How to Optimize My Content #VCBuzz

Search engine optimization is an essential part of content creation process. You want your content to be findable and Google is still the most desirable place for it to be found in.

Many bloggers think SEO is something to technical to bother about, others think it’s something almost illegal.

Neither is true. In face, search engine optimization is merely about making your content easy to find and understand, both for people and search engine crawlers.

So how do you optimize your content for search engines?

Questions we discussed

Q1 How has SEO changed over the years? What were the most important changes for you personally/for your company?

From cookie-cutter tactics to strategic approach: More focus on content and quality. Negative change: SEO requires bigger budgets, so big brands win over small businesses.

A1 People who are ignorant of the changes in SEO are still trying to use money phrase anchor text (good way to get Penguined) #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

One thing remains the same: Links are still the only way to rank in Google. You can create quality content but without links it won’t do much.

A1 We need to be moving toward driving clicks and conversions instead of just aiming for SEO ranking link value. #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

A1 Still lots of SEO spam in my inbox…How many people actually fall into the SEO spam trap these days?Should be fewer than before! #vcbuzz

— Ann Smarty (@seosmarty) March 14, 2017

Thankfully most Made for Adsense sites have died #vcbuzz

— Phil Turner (@The5Currencies) March 14, 2017

A1 While article marketing did help some ecommerce sites, all that content no one ever read is pretty much gone now. #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

Q2 What are the essential content search engine optimization steps? What should be done and how?

Step1: Keyword research: Define which keywords are in high demand without having crazy competition

I did a quick article on #keywordresearch here.

Here’s another one that clearly shows the process.

A2 Writers still need to know How to Choose Keywords to Reach Your Target Audience https://t.co/ZWW7lc75Y4 #blogging #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

Make sure those keywords appear in the right places: Titles are by far the most important. Titles affect click-through too because they often appear in search results. Colorlib lists a few essential SEO plugins to optimize your articles properly.

A2 Writers also need to know Why and How to Select Keywords; Where to Use Them https://t.co/G0tgp39hFD #blogging #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

Think indepth varied content: Mention related entities (events, names…), include links to trusted sources, etc.

a victory for quality! yay 🙂 @seosmarty #vcbuzz

— David Pepper (@davepepper01) March 14, 2017

At least seems to be moving in the right direction w/ some solid collateral damage though RT @thedavepepper: a victory for quality! #vcbuzz

— Ann Smarty (@seosmarty) March 14, 2017

Q3 Should we be going back and optimize our old content or is it better to focus on creating new content instead?

It should probably be both: Google loves both fresh and evergreen content

Go back and optimize outdated content to replace broken links, add new concepts, etc.

A3 After you optimize older and trending, then focus on optimizing older that targets important keywords to get them ranking. #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

Think about keeping your old content ever-green, rather than SE-optimized

If it’s too much to update (e.g article is based on an outdated tool), write a new article and 301-redirect the outdated one

For those operating e-commerce sites, how are you getting links to your inner pages? #vcbuzz

— 24 Hour Translation Services (@24hrtranslation) March 14, 2017

@24hrtranslation product pages you mean? very few (almost 0) legit options… #vcbuzz

— Ann Smarty (@seosmarty) March 14, 2017

@24hrtranslation E-commerce sites MUST have a blog to attract links and then use blog posts to drive SEO juice to their inner pages #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

no links = no rankings no matter how solid content is RT @thedavepepper: Q Does exceptional content outweigh SEO? @GrowMap @Smbiz #vcbuzz

— Ann Smarty (@seosmarty) March 14, 2017

@thedavepepper Outweigh? You have to have exceptional content to attract links. Use it to fish for mentions and links. #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

Q4 What are your favorite SEO tools and why?

I love a ton to SEO tools but due to nature of my specific marketing tasks I use only a few daily.

I love @Serpstat because somehow it gives me more ideas (Thier question research rocks!)

Plus @Serpstat can be used to research related terms, etc.: Lots of features for content creators

I also use @answerthepublic and recently @Buzzsumo’s new tool Bloomberry.

…@Serpstat, @answerthepublic & @Buzzsumo’s BloomBerry are great for niche question research

I’ve been focusing my content to answer niche questions for a while now.

Kristi @KristiHines writes some great content about #SEOtools https://t.co/7b8uJPvpBx and https://t.co/0h7Qrv6WtB #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

SEOquake is a helpful browser add-on to run an initial check on sites. #vcbuzz

— Don Sturgill (@DonSturgill) March 14, 2017

Ann @SEOSmarty What are your best posts on #SEOtools? (Sorry to put you on the spot.) 🙂 #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

Basic one but lists some awesome newish #SEOtools -> https://t.co/Xqld5cEXy1 for @ducttape cc @growmap #vcbuzz

— Ann Smarty (@seosmarty) March 14, 2017

A4 I recently published a guest post by @eugene_mekheda on Must Have #SEOToolbars https://t.co/BzmOLlGEVc #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017

I find Yoast too heavy. Genesis has basic SEO configuration built-in. #vcbuzz

— Don Sturgill (@DonSturgill) March 14, 2017

@seosmarty Yes, I use Yoast and yes, it has some quirks at times. I want to point out the eye icon to find passive, long sentences. #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) March 14, 2017