This post questions the notion about secret search engine optimization methods and SEO secrets. Are there SEO secrets or is SEO just a process of layering the fundamentals to produce the appropriate reactions?
Are there any SEO Secrets?
If you came here to find a list with an illustrated “it’s as easy as 1-2-3 checklist“, then it is time to adjust your expectations and focus on more tangible guidelines to provide a foundation for producing real SEO results.
Anything worthwhile takes time, energy and effort. To create top ranking results in search engines is no different. There is no need to try and trick search engines, just give them what they want and allow the algorithms to work in your favor.
If your method is ethical, the last thing you need to fear is algorithms. Remember, they work for you if you provide the right signals.
What ARE the proper SEO Signals?
The secret to SEO (if there is such a thing) is based on a trinity of relevance…
1. Build as many relevant keywords to relevant pages as possible.
2. Build scalable site architecture and naming conventions (think Wikipedia).
3. Make sure that humans and search engine spiders know about it.
For example, if you have 1000 pages and each one ranks for 5 keywords, then you have 5000 relevant keywords driving traffic to your website; as a result of that will produce x amount of converting visitors.
Getting from 5000 to 50,000 keywords or respective visitors requires a scalable relevance model. And to create relevance you must identify your market and craft methods to appeal to attain traction tactfully and efficiently.
Growing anything takes time and naturally you must feed a site of that magnitude (to reach 50K visitors or more with something fresh, new and unique or exciting if you ever want to see them again (not just more of the same old new same wrapped in a new dress).
So, instead of thinking of the marketplace from the ground up, you can apply the top down model and emulate formulas for SEO that already exist.
Which type of strategy would you use? More pages to create more traffic (which requires more links and more time) or less pages and a higher concentration of theming you’re content to rank for a specific keyword? It really depends on your competition and ranking objectives.
Not everyone purchases or takes the optimal conversion objective the first time they visit your website. In fact, many will never return, so which do you focus on?; first time visitors, repeat visitors or both.
You have to have the simplicity and the clarity to communicate benefits to first time visitors, yet offer enough substance for those coming back for a second or third time to evaluate your offer. Providing substantial value is one method you can use to evolve the context and engagement levels of virtually any website.
Between forums, social media, search engines, press releases, targeted promotional platforms (like classified), affiliate’s, b2b marketing and websites like craigslist, e-bay, Google product search or other targeted niche sites, you should be able to tailor a specific offer to each type of prospect to create a frenzy and achieve suitable conversion over time.
The reality is, just because you haven’t tapped into it, that traffic exists and there are consumers frequenting competitors sites using the sames keywords you could acquire if you apply SEO. You just have to create something worth entertaining to incentivise visitors and then once they do, give them a reason to come back or pass it on to others.
To satisfy such a tall order, we have provided links to relevant white papers and articles contained in our library of SEO content at SEO Design Solutions.
Starting with:
- How to Grow an Organic Search Ranking using Thematic Search Modifiers
- Editing Old Content for SEO Value
- SEO, Sub domains, Site Architecture and Sitemaps
- How to Increase Relevance using Consistent Naming Conventions
- Engagement and Conversion Using Marketing Incentives
- SEO and Internal Linking
- How to Build Links and Optimize your Website for Multiple Keywords
- SEO and Applied Keyword Research
- SEO Equals the Power of Choice
- How to Build an Authority Website
So instead of thinking about short-cuts, automation or bending the rules. Just consider, there are no real SEO secrets, just temporal algorithms that are bound to change. The resources listed above should provide a hint of what it takes to successfully manage a robust SEO campaign, but you still have to manage each facet to stay ahead of the pack.
Search results do not just magically appear on their own, you have to plant the seeds and tend the results to harvest the reward of traffic, conversion and engagement, that is the real secret of SEO.
“Build scalable site architecture and naming conventions (think Wikipedia).”
Very good exapmle of scalable site architecture. Incisive article.
Definitely have to take time with SEO – any “one hit wonders” will fail over the long term.