The 7 Crucial SEO Rules Marketers Often Forget
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a dynamic and ever-evolving field. Marketers often get caught up in the hustle and bustle of their daily tasks and overlook some fundamental rules of SEO that can significantly impact their success. Here are seven essential SEO rules that are frequently forgotten, along with practical examples to illustrate their importance.
1. Keep Your Content Updated
Regularly updating your content is crucial for maintaining relevance and attracting readers. Nobody wants to read a three-year-old article when a more recent one is available. This principle is a key reason why Wikipedia ranks so highly on search engines, drawing in 4.4 billion visits a month according to SimilarWeb.
Example: If you run a blog about digital marketing, ensure your articles on topics like social media trends, SEO tactics, and content marketing strategies are up-to-date. Refresh statistics, update strategies with new insights, and replace outdated examples with current ones to keep your content fresh and engaging.
2. Content Isn’t the Best Way to Build Links
While content is important, free tools can generate more backlinks than content alone. Take the example of the Tucker Carlson interview with Putin, which garnered more views in one day than many tools get in their lifetime.
Example: If you’re a digital marketing agency, consider creating free tools such as a keyword density checker or an SEO audit tool. These tools can attract backlinks from users and other websites, significantly boosting your SEO.
3. International Expansion for Traffic Growth
Expanding your reach internationally is one of the easiest ways to grow your search traffic. Most internet users don’t search in English. Translating and transcribing your content can help tap into this vast audience.
Example: A travel blog focused on European destinations expanded its audience by translating content into Spanish, French, and German. By using translation services like DeepL and local freelance translators for accuracy, the blog saw a 40% increase in traffic from non-English speaking countries within six months.
4. SEO Isn’t Just About Google
Although Google is the dominant search engine, other platforms are also significant sources of search traffic. Ignoring these can limit your reach.
Example: Optimize your content for other search engines like Bing and Yahoo. Additionally, consider platforms like YouTube for video content and Pinterest for visual content, as they also serve as powerful search engines in their respective niches.
5. Algorithm Updates Won’t Always Favor You
Not every algorithm update will work in your favor. However, it’s essential to play the long game and optimize for both users and search engines. Adopting an omni-channel approach can help balance out any dips in traffic from one source.
Example: If a Google algorithm update negatively impacts your traffic, having a strong presence on social media, email marketing, and other search engines can help compensate for the loss.
6. More Traffic Doesn’t Mean More Revenue
High traffic doesn’t necessarily translate to higher revenue. Focus on optimizing for keywords that drive revenue, not just traffic.
Example: If your website previously ranked for high-traffic terms like “get more Instagram followers,” but these visitors didn’t convert, shift your focus to more targeted keywords like “Instagram marketing services” that attract potential customers ready to make a purchase.
7. Brand Building Drives Search Traffic
The most successful companies generate the majority of their search traffic from their brand. Building a strong brand can enhance your SEO efforts significantly.
Example: Utilize the rule of 7 by ensuring that potential customers see or interact with your brand at least seven times. This can be achieved through an omni-channel approach, including social media, email campaigns, and PPC advertising, to increase brand recognition and, consequently, search traffic.
Conclusion
Remembering and implementing these seven SEO rules can help marketers maintain a robust and effective SEO strategy. By keeping content updated, leveraging tools for backlinks, expanding internationally, optimizing for various search platforms, staying resilient through algorithm changes, focusing on revenue-driving keywords, and building a strong brand, you can achieve long-term SEO success.
