Branding and platform building have shifted tremendously because of COVID-19. More than ever, you must have an online presence to compete in today’s marketplace. SEO and branding helps you stand above the crowd with optimized content that matches what your target audience is searching for.
If SEO or search engine optimization is the art of convincing Google that your website should rank highly in the search engines, then you need to invest in your business website as your brand identity.
Use these top 5 SEO branding tips to help you stand out above the crowd and build your online presence.
1. Start seeing your website as an extension of your brand. Answer these 3 questions:
WHO do you serve?
WHAT services do you offer your target audience?
HOW are you unique?
Now write up these answers in a single sentence like this:
“My services specializes in helping women in transition [WHO] with smart, practical strategies to help them market themselves effectively.” [WHAT/HOW?]
“My past clients have seen a 25% increase in web leads and a 15% increase in new patient acquisition.” [WHO]
Notice the difference?
2.Use [how to] type keyphrases in every single piece of content you create. Research shows that [how to] type keyphrases are the most popular type of search queries. Why? Because they address a solution and a pain point. Plus it makes it a lot easier to start with keyword research.
3. Look for specific search terms to use as the foundation for each piece of content you create. You’ll want to evaluate the keyword quality to determine which posts should be written first (i.e. which keywords are in the sweet spot). If you’re unsure which keywords to go after, you can sign up for a free trial to experiment with SEO search tools offered by UberSuggest and SEMRush. Listen to my podcast on how to find the best SEO words to help build your online presence.
4. Create an SEO content strategy that suits YOUR personality. Don’t try to sound or be like anyone else. That’s just fluff. The key is to identify the right kind of content channel that resonates with you. If you enjoy the feeling of interacting, then do YouTube videos. If you thrive on the written word, blog. Each content channel offers an opportunity to communicate your message. People will quickly notice and feel these things. This will over time, create your BRAND.
5. Optimize your content. Now comes the straight-up SEO part. Content and keywords are interlinked. If you’re putting out videos, remember that YouTube is Google’s search engine so you’ll want to optimize the meta descriptions with the right keywords and phrases.
The way it works in Google is that a piece of online content (i.e. blog, video, audio podcast, white paper, ebook, free report, live event or webinar, photos, images) rises in the search engines when it is targeted at a specific search query. If you’re a business coach for women and you’ve written a business book, you’ll want to identify [[private business coaching]] as your main keyphrase for your landing page and definitely your services page.
Now with so much online competition, business owners have to learn quickly how to build their online presence without breaking the bank. I’m sure you don’t want to spend any more on Facebook ads or investing in a hefty PR campaign. This is where an SEO Author Branding Strategy comes into play.
Struggling to build your author brand?
Learn more about my SEO author branding services from keyword research to content optimization. I offer a complimentary 15-minute consulting session. Click here to schedule your appointment.
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