If SEO traffic is something you are interested in this year then you better put a plan in place. Outline your whole plan before you start and then attack it like there is no tomorrow. Here are my SEO tips to get you going for 2014. 1. Website Design: Let's start at the top, many people do not consider SEO when they first start creating their site. If SEO traffic is part of your plan you better THINK about it, this can save you a lot of time later when you realize you need to make some changes. There are too many do's and don'ts for me to list here, but some common mistakes might be installing an over used WordPress theme. If the theme has been used over and over again it is not going to appear like your site is unique and as a result a poor SEO score. If you need a theme and do not want to create it yourself you will always be safe with a paid theme. Sites like TemplateMonster or ThemeForest are great sources for niche specific themes. 2. Backlinks: Baclinks still matter when I say backlink I mean "Quality Backlinks Only" and they should look natural. Submit your website on reputed blog directories, article sites, social media, video directories, press release sites and other niche sites that are related to your business. No matter how you do it you need a back link structure that looks natural. If you are considering hiring someone to do this for you make sure they are doing it right. 3. Use Quality Content: If you want a first page search engine ranking you are going to have to produce a lot of quality content or use very well done professional spun content. I personally do both and have great success with both. Most people bag on spun content and for good reason in most cases. Google does not like spun content. But if you are using high level professional spun content it appears to be unique every time even to Google. 4. Social Media Signals: This is one of the most important SEO Tip for 2014. Pages with more likes and +1s always rank higher in Google's eyes. You may not like it but Google’s new social networking Google Plus is heavily integrated in Google’s search algorithm. It may not be that popular for now, but Google is pushing it and Google is the one who ranks you. So When you start your SEO strategy you should first consider creating Google Plus page, Facebook page, Twitter page, Stumbleupon account, Pinterest account and Reddit account and then share your updated content in these social media sources. 5. Update Content Frequently with WordPress: It is good to have a blog on your website and not just any blog, but a WordPress blog. WordPress is set up for SEO and has outperformed every other competitor in both functionally and SEO. If you decide to go with WordPress make sure to change your permalinks to %postname% so you can give the most optimized URL in your blog. Once you are set up make sure you post at least once a week and if older posts become outdated make sure you update them so you are not disseminating outdated info. 6. Inter-links: No one uses Inter-linking better than Wikipedia and I hope I do not have to tell you how much Google loves Wikipidia. If a search engine spider comes to your website and if there is no inter-link it will just go to some random external link that you have up. But if you have an article or blog inter-linked to another article and so on then it will be really easy for the spider to examine your website more effectively resulting in a better rankings in the SERP. 7. Keep an Eye on Competitors: Do not gamble with new tactics. It is easy to see what is working just by looking at the top ranked competitors in Google. Check regularly to see what they are doing as it is working for them! Then copy their idea and rebrand it in your own way for your own product.
"Keep an Eye on Competitors", I think this is a great way to track good quality content and links, then you can replicate that and apply it to your strategy.
I agree so much about social signals and right now it is the biggest thing I am trying to get clients working with. I also have a hunch that there will be some sort of punishment handed down by Google sometime this year if you do not have a mobile friendly version of your site.
Quality links and quality content. It's always been like that, no? However, it is good to see that all the spam links and linkwheels people were using have taken a hit and don't work as well as they did. I agree that it is quality which is what people should be focusing on.
You have arranged all SEO tactics very nicely, Thanks @ChrisDouthit for your valuable effort and sharing it with us....
I appreciate with your top 7 SEO tips To get good ranking. But tips no 7 Keep an Eye on Competitors is superb. If we get good ranking then we also focus on our competitors and analysis it properly and see what they are doing.
Good tips, but I think patients is one of the key factors as well. To many expect to throw up some content, good or other wise, get a few links and to be on the top of Google in the morning. Michael
I can't understand point number 5 (about the frequent update using a WORDPRESS blog...) What's the point of using ONLY wordpress?!? For a normal website on a joomla for example, what's the point to use Wordpress again? I can't understand it... But great SEO tips at all!
The Good content, and good On-page SEO + powerfull Backlinks, you will be able to stay on top of your competitors for a long time
I gave you like man, I agree with everything you said! If you stick to what you are saying, you will definitely have success when it comes to SEO.
You're right. And regarding quality backlinks, I must say you get what you pay for when trying to take advantage of most free backlink services. I checked out some results from attempts of getting free backlinks once, and they were just all empty profile pages.
Re #2 Backlinks — Google has gotten quite good at devaluing, and in some cases penalizing, links that you control. That includes directories, which you mention above. With a few obvious exceptions, such as Yahoo! Directory, I would suggest steering clear of directories for links. When another site voluntarily chooses to link to you, in Google's 2014 perspective that is a good link, and especially good if it comes from a webpage in your niche.
You explained well, but some points are missing like video sharing, PDF submission, Power point presentations, Template sharing, Yahoo's question answers, forum post, guest blog post. Diversifying Link Building always helps SEO. One most important thing is avoid keyword linking. Google tracking the link building activity and doesn't like the idea to promote the website. So, it is better to promote your brand. Gradually the site's ranking improves.
Hello, Social signals, quality backlinks and unique content in nowadays a vital concept in the online business, if you want to rank better in search engine then these aspects play major role in your ranking strategy and in other aspects I agree with these points also that a better site structure and well defined intrelinking can boost your strategy towards your site's grow, You have to judge your competitors strategy that what they do for their good ranking; but you should not forget Google, you should always keep your eyes on Google's new algorithm update and according to that update you need to make your SEO strategy. Thank you.