Bloggy Conference 2014

confidential

Bloggy Conference 2014SEO and Blogging9 | 13 | 2014

Bare Knuckle Digital

Obligatory Social Media Facebook: @BareKnuckleDigital

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bare-knuckle-marketing

Instagram: @BareKnuckleDigital

Twitter: @BareKnuckleDigi

Google +: +BareKnuckleMarketingIncCincinnati

http://www.linkedin.com/company/bare-knuckle-marketing


About Me:• I hate talking about myself • Full time Mom

– Jacob– Matt (technically my husband) – Two puppies and 2 cats

• 14 years of SEO experience (I was doing SEO before it was SEO)• Founder of Bare Knuckle Marketing• Recently acquired by a full service agency Red212

– Bare Knuckle Digital – Given fancy title– Bigger team– More assets – Live and breathe SEO

• I even do dishes and laundry


SEO and Blogging


What is SEO?• SEO = Search Engine Optimization

(ranking for keywords in the search engines)• Evolved Marketing• It’s like aiming at a moving target, that you

can’t control:– Algorithms– Your market– Your competition


Why you SHOULD do SEO

• 80% of traffic is from search engines• Google has about 66.7% market share• Bing has 16.3%, Yahoo 12.2%• Everyone searches for something online• Your competitors are doing it• “Build it and they will come”

only works in Field of Dreams


Why you are NOT doing SEO

• Too expensive• Don’t know where to start• Don’t understand the importance• Lack of trust• Pandas and Penguins…and Hummingbirds

are just confusing…and now Pigeons…come on Google• The rules change too much - can’t keep up


Good News!

Quality Blogging IS good SEO


Successful SEOWhat does a successful SEO strategy look like today?• Technically optimized website• Content is king • Links are queen• Together they rule!• Built right, content will naturally attract links


Technical Tips

Can the search engines find you? And when they do, do they know what you’re about? • Wordpress• Wordpress for SEO plugin (Yoast SEO)• Google SEO Starter Guide http://bit.ly/SEOstarter-guide


SEO Basics

• Title tag• Meta description tag• Meta keywords tag• H1-H6: Headers• How much text on page?

Quality not Quantity• Ideal Keyword Density?

(none)• Internal Linking – link to

related internal pages where appropriate

• Link out to Related sites• Redirect Non WWW To

WWW (Canonicalization)• Alt tags• Clean URLs• Keywords In Bold Or Italic• 301 (permanently redirect)

old pages


Bad SEO – What NOT to do

• No duplicate tags (title or meta tags)• Don’t use keywords in your tags that don’t appear on the page• No duplicate content• No broken links (use Xenu Link Sleuth to check)• Ads are ok, just not too many• Don’t constantly change page names. If you do change a

page name, 301 redirect it.• Don’t link to everyone who says they’ll link to you. Only link if

it makes sense to your readers.


• Title Tag (different than your Headline)

– Appears in search results– Keywords are bold– Capture the search engine –

most important words in front

• Meta Description– Appears in search results– Keywords are bold– Be compelling to encourage a click– Under 170 characters

• Meta Keywords– Ignored by major search engines– …unless you spam

– Ok to put misspelled words here

The Mechanics


• Headline (Heading, H1 – capture the reader, but don’t forget keywords)

• Content– Focus and use your main keyword theme throughout – In general, more than 300 words, but always consider your audience

first– Bold keywords when it makes sense– Use variations = semantics– No magic formula for frequency or density

• Link Out– To other content within site– To other authority sites with relevant content– Use keywords in anchor text

The Mechanics


Content

What is Content?• Text• Images• Video• Blogs• Social media


Who are you writing for?

• Define your target• What type of mom are you?• What are your passions, causes, problems or solutions?• This will drive your content

Pro Tip:

If you can clearly define who you are trying to reach, and show you are reaching your defined audience, it is easier to attract sponsors!


Why are you blogging?

Primary Goal:• Engage with people who share you same interests • To share helpful tips, information, humor, etc.• Learn and grow with your readers • You are passionate


Why are you blogging?

Secondary Goal / Benefit: • Make money = what you do is valuable• Offer banner ads to your target• Reach out to ad networks and offer space on your blog


Marketing Your Blog

How do you achieve these secondary goals?• Seek out companies / agencies that collect bloggers

– Agencies & brands NEED authentic content– Prove you can reach their target market

• Develop a Media Kit– Know your market– Know your analytics – Prove that you are a trusted authority in your subject matter– Highlight your best genuine content


Marketing Your Blog

• Write Genuine Content– Be honest– Respect that your audience trusts you– Be transparent when writing about product/brand reviews– Share your stories– Don’t be afraid to show your sense of humor– Be informative

• Map out a plan = be a better writer• Use social media with a purpose


Know Your Traffic: Analytics• Why do you want to know your traffic?

– Know exactly who is visiting your site– What pages are the most viewed– How long visitors are on your site

• What do you do with this information?– Create a media kit highlighting your audience– This is your “resume” for companies interested in your blog– THIS PROVES YOUR WORTH!

• How do you know your traffic?– Install Google Analytics!


Installing Google AnalyticsStep one: Sign Up


Installing Google AnalyticsStep two: Obtain Tracking Code


Installing Google AnalyticsStep three: Install Tracking Code

If you are using WordPress to manage your site, simply install the Google Analytics for WordPress plugin.

If you are not using WordPress it’s still pretty easy. Google has a guide that will walk you through each step.

Within a few hours of adding Google Analytics to your site, you will start to see stats


Installing Google Analytics

That’s it.


Know Your Analytics


Know Your Analytics


Summary

• SEO is in a constant state of evolution• Don’t sweat it and focus on creating good content• Speak to your market• Be findable – don’t forget to speak to the search engines• Measure everything – know your numbers• It’s ok to advertise, but be transparent & honest about it• You are extremely valuable as a blogger!


We Need Your Help!

Bare Knuckle Digital is working with a start up tech company called Xilo that would like for bloggers to share their new product with their audience.

We have been give two free products to give away to two lucky bloggers to either give to their audience or keep for themselves and tell their audience about the product.

So what is this new product?


Say Hello to Squawk’r


What is Squawker?Tech start up Xilo Audio created an adorable, Bluetooth-powered rubber duck called “Squawk’r” via the popular crowd funding website IndieGoGo. These eye-catching and feature packed devices will be available in classic yellow, camouflage, or pink.

• Easy to operate. • Connects to just about any

Bluetooth-enabled device and is compatible with popular music apps.

• Answer incoming phone calls for hands-free conferencing with its built-in microphone then automatically return to music.

• Water resistant silicone rubber shell attaches to almost any smooth surface with its suction cup base.

• Micro SD Memory Card Slot turns Squawk’r into a stand-alone music player!

• Direct connect devices that do not have Bluetooth capabilities with provided audio cable.

• Charge the unit with the included micro USB cable.

• 3 hours play time with one full charge.

• Fully charge in approximately 30-40 minutes.

Main Features:



If You’re Interested

• Stop by the Bare Knuckle Booth• Talk to Bryan

Bryan is also happy to talk to you about other opportunities to work with Bare Knuckle clients.

t

confidential

Allison ChaneyBare Knuckle Digital Director of Digital [email protected] Fair Lane Cincinnati Oh 45227Deck available @ http://www.slideshare.net/bareknuckle