This newsletter is best read while listening to LL Cool J’s Moma Said Knock You Out.
As Chueyee and I are writing this somehow it came up that she doesn’t know who LL Cool J is. So, if you do know...they you should listen with the satisfaction that 90s R&B is being passed down. If you don’t know LL Cool J...my goodness! Click the link right now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vimZj8HW0Kg
Now, on to the important stuff…
Are You a Marketer?
If so, I’ve got a gift for you! After over 40 hours of research on how to optimize your blog posts, I’m releasing the first set of tips on SEO optimization.
Why do a blog?
The best place to bury a dead body is on the second page of Google. In fact, there is a 36.4% clickthrough rate on the first link and a 2% rate on the 10th (last one on the first page). 70% of your traffic will be looking for knowledge and 15% are looking to buy now.Blogs are the engine that tells Google you are an authority on whatever you sell. Drive the 70% and benefit from better Google placement.
Tip: Don’t use blogs as sales pieces. Users will see straight through and “bounce” (e.g. use their browser back button and get off your site). Google translates a faster bounce as less relevant and will deprioritize you relative to your competitors.
Golden Rule: Don’t invest in lots of little blogs. Instead, make one definitive piece of work that gets to the first position in Google.
When researching a topic to do a blog post on, what tools do we use?
Search trends on Google to ensure you are talking about the right thing at the right time; https://trends.google.com/trends/Google Adword Planner will help you frame your blog post in the best possible way; https://ads.google.com/Keyword research helps you put the right words in your article title and subtitle for maximum relevance: https://keywordtool.io/Use a Browser Private or Incognito mode to search for topics prior to doing any writing. This will ensure you are seeing general search results vs tailored to your browsing habits.
What should my blog post include?
Keyword-focused headerFeatured imageProminent email signup box with a descriptive call to actionSocial sharing buttonsHelpful detailed article focused on the keywordsMultiple compelling images, videos or chartsInternal links to other posts and service pagesCall to action for comments, related articles or more information
HACK: Comments have an oversized impact on organic SEO in Google which is why Reddit performs so well.
Recap: Your blog will not generate many leads. Your blog will improve your site authority which will place you higher for the 15% of searches that are looking for your goods or services.
Content Tip: Always start with this Madlib…
Our company is where
[audience] finds
[content] for
[benefit].
Then, identify your blog post’s target audience:
Potential customers we can help through our products and servicesAnyone we can help through our expert advice
When you share your expert knowledge, you pull your audience toward you.
Types of blog posts:
Original researchOpinion piecesGuest postsInterviews and roundupsVideo, audio and live events
Your blog post must answer these questions…
Why do they care?How does this help them?What task can they complete once they are finished reading this?
Blog post header fodder:
Threat headlines: What keeps your readers up at night “27 Complaints about surveys” Zen headlines: Promising your readers a simpler life “Perfect Surveys: 9 Tips, Plus Some Research”Piggyback headlines: Riding on the back of a famous brand “What Lady Gaga Can Teach Researchers”Mistake headlines: Irresistible teasers from the masters “15 Survey Errors that Make You Look Silly”How-to Headlines: The oldie but goodie that never fails “How to do research when you have no money and no time”List headlines: Bite-sized content that readers adore “52 Types of Surveys that are Proven to Work”
