The Dos and Don’ts of Modern SEO

It seems like search engine optimization changes every day. For example, not so long ago one of the best ways to build links was to guest blog on other websites. Now the Google overlords are saying that guest blogging still has value, but you shouldn’t do it just for the backlink.

So how do you ensure your site won’t be penalized in the next Google algorithm update? Stay informed. SEO “no-no’s” don’t usually come out of thin air. They talk about how you shouldn’t be doing something, and penalize those that continue to do it when the algorithm updates. SEOs need to always be on their toes and keeping track of the industry to make sure the next update won’t late them on page 1,000 of search results.

Luckily, you can always turn to the experts like Vertical Response to keep track of what you should and shouldn’t do.

SEO Dos:

• Nail the basics: create valuable content and get included with local listings using GetListed.org. GetListed is a tool by Moz that will help you create accurate listings on directories like Google+ Local, Bing Local, Yelp, and other listing sites that have high domain authority. (Tweet this tip)


• Optimize your site for visitors and mobile users, not just search engine bots. Remember that while a search engine might be the tool bringing you the visitor, the visitor reading your content is the end-goal. If you over-optimize or write in “search engine speak,” it won’t be easy to read for a real human. (Tweet this tip)


• Write in a natural, relatable tone on your blog or website for more shareability. Social shares not only help rankings by driving traffic, they are also a ranking factor themselves. Writing in a manner that’s easy to read and that the visitor can identify with is key.(Tweet this tip)


• Create valuable, shareable content to earn higher-quality backlinks. Buying or begging for backlinks won’t work anymore. Links should be organic, and people should be linking to you because they want to. The best way to go about that is creating content people want to share with their own audiences. (Tweet this tip)


• Get links from high-quality, relevant sites. Once again, this is best accomplished by creating amazing content. In order for high-quality content writers to link to you, you need to have high-quality content yourself. (Tweet this tip)


• Set up Google Webmaster Tools. Google Webmaster Tools helps you “get the data, tools, and diagnostics for a healthy, Google-friendly site.” Aside from improving SEO, using GWT can help improve a visitor’s overall experience on your website. (Tweet this tip)

SEO Dont’s

• Don’t assume SEO is a waste of time. When people need to look for information on the internet, they go to Google. Sometimes they’ll go to another search engine, but that doesn’t change the fact that search is how people get to where they want to go when they don’t know where to go yet. And one-third of Google’s organic traffic goes to the first result listed, proving that ranking matters. (Tweet this tip)


• Don’t optimize your site just for search engines. If you do this, what happens once someone clicks on the search result? A high search ranking indicates that the link leads to valuable information. If you don’t follow through on that, what’s the point of the ranking in the first place? (Tweet this tip)


• Don’t stuff every sentence with keywords. This goes back to the point above. Doing that shows you care more about ranking #1 than actually making the people that click that ranking happy. Using the word “baseball hats” in every. single. sentence. on a page about baseball hats is unnatural to read. Use pronouns. (Tweet this tip)


• Don’t buy links, now or ever. We’re not going to elaborate too much on this since you should realize how bad of an idea this is. It’s been against the Google Commandments for a while now and is a big, glaring sign that you wear a black hat. (Tweet this tip)


• Don’t use links from unrelated, low quality, or spammy sites. Another one that will get you smited by Google, don’t do it. Don’t you want to avoid visitors landing on your site and thinking, “How and why did I end up here?” (Tweet this tip)


• Don’t set it and forget it. SEO is a continual process. Rankings are always changing as new sites pop up, your competition optimizes their pages, algorithms are updated, and ranking factors are changed. Continually create new content and optimize what you already have. (Tweet this tip)

Courtesy of: VerticalResponse

What are your best tips for staying up-to-date on the world of SEO? Share in the comments!

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