keywords with low SEO difficulty
1. Go LONG! Long tail, that is.
What are common mistakes made in keyword research
1. People newer to SEO will sometimes go after higher-volume keywords. They may also misinterpret data. Competition and keyword difficulty are NOT the same. And yet, some people view them as such. Competition is just that: the level of competition around a keyword. It is in no way an indicator of how hard it is to rank for that keyword.
How should you use a keyword in your content
1. We’ve already mentioned that keyword stuffing needs to be avoided at all costs. Choose one focus keyword per piece of content and use it: in the heading; in the meta description; in the first paragraph of text; and a few times within the text.
What are LSI keywords
1. Keywords that are semantically related to the seed keyword. They can be a great addition to your keyword research.
What is a seed keyword
1. This is the most basic keyword around what you’re looking for. Things like “coffee” or “pizza”.
What is guest posting
1. You write an article and post it on another website. Both parties win because you’re giving a colleague free content and you get a backlink.
What is content-based link building
1. The process of creating content that will naturally attract backlinks. This is where making an infographic or doing your own research may come into play.
What are the main elements of title tags & meta descriptions
1. SEO – using the right keywords; UX – Give your searchers what they want; Marketing – copy that hooks users in and gets them clicking.
How often should I update my website
1. As often as you can. It can vary from industry to industry, but doing it as often as possible is a general rule of thumb. Duplicate content and stale content matter.
How do I leverage Competitor Research
1. Look at the flow of their content and analyze their backlinks. Try to figure out what’s working for them that you’re not doing or, even better, try to figure out what they’re NOT doing that could be an opportunity for you.
Is it ok to use competitor research
1. Absolutely! I think it’s an element of any sound SEO strategy. You need to figure out what your competitors are doing to guide your keyword research and see where you can better serve your users.
What are the key points of content optimization
1. Research keywords and develop content that contains valuable keywords. Don’t make posts an off-topic rant. Each post should have a clearly defined purpose, and you should stick to it from beginning to end. Make sure you use proper heading, title, and image tags and internal links. Make your posts shareable, and give each one a featured image.
What are broken links
1. Broken links are links that no longer work. They direct users to pages on your site that are no longer there.
Why should I avoid broken links
1. The problem with broken links is that they can do damage to your brand reputation and hurt UX.
What is an alt tag/alt text
1. Descriptive text that can be used to describe pictures, video, and other non-text media on your site.
How do alt tags/alt text help SEO
1. They help search engines read elements of your site that they would otherwise be unable to see.
Which areas on my site should I analyze
1. Areas where unknown problems could be hiding are: URLs, images, headlines, and subheadings.
How do I optimize photos
1. Ensure the images are relevant to your content. Choose a filename that’s appropriate(maybe something around the keyword you’re ranking for). Use alt text. Make sure the image dimensions match the image size. Make the file size smaller so it loads faster. Include a caption to make your page more easily scannable.
Can I reuse old content
1. Yes, you can. Just be sure to update it and make sure it doesn’t duplicate the original post too closely.
What is Content Curation
1. Repurposing content effectively and improving on other people’s content. If you are going to write an article on a particular topic, do some research first. Find the best article on the subject and present the material in a more engaging, and more optimized, way.
How can I add fresh content to my website
1. Create a business blog and post new articles regularly. Update old content. Create new offers and landing pages here and there. Offer downloadable content like eBooks and infographics. (This is where doing your own research pays off).
Do I need more than just high quality content
1. Yes. You need content that engages, and you also need great UX.
How can I optimize my videos
1. Use video transcripts. Use keywords in your video’s title and description. Make your video easy to find. Google recommends using a new landing page for each video.
What are keyword modifiers
1. Terms like “top”, “how to” and “best” that you can add to your seed keyword for further targeting.
What is Document Relevancy
1. It’s a search engine’s opinion of how well what you’ve written relates to the user’s search query.
What is keyword cannibalization
1. Multiple pages from your site attempting to rank for the same keyword
What is an OG Image
1. Stands for Open Graph Image(Unfortunately, it’s not an Original Gangsta image). It’s the image people see when someone shares your link on social media platforms.
How does post volume affect SEO
1. As long as the posts are done properly, and follow White Hat strategies and Google Webmaster Guidelines, the more the merrier!
What is Scannability
1. How well can users answer their search by quickly scanning your article?
Should I use “click here” links in my content
1. Please don’t. You need links in your content but you want to sprinkle them in as organically as possible. Your best strategy is to use a 2-5 word phrase that naturally occurs within the body of your content. This is why we advise not adding links or keywords until after you’ve written your article. That way neither of them disrupt the flow of your post.
What is “keyword stemming”
1. Adding prefixes or suffixes to a seed keyword to create variants.
How does blogging play into SEO
1. Blogging is one of the main forms of content marketing. Blogs are great places for keyword placement, linking, and engaging your users.
How do I conduct a keyword search
1. You can use an online keyword tool like Google’s Keyword Planner or if you’re just getting started in SEO, use Google Suggestions. Those are the results that Google predicts for you as you’re typing your search.
How do you kill dangerous content to your site
1. Using nofollow links can help you to stop the harmful effects of dangerous content
How can I improve my blog SEO
1. Write great content, use keywords sparingly, and focus on the technical aspects as well(linking, URLs, tags, etc.)
What is guest blogging
1. Guest blogging is posting a blog on another website within your industry. The other website owner gets a piece of content, and you get a link back to your site that will boost your authority!
What are some keyword research mistakes
1. Picking the wrong keyword and ignoring the competition.
What are some keyword research tips
1. Focus on search intent
How can I improve an already-ranked site with keyword research
1. If your site is already ranking, you can start to map your keywords to landing pages to help improve the rankings you already have.
Do I need to target every keyword?
1. No, you don’t. In fact, it’s better to focus on keywords where you can maximize your opportunity.
How long should my headline and permalink names be
1. Headlines and permalinks shouldn’t be longer than 55 characters in order to rank well in SERPs
Are comment threads important for SEO
1. Turning your comment threads off can be tempting as a method to prevent spam or bad reviews. DON’T DO IT. You can tell Google to bypass them anyway with a nofollow link. Leaving the comment thread active will show as a strong social signal. And be mindful of getting rid of spam comments.
What is a PBN
1. PBN stands for Private Blog Network. They are basically blogs and domains that have already expired.
Should I use PBNs on my site
1. Using PBNs would be considered a Gray Hat strategy. They can definitely boost your rankings in the short term. You have to decide if the risk is worth it for you. Our recommendation would be to stay away.
Will I get penalized if I use PBNs
1. Yes. You can potentially get penalized. Sites that have been able to avoid the penalties can claim some of the top spots on Google but, again, you have to decide if it’s worth the risk for you.
Does my content need to be optimized for multiple search engines
1. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about Google. They have gathered so much data over the past 10+ years that they’ve started to dictate trends in search. That being said, however, Bing and Yahoo are also giant search engines that need to be considered. Also, a “lesser” search engine like Bing or Yahoo may offer you some “hidden gem” opportunities to rank well in your industry.
What are the 2 most important factors of my site’s content
1. The quality and the relevance of your content are the 2 most important things to focus on. A close second would be making sure you don’t stuff too many keywords into your article. Always proofread to make sure your articles are reading well.
What type of videos work best for YouTube marketing
1. Here are some video ideas for YouTube: Behind the scenes videos; “Best of” videos; Explainer videos; Interviews; and Product Demos, just to name a few. Have fun with it! This is an opportunity to be creative in your business.
How do I come up with YT video content
1. We’ve given you some ideas for content format in this article. In addition, make sure your content is brand-conscious. Have your logo in the video, but don’t have it overwhelm the screen. Putting a strong CTA at the end of your videos will also help you to leverage YouTube.
What elements of a YT video are important for SEO
1. Focus more on the content of your video than the production quality? What story are you trying to tell? Who are you trying to tell it to? What do you want in return? These are key questions that will help you to frame your content. Pay attention to tags, keywords, and headlines as well.
How do I make “viral worthy” content
1. First and foremost, your content needs to be useful, helpful, or provide value in some way. Throwing some shock value in is bound to get people sharing your content across platforms. Who knows? It may even go viral!
Can increasing content production help me with SEO
1. As long as you can keep your content relevant, useful, and high quality, more posts will only help you. Studies have shown that websites that post optimized blog content two to four times per week show the highest number of leads and conversions.
What is content clustering
1. Placing several more detailed articles revolving around one particular keyword on the same page.
How can I use content clustering to increase my site traffic
1. The main purpose of Google’s algorithm is to match all of the info it’s indexed to the user’s individual search query. Clustering content in this way will increase your page’s relevancy to a particular term that the user is searching.
What makes a content cluster effective
1. Targeting long-tail keywords, publishing 10x/Skyscraper content, and performing a content audit to avoid keyword cannibalization are all strategies to maximize the effectiveness of your cluster.
How can I use my FAQ page to increase CTR
1. If you provide links to relevant content within your site, that will help to increase your CTR.
How can I make my FAQ page even more effective
1. Make sure your FAQ answers are more than one sentence. The answers you provide should be able to be used as a complete answer. Optimize your answers as well. You can enhance this optimization by using jump links at the top of the page.
What is a jump link
1. A jump link is a hyperlink that can help a user “jump” to a helpful section of a bigger article. You may use your jump links to link to sections that provide an answer to a popular question, provide directions to your nearest location, or any other number of things that searchers may want to know.
How can I create a jump link
1. A jump link is created by using a specific format of HTML code: <a id=”jump”></a> . The word in quotes is the label you want to give your jump link on your page.
How do I guest post effectively
1. Firstly, you want to focus on good sites with high authority. You also want to make sure you’re guest posting content relevant to their site. If you can create an on-going alliance with particular websites or authors, this can be a great way to post at scale and really ramp up your rankings!
What are the SEO benefits to guest authors
1. Guest authors can add some variety to your content. They can also expose your site to a new audience, give your site fresh perspective, get you additional backlinks, and increase the focus on the coverage of your topic. Adding this type of variety and depth to your content will help to boost traffic to your site.
What’s better for content: length or quality
1. Quality. You don’t want quality that is too thin, but if you’re just rambling on to reach a certain character limit, it’s going to hurt you. Especially in the Age of BERT.
What SEO tools will help me brand on YouTube
1. Keyword Planner, Rank Tracker, YouTube Autocomplete, Keywordtool.io, Kparser, Keywords Everywhere.
What tools can I use to audit my YouTube channel
1. YouTube Analytics, Social Blade, Quintly, TubeBuddy, VidIQ, Tubics.
How do I research my competitors on YouTube
1. Use tools like Rival IQ, NoxInfluencer, SocialInsider, and Vaizle to see your competitor’s SEO rankings.
What is SEO copywriting
1. Writing web copy that is optimized for keywords and to help increase your rankings in SERPs
How can I increase my traffic with content
1. Writing good web copy, especially SEO copy, will give your content more visibility and increase the number of visitors to your site.
What is a KEI
1. KEI stands for Keyword Effectiveness Index
What should the KEI of a “good” keyword be
1. A keyword with a KEI greater than 1 would be a good keyword for you to target.
How do I know if I’m guilty of “keyword stuffing”
1. A common benchmark is to measure your keyword density against the total length of your copy. It’s been said that, to avoid keyword stuffing, your keyword density should be less than 5%.
Can “People Also Ask” results help with my site content
1. You can pull user questions from the PAA results and create on-page FAQs.
How can I leverage Google with my FAQ page
1. You can use FAQPage Schema to target direct answer features on Google.
How do I conduct effective competition research
1. Pick the right competitors, think about what exactly you want to find out, use a tool to get the data you’re looking for, and apply it to your own website.
Where do I locate these competitors
1. Locate them by doing keyword research for your industry and then seeing who else consistently ranks higher than you for those keywords.
Is there an SEO tool to help me analyze my competition
1. A quick Google search can help you find a tool to analyze your competitors.
What are the 2 major types of competitors
1. Topic competitors and Domain Competitors.
How do I analyze my competitors SEO
1. Look at their overall SEO health, their ranking keywords, and backlinks
What are “keyword gaps”
1. These are keywords that your competition is already targeting, but you are not. It’s important to address these. Jot them down, and start to see how you can work them into your content.
Are there any unique ways to gain keyword insights
1. Tracking the entire customer journey can help you get a better idea of what brought a customer to you. You can more easily see at what point along the journey they visited you and why. You can also see what keywords they were searching at that time to locate you. All of this information would be gold for targeting your SEO campaigns.
Do I need to be more careful about the source of my guest blogs
1. Yes! You should be looking at the domain authority of the site, as well as its relevance. Remember: EAT.
How do I improve guest blog sources
1. After qualifying relevancy and domain authority, you should qualify these sources further by checking on their site visibility. If their site is easily visible, that means they’re ranking well. Good news for you! This would be a site worth working with.
How can social media influencers play a role in guest posting
1. You can leverage quality links you’ve made to an influencers content by showing them. Show them the links you’ve made to them when pitching them on working together. Keep track of the links you make, and including them in your pitch can be a solid strategy for building partnerships.
What steps do I take to make my website a brand
1. Write your own unique content, make your domain short and easy to pronounce, and survey customers to see what they want from your site and your industry.
Does video play an important role in SEO now
1. Video is one of the new mediums that search is moving toward. A study was done and found that companies that use video make 49% more revenue than those that don’t year after year.
Will providing context for my keywords help with entities
1. Context and semantics are at the core of entities. It’s been discovered that Google leans on Wikipedia for its knowledge regarding entities and the Knowledge Graph. Therefore, leveraging sources from wikipedia may help you to optimize your content for entities.
Where can I find the right language and related keywords to create context
1. Google Images and wikipedia can be great sources for semantically-related keywords. In addition, the People Always Ask box is a great source for article headlines.
How can I drive traffic to my website with email
1. Email is one of the most important, yet underrated traffic sources in business. You’re basically sending your content out a list of people who have already opted-in. They’ve already raised their hand and said “Yep! I’m interested in what you’ve got!” How powerful is that? Newsletters, social media, and reminders to segmented lists are great ways to build traffic.
Are there any “under-the-radar” sources for web traffic
1. Slack communities that are within your niche can be a great under-the-radar source for traffic. Blog and forum comments are also another great place to find traffic.
How can I use a QR code to drive traffic
1. Putting a QR code on your business card, social media profiles, or any other marketing pieces you send out is a great way to send users to your site.
How in-depth does my content need to be
1. The average length of first page content was found to be about 1450 words. Content should be in-depth and helpful in order to rank well.
Why should I make my content more scannable
1. We’re moving toward a “zero-click” search landscape. People are able to find answers just by scrolling through Google’s results. If a user has to click your link, they’ve already had to go out of their way and spend more time searching. You want to make your content as scannable because once they’re reading it, they should get what they came for as quickly as possible.
What are some tips for scannable content
1. Make paragraphs 3 sentences or less and use subheadings to break up content.
Are there risks to running unnecessary SEO split tests
1. If a split test is unnecessary running it will result in wasted resources. Also, you may be unable to scale the results that you get.
When is a split test appropriate
1. Split tests can be helpful when you’re not sure about a certain keyword or search query. With larger sites, you may want to run a split test for proof of concept or to minimize your risk with certain marketing campaigns.
Is the About page of my site important
1. Your About page is important for several reasons. It shows up as a direct link in Google, it’s important for establishing Trustworthiness, and it’s important in entity optimization.
Can my About page help with conversions
1. People want to see who you are before they buy from you. I’m sure you’ve checked a brand’s About page before some of your own purchases! You can be missing out on conversions if your About page isn’t set up well.
Does my About page affect entity optimization
1. Google is using About pages to help with the EAT algorithm. Google hasn’t come out and said they use About pages as a ranking signal, but it’s highly likely.
What can I do to optimize my About page
1. Your About page is just like any other page. It should be memorable, catch the user’s eye, and make them want to read on. Telling your brand’s story is also a great way to keep your users engaged.
How important is “linking out” from my About page
1. Linking is still the best way for Google to see you on The Web. Linking out from your About page will help Google decide how you fit into the context of your industry, and the internet.
Should I be worried about nofollow links on my About page
1. There’s been a lot of talk about nofollow links lately with Google’s recent changes. Linking out to credible brands from your About page is more important. Don’t sweat the small stuff!
What entities should I link my About page to
1. Link out to any other brands, organizations, places, your company’s awards, etc. will help Google place you in their knowledge base.
Why is TextOptimizer such an important SEO tool
1. You can run your keywords through TextOptimizer and it will give you a list of phrases and entities you should look to work into your content.
Can Title tags be used to increase rankings & traffic
1. Title tags can increase rankings if they are used properly with keywords.
Why are numbers and dates important in my title tags
1. Numbers are important because they grab users’ attention. Numbers make your headlines more specific and that increases your click-through rate. Dates can be important because you may need to look back a year in keyword research if there isn’t enough data on your keyword for the current year.
How long should my title tag be
1. Title tags being way too short or way too long is a common error on websites. Best practices say 50-60 characters is the preferred length.
Why are synonyms/variants important
1. Odds are that your users aren’t searching for your keyword exactly. They may be searching for some other form of it. You’ll want to figure out how you can optimize for multiple versions of your keyword within your title tag. Maximize those 50-60 characters!
How do I locate synonyms/variants of my title tag
1. Use Google’s SERP features like the PAA Box and Keyword tools to help you find variants of your keyword/key phrase
What types of action words can enhance my CTA
1. Search, download, find, buy, access, learn, listen, watch. These are all action words that are great for CTA text.
What is so important about “referring keywords”
1. Traffic can come from a set of keywords different than what we’re ranking for. It’s important to use keyword tools to find out what people are searching and include those phrases in your title tag.
Can using questions enhance my title tag
1. Questions can be a great addition to your title tags. Not only do they inspire curiosity and make people click, but they can actually win you the featured snippet spot in some cases.
Can my page’s content flow help SEO
1. If your content is structured in a way that flows naturally, and helps the user get an informative answer quickly, it can definitely help your SEO.
How do I better organize the flow of my content
1. Put the user first. Ask yourself: what the user is trying to accomplish? Is there multiple intents behind this search? What business goal is ranking this content going to accomplish?
What should be my goals for the design of my page
1. How do you solve the users problem quickly? If there are multiple intents, serve them. Keep your business goal in mind, optimize for that goal, but don’t sacrifice user experience. Try to optimize for the featured snippet if you can. Limit bounce back to the SERP as much as possible.
Will page features that hide content hurt my site
1. Yes. It won’t give you a direct impact on your rankings, but it will make for a confusing, cumbersome user experience.
Should I make my FAQs stand out more
1. Making your FAQs easier to find will only enhance user experience. Now customers don’t have to go digging to get the answers they’re looking for. That’s a win for you!
How can I improve on article quality & relevancy
1. The 2 best ways to do this are to mirror your customers’ language and to focus on their search intent.
What is 10x content
1. Content that is 10x better than the highest ranking content for that particular keyword.
Can manipulating my article structure improve rankings
1. If you can manipulate your article structure in a way that makes it easier for users to navigate and use your content, it will help you toward improving your rankings. Also, making content scannable and using more subheadings is search engine-friendly.
What changes should I make to my articles to boost rankings
1. Try presenting the data in a different format. If the highest-ranked piece of content for your keyword is an article, maybe make a video. Maybe try repackaging the content as an infographic.
How do I create 10x content
1. Make the highest-ranking content for that keyword better, easier to use, and then find a unique way to present it.
Should I optimize my landing pages as well
1. Landing pages are important in your conversion funnel, and should be optimized.
How is a landing page different from a product page
1. Unless you have a large shop, product pages will be landing pages. For example, if you’re in the clothing industry, you may have various product pages with different categories, sizes, departments, etc. Those are the main differences.
Will testimonials help my landing page
1. Testimonials are a great way of establishing trust and social proof. Enough testimonials on your landing page could influence someone to make a buying decision.
Can using pop-ups affect my site
1. People view pop-ups as one of those annoying and spammy features. They can hurt the user experience for your site.
Is there any insight from searches with 0 results
1. Searches with zero results could show you that you have the right content, wrong visitors. They could also show you missed opportunities. If you’re constantly getting visitors that found you by searching for something else, maybe there is an opportunity to fill that void.
Could my site’s internal search be hurting my traffic conversions
1. It could be. If you have all the right content to answer your audience’s searches but they aren’t finding it at your site, there could be a problem with your internal search. Maybe pages aren’t being found.
How can I write better content
1. Start with keyword research! Knowing what your users are searching is one of the best things you can do to write awesome content.
What is the inverted pyramid style
1. Put your most important message at the beginning of your content. Don’t bury it halfway through. You can recap, but the whole story should be told in the first paragraph or two.
Do I need to use Categories/tags for my blog posts/products
1. Yes. It helps Google index and crawl your content. If a category gets too big, then you should break it down further into subcategories.
What makes an internal link contextual
1. An internal link is contextual when the content of the link is relevant to the content the user is reading on the page.
What are cornerstone content pages
1. Cornerstone content pages are the best, most informational pieces of content on your site. You don’t sell anything within a cornerstone page. The goal is to give the best information you can on a given topic.
Should I use date archives on my blog
1. We don’t recommend it. Archives by date can get long and messy. Also, grouping your posts by date basically tells Google that all they have in common is the date they were published. It’s not going to help Google figure out what you’re all about.
Do meta descriptions & titles become more important on mobile
1. You need to write better meta data on mobile. The smaller screen means that your tags become truncated compared to how they display on desktop.
Do I need a blog on my website
1. No matter what kind of website you have, YOU NEED A BLOG. Even if you only post occasionally. It’s great for SEO and it can become a great marketing tool as well.
How does blogging help SEO
1. Man! Where do I begin? Blogging helps you rank for new keywords, it shows Google that your site is alive and well, and it gives you extra opportunities to target a user’s search intent.
How do I come up with content for my blog
1. Doing keyword research is a great way to get ideas for blog content. Plus, it’s a way to give the people what they want by seeing exactly what they’re searching for around your topic.
What is the importance of blog post structure
1. You want a reader to get the most out of your post. Start with the most important ideas first and don’t make paragraphs too long.
Is social media important for my blog
1. Facebook and Instagram will be important marketing tools for you. And if you’re targeting a younger audience, you may even want to have Snapchat and TikTok.
Can content cannibalization hurt my blog
1. Make sure that it’s clear which keyword each piece of content is ranking for. If two pieces of content can rank for the same keyword, then odds are Google will rank them both lower.
How important is planning my content
1. Planning your content becomes very important as your blog grows. It’s a good idea to know what you’re going to be writing and when. It especially comes in handy when you’re starting to grow and get a team of writers, guest posts, etc.
What is an editorial calendar
1. An editorial calendar is where you plot out all of the posts you are going to write. It’s especially useful if you post frequently, or are going to start using a team of authors.
How consistent do I need to be with my blog posts
1. Choose a frequency and be consistent with it. For a personal blog, you can’t be expected to come up with fresh content everyday. Post routinely, be consistent with your schedule, and keep it on a calendar.
What is a style guide
1. Style guides come in handy when you start to bring more writers on-board. This will be the “ten commandments” of how articles are written on your blog. Writing style, article format: headings, subheadings, etc., even down to what words your team should capitalize and what words aren’t capitalized. A style guide will help you to keep a consistent voice from post to post on your site.
How many keyphrases should I use per page
1. You really should only be focusing on one keyphrase per page. Doing this avoids issues like keyword cannibalization and confusing Google.
Does it matter where my keywords are placed in page titles
1. It hasn’t been 100% proven yet, but it’s believed that search engines may put more weight on the earlier words of your title. This is where you would want to place your keywords. Then track your analytics to see if you’re getting some “juice” from it.
Which content is most important to keep updated
1. Cornerstone content is the most important to keep updated. These posts cover the main topics of your site,
What are some solutions for duplicate content
1. You can use a 301 redirect or, a canonical link in the header section of the original post, to prevent duplicate content from negatively affecting your site.
How do I grow the reach of my blog
1. Be consistent, be original, be a little controversial, ask for and respond to engagement, engage on other blogs as well.
How do I “amplify my content”
1. The best way to amplify your content is to get it out there into the world! The most popular way is social media. Share your content across your platforms and engage with other people’s content.
What exactly is blog engagement
1. Blog engagement is people liking, sharing, and commenting on your content.
Why is engagement important for SEO
1. When people engage with your content, it shows Google that your posts are still alive and well. Plus if people share your content across social media,
Should I be responding to comments on my blog
1. Comments are gold for a number of reasons. They give you SEO “juice” but they can also be goldmines for future content ideas, and responding to your comments keeps your community interested. If you engage back with them, they are more likely to keep engaging and sharing your content.
Do I need to engage on other blogs
1. Engaging on other blogs is a great idea. Now, make sure you’re engaging on other RELEVANT blogs. Doing this will help drive more traffic to your blog and it will also position you as an authority in your niche. The key is to make it authentic engagement. Don’t just say “hey go check out my blog over here.”
Should I still be reaching out for guest posts and links
1. You don’t know other people’s stories. If another business owner is struggling to stay afloat, it may come off as insensitive to ask them for a post, or to post on their site.
What role do relationships play in content marketing
1. If times are uncertain, you’ll want to focus on building relationships as opposed to traditional “link building”. See how you and another website owner can TRULY help each other out and focus on those types of relationships.
What aspect of my site should I be focused on during uncertainty
1. Content marketing. Your users are going to want to know they can still get in touch with their favorite brands. Staying consistent with your content schedule, or repurposing old content in new, exciting ways are great strategies for getting through uncertain times.
Do I have to post about an ongoing crisis
1. You should say something about what’s going on currently, yes. You don’t have to “draw a hard line in the sand” or choose sides. Be helpful, empathetic, and understanding and try to be there for your users in any way that you can.
What is Ubersuggest
1. Ubersuggest is a research tool you can plug-in to Chrome browser. As you search on Google, Ubersuggest will give you domain scores, etc. live right there in your search results. Pretty powerful, don’t ya think?!
What should be my goal when guest posting
1. When you guest post, you should focus more on building your brand than building your links.
Does more content mean a better ranking
1. Not necessarily. You shouldn’t just be mass producing thin, vague content. Quality is what you’re after. If you can create a great article everyday, then good for you! Go for it! But for most people, it’s better to post less often and make the posts the best quality possible.
Tools vs content marketing
1. Tools tend to perform better than content marketing. If you’re in an industry where you can provide a tool you can capitalize on more natural links and more engagement.
How can gathering and reporting data help my SEO
1. If you can spend the money and time to gather your own, unique data it will significantly increase the amount of backlinks you receive from your content. People link to data all of the time to better illustrate their point. Take this article for example. We’ve linked to several outside sources who did studies and gathered data that we didn’t have the time to gather. Congratulations! They just won some “link juice” from us.
What are infographics
1. Infographics are an easy-to-understand visual representation of data that you’ve collected.
How can infographics help my SEO
1. Infographics can get you a lot of backlinks because they are very shareable pieces of content.
Can duplicate content cause a Google penalty
1. We’ve already covered how duplicate content can affect your site, but does it result in an actual Google penalty? The answer is no. Ranking pages is becoming increasingly more human and increasingly more complex. There are just as many “unofficial” ranking factors as there are official ranking factors. Duplicate content falls in the “unofficial” category.
Should I be building an email list
1. Yes! This is one of the most important things you can do for your blog or website. As long as your content is good, more people seeing it will ultimately rank it higher in Google. That’s the power of an email list.
What is the recommended post frequency
1. Keep in mind that you want quality over quantity, but a good starting point is 2-4 pieces of content per week.
What is the skyscraper technique
1. Taking the highest-ranked content around a keyword you’re trying to rank for and making a bigger, better version of it that will blow the original out of the water.
How can I improve on “linkworthy” content
1. You can make the content longer and more in-depth, make it more up-to-date, or repurpose it into a simpler, more helpful format for your users.
Can I scale content marketing
1. Scaling your content marketing is entirely possible. It just takes planning and mapping out your processes.
What are the individual steps of content marketing
1. Find your keywords, choose your format, write it, edit it, add visuals, assemble it, and then send it out to your email list!
How far out should I plan my content marketing
1. If you’re working on a lot of projects across varying platforms with a team of writers, you’ll want to plan your content 6-8 months in advance. Now, the plan can change here and there, but a general framework for the next 6-8 months will help keep everyone on track.
Do I need tools to scale my content marketing
1. You need to develop a content calendar and stick to it. That can be done in Google Calendar or Excel. Once you start to scale, and bring on more writers, you may need to look into a project management software to hold everyone accountable for each individual step they are responsible for.
What is the benefit of planning content ahead
1. The biggest benefit is that you can batch tasks together. This especially comes in handy with keyword research.
How can outlining my content before writing help
1. Writing from a detailed outline will help you to write your articles faster. It will also give your content better structure which, as we’ve seen, can result in SEO benefits as well.
Documenting vs. Creating
1. It’s easier to write about things you’ve experienced firsthand. You’ll be able to write about it more quickly and actually create better content as well.
What should I look for when hiring a writer
1. You’ll want to look for a writer who has experience. This means that hiring someone off of Fiverr probably won’t be a good fit.
What is a domain expert
1. A domain expert is a writer who has experience in their field. They are used to documenting rather than creating and only write about things they know firsthand. The result? Better content for your site.
Where do I find a domain expert
1. A great starting point is to approach people who run other blogs in your industry. Now, they’re running a blog so they may be busy, but reach out and see if they have time to write content for you. Work out the details of an arrangement that works for everyone, and off you go! There are also tools like BuzzSumo where you can type in a keyword and see the top authors around that keyword. You may want to check that out!
What are the key roles on a content team besides writers
1. Content Coordinator, Designer, Editor, Developer, Data person, Content promoter, performance analyzer, SEO expert. Your team may need more, less, or different positions but these are just some of the basics. Decide what each role needs to accomplish to bring a piece of content to the finish line.
Does having a team mean I need to put out 100% new, original content
1. Just because you have the staff now does not mean you need to put out new, earth-shattering articles every time. Repurposing your older content can be a huge help in scaling your content creation. Take a blog post that performed well and repurpose it into an infographic or a video. Just make sure you tweak it to fit the new format. You may need to cut some of your original post out to make your video shorter, your infographic more readable, etc.

On-Page SEO

What is the BoilerPlate of a website
1. The BoilerPlate is the sidebars, header, and footer of a website. They are usually generic elements that don’t have much original content.
What are meta descriptions
1. Meta descriptions are the text that appears below your link in Google. It’s a short little blurb describing your link and how users can benefit from it. You don’t need to worry so much about placing keywords here anymore. Now, your meta description is more about writing something that will catch the user’s eye and, ultimately, lead to a conversion.
Should I optimize my domain name to include keywords
1. If your company name happens to contain a keyword, then it’s fine. But don’t go out and buy wheredoIbuypuppyfood.com. Putting an exact match keyword in your domain name will hurt your SEO, and work against everything you’re trying to accomplish.
What do 4** error codes mean?
1. This means that the URL trying to be accessed has bad syntax or can’t be fulfilled. They are typically caused by a broken redirect, URL typo, or a page that has been deleted. Be mindful of these because webpages can’t access them and they will cause users to leave your site in frustration.
What do 5** error codes mean?
1. These are server errors. Basically, the server your page is on failed to fulfill the search engine, or searcher’s, request to access your page. Most of the time these happen because the URL request timed out, so Googlebot abandoned the request (Your site took too long for Googlebot).
What is UX?
1. If you’ve read up until this point from the beginning of the article, you can probably answer this one: User Experience. (I’ve seriously lost count of how many times it’s come up).
UX vs UI
1. UX is User Experience, whereas UI is your User Interface.
What are the rules of UX
1. UX contains everything on your site. Everything we’re talking about here is a smaller part of the overall User Experience. That being said, here are some of the key areas: Website structure and navigation; conversion funnel optimization; easy onboarding process; page speed; website responsivity; content optimization; content structure; title tags and meta descriptions; real-time customer support; smooth workflow
What are the challenges of UX
1. Website structure and navigation have to be considered. It might be easier to fit everything on one page of your website, but this falls short when you consider the complexity of people’s searches. Links in your menu need to be relevant to user experience. If a link to your latest blog post is in your menu, Google may see it’s important, but they won’t deem it relevant to UX. In addition, your site needs to constantly be reworked to optimize the speed for better UX, and you need to have optimized content. This means understanding the language and intent of the searcher.
How do you measure UX & SEO
1. Google Analytics, specialized reports, and internal data are some of your best options. There are a wide variety of tools and reports you can use.
What is a heatmap
1. An analytics tool that shows you what users are interacting with on your site. A heatmap can show what users are clicking, how they scroll, and what elements of your site they expect to be clickable. It’s basically an overall view of how people are interacting with your site.
Secured vs non-secured site
1. Having a non-secured site can definitely hurt your rankings. Especially now since Google’s latest update presents users with a giant warning that your site isn’t secure up by their URL bar. Any measures you can take to increase the security of your site: HTTPS, SSL, and even securing your site’s dashboard, will go a long way in boosting your T in the EAT ranking factor. (That means Trust).
How does domain age affect SEO results
1. Domains are becoming less and less important to SEO results, but an older domain will let Google know that you’ve been around a while. Sites that have been around for a while generally have more authority in an industry than brand new sites, so it would just enhance UX from that perspective.
How do I improve my site usability
1. Reduce your site errors, make your site easy to use, make sure users are getting what they came for the first time they visit, and make sure users can easily remember how to use the site when revisiting.
How do I capitalize on existing traffic
1. Understand UX and your visitors’ overall experience with your site. How often are they clicking on your CTAs? This will help to convert a higher percentage of your traffic.
How do I increase page speed
1. Minify content, shrink image size. Make sure pages and forms load quickly. Anything that takes too long will cause users to leave.
What are permalinks
1. Permanent URLs that are attached to your website. They would show up in your browser as follows: www.yourdomain.com/[permalink]. These are typically the names of blog posts or pages on your site. Putting keywords here helps your SEO.
How are permalinks different from backlinks
1. Permalinks are on each page of your site, whereas backlinks either come from pages on other websites, or they occur from page to page on your own site.
What is a subdomain
1. A subdomain for a blog would read: blog.yourdomain.com
What is a subdirectory
1. A subdirectory for a blog would read: www.yourdomain.com/blog
Subdomain vs. subdirectory
1. Subdomains are recommended because Google itself uses subdomains for most of its products
What makes a URL SEO-friendly vs unfriendly
1. Random-generated URLs that contain letters and numbers aren’t good for SEO. You want to create URLs that contain the keywords you’re trying to rank for.
What is Domain Authority
1. How well your domain ranks on Google
What is Page Authority
1. How well a particular page ranks on Google
Domain vs Page Authority
1. Domain Authority is more important because it’s a larger scope and a longer-term investment
What can I do to increase my site’s conversions
1. Giving visitors an enticing offer is a great start. You only have a matter of seconds to convert a site visitor into a buyer.
What is an RFP
1. An RFP is a Request for Proposal. This is similar to a CTA and should be placed on your website to get users to request a price quote from you.
How can my checkout funnel influence conversions
1. A shorter checkout funnel will lead to a better conversion rate.
Can Chatbots help with my conversions
1. If used properly, chatbots can be great at guiding your users in the direction of buying. Chatbots can provide answers to your users 24/7. That means users are getting answers right when they want them. This is great for User Experience.
What is a CQL
1. CQL stands for Chat-Qualified Lead
Chatbot vs Leadbot
1. Leadbots are more advanced than Chatbots. Leadbots are focused more on converting your visitors by understanding what their intent is for coming to your site.
How do I get the most out of my CTA
1. Make your CTA stand out. Position it somewhere where all your visitors can see it, make it a bright color(different from your website theme) and make it an attractive shape and size. Making the text of your CTA benefit-centered will also drive more people to click on it.
How can I fix website speed
1. Chatbots, social media scripts, large snippets of code are all killers of website speed. Since users are expecting sites to load in 3 seconds or less, it is a good idea to keep an eye on all of these.
What is caching
1. When a user visits your site for the first time certain elements of your website get cached in their browser for a short period of time.
How does caching affect my site’s speed
1. Caching certain elements of your site will make your site load more quickly when that same user comes back for a repeat visit.
Can an overloaded database slow down my site
1. Databases of information can be large files and could possibly slow your site down.
How do I keep databases clean
1. Routinely deleting the files within trash folders and other spam files is the best way to keep your databases clean and streamlined. Plugins like WP Rocket can help you to do this automatically.
What is a CMS
1. CMS stands for Content Management System. You already know what these are. You just may not have heard the technical term. An example would be WordPress.
Can social media hurt the speed of my site
1. Social media scripts tend to be big and bulky. If the rest of your site isn’t as streamlined as it can be, then social media could possibly cause you speed problems.
How can I use a chatbot without slowing my site down
1. In order to use a chatbot effectively, and maintain your site speed, your chatbot’s actions should be ran through a third party server. Many out-of-the-box chatbot apps offer this.
What is JavaScript
1. JavaScript is a type of coding language which is used to power certain features of your site. The analytics tools a lot of website owners use are powered by JavaScript.
What is Render-blocking
1. Render-blocking applies to JavaScript and CSS files. It is a queue of scripts that your website is trying to load. Google doesn’t like render-blocking scripts. If you are planning on tracking your website metrics you may want to use an analytics tool that’s supported on its own server.
How does Render-blocking affect my site
1. It will slow down your site’s loading speed.
What is a gravatar
1. A gravatar is a globally recognized avatar image. Users can upload an avatar and tie it to their email address. It pulls from the gravatar website and follows a user around the web. They are typically used on discussion boards and comments sections.
How will a gravatar affect my site’s speed
1. Gravatars tend to slow things down. It’s not as apparent on a small site, but a site with a lot of blog comments could be slowed to a crawl by tons of people using their own gravatar.
Can increased website security boost my SEO ranking
1. Yes. Increased website security increases your Trustworthiness; a big part of the Google EAT algorithm.
What is encryption
1. Encryption encodes and protects data from the internet at-large.
What is End-to-end encryption (E2EE)
1. End-to-end encryption ensures that data being transmitted by you to another party cannot be seen by hackers.
What is quantum cryptography
1. A method of quantum-encoding your data so it cannot be copied.
How does encryption help my SEO ranking
1. If your site is more secure this increases your Trustworthiness. We already discussed how that applies to Google’s EAT algorithm. It can also further help your SEO by contributing to overall User Experience.
What makes a page “fresh”
1. A page is fresh if it’s newer and/or regularly updated.
What makes a page “stale”
1. A page is stale if it has outdated content, is getting fewer links over time, and has declining user engagement.
How does a faster site improve SEO
1. Site speed enhances the user experience and can increase customer loyalty. As far as effects on SEO? There hasn’t been any concrete proof of that yet. But since 2018, when Google publicized its mobile-first approach to SEO, speed became way more important. It should only continue to do so in the future.
What is interdisciplinarity
1. Interdisciplinarity is a concept for many industries. It’s mostly used in sciences like “neuroscience” and “biochemistry”, but it is the idea of two related fields joining forces. In SEO, this pertains to SEO, PPC, and content being used cohesively toward the same goal.
Why bother integrating SEO, PPC, and content
1. Instead of each team: content, SEO, and PPC advocating for themselves individually, you now get each team advocating for the greater good of the entire team. Also, having all three disciplines working together helps to put a stronger, more unified message out to your clients.
Will integrating benefit my team
1. It absolutely will! Integrating creates a culture of sharing knowledge with the entire team. It also reduces competition and in-office politicking.
Are there risks to integrating multiple traffic channels
1. The main risk would be that you become less agile. It’s harder to switch directions. But if you’re promoting a planned, well thought-out message across all disciplines it shouldn’t be a problem.
How do I integrate my online marketing effectively
1. Integrating marketing channels in this way can be a tricky process, but there are several steps you can take to make it go more smoothly.
What is Google Lighthouse
1. A Google tool for checking the “mobile-friendliness” of your site.
Lighthouse vs PageSpeed Insights
1. They are two sides of the same coin. They will help you to assess how well your site performs on mobile, but each one offers different metrics.
What should be first priority to load on my page
1. Content first!
Are there tools to help me test my site’s UX
1. Google Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights, Chrome User Experience Report API, GSC Web Vitals report, and Chrome Web Vitals extension.
Can my site’s menu affect SEO results
1. Anytime your website changes, your menu should also change. Streamline as much as you can because Google likes pages it doesn’t have to go too far to crawl. Evaluate menu links and see if you can consolidate. Navigation should be easy. It’s part of User Experience.
Category vs Tag
1. Categories are more hierarchical and act as a Table of Contacts. Tabs are more like an index. They are just a notification to the user explaining what that particular article is about.
Does having “uncategorized” blog posts hurt my SEO
1. If a lot of posts are tagged “uncategorized” it just looks like unkept maintenance to the reader. Each post should have at least one category.
How do I tag posts properly
1. Everytime you tag a post WordPress creates an archive. It’s not good practice to tag a post with dozens of tags, because it makes for an unorganized network of archives. Keep tags minimal and organized. You shouldn’t have a bunch of tag archives with 1-2 posts on them. Not a good look.
How should I create tags
1. As you write content, chances are you’ll have a few themes that develop. These are things you write about regularly. They would be good labels for your tags.
Can my tags page be optimized
1. Your tag page falls under the umbrella of your site structure, and it definitely pays to optimize it. Your CMS most likely has a plugin for this.
What tools can help me with proper tagging
1. Check out the Yoast SEO plugin to help you with optimized tagging.
Do keywords factor in to proper tagging
1. Yes. Your tags should be words related to your topic that people are searching for.
Does my site menu need to be optimized also
1. It does. The thing to remember here is: you want your site to be streamlined, but this doesn’t mean jam all of your page links onto one menu. Also, don’t use a menu with submenu after submenu.
How can having too many links on a page hurt my site
1. Too many links on your page will confuse your visitor. It will also lower the value of the links on your site.
What should I ask when designing a menu
1. What is the best menu structure for my site? What are the bare essential items that need to be on my menu?
What are taxonomies
1. Taxonomies are a category or tag that you can use to group posts.
Is archiving by taxonomy better than by date
1. Yes. More times than not, a reader is going to your site to search for something by topic. Not by the date it was published. Make it easier for them. It benefits them, and you, in the long run.
How can “no index, no follow” help with my archives
1. Search engines can follow the links to your archives, but you can still prevent date archives from showing up in SERPs.
What is hreflang
1. Hreflang is a way to markup content that has the same meaning but is targeted for different areas of the world.
When is hreflang used
1. It’s mostly used to target several areas that speak the same language.
How does hreflang benefit SEO
1. Using hreflang can make the language and content more relevant to the user which enhances their user experience. It also can prevent the problem of duplicate content.
Should I use hreflang
1. Hreflang is a great way to grow internationally. If you plan to do so, then it makes sense to use it. It’s typically used when you want to offer your content in multiple languages or you want to offer your content to different regions that speak the same language.
What factors can tank my mobile site
1. Performance, content, and user experience all need to be top notch to optimize well on mobile.
How can i optimize for mobile speed
1. Optimize images, invest in quality hosting, and updating to PHP7 are just a few of the ways you can optimize for mobile.
Can optimizing mobile help me prepare for voice search
1. Structured data is more popular on mobile. Optimizing for mobile will mean that you’ll have more structured data on your site by default. This will help you prepare for the voice search movement, as well as give you some opportunity to gain featured snippet positions.
Is there a preferred site for website design
1. There are several CMS options out there. WordPress has become the most popular and the most user friendly.
Can the hosting I choose affect my SEO results
1. You want to make sure you’re working with a secure, modern hosting platform.
What is PHP
1. PHP is the hosting platform of choice for WordPress CMS
What version of PHP is best for optimizing my site
1. PHP 7.0 is the most updated version, and the best to use for your site.
Do my permalinks affect my site’s performance
1. Your site will be more optimized if you adjust your permalink structure. Typically permalinks are automatically generated and are made up of random letters and numbers. If you’re using WordPress, you can actually go in and change your permalinks to be made up of your post names. This gives you a great opportunity to further optimize for keywords.
Will using “www” or not affect my SEO results
1. Most hosting sites will redirect users to your site if they choose to type in the wrong one, which makes this up to you. It comes down to what you consider is better for your branding.
Should I remove words like “a”, “and”, and “the” from permalinks
1. You’re going to want to remove these from your permalinks. It just makes them more readable and easier to use.
What is pagination
1. Pagination means the navigation of your pages. You want to keep it as clean and well-organized as possible to benefit the user and search engines.
Does my login information affect my WP site’s security
1. Secure websites get higher rankings in the days of modern search. This even goes as far as securing the “back end” login information of your WP site.
Should I use two-factor authentication
1. Yes. Making your site more secure will only help you with SEO.
What is Ryte
1. Ryte is an all-in-one analytics suite for on-page SEO. Ryte can crawl your site for you and tell you what issues you may have.
What is Hotjar
1. Hotjar is a heatmap that can show you where users actually scroll and click on your site. Hotjar is powerful because it gives you insight to how users are ACTUALLY interacting with your site.
Does .com, .org, or .net matter to my site
1. .com is the most common extension and the best for SEO. too because most people assume that your website is a “.com” site. We’re not saying the other ones are bad, but .com will most likely get you the highest amount of traffic.
Why .com
1. Most people assume that your website is a “.com” site. We’re not saying the other ones are bad, but .com will most likely get you the highest amount of traffic.
When is a .org extension appropriate
1. These are typically used for non-profit businesses and charities. The challenge is you will have to brand your business with “.org” in the name because most people will just assume your business is “.com” otherwise.
Is a specialty name worth it if I can’t get a .org or .net
1. There is nothing negative about doing something crazy like “.bananarama” but just know that you’re going to have to work harder at your SEO to get it to rank well.
Will .co work just as well
1. A “.co” domain name can be tricky. As you can probably tell, it’s very close to “.com” which could be both good and bad. If “.com” isn’t available “.co” could be a good fallback plan. Again, it isn’t going to affect you directly in your ranking results. These domain extensions are more about what people are going to remember and their perception of you.
What are some other domain tips
1. Choose a domain that’s going to last. Sometimes trendy extensions or domain formats will pop up. Don’t run with the herd. Stick to a domain that’s reliable over trendy and you will be fine. Domains are helpful to an extent, but what you really want to focus on are your direct SEO strategies. Do those right and your domain will be an afterthought.
Should I have multiple domains for the same business
1. No! This will just confuse users and most likely create a bunch of duplicate content that will only wind up hurting you in the long run.
Should I buy domains with competing keywords to block competitors
1. People think this is a great way to “play defense” in competitive industries. It’s nearly impossible to think of(and purchase) every single keyword phrase, and variant, that people in your industry may try to rank for. Also, it does nothing to help you from an SEO perspective. Your money is better spent on optimizing the one domain you do have.
What is the First Page Domination strategy
1. Business owners will buy several domains for their business, link the same exact content and services to each domain, and then attempt to target their SEO at ranking high for all of these domains. It’s another way of playing defense in their industry. If you have a “brick and mortar” business, this won’t work. This strategy also creates problems with having to manage two different brands, as well as duplicate content.
How do Country-specific domains come into play
1. Country-specific domains are the only case where it’s ok to have multiple domains. A country-specific Top-Level Domain(TDL) like “.co.uk” is very helpful in ranking your site for that particular country. You can still rank without one, but you’re just going to have a much tougher time.
Is there an easier way to SEO multiple domains
1. If you want multiple domains you’re going to have to do double the SEO. Plain and simple. Before purchasing multiple domains, you may want to try to target indented listings. These are secondary pages that show up under the main listing of your site. It will keep things a lot less complex and more search-engine friendly.
Can I get rid of the Google disclaimer
1. Google will sometimes issue a sitewide disclaimer during uncertain times. It lets users know that your site information may not be up-to-date. If you’re a verified business on Google My Business, you can remove this when you update your information.
What does page experience mean
1. According to Google page experience is how users perceive the experience of interacting with a web page.
Will 400 errors affect my page experience
1. Yes, 400 errors will negatively impact your page experience. Seek them out and reduce them on your site.
What are heatmaps
1. Heatmaps are tools that can show you EXACTLY how users are interacting with your site. Where they’re scrolling and where they’re clicking.
How can heatmaps help with usability issues on my site
1. Heatmaps can help you to uncover opportunities. Users may be clicking on a logo that they expect to be clickable, but isn’t. This is an opportunity for you to link that image to something else on your site. Maybe a new piece of content? An About Us page?
How can AMP pages affect traffic
1. Accelerated Mobile Pages, or AMP, can help drive more traffic to your site. The main reason is that they load faster, which enhances the user experience.
Should I put dates in my URLs
1. No. Putting dates in your URLs causes search engines to associate your content with a certain date rather than the content keywords.
Will popup ads affect my SEO
1. Pop-ups get a bad rep because they affect the user experience. But people still use them because they work. A good way to do it may be to try using exit pop-ups. That way you can catch users and convert them before they leave. If nothing else, you can at least get them on your email list.
How important is interlinking
1. Linking between your pages takes some time to kick in, but it still works. When you create new content you’re probably linking to old content within the article. That’s good! A way that you can turbocharge your interlinks is to also go back into the old content and link to the new stuff. Don’t thank us. Another awesome strategy from the great Neil Patel
Can a domain name be too generic
1. Yes. If you pick a generic domain name within your industry you are going to have to spend millions of dollars to rank it. The better strategy would be to pick something that is unique, easy to spell, and easy to remember and focus on building out the brand for that domain.
What’s better: Short vs Long URLs
1. The shorter you can make your URLs the better. Google just likes them more. Also, on a smaller screen like a mobile device, users can still get the main idea of your article by seeing the entire URL.
What should I consider to optimize my CTA for User Experience
1. Your Call-to-Action is an important part of your website. It’s what drives people to convert. To make it a pleasant part of the User Experience, you need to consider: the visual aspects, placement, and message of your call-to-action button.
Should I use a ghost button
1. Ghost buttons are outlined buttons on a website. They have no fill color, just an outline. This makes them tricky to use as CTA buttons because they aren’t very noticeable. The best way to use a ghost button would be to pair it with another more noticeable button. That way you can guide users away from the ghost button option and drive them towards your desired action(the button that stands out).

Off-Page/Technical SEO

What is linkbuilding
1. Linkbuilding is the process of getting other sites out on the web to link back to your site. This could mean a directory site, another blog in your industry, or maybe a vendor that you work with routinely. When Google crawls your site, and sees other people out in the world talking about your site, it increases your authority. Google like. Google happy.
Do I need backlinks?
1. Yes. You absolutely, positively NEED backlinks.
Can I buy backlinks
1. DO NOT, I repeat: DO NOT buy backlinks. While you can, and they’re available for purchase, it will just hurt your site in the long run. Backlinks are important. If you buy them, you have no idea of their quality. You may see a sudden increase in your site’s ranking, but you’ll drop off just as quickly because the links you purchased aren’t true, organic backlinks with a high level of authority.
Why is site speed important
1. We are living in an age focused on user experience. Google retooling their algorithm is even more of a testament to that fact. Your pages need to load quickly in order for your users to have a positive experience on your site. In fact, some experts say that approximately 50% of internet users expect your site to load in less than 2 seconds!
Why is site structure important
1. Your entire site, and each page within it, should have a clear hierarchy. The further away a page is from your Home page, the weaker that page’s authority will be. And a page’s authority is important.
What is a crawl error
1. A crawl error occurs when a search engine crawls your site and then hits a page that returns a 400 or 500 response code. We’ve all seen it before. You’re clicking through your favorite site, and then all of the sudden you see “404 error”. That is a crawl error, and 404 is the response code. Different response codes have different meanings, but the important thing to know is that this hurts your SEO. You can run your site through a crawl error report with Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools to test for, and resolve, these issues.
Do 404 Errors hurt SEO
1. 404 errors won’t affect your rankings, but they may “hurt” you in the sense that they affect user experience. If you have a page that is gone, and you know is not coming back, it may be better to give it a status of 410.
Do redirects hurt SEO
1. Redirects can be good for SEO if they’re done right. Basically a redirect tells search engines “Page A is down, go to Page B instead”. If you have a lot of good links to a particular URL, and then remove it, you could lose a lot of authority that way. This is where a redirect would come in handy. Where redirects hurt, however, is when they cause a “redirect loop”. This happens when URL A points to URL B, and then URL B points back to URL A. The result is your page never loads because your site is stuck in a continuous loop of 2 pages trying to redirect each other.
Is HTTPS good for SEO
1. HTTPS has to do with site security. Google has said it’s now considered a ranking factor, but we’re unsure how much weight it holds. But anything that you can do to increase the security of your site will be helpful in terms of SEO. Increased site security will boost your Authority and Trust in Google’s eyes. Both good things when it comes to getting ranked, and getting seen by your customers.
Why isn’t my site being indexed
1. There can be a number of reasons why your site is not being indexed. Generally, they have to do with the fact that Google is being blocked from your servers, being prevented from properly crawling your site, or Google chose to remove your site from search results because of Malware.
What is the purpose of links
1. Links(more specifically, backlinks) are used to build your website’s Authority.
What’s the difference between internal and inbound links
1. Internal links are links within a post that link to other pages on your site. Inbound links come from other websites that link to your content. Both are helpful in establishing authority and, thus, improving your SEO.
How many internal links do I need on my website
1. There’s no rule of thumb here. “Link stuffing” is just as much of a crime as keyword stuffing. “Sprinkle” links into your content in such a way that doesn’t ruin the user experience. (We’re only 63 questions in and I’ve mentioned User Experience (UX) about 10 times. Are you starting to see the trend? 😉 )
What is robots.txt
1. Robots.txt gives search engines the information it needs about pages of your site you want crawled or indexed. If you want to take a look at it just enter [yourdomain]/robots.txt
What is the sitemap.xml file?
1. An index of all the pages on your site. It serves as a quick “reference guide” of what you want crawled/indexed by search engines.
Indexed vs. Crawling
1. When search engines review the overall content of your site, that is called “crawling”. As the search engine crawls your site, it will then “index” the content that will appear in the search engine. As search engines crawl your content, they will choose what will and won’t be indexed for search results.
How can I see what pages are indexed
1. It’s pretty simple. Just go to Google and type in “site:www.yourdomain.com”
What role do links play in SEO
1. Links work very much like word-of-mouth advertising in real life. When someone links to your content on the web, they are basically referring you to a friend. The key is to get links(referrals) from other people. Linking to yourself comes across as biased, and low quality links are not a good sign of Authority. That’s what links are all about: establishing Authority.
How do Engagement Metrics factor into SEO
1. Google has not come out and said that engagement metrics affect SEO rankings, but there has been enough evidence to suggest that clicks, time on page, bounce rate(percentage of all website sessions where viewers viewed only one page), and pogo-sticking(choosing one organic result and then going right back to Google to choose another) are influential. They haven’t directly been referred to as “ranking signals”, but they’re close enough. SEOers should definitely start to optimize for these engagement metrics.
What are URLs?
1. URLs are attached to your site’s domain and indicate the page that the user is on. If a user is on your blog, at the top of their browser it might read “www.yourdomain.com/[blog]”. Where it says “blog” is considered your URL.
Do URLs affect SEO?
1. Yes. URLs are an important part of technical SEO and Google understanding your content.
Do I need to make URLs SEO-friendly
1. Yes. Making them SEO-friendly will help your rankings. You want to avoid auto-generated URLs with random numbers and characters. Your URL should indicate what the content is about. So, if your article is about grooming your dog, your URL might be something like: www.yourdomain.com/groom-your-dog.
What are outbound links
1. Outbound links are links from your content to relevant content on other sites in your industry. These are great because they help to give your content authority and establish relevancy.
What are internal links
1. Internal links to other pages and content within your site. These help make your content more visible, easier to find, and more likely that users will engage with it.
Will linking/not linking affect my SEO results
1. Like we said before: linking is the seasoning on the soup. Links will not affect your results directly but it’s strongly suggested to have them because links are the highway Googlebot uses to motor around the internet. In addition, being linked to other credible sites within your industry boosts your Authority and Trust(2 legs of the EAT triangle). There’s a reason why linking appears in the Top 10 Ranking factors so, yes, linking is an important part of SEO.
Can I hire someone to link for me
1. Yes you can. A good agency will deploy linking as part of your overall SEO strategy. It also depends on your location as well. Some locations and keywords may be less competitive and only require backlinks. Others may require more than that. It varies, but a good SEO professional could help you with your links.
How do links work?
1. By linking to someone else’s content you’re saying “this person knows what they’re talking about. Go check them out”. When people link to your content within their own, they are doing the same for you. So links are basically a “web” of Authority and Trust that search engines can crawl to help make you more visible on their platform.
What are the components of an outbound/internal link
1. Links are analyzed by search engines for a few quality aspects: Domain authority, page authority, and other link profile quality metrics
How are outbound/internal links structured
1. SEO links are made up of the actual link itself and anchor text. Anchor text is the actual phrase within your content that you choose to link. So for example, if you’re linking an article on how to tie your shoes, in your text it might say “here’s a way to tie your shoes in under 1 minute” and when your users click on that, they will be sent to howtotieshoes.com.
What is Google Sitemaps
1. A directory of all the pages on your website. This file helps the search engine crawl your site.
What is a domain
1. Your domain is the name of your website
Do I need to optimize my web domain
1. You should make sure your domain applies to your industry, but you don’t need to optimize it for a keyword.
How do I optimize my web domain
1. The best way to optimize your domain is focusing on what NOT to do: DO NOT make your domain an exact match for a keyword you’re trying to rank for. This will hurt your SEO results.
What is website speed
1. How fast the pages of your website load.
Is website speed important to SEO
1. Website speed plays into the larger idea of User Experience. It has recently become one of Google’s ranking factors so, yes, website speed is important.
How do I measure website speed
1. There is a tool called PageSpeed Insights that will help with measuring your website speed.
Is the SEO process different for mobile devices
1. It varies in some ways but the basic principles remain the same. Google rolled out mobile-first indexing in 2018 and that means the mobile version of your site takes precedence over the desktop version.
How do I optimize for mobile
1. Speed, speed, speed! Consider using AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) to help your content load faster and enhance User Experience on your mobile site.
How do I test the mobile-friendliness of my site
1. You can visit PageSpeed Insights for a mobile-friendly test.
Does my website need a sitemap
1. A sitemap file isn’t necessary. Adding one is a positive for your SEO, but Google has said that you won’t get penalized for not having one.
Are there any size restrictions for my site via sitemaps
1. For a sitemap file to be useful, it should contain less than 50,000 URLs
Can using robots.txt hurt my SEO results
1. As long as you’re not using it to hide data from crawlers, you should be fine.
What are the types of backlinks
1. No-follow and Do-follow. Do-follow will score your website some authority, whereas no-follow links will not.
What is anchor text?
1. Anchor text is the text within the body of your content that users click to follow your link.
How important is anchor text to my SEO results
1. It is an important part of your SEO strategy, but you need to be careful. Google can tell if you’re overusing anchor text and that could eventually lead to a penalty.
What are the different types of anchor text
1. Keywords, Brands, Branded terms, generic anchors, naked urls, and call-to-actions.
Can you make a bad backlink
1. Yes. backlinks can vary in quality and authority.
What determines the quality of a backlink
1. The quality of backlinks is based on Moz Page Authority, Moz Domain Authority, Majestic Trust Flow, and Majestic Citation Flow. If these values turn out to be low, then that backlink would be considered low quality.
What is relevancy
1. Relevancy measures how well a given backlink relates to the content of your site.
How does relevancy play into backlink quality
1. Irrelevant links are considered low quality and could potentially hurt your site’s ranking.
How does link placement affect backlink quality
1. Links placed in the main article, or sections of the article, do better than links placed in a sidebar, widget, or footer.
What is a single link
1. A single link is a one-time link in the body of a particular piece of content. It doesn’t show up anywhere else on the site.
What is a sitewide link
1. Sitewide links are the same link that shows up throughout an entire website. They are typically placed in headers or footers.
Is a single link or sitewide link better for SEO results
1. Single links typically perform better for SEO.
Can competitors’ backlinks boost my SEO
1. You can essentially take backlinks from your competitors by finding the websites that backlink to them, approaching the people behind those sites, and offering them better content. It’s a time-consuming but effective strategy, and may border on the Grey/Black Hat area.
What are social backlinks
1. Share your content on social media, promote it, and engage in the discussion around your post as well as others in similar communities.
How often should I build links
1. You need to build links regularly. It’s not a one-time thing. Work some link-building time into your SEO schedule routinely.
High volume, low quality links vs. low volume, high quality links
1. Fewer high quality links will take you further than a bunch of low-quality links.
What are some other benefits of good backlink placement?
1. If your backlinks are placed well you could pick up additional referral traffic.
What is Structured Data
1. Organized information that helps search engines better understand your site.
How can structured data help my results
1. There is no direct correlation to structured data and better rankings, but having your data structured will enable you to take advantage of SERP features like rich snippets. So, having structured data can help to vault you to “position 0”.
What role do domain names play in SEO
1. There are so many ranking signals now that domain names don’t hold much importance anymore. Aside from making sure to not match a keyword exactly, and making it something that users will remember, domains don’t affect your results much.
What are meta keyword tags
1. HTML code that allows google to more easily learn what keyword your page is relevant for.
What are header tags
1. HTML code that notes the importance of each heading in your content. There are 6: H1-H6. H1 is most important, and H6 is least important.
2. where you can better serve your users.
What are breadcrumbs
1. Breadcrumbs are an internal navigation menu in your site. You’ll see them displayed on websites as “Home—>Kitties—>Cat Fashion Show 2020”. They are important in helping google figure out the structure of your site.
What is the right amount of links for a website/webpage
1. The more authoritative, high quality links you can have pointing to your site, the better. Experts argue that it’s better to have 100 links from 100 different sites, rather than 100 links from 10 sites.
Earned links vs Buying links
1. Earned, high quality, organic links are what we want. Buying links will give you a quick jump in rankings, but it will leave just as fast as it came.
Why is off-site SEO so important
1. Off-site SEO is anything that does not live on your website, namely: linking. This is important because linking is how Google finds you. Remember: Linking is the “highway” Googlebot travels on or, more appropriately, the web that it crawls.
What are social listings
1. Listings for your company on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
What are review sites
1. Sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google My Business, etc.
How do social listings & review sites help SEO
1. These sites give you an opportunity to share content that points back to your site. You’ll be able to leverage them to increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your site
What is a schema markup
1. It allows you to embed structured data into the code of your site. Schema alone won’t have any effect on your ranking, but it does make it easier for Google to interpret your site’s content. The biggest benefit of schema markup is structuring the data in this way allows you to take advantage of SERP features like rich snippets, featured snippets, and voice search.
How do I perform my own website audit
1. Many audit tools are available with a quick internet search
How do Promotions help SEO
1. Promotions will help increase your subscribers/followers on social media and boost your brand recognition.
How does Public Relations affect SEO
1. It can give your business more exposure, build your brand, and demonstrate authority in your industry.
Can the HTML code of my website help with SEO
1. Yes, it sure can! In fact, this is how you will get a lot of your data structured for future search platforms.
How does social media play into SEO
1. Social media is a great way to amplify, and promote, your content. Social signals are also important in ranking
Are social signals important (social media section)
1. Yes. We can’t stress this enough. This is some of the best organic “street cred” you can get. Someone saying your content is so good that they have to pass it along to a friend does wonders for Google’s EAT ranking factor.
What is a co-citation
1. A backlink situation where two different websites have linked to the same page or brand. Each citation would count toward your Authenticity.
Does influencer marketing play a part in SEO
1. Not directly, but reaching out to influencers and having them interact with your brand helps your brand image.
What are canonical URLs
1. These show search engines which page to index. They help to avoid duplicate content when you have 2 pages that are very similar.
How does website navigation affect SEO
1. Good website navigation allows crawlers to find your pages and index them quickly
What are truncation limits
1. Truncation limits are a character limit on title tags. For a title tag to be effective it should be 65 characters or less.
What is a “link neighborhood”
1. A group of websites that have high Authority in your industry. Linking out to these other websites will force Google to recognize and crawl your content along with this good “neighborhood” of links.
What is my website’s markup
1. Markup is a structuring of the HTML code aimed at helping crawlers crawl and index your site.
What is 301 and 302 redirect
1. These are response codes given by your server when a page is no longer available.
301 vs. 302 When should you use them
1. Use 301 when a page has permanently relocated. Use 302 when the move is temporary.
How do you find broken links pointed at your website
1. Google Analytics can point you to broken links on your site
What is link equity
1. Aka “link juice,” link equity is a ranking of a backlink’s authority
How do I tell if my HTML is improving
1. Google Search Console has reports that will have all of this information for you. You’ll be able to diagnose any HTML problems from there.
How does page speed affect bounce rate
1. If a page takes too long to load your users are GONE. If a page takes 7 seconds to load, it will increase your site’s bounce rate by 113%
How can I check page speed
1. Use Google’s Page Speed test. It can be found easily by searching.
What does “minifying” my code mean
1. Reducing the size of your site’s code to enhance page speed
What is a CDN
1. Content Delivery Networks
How will a CDN help my site
1. A CDN will take images off of your site and make your website perform faster.
Does the quality of my social signals matter
1. Shares, like backlinks, should come from high quality sources with high authority. Similarly, like backlinks, the more shares you can get the better(as long as they’re coming from the right sources).
How do I use a social media influencer for my SEO
1. Giving an influencer a heads up before you post, interviewing them, or quoting them is a great way to leverage their influence on your site.
Where can I hire an influencer
1. You’re probably thinking “Sure, leveraging social sounds great but where do I find these people?” Tribe and Followerwonk are two sites that allow you to use influencers. There you can browse influencers, find one that shares your topic and audience, and pay them to promote your content.
What is Schema.org
1. Schema is defined as the semantic vocabulary of meta tags that you can add to your HTML to improve the way search engines read and display your pages in SERPs
How can you structure data for schema.org
1. Schema allows you to structure your data to take advantage of new features within Google. You can add star reviews and dates to your post. Schema can even help you show up in direct answer features, as well as the Knowledge Graph. Since the way users interact with Google is changing, having access to features like these can really help your SEO results.
Schema vs Structured Data vs Microdata
1. Structured data helps search engines better index & crawl your site. Microdata is a form of structured data that works with HTML5. Schema.org sets a “dictionary” of standardized definitions for microtags.
Does Schema replace Open Graph
1. Schema and Open Graph can be used together, but Open Graph cannot be used in place of Schema.
Which search engines use schema
1. Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Yandex
How does structured data affect rankings
1. There isn’t any evidence that it affects rankings directly, but the payoff comes from the access to rich snippets that structured data gives you.
Can schema be used with other structured data
1. It can be used in conjunction with other structured data, but microformats are not supported.
Have No Follow links become more important to rankings
1. No Follow links have no direct effect on rankings at this point in time. Executives at Google have said that they can now be used as “hints” to your rankings, but nothing more.
How does web hosting affect SEO
1. Choosing the right hosting can increase conversions, traffic, and rankings.
What is uptime
1. Uptime is the amount of time that your website is “up and running”.
How does uptime affect my site’s ranking
1. Google is making User Experience more and more important. Having your site up and running as long as possible, and making sure your pages load as fast as possible, are becoming very, very important.
Can my website’s coding affect SEO results
1. Yes. The HTML of your website can affect visibility to search engine crawlers, as well as page speed.
Can having 2 URLs for the same page affect SEO
1. Yes, and there are 2 reasons. First, it will confuse Googlebot. Secondly, it makes reporting and analysis of your metrics much harder.
What is cross domain tracking
1. Tracking across multiple domains, or entities, within Google Analytics.
What is Source Code
1. The HTML code behind a particular form/feature of your site. For example, Google Analytics has a source code that is copy and pasted into your site HTML for tracking purposes
What is a Cookie Domain
1. The cookie domain is used to track user interaction with your site. It can help you to determine whether a page is getting unique visitors or the same user has visited a page multiple times.
What is a Referral Exclusion List
1. The Referral Exclusion List prevents Google Analytics from restarting tracking every time a user moves from one subdomain to another within your site.
What is Universal Analytics Code
1. This is the overarching code that sends information to Google Analytics.
Why do I need cross domain tracking
1. Cross domain tracking gives you a more complete view of your website’s data, and how users are interacting with your site. Seeing the “big picture” in this way will make it much easier to find/fix any site issues you may come across.
What should I have in my URL
1. You need to have keywords in your URL. Keep it short and sweet, though. Nothing over 60 characters.
What makes a backlink “high quality”
1. A backlink is high-quality when they have high Authority with Google. That authority comes from the same things we’ve discussed here that define good SEO. Was the backlink useful and helpful? Was it easy to navigate? Did it load quickly? And so on, and so on.
How do I analyze backlinks
1. You want to analyze certain metrics for your backlinks: number of domains referencing a linking page, number of links from wikipedia, stats on the author, number of .gov and .edu links pointing to the page, and how many other links that page has. These are the metrics to take a look at. Also, take a look at these metrics across various platforms. Don’t just rely on one source of data.
What are dark UX patterns
1. The best example would be: a newsletter you never subscribed to magically showing up in your inbox.
Which dark patterns bother customers the most
1. Pop-up ads are at the top of the list of annoying dark UX patterns. No contact information, poor return processes, challenging submission process, and autoplay videos follow respectively.
What is most important to the customer
1. If you’ve been reading along with us and paying attention, you already know the answer to this: An easier user experience.
How can I improve my UX
1. A few quick tips: increase your brands transparency, have an easy user experience with obvious terms & conditions, practice honest design and don’t try to trick anyone.
How do I optimize for featured snippets
1. Duplicating the current snippets optimization is a great way to do this. If the answer is in the form of a paragraph, provide your answer in a paragraph as well, right below your featured snippet heading. If there is a list answer, use HTML code for a formatted list. Use title tags for the title that’s used in the snippet. Use title tags for subheadings that Google could possibly use as a list. Adding structured data markup to FAQ sections will help as well.
How important is my online reputation
1. Like any other business, reputation is important. And with Google becoming more user-centric, what users are saying about you becomes even more important.
How do I manage my online reputation
1. It is going to take time and planning to manage your online reputation. The good news, though, is that if you take this time up front, the whole process will be easier in the long run.
What is an ORM protocol
1. Your ORM protocol refers to the network of systems and procedures you will use to manage your business’ reputation online. The acronym stands for Online Reputation Management protocol.
Should I automate my responses to online reviews
1. It will save you time and costs on staff, but you have to make sure that it won’t frustrate customers. Online reviews can be a great opportunity to strengthen your brand. Don’t throw it away by further angering an already-annoyed customer.
What tools can help me manage my online reputation
1. Awario, Brandwatch, and Reputology are a few ORM tools. These tools basically work like Google Analytics for your reputation. They are a one-stop dashboard for you to review what people are saying about your company.
How should I prioritize my brand’s online mentions
1. Handle social media mentions first. They require the most urgency. Next, move to review sites and then thirdly, check for mentions in the media. Becoming more proactive about getting reviews is a great way to help your reputation.
What are exact match domains
1. These are domains that match the keywords you’re trying to rank for exactly.
Can an exact match domain be a problem
1. While Google technically doesn’t penalize for it, it can come across as spammy and is not recommended.
What are the advantages of partial match domains
1. A partial match domain pairs your keyword with an unrelated phrase(ex: sunglasseshut.com). It gives you the benefit of still leveraging your keyword while looking a lot less spammy.
Can I change my domain
1. Yes you can. And doing a redirect to the new domain will hold a large percentage of the SEO ranking from the old domain.
What is a “domain by association”
1. This is a domain that uses a word associated with your industry that isn’t necessarily a keyword. For example, if you were running an online pet store, your domain might be: paws.com.
How will a domain by association affect my ranking
1. It won’t boost, or hurt, your ranking. If your domain has a strong association to your industry, then it may increase traffic. However, the main benefit of using a domain by association is to give your site a relevant domain without threat of penalty from Google.
What is an “Orphan URL”
1. These are URLs to pages that are indexed/published, but can’t be found by users/search engines.
How do “Orphan URLs” affect my site’s SEO
1. If you have a few of them it won’t be a big deal, but when you get in trouble is when there is a large number of them on your site.
What effect is search having on customer experience
1. Customers are getting more and more confused by the amount of ads on the internet. Having a useful, simple website that can offer users what they want quickly will put you miles ahead of the competition. Customers are also more likely to give their business to a website that ranks highly in SERPs.
Can search negatively impact my customers
1. If anything about your site is complicated or confusing, then yes. A large number of customers are feeling misled by search results these days.
How can I maintain positive CX
1. Launch marketing campaigns with UX in mind. Put yourself in your customers shoes. Also, stay on top of policy changes(Google updates, etc.) and track, track, track performance.
What is a website audit
1. A website audit is the analysis of the technical aspects of your website: HTML, URLs, domain, page speed, etc. to see what is working well and where there are opportunities for improvement.
How long does a site audit take
1. It varies depending on how familiar you are with the process. It will take a long time your first time, but if you have the right guidance, it may take less than 60 minutes.
Is a site audit necessary for a local brick & mortar business
1. Yes. A well-optimized website will rank well whether you’re a local business or a multinational corporation. An audit will give you data to help you better see the status of your customers and will help you to fix any problems with your site.
What are the steps of a site audit
1. Content Audit, URL Audit, Speed Analysis, Backlink Health, Mobile-friendliness Check, Interlinking Audit.
What kind of backlinking should be in my copy
1. Links directed to relevant inner pages of your own site, and other sites, are what you’re after. If you need a general rule: place a backlink every 120 words. You can study the big brands in your industry to see what types of anchor text are working for them.
How soon into my copy should I start backlinking
1. The earlier you can link within your content, the better. Google likes links that are at the top of the page. “Fairly early” is the most technical link placement advice we’ve seen on the subject.
What is a VPN
1. A VPN is a Virtual Private Network.
How do VPNs relate to SEO
1. A VPN will keep your data secure and give you access to search results around the globe. This gives you a more accurate view of SERPs.
Do I really need a VPN
1. A VPN isn’t necessary, but it protects your data. And anything you can do to keep your data safer will help you with SEO.
Are my competitors backlinks important
1. You can learn a lot from your competitors’ backlinks. Actually, people backlinking to your competitor may offer you backlinks as well. It can’t hurt to reach out!
Which of my competitors backlink metrics should I focus on
1. Focus on the dofollow links of your competitors’ sites. Those are the links that directly affect rankings.
How does backlink history play into competition research
1. When looking at a competitor’s backlink history, if you see a sudden surge in backlinks, that may tell you that their content has just been updated. Check out that particular page. They may have stumbled on some cool, new viral content that you can benefit from too. Either rework some of your current content, or create something new to take advantage of the trend.
How important is my anchor text
1. Anchor text is very important. It is one of the best ways that we can use to tell Google exactly what a particular page is about.
Do I need to vary anchor text
1. Varying your anchor text will improve your link diversity and keep you out of the “penalty box” with Google. It’s a good idea to vary your anchor text. But make sure you do it effectively.
What type of keywords should I use to vary my anchor text
1. Long-tail and Latent Semantic Indexing(LSI) keywords are the best option for varying your anchor text.
Can a link’s popularity affect its SEO ranking
1. Yes it can. A link’s popularity is a good sign of its relevance. If a link is getting more popular, it means the link is answering people’s questions. Giving people the information they want will make it rank higher.
How can I gain insight about other companies my customers use
1. A CRM can possibly give you insight into other companies that your customers use because a CRM can be helpful in tracking the entire customer journey.
Can too much anchor text to the same page hurt my ranking
1. Yes. too much anchor text to the same link will hurt your ranking. You need to vary your anchor text. Use seed keywords, long-tail keywords, as well as a naked URL to mix things up.
Will linking to my own site while guest posting hurt my ranking
1. Linking to your own site is fine when writing a guest post. It’s actually part of the deal: they get some content, you get a link. But don’t overdo it. And make sure the other links you use, aside from your own site, are relevant to the other content on the site and actually help the reader.
What is Semantic HTML
1. A more natural, easier to understand type of HTML coding.
What’s the main advantage of Semantic HTML
1. Semantic HTML is important to SEO because it helps your content to perform well for featured snippets.
How can I leverage Schema Markup
1. You can mark any content on your site you think is relevant with Schema. That is the beauty of it. What makes it even better is that Schema helps that content to perform well for featured snippets. These snippets take up the biggest “real estate” on SERPs and are starting to see more clicks than even the #1 organic position.
Why is website speed so important
1. Speed is now a ranking factor, which makes it pretty important. This is all part of Google’s mobile-first initiative.
Is getting backlinks from a variety of sites important
1. The more variety of backlinks you can get, the better. But they are from a good “link neighborhood”.
What is a “fresh mention” opportunity
1. Another website owner mentioning your brand, products, or using your keywords without linking to your site.
Can I build links without “cold pitching” to other site owners
1. Yes. An up-and-coming link building strategy is using Google alerts to leverage other mentions of you across the internet.
How is my SEO affected if I want to change website names
1. You can lose traffic and your ranking position when you switch domain names.
What is a domain migration
1. Moving your site from its current domain to another.
How can a domain migration affect my SEO
1. It can be a challenge if not done properly. Especially if your website is larger in size. You have to be mindful of your EAT ranking, as well as your domain authority.
Should I avoid a domain migration at all costs
1. If it’s the right move for your business, I don’t think it needs to be avoided. Know that it will be a big undertaking, but it can be done. Consulting with an SEO expert on something like this is definitely a good idea.
What are the risks of a domain migration
1. You could face indexing issues, broken redirect links, old content accidentally remaining on the website, bad URLs, and slower site speed.
How long does the domain migration process take
1. It really will depend on the size of your site. If you’re dealing with the migration of a larger brand, it can take several months.
Should I have a contingency plan for my domain migration
1. It’s always good to have a backup plan. If you can’t have a backup plan, make sure to use detailed checklists and reporting to keep everyone on the same page and make sure no steps are missed.
Does the popularity of the site I’m linking to matter
1. Popularity is key. Remember: Links to/from popular websites count as “stronger” votes.
Does the position of the link within my content matter
1. Google tends to like links that are toward the top of the page. But make sure they are in the main content.
How does anchor text affect link value
1. If the anchor text is relevant, Google may assign more value to that particular link.
Can I link to the same site several times
1. Linking to the same site several times can be seen as “spammy”. Google doesn’t like “spammy”, and Google may place more value on links from unique domains.
External vs Internal links
1. External links link out to other websites. Internal links link to other pages within your site. Externa links are more influential to your ranking.
What is a Trusted Seed
1. A site that Google views to have very high authority.
How do Trusted Seeds affect link value
1. If you link to a site that is closer(in number of links) to a Trusted Seed, Google may assign it more value.
Do the websites I link to need to be relevant to my site
1. Relevancy is a big part of ranking well. Links to sites with relevant topic may carry more weight than irrelevant content.
Fresh vs Stale page link value
1. Fresh pages are valued over Stale pages in search results.
Can link growth affect “freshness”
1. A sudden spike in link growth can rate a page as “fresher” because it signals an increase in relevance to Google.
What makes Google consider a link “low quality”
1. If Google considers a link spam, it is labeled low quality. Links gained by negative SEO and link schemes fall into this category.
What is a link scheme
1. Buying or selling links, excessive link exchanges, automated links, and requiring a link as part of Terms of Service are all considered link schemes.
What is a Link Echo
1. Link Echoes are the idea that the value of a link may continue even after the link has disappeared. This happens because Google uses ranking factors beside the HTML and URL themselves.
How can link echos affect my site
1. If a link has high quality, then it will maintain a strong vote to your site over time.
Can I be affected if one of my linked pages links to spam
1. Yes, you could. The fact that a page links to spam will cause the links it hosts to be devalued in Google.
Do Nofollow links have value
1. There is no direct value to nofollow links, but Google has said that they will still follow them and only drop them from their knowledge base if they deem it absolutely necessary.
Should I be worried about JavaScript links
1. In the past, Google has had trouble rendering JavaScript links, so they didn’t have much value. Now, JavaScript links can have value as long as Google can render them.
Does robots.txt affect how my links are seen by Google
1. If a page is blocked by robots.txt, Google can’t crawl it and won’t be able to see it. However, if your page is blocked by robots.txt but other pages link to it, Google may still be able to see it.
Which link has authority if a page links to a URL more than once
1. When Google crawls the page, the first link will get priority.
What are disavowed links
1. If you’ve been the victim of spam, or possibly used some suspect link strategies before you educated yourself, Google allows you to disavow them so they don’t affect your ranking.
What is an unlinked mention
1. A mention of your brand, product, or keyword without a link to your site.
Can unlinked mentions still give my site authority in Google’s eyes
1. Because of entities, Google is able to better understand unlinked mentions and still give them value.
What is OpenGraph
1. OpenGraph is back end code that can display a “summary card” of your site on social media.
How can I use OpenGraph to boost SEO results
1. OpenGraph can put an awesome post on your visitors’ timeline to entice them to come back.
Why is site structure important for SEO
1. Site structure affects the ability for users to use your site simply and the ability for Google to see your site simply. It affects both your search engine visibility and user experience.
How do I implement schema
1. You can implement schema into your website with some basic knowledge of HTML. The only difference with schema is it has its own glossary of HTML vocabulary. You would just have to go through and add schema markup throught your microdata wherever you saw fit.
Can remarketing increase the ROI on my SEO
1. Yes. SEO is driving traffic to your site. A site visitor may not be ready to buy at the time they visit your page. Remarketing to them across other platforms is a great way to “touch” them at various points of the user journey.
Are paid links a waste of money
1. Yes! Google hates paid links. While you may see a boost of traffic in the short term, Google will eventually catch on. Those sites will be penalized and you’ll lose any rankings boost that you gained from them.
What is the right way to request links
1. Do your research. Find people who have already linked to similar content and email them. You may have a low success rate, but if you get a few quality links from it, it’s worth it.
What are ugc links
1. The ugc link is assigned to links created by users. An example could be a link provided by someone commenting on a post. The ugc attribute shows Google that the link isn’t endorsed or trusted by you, the website owner. This is another step in Google’s campaign to fight against spam
What are sponsored links
1. Google came up with the sponsored attributes for links that are paid links on your site. These could be paid ads, advertorials, and sponsored placements
When should you use ugc links
1. An example of a ugc link could be a link provided by someone commenting on a post. The ugc attribute shows Google that the link isn’t endorsed or trusted by you, the website owner. This is another step in Google’s campaign to fight against spam. If you use WordPress as a CMS, you don’t have to worry. WordPress already includes a ugc link in your comments sections.
When should you use sponsored links
1. Anytime you’re getting paid for a link you should use the sponsored attribute. Typically, a link means you liked the content you’re linking to. You found it useful, and think it would be useful to your audience. Google recognizes that when you’re getting paid to link to a site, your motivation is different and you may have not linked to that site if you weren’t getting compensated. Google considers these “unnatural” links.

The Future of SEO

How has SEO changed recently
1. Search algorithms are constantly evolving. Sites like Google and Bing are focused more on providing a great user experience. SEO, and search in general, are moving more toward providing quality, useful information/solutions to people and doing it quickly. There’s also a big push on optimizing for mobile devices (for obvious reasons: everyone is on their phone now). But we will cover those more later on.
What is the future of SEO
1. Voice search and visual search. And for you off-page SEO tech nerds that means more Schema markup.
What are emerging verticals
1. These are alternative search mediums that are starting to come to market such as: voice, video, image, and local.
How is SEO evolving
1. Ranking high in Google takes more factors now. Local search results are displayed in a more significant way. More of an emphasis is being put on page speed. Structured data markup is becoming more important with the emergence of voice searching. SERP features like the featured snippet and knowledge graph are affecting the way users interact with Google.
How do I optimize for voice search
1. Schema Markup will help to structure your web data in a way that can be recognized by voice search.
What are AMPs
1. Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)
Is optimizing for voice search difficult
1. No, not really. You’ll just have to learn basic HTML vocabulary or enlisth the help of someone who already knows it.
How do you fix mobile usability errors
1. Speed. Minifying content, compressing images, streamlining site structure. Anything you can do to make your site faster will help it to perform better on mobile
Have any new strategies to SEO been introduced
1. New strategies based around your website code being small and streamlined. Strategies for improving SEO through increased site security have also become more popular.
What effects will increased remote work have on SEO
1. Industry experts are already starting to notice customers being willing to pay more for local goods. People are also willing to share more information with Google and other companies to help America through this crisis. This means that there may be access to even MORE data in the future.
What are the different mobile SEO strategies
1. Responsive Web Design, Dynamic Serving, and Separate URLs
Which mobile SEO strategy is recommended by google
1. Responsive Web Design is recommended by Google
How do I implement a Responsive web design strategy
1. Make sure your site is optimized for mobile. Use features like AMP and make sure that your content can fit on the screen of a mobile device. Keep the importance of user experience in mind. Nobody wants to go to a site on their mobile device and only have a fraction of the site show up on-screen.
What does the “zero-click” evolution mean for branding
1. Branding is becoming increasingly more important. Eyeball traffic and clicks on organic searches are declining. Growing your brand is the best way to still catch people’s eye despite the growth of “zero click” searching.
Is there a website I can mimic for voice-based search SEO
1. If you’re looking for a jumping off point to start your optimization for voice search, check out Ask.com. The way they are currently optimized plays well with voice search devices.
What is speakable schema markup
1. Speakable schema is the new markup provided by Google that makes your content voice search-friendly.
How does speakable schema markup work
1. The markup will help Google determine the importance of your content within your industry. If your content is found relevant, the markup then makes it possible for your content to be streamlined and read back to the user via Google Home, Microsoft Cortana, or Google itself.
Will speakable schema markup affect SEO
1. There are no visible effects on SEO but we, as a society, are using voice search more and more everyday. The writing is on the wall that businesses should start to put this on their radar, and make sure their sites are performing well.
What are the benefits of speakable schema markup
1. Having your site ready for voice search can increase your brand awareness, help you rank higher in SERPs, increase your CTR, position your site for Google Assistant and Alexa voice search, increase your social media presence, and give your users an idea of what kind of content you provide without having to visit your website, which may make them want to visit it later.
What is unified mobile search
1. People using Google to shop will get both Google search results and products related to that search. It positions Google as a “one-stop shop” for someone looking to buy something. Rather than a user having to bounce around to several different websites before making a purchase.
How does unified mobile search help me
1. If you can optimize your site’s content to rank within these results, you will gain much more traffic and much more revenue.
How do I take advantage of unified mobile search
1. The best way is to optimize your product data. Product category, product type, and product description all need to be Google-friendly.
How can I make my site relevant on voice search
1. Do whatever you can to optimize your content for featured snippets. Plain & simple.
How do I optimize my content for entities
1. Focus on LSI keywords. Semantics are a big part of search now. Not only do you need to rank for a particular keyword, you also need to rank for the semantics around it. With regard to links, now you’re going to need quality links from authoritative sources on multiple aspects of your key phrase.
What is semantic search
1. Semantic search is the new way to search. When we, as humans, talk to each other we understand more than just the words being exchanged. There are context clues and non-verbal cues at work that come so naturally we don’t even think about them. Semantic search enables search engines to pick-up on these important non-verbal elements of human communication.
What is Google Lens
1. Lens is Google’s visual search tool.
Is visual search starting to become relevant
1. Yes. Visual is one of the emerging media on the modern search landscape.
What site elements influence Google Lens
1. Keyword-rich title tags and and URLs
How can you optimize an image for Google Lens
1. Focus on keywords in your title tags and URLs. Alt text isn’t as important for Google Lens.
What is biometric technology
1. Biometric technology measures the relationship between physical and behavioral characteristics
How can marketers use biometric technology
1. This type of technology is being used in all types of industries. With respect to SEO, one of its biggest uses has been for User Experience testing.
What has become the most important SERP element
1. Through biometric testing, it was determined that featured snippets have become the most important SERP element
How does the Knowledge Graph affect Google Search
1. The knowledge graph seems to get more attention when the search intent is for purchasing. This may be because the Knowledge Graph displays visual prices to users.
What is Galvanic Skin Response (GSR)
1. GSR is used to measure how much time a user is spent touching their phone (scrolling, typing into search, etc.).
What have biometric tests shown about modern search
1. Search intent is a huge factor in determining how users interact with SERPs. Featured Snippets are great for information-based searches. Local searches catch the user’s eye and give essential information quickly and simply..
What do these results mean for SEO
1. Based on biometric testing, it appears that organic search results and PPC results are still relevant.

Takeaways

Well, that does it! 1000 questions of SEO knowledge.

A lot of research went into this article, and it forced us to look at SEO from a lot of different angles.

After all the gathering and indexing of the data, a few trends emerged.

Schema Markup is becoming increasingly more important. Using it properly will help you start to win key locations on Google SERPs layout. This will help you outperform organic search results on both desktop and mobile. Schema will also prepare you for the voice search revolution!
You can’t fake it! Following Google’s guidelines is the only way to win. No buying links, no dark hat practices, NOTHING! Do things the right way and you’ll be fine. SEO will pay off for you big time. But try to cut corners, and you can really throw away the time and money you’ve put into your campaigns. So, please, SEO responsibly!
USER EXPERIENCE. It’s all about User Experience. Put yourself in your users’ shoes at every turn and you will be effective with SEO. Think about what you would want to see, and how you would want the page to behave, when you visited a website.

Wrapping Up

If you’ve stayed around until this point, Congratulations! You are officially an SEO Genius!

What did you think? Leave us a comment, or contact us directly, if you have any questions!

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1000 Q&As About SEO: Everything You Need to Discover Your Digital Marketing Genius

Published by Jim Iorio on July 3, 2020July 3, 2020

How to Use This Article

General SEO

Search Engines

Content

On-Page SEO

Off-Page/Technical SEO

The Future of SEO

Takeaways

Wrapping Up

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1000 Q&As About SEO: Everything You Need to Discover Your Digital Marketing Genius

Published by Jim Iorio on July 3, 2020July 3, 2020

How to Use This Article

General SEO

Search Engines

Content

On-Page SEO

Off-Page/Technical SEO

The Future of SEO

Takeaways

Wrapping Up

Share this:

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