SEO for Business & Blogs - Illuminate 2014

Vend Raleigh | Illuminate | #WorthIt | @allisonbarrettc

Don’t play HIDE & SEEK with your website.SEO: What it is. How to get it.

Allison Carter


Who I am

allisonbcarter.comContent Marketing & Strategy

NC Blogger Networkncbloggernetwork.com

Blogging411


What is SEO anyways?“Search Engine Optimization”

SEO refers to search engine optimization: the process of improving the ranking of a website on web search engines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEO


Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine's "natural" or un-paid ("organic") search results. In general, the earlier (or higher ranked on the search results page), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine's users.

As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work, what people search for, the actual search terms or keywords typed into search engines and which search engines are preferred by their targeted audience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_search

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_results_page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_marketing


Changes to SEOSEO OLD SCHOOL

Pay for links to your stuffCram in special words

Ask for sharesLots of PPC

SEO NEW SCHOOL“Content is king”Write for people


Basic SEO To-Do’s• Know your keywords• Make sure your keywords are in your content• Make sure your keywords are in your titles• Make sure all your images are named with

keywords

• If you are on WordPress, consider installing a PlugIn (like Yoast)


KeywordsWhat words would someone type in to Google

to find you and your services?

Google Keywords search via AdWordshttps://adwords.google.com tools keyword planner

Quora YouTubeUbersuggest Ask Friends

https://adwords.google.com/


The case for blogging• Companies that publish at least 15 blogs per month get five

times more traffic than those that don’t blog. Small businesses with 1-10 employees see the largest gains by posting more often.

• Companies that blog once or twice per month generate 70 percent more leads than those who don’t blog at all.

• Small businesses with blogs generate 126% more leads. • Companies nearly double their sales leads by increasing

blogging frequency from 3-5 times per month to 6-8 times per month.

• 61% of US Consumers have made a purchase decision based on a blog post.


BUT I CAN’T WRITE!!!


Yes, you can.• Get guest bloggers.• Brainstorm.• Think of FAQs• Highlight your product – seasonal?• Write a lot all at once, schedule.• Create a calendar.• Behind the scenes glimpses.• What would you want to know about your business?• So don’t write! Make videos.


Know Your AudienceAge

GenderInterests

Family lifeHobbies

Things they readWhen they are on the Internet

What they wantWhat they need


BUT I DON’T HAVE TIME!!!


Make it.Build this in to your marketing plan.

You want your website seen!

Remember: 126% more leads.

Use your calendar. Hire it out if you have to.

It makes a difference.


SEO + Social

Top Rank Blogtoprankblog.com


Social Media MarketingQuality, inbound links.

Reputation and authority management.Access to your content.

“When you combine well-orchestrated social campaigns with ongoing search optimization, you are creating leverage and a long-

term competitive advantage.”- Ray Grieselhuber, CEO and co-founder of Ginzamarkets, Inc.


What to share & When.Not all social media is the same.

Decide what social media marketing works for you, spend time there.

• Facebook• Twitter• LinkedIn• Pinterest• Instagram• Google+

The rule is: there is no rule.

Measure.Experiment.


Contact me

[email protected]@allisonbarrettc

Small Business & Entrepreneurship

SEO for Business & Blogs - Illuminate 2014