5 Advanced SEO Techniques for Experienced Marketers

The online marketplace is a competitive battlefield, and staying ahead requires more than basic SEO knowledge. We explore five advanced SEO techniques to help you achieve higher search rankings, attract more traffic, and ultimately win more business.

Why Does SEO Matter?

• 71% of marketers say SEO is their top marketing priority. According to a study by HubSpot, SEO has become increasingly important in the eyes of marketers, with 61%  agreeing that its significance has grown in the past year.

• Content marketing generates 3x more leads than traditional marketing. The Content Marketing Institute shares statistics showing that content marketing is not only effective but also costs 62% less than traditional marketing methods.

• Long-tail keywords account for 70% of all search traffic as per a study issued by Moz, it also found that long-tail keywords have lower search volume but higher conversion rates.

• Mobile searches now account for more than 50% of all search traffic. According to research conducted by Statista, mobile search is anticipated to experience continued growth in the future.

• Local SEO can help you attract more customers in your local area. This statistic was found in a study by BrightLocal. The study also found that 82% of consumers use local search to find businesses.

1. Building Authoritative Backlinks

Backlinks are the currency of the SEO world. Think of them like gold nuggets - the more you have, the richer your website becomes in the eyes of search engines. However, not all backlinks are created equal. Google doesn't just count the number of backlinks you have; it also looks at the quality and relevance of those links. Building authoritative backlinks should be a top priority for experienced marketers.

So, how can you build these coveted backlinks? Here are some tips:

• Create content worth linking to: Imagine your content as a magnet that attracts backlinks. It must be high-quality, informative, and shareable to make it magnetic. Don't be afraid to think outside the box - create infographics, videos, or interactive content that stands out.

• Connect with industry influencers: Influencers are like the cool kids at school - everyone wants to be friends. Connecting with influencers in your industry and sharing your content with them can earn valuable backlinks and increase your website's visibility.

• Guest post like a pro: Guest posting is like crashing a party - you must be on the guest list to get in. Find high-authority websites in your industry and pitch them a killer guest post idea. If you can write an engaging post that provides value to their readers, you'll earn a backlink and potentially attract more traffic to your site.

• Practice ethical link building: Ethical link building in SEO refers to acquiring backlinks through legitimate, honest, and value-driven methods that align with search engine guidelines. It involves creating high-quality content, fostering genuine relationships, and engaging in outreach strategies that aim to earn links naturally, ensuring long-term sustainability and credibility in the eyes of both users and search engines.

Building authoritative backlinks takes time and effort, but the payoff can be huge. By following these strategies, you'll be on your way to a healthier backlink profile and higher search rankings.

2. Technical SEO Optimization

Technical SEO optimization may sound like a mouthful but it is pretty straightforward. It's all about ensuring your website is designed and structured to make it easy for search engines to crawl and index your content. In other words, it's about removing technical barriers that could hold your website from ranking higher in search results.

Here are some tips for technical SEO optimization:

• Optimize your page speed: Nobody likes a slow website–not even search engines. Ensure your website loads quickly by optimizing images, minimizing HTTP requests, and reducing server response time.

• Use descriptive URLs: Your website's URLs should be descriptive and user-friendly. Instead of generic URLs like "example.com/page1", use descriptive URLs like "example.com/how-to-build-backlinks" that accurately describe the page's content.

• Fix broken links: Broken links can harm your website's user experience and make it difficult for search engines to crawl your content. Use a tool like Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, or Semrush to identify broken links on your site and fix them as soon as possible.

• Optimize for mobile devices: Mobile devices account for a significant portion of web traffic, and Google has made it clear that mobile optimization is a critical ranking factor. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly by using responsive design, optimizing images for smaller screens, and minimizing page load times.

Remember, technical SEO optimization is just one piece of the SEO puzzle. Balancing technical optimization with other SEO tactics like content optimization and backlink building is essential to achieve the best results.

3. Content Optimization

Content is king, and optimizing your content for search engines is essential for ranking higher in search results. But what does content optimization even mean? It's about ensuring your content is relevant, informative, and keyword-rich without sacrificing quality or readability. Here's how:

• Conduct keyword research: Keyword research is the foundation of content optimization. Use tools like SEMRush to identify relevant keywords and incorporate them into your content in a natural, non-spammy way.

• Optimize your headlines: Your headlines and subheadlines are the first things people see when they come across your content. Make sure they

  • contain your target keywords;

  • use power words and

  • are relevant, short
    

• Use internal linking: Internal linking is like a roadmap for search engines - it helps them understand the structure and hierarchy of your website. Use internal links to connect related content in your topic clusters and improve your website's navigation.

• Optimize your meta descriptions: Your meta description is the short blurb that appears under your page title in search results. Make sure it's informative, enticing, and contains your target keywords.

• Remember readability: Even if your content is keyword-rich and informative, it won't matter if it's unreadable. Use short paragraphs, subheadings, and bullet points to break up your content and make it easier to read. People first, E-E-A-T.

• Regularly update your content: If a page hasn't been touched for more than a year, its content is likely outdated and can benefit from

  • updating of relevant statistics and facts;

  • inclusion of evolving trends;

  • combination with other pages with similar coverage; or

  • removal as it "simply didn't hit the mark."

Content optimization is an ongoing process. Continuously monitor and update your content to ensure it remains relevant and informative for your audience. At Aspiration Marketing, we look at each of our content pages at least twice a year.

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4. Local SEO Optimization

Local SEO optimization is essential if you have a brick-and-mortar business or serve customers in a specific geographic area. Local SEO optimization involves optimizing your website and online presence to attract customers and improve your visibility in local search results.

Here's a check-list for building local SEO:

1. Claim your Google-My-Business listing: Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to manage your business information on Google, including your address, phone number, and hours of operation. Claiming and optimizing your listing can significantly improve your visibility in local search results.

2. Optimize for local keywords: Incorporate local keywords into your website and content to improve your visibility in local search results. For example, if you're a plumber in New York, use keywords like "plumber in New York" or "best plumbers near me."

3. Build local backlinks: Backlinks from local websites and directories can help improve your local search rankings. Look for local directories, business associations, and other local websites to build backlinks.

4. Use location-specific landing pages: If you serve customers in multiple locations, create location-specific landing pages for each area. This will help improve your visibility in local search results and make it easier for local customers to find you.
   
   

5. Voice Search Optimization

With the rise of virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, voice search optimization has become an increasingly important aspect of SEO. Voice search uses natural language, so optimizing for voice search requires a slightly different approach than traditional SEO.

• Use natural language: When optimizing for voice search, use natural, conversational language in your content. Consider the questions your customers might ask and try to answer them naturally.

• Target long-tail keywords: Voice searches are longer and more conversational than traditional searches. Target long-tail keywords that reflect the natural language and user intent.

• Optimize for featured snippets: Featured snippets are the quick answers that appear at the top of search results. Aim to provide concise, informative answers to common questions related to your industry.

• Improve your website's loading speed: Voice search users tend to be on the go, so having a fast-loading website is crucial. Make sure your website is optimized for speed and mobile devices.

• Use schema markup: Schema markup is a code that helps search engines understand the content on your website. Use schema markup to provide more context to your content and improve your chances of appearing in voice search results.

Optimizing for voice search can improve your website's visibility and attract more traffic from voice search users. As virtual assistants continue to gain popularity, voice search optimization will become even more critical for businesses.

And that's a wrap! We've explored five advanced SEO techniques that will make any experienced marketer's heart skip a beat. But let's be real here, SEO is a never-ending game of cat and mouse. Trends and algorithms change, and you must stay on top of the game to succeed. So, what's the key to winning this game? Adaptability. Keep a close eye on the latest Search trends, test new strategies, adopt SEO tools, and never stop optimizing.