seo basics for content creators

SEO in an hour

Q. What is Google's mission?

Q. What is Google's mission?

A. To organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.

(And sell advertising.)

● 1 billion+ questions answered a day● 181 countries and 146 languages● 15% of the searches are brand new ● 300 million users – 91% of connected users

● 1 million+ spam pages created each hour

Stats

(CC) Wikimedia Commons

How are Google results served up?

● 200+ unique signals ● partly link-based (PageRank)● known markers of value - high quality,

original content ● ability to understand your content● lower rank for keyword stuffing, link

schemes, deliberate duplicate content

What are search engines trying to do?

● offer a free, quality search experience to attract a loyal audience

● adapt to those who game the system● NEW: provide content not just links

media content

local business

'free' Wikipedia content

What are we trying to do?

Get to #1 on Google!

but "For every search query performed on Google, there are thousands, if not millions of web pages with helpful information." – Google.

What is SEO?

...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.

[Wikipedia]

So, how is Seven doing?

content marketing + UK

content marketing

SEO helps us improve our rankings

● By helping Google read, understand and index our content.

● By creating high value content that our target readers want to find, read and link to.

Easy!

Everything I know about SEO...

1. Headlines are really important

Headlines that don't work...

Exercise:Spot the potential problem with each headline.

Headline help

● research and include main keywords ● keep it short or be cut-off (40-60 characters)● puns don’t work – clarity over cleverness● 'viral' heads do work – with certain brands● beat the competition – must-click factor● don't rely on images for context

Everything I know about SEO...

1. Headlines are really important2. Intros should be must-clicks

Intros round

Exercise: Put these heads/intros in order of ranking on Google.

Intros help

● offer a compelling reason to read on but...● don't spin or over-promise● include synonyms ● intro often forms metadescription ● be concise (cut-off around 250 characters)

Everything I know about SEO...

1. Headlines are really important2. Intros should be must-clicks 3. Images need to be described in alt text

Alt text in the cms

Alt text

<img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/cartoons/2012/2/10/1328873046573/valentines-day-scene-007.jpg" width="460" height="276" alt="valentine's day scene" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage">

Everything I know about SEO...

1. Headlines are really important2. Intros should be must-clicks 3. Images need to be described in alt text4. Videos need descriptions and keywords

YouTube

...is a search engine, too.

● Optimise your heads/intros

● Help Google index content: tags, link to transcripts, categories, etc

Everything I know about SEO...

1. Headlines are really important2. Intros should be must-clicks 3. Images need to be described in alt text4. Videos need text support5. Do SEO research before commissioning

Everyone is a publisher

"For every search query performed on Google, there are thousands, if not millions of web pages with helpful information." – Google.

● Web has levelled the field. ● You are competing like washing powders.● How will you stand out?

"Good enough sucks"

fff

Ultimate SEO tip: Research angle 1st

Part of SEO is making the right content choices at the editorial meeting or when briefing a subject matter expert or writer.

● What does your target reader want to know?● What does your brand want to tell them?● Why would anyone want to read/view this?

Three tools to help you

● Google Trends● Google Autocomplete / search results● Google Keyword tool

Resource list

● Google SEO Starter Guide – 32 pages of best practice● Moz (SEOmoz) guide - Beginners Guide to SEO● SEO for food bloggers – slideshow● Content Marketing Institute blog● How I teach myself new digital content skills using cake!

– personal development/training● Bookmarks – SEO and content marketing● RSS feeds – find good sites and subscribe to them

Any questions?

@fionacullinanfiona.cullinan@seven.co.ukfionacullinan.com