It’s been awhile since I’ve taken the time to write for my OMD site. Since launching my own online brand GymPaws, I’ve been busy doing rather than talking. I recently had a conversation with a fellow small business owner who’s quite successful, and was literally shocked at how little he knew about SEO. Especially considering he was asking me why I felt his competitors were generating more online revenue than he was. It inspired me to come back to OnlineMarketingDetails and share with you guys some of my insight and SEO Tips 2018.
Most of what you read from online marketing “pros” or SEO “experts” is nothing more than their interpretation of information they’ve read somewhere else. Very few of these guys have ever actually implemented their suggested strategies or advice. They’re making money convincing you they know more than you! They probably do, but that’s not the point. It’s a much different scenario when you have to actually MAKE these strategies work, rather than just talking about them.
I target a lot of my advice to Small Business Owners because I feel those individuals and Brands can benefit most. They often have limited resources and don’t have the time to sit down and teach themselves about SEO or how to optimize their eCommerce efforts. Smaller organizations also tend to be more fluid; and they can take my suggestions and implement them immediately to gauge results versus larger brands who have to expend valuable time and resources adding another cog into their online marketing machine.
Now as an eCommerce guy, I’m a firm believer in optimizing every possible online customer acquisition channel. There is however one that is the grand daddy of them all… and that’s Search Engine Optimization. I’ve worked with and studied multi-million dollar Brands with unlimited marketing budgets as well the little guys who need to survive from day to day off limited resources. It doesn’t matter how big or small you are, when it comes to SEO it’s a level playing field.
SEO is not about survival of the fittest or strongest, it’s about the ability to adapt to change.
SEO Tips 2018
1. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
It takes a couple of months before you’ll start seeing results from your online optimization efforts. If you make the commitment to optimize your Brand online, you have to stick with it. A runner doesn’t train here and there when they feel like it; they train everyday for a marathon that’s 6 months or more in the future. That’s the mentality you need.
2. Content is king. End of story. Period.
Your website needs to be sharing content continuously if you hope to gain online space over your competitors, especially if you’re a newer brand. Your e commerce platforms need to be optimized using the same tactics. Search engines place high value on older domains and “legacy links.” If your competitors have been around for a decade and you’re a newbie, you must start flooding your online space with relevant content. Be weary of advice that says you can rank on page one within the first month. They’re taking advantage of your naivete. It’s about knowing which keywords convert to paying customers, not which rank highest. I can get to #1 spot of search results for “high protein blueberry muffins” within a week or two with GymPaws but what good does that do me when I sell workout gloves.
3. If you’re going to engage via Social Media, at least understand how it works.
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat etc.. the list could go on and on. They’re all fun (albeit mind numbing) but they do nothing to boost your SEO. They’re a great tool to help establish Brand ID, but they offer little to no value for SEO. Furthermore you likely need to spend less time engaging fans you already have, and focus more on acquiring customers who’ve never heard of you before! Ideally you find the right equation to be able to do both simultaneously.
4. If you’re not doing it, someone else is.
As an online marketing guy, nothing gets me more fired up and excited than working with a Brand that has the potential to be a sleeping giant in their industry! Don’t assume that your biggest competitor is a pro when it comes to SEO just because they’re a huge multi-million dollar brand. I’m hear to tell you from personal experience that they are not! I recently had the opportunity to evaluate the online marketing efforts of a company that will surpass $500 million revenue this year, and discuss my findings with the CEO. Their online customer acquisition efforts were more disorganized than my kitchen cabinets.. and they’re exclusively an online brand!
However big or small your organization is, know this… as technology continues to move forward at warp speed, the search engines will continue to tailor their algorithms in an effort to present the newest and most relevant content to its users. You can be making more money, gaining new customers, and building your online Brand equity. If you haven’t started then get going today. Don’t give up, don’t be discouraged, and keep your eye on the prize!