Author: Click Raven

  • What Are AI SEO Agents and Why Do They Matter?

    What Are AI SEO Agents and Why Do They Matter?

    The SEO landscape is rapidly evolving, especially with the rise of AI agents and intelligent tools that automate and enhance tasks like keyword research, content optimization, and technical SEO analysis.

    In fact, over 68% of digital marketers now rely on AI tools to streamline workflows, improve rankings, and stay competitive in the age of AI-powered search.

    This article breaks down what SEO AI agents are, how they work, and why they’re becoming essential for modern SEO success. In this guide, we’ll also compare the leading SEO AI agents, looking at their features, pricing, and practical use cases to help you choose the best one for your needs.

    What is an SEO AI Agent?

    An SEO AI agent is a software tool that uses artificial intelligence, including machine learning, natural language processing, and generative AI, to automate, enhance, or guide tasks within search engine optimization.

    Unlike traditional SEO tools that focus on data reporting, AI agents execute more advanced functions:

    • Analysis & Diagnostics: They can analyze vast datasets (SERPs, competitor content, website data) to identify patterns, opportunities, and issues.
    • Recommendation & Strategy: They provide actionable insights and strategic recommendations based on their analysis.
    • Automation & Generation: Many can automate tasks like content generation, outline creation, meta tag writing, and even on-page optimization adjustments.
    • Adaptive Learning: Some advanced agents learn from data and interactions, refining their recommendations over time.
    • Proactive Monitoring: An “agent” implies a degree of autonomy, meaning it can continuously monitor changes, alert users, and even initiate actions.

    These AI agents are becoming indispensable for both Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).

    Moreover, they help marketers rank for keywords and optimize for how AI models process and present information, ensuring content is digestible and authoritative for the “answer-first” future.

    In-Depth Review of Leading SEO AI Agents

    SEO AI AgentPrimary FocusKey Features (AI-Driven)Entry-Level Pricing (Monthly)
    Click RavenFull-stack SEO automationBrand learning, content strategy, writing, and backlink automationBy request (beta/early access)
    ClearscopeContent optimization via NLPReal-time scoring, SERP data, and content gap analysis$189/month
    Surfer SEOAI-driven content + SEO auditsContent editor, keyword maps, AI brief builder$79/month (Essential)
    RankIQBlogger-focused keyword briefsLow competition keywords, simple optimization reports$49/month
    SEObotAI.comAI SEO + content automationAutomated writing, keyword mappingFrom $19/month
    Alli AILive on-page SEO implementationAuto internal linking, schema markup, CMS editing$299/month (Business/Consultant plan)
    AI Engine BoostAI Engine Optimization (AEO)NLP answers, schema generation, and SGE focus$1,297/month (Monthly Campaign)
    GensharkContent for the AI model understandingDigestible format, GPT-friendly structureNot publicly listed
    SEO.aiAI-generated SEO contentAI assistant within a complete SEO suiteNot listed
    SE RankingAll-in-one SEO with AIRank tracking, AI content scoring, AEO tools$65/month (or ~$52 billed annually)
    NightOwlAI-powered monitoring + writingBlog posts, emails, product descriptions, keyword alerts$39/month (Starter – 250 keywords)
    Semrush CopilotAI assistant within a full SEO suiteAI suggestions for content, keywords, and competitorsAI assistant within a complete SEO suite
    ChatGPT / ClaudeGeneral AI assistantContent generation, SERP simulation, FAQsFree–$20
    Copy.aiAI copywriting for marketersBlog content, keyword targeting, and product descriptions$49/month (Basic)

    Based on research and feature comparisons, this breakdown reviews SEO AI agents across key features, pricing, and best use cases to help you choose the right fit.

    1. Click Raven

    Definition: Click Raven is an AI-powered SEO agent designed to automate your entire SEO workflow from keyword research to backlink acquisition by learning your brand and working intelligently across multiple tasks.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    Unlike tools focusing on content or analysis, Click Raven is built to be a fully autonomous SEO assistant.

    It combines strategic planning, generative content, and backlink outreach, all guided by AI that understands your brand voice and goals.

    • Brand-Adaptive Learning: The agent learns your brand tone, content style, and business objectives to generate relevant, high-quality outputs.
    • Keyword Research & Strategy: Identifies relevant keywords based on your niche, competitors, and user intent, helping you plan content that ranks.
    • AI Content Creation & Publishing: Automates outline generation, blog writing, meta descriptions, and content publishing, dramatically reducing manual effort.
    • Automated Analytics & Optimization: Tracks performance metrics and adapts strategies in real time, offering intelligent recommendations or making automatic updates.
    • Backlink Discovery & Brand Mentions: One of its standout features is scanning the “brand pool” for relevant backlink opportunities, helping you earn mentions and domain authority passively.

    Pricing: Currently offered via request or limited rollout (early access or beta phase may apply).

    Ideal for businesses looking to scale content and visibility with minimal manual effort.

    Pros:

    • All-in-one automation across the full SEO pipeline
    • Learns and adapts to your brand style
    • Includes backlink outreach and brand mention tracking
    • Saves significant time while maintaining quality

    Cons:

    • Still evolving: may not yet match the analytics depth of legacy tools like Semrush
    • May require initial setup/training to personalize recommendations

    2. Clearscope

    Definition:  An AI-powered content optimization tool that analyzes top-ranking pages to recommend keywords, structure, and readability enhancements.

    It’s known for delivering highly accurate topical relevance scores.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    Clearscope helps content teams build topical authority by reverse-engineering how Google interprets a subject. It identifies key terms, subtopics, and formatting patterns in successful content to guide strategic writing decisions.

    • Topical Gap Analysis: It doesn’t just give you keywords; it shows you concepts and entities frequently appearing in top-ranking content for your target query, helping you exhaustively cover a topic.
    • Content Grade & Readability: Provides a real-time content score and readability metrics as you write, guiding you toward comprehensive and engaging content.
    • Outline Generation: Helps structure content effectively by analyzing standard headings and subtopics from competitors.
    • Integration with Google Docs/WordPress: Its seamless integration into popular writing environments makes it highly practical for content creators.

    Pricing: Clearscope is considered a premium tool.

    • Essentials: $189/month – includes 20 reports, 100 inventory pages, and 50 keyword credits
    • Business: $399/month – adds more inventory pages and a dedicated account manager
    • Enterprise: Custom pricing
    Clearscope pricing tiers for content optimization

    Pros:

    • Highly accurate and reliable for topical optimization: Researchers show it consistently enhances content relevance and improves keyword coverage by analyzing top-ranking pages
    • Excellent for content strategy and comprehensiveness: The platform builds topic authority by reverse-engineering Google’s understanding with NLP analysis across competitors.
    • Intuitive interface ideal for content writers: Praised for its ease of use, streamlined workflows, and seamless Google Docs/WordPress integration

    Cons:

    • Premium price point: The tool’s starting cost (~$189/month) is expensive for small teams or solo creators
    • Focus limited to content optimization: It doesn’t include technical SEO, backlink analysis, or broader site-wide tools
    • Not a full-featured SEO suite beyond briefs: While excellent for content, it lacks features like rank tracking or backlink insights commonly found in all-in-one SEO platforms

    3. SurferSEO

    Definition: An AI-powered content editor that analyzes real-time SERP data to guide on-page optimization, content structure, and topical authority building.

    It’s widely used for its measurable, data-backed content improvement recommendations.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    Unlike Clearscope, SurferSEO gives users more detailed control over keyword density, heading structure, and content length.

    It also includes features like topical clusters and content audits, making it a comprehensive tool for writers and strategists.

    • Content Editor: This is its flagship feature, providing real-time recommendations for word count, keywords to include (based on density and relevance), headings, and image count by analyzing top-ranking pages.
    • Content Planner (Topical Maps): Helps users build clusters of related content, mapping out entire topical authorities based on SERP analysis. This is crucial for internal linking and broad topic coverage.
    • Audit Tool: Analyzes existing pages for SEO issues, including missing common backlinks, content gaps, and structural problems.
    • Keyword Research Integration: Seamlessly integrates keyword research with content planning.

    Pricing: SurferSEO offers flexible pricing tiers.

    • Essential: $79/month (billed annually; saves $240/year compared to monthly)
    • Scale: $175/month (billed annually; saves $528/year)
    • Enterprise: Custom pricing, contact Surfer for details and a demo
    SurferSEO pricing plans with Basic, Pro, and Business options

    Pros:

    • Robust, data-driven content editor: Users appreciate the detailed recommendations on keyword usage, headings, and structure, helping boost search rankings
    • Excellent SERP analysis and topical mapping: Combines real-time SERP insights and clusters to build focused, authoritative content.
    • User-friendly interface: Generally praised as intuitive and accessible for non-experts.
    • Solid integrations: Works well with Google Docs and WordPress, enhancing collaborative workflows

    Cons:

    • Steep learning curve and data overload: Beginners may feel overwhelmed by the depth of data provided
    • Higher cost: Considered expensive for individuals or small teams
    • Limited beyond on-page content: Lacks depth in technical SEO, backlink analysis, and broader keyword research tools
    • Potential for over-optimization: Reddit discussions caution against blindly applying all suggestions, as it can lead to stiff, unnatural content and doesn’t constantly improve rankings

    4. RankIQ

    Definition: An AI-powered SEO tool focused on keyword research and content optimization. It offers intent-based suggestions and rapidly generates content briefs to help creators rank faster.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    RankIQ is designed to help bloggers and content marketers rank quickly by simplifying SEO. Its standout features include:

    • High-Value Keyword Research: Its primary claim is to find keywords that are “undervalued” by competitors but still have high search volume and commercial intent.
    • AI-Powered Content Briefs: Generates comprehensive content briefs that include recommended word count, target keywords (LSI keywords), competing titles, and questions to answer, all optimized for ranking. Moreover, these briefs are known for being very fast to generate.
    • Content Optimization Report: Similar to SurferSEO/Clearscope, it helps writers optimize their content against the generated brief.
    • Focus on Bloggers/Content Creators: The tool’s design and features are geared toward content marketers and bloggers looking to produce high-ranking articles rapidly.

    Pricing: RankIQ’s pricing is based on the number of reports/briefs.

    • Standard: $49/month for 16 reports
    • Pro: $99/month for 36 reports
    • Agency: $199/month for 80 reports
    • Enterprise: Custom pricing

    Pros:

    • Excellent for identifying “easy-win” keywords with low competition and solid search volume
    • Speeds up content planning with detailed, AI-generated outlines and optimization suggestions
    • Intuitive interface and focused workflow, ideal for bloggers and small teams 

    Cons:

    • Limited niche coverage: The Keyword library may lack terms for very specific or uncommon topics
    • Not a complete SEO suite: Lacks advanced tools like backlink analysis, technical SEO, or comprehensive competitive research
    • The “easy-win” keywords might not always align with broader strategic goals for larger businesses.

    5. SEObotAI.com

    Definition: An emerging AI SEO agent aimed at automating key optimization tasks. As a newer tool, detailed features and public pricing remain limited compared to more established platforms.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    While specific capabilities are still being developed or disclosed, SEObotAI appears to focus on automation and ease of use, similar to other modern AI-driven SEO tools:

    • Automated SEO Tasks: Likely includes automated content optimization, basic technical SEO checks, and potentially limited link-building outreach, though the latter is rare for early-stage tools.
    • Content Generation: Like many AI SEO platforms, it may assist in creating content outlines, meta descriptions, or even complete drafts to accelerate publishing.
    • Monitoring & Alerts: As an AI “bot,” it may offer real-time alerts or ongoing monitoring of SEO issues and changes across a website, helping users stay proactive.

    Pricing: If you aim to automate blog SEO with minimal effort, SEObotAI offers tiered plans starting at $19/month for small-scale use, scaling up to $499/month for enterprise needs.

    Pros:

    • Potential for significant automation of repetitive SEO tasks.
    • Could offer a unique angle for AI-driven content generation or technical audits.

    Cons:

    • As a newer entrant, it may have fewer established features or less robust data than market leaders.
    • Reliability and accuracy need rigorous testing.
    • Support and community might be less developed.

    6. Alli AI

    Definition: An AI-powered SEO agent built to automate on-page SEO tasks, such as schema markup, internal linking, and content edits, by applying changes directly to your live website.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    Unlike analysis-only SEO tools, Alli AI focuses on execution. It identifies opportunities and implements real-time improvements, offering proper hands-free SEO optimization.

    • Automated On-Page Optimization: Detects and adjusts on-page elements like meta titles, descriptions, headers, and content formatting automatically.
    • Schema Markup Generation: Creates and deploys structured data (e.g., LocalBusiness, Product, FAQ) to boost search engine visibility and rich results.
    • Internal Linking Automation: Finds relevant pages and adds contextual internal links to improve crawlability and site structure.
    • Live Content Editor (and Publisher): Enables real-time content updates and may directly publish changes to CMS platforms like WordPress.
    • Focus on Implementation: Alli AI’s core value lies in automating not just recommendations, but actual deployment, saving time and reducing manual SEO tasks.

    Pricing: Alli AI’s pricing is tier-based, depending on the number of websites, keywords, and pages you manage.

    • Business / Consultant: $299/month (5 sites, 500 keywords)
    • Agency: $599/month (15 sites, 2,000 keywords)
    • Enterprise: $1,199/month (50 sites, 5,000 keywords)
    Alli AI pricing tiers for enterprise-level SEO automation

    Pros:

    • Significant time savings through automation of implementation.
    • Reduces the need for manual developer intervention for fundamental SEO changes.
    • Comprehensive approach to on-page and technical SEO.

    Cons:

    • Direct implementation requires high trust and careful monitoring to avoid unintended consequences.
    • The level of control over automated changes might concern some SEOs.
    • Potentially higher price point due to advanced automation.

    7. AI EngineBoost

    Definition: An AI-powered SEO system blends traditional SEO with strategies for optimizing content for AI tools like search assistants and answer engines.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    AI EngineBoost is designed for the rise of AI-generated answers, helping your content become a trusted source, not just ranked, but referenced by AI systems.

    • AEO & GEO Optimization: Its standout feature is optimizing for Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). It formats content to be clear, concise, and structured, ideal for retrieval and summarization by AI assistants.
    • Contextual Understanding: Likely uses advanced natural language processing (NLP) to understand the semantic context of content and queries, going beyond keywords to align with how AI interprets meaning.
    • Source Authority Signals: Helps enhance signals of trust, relevance, and credibility, increasing the chance of your content being cited as a source in AI-generated responses.
    • Content Structuring for AI: Offers tone, layout, and hierarchy guidance to align with how AI systems prefer to extract and present answers.

    Pricing: 

    • One-Time Campaign: $1,497 for a single-use campaign, ideal for one-off announcements or short-term initiatives
    • Monthly Campaign: $1,297/month, billed every 6 months in advance (total $7,782 for 6 months)
    • Weekly Campaign: $997 per week, paid quarterly in advance (about $12,961 for 13 weeks)
    AI EngineBoost subscription pricing for SEO automation

    Pros:

    • Directly addresses the future of search (AEO/GEO).
    • Crucial for businesses that want to be leaders in the AI-first search environment.
    • Provides a competitive edge by adapting to evolving search behaviour.

    Cons:

    • The effectiveness is highly dependent on the rapid evolution of AI search technologies.
    • Significant changes may be required to existing content strategies.
    • It could be a more strategic investment rather than a tactical quick-win tool.

    8. Genshark

    Definition: A new AI-powered SEO tool that boosts content visibility by making it easily digestible for AI answer engines (AEO/GEO-focused).

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    Genshark specializes in formatting content to be clearly understood and favored by AI systems. While its emphasis on precision and clarity helps content rank on search engines and within AI-generated answers.

    • AI Digestibility Optimization focuses on breaking down complex information into easily consumable chunks for AI models. Additionally, this could involve specific formatting guidelines, conciseness checks, and clarity scoring.
    • Answer-Engine Positioning: Aims to increase the chances of content being selected and presented as direct answers by AI.
    • Content Refinement for AI: It likely helps to remove ambiguity and unnecessary jargon and ensures direct answers to common questions within the content.

    Pricing: As an emerging tool, pricing details are not widely publicized. It would likely be tiered or based on usage, potentially offering a trial period to demonstrate value.

    Pros:

    • Addresses a critical and evolving aspect of SEO (AEO/GEO).
    • Can provide a competitive advantage in the answer-first world.
    • Focuses on making content truly optimized for AI consumption.

    Cons:

    • Still emerging, so the feature set and robustness may evolve.
    • Requires adapting content creation workflows to its specific recommendations.
    • Reliance on predicting AI model preferences, which can change.

    9. SEO.ai

    Definition: An AI-powered SEO tool that handles keyword research, content outlines, meta tags, and on-page optimization. Moreover, it’s designed as an all-in-one content generation and optimization suite.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    SEO.ai supports the entire SEO content workflow, from keyword discovery to generating optimized headlines, outlines, and meta descriptions. In particular, its strength is combining AI content generation with SEO best practices, helping users produce search-friendly content faster.

    • Keyword Targeting: Utilizes AI to identify relevant and high-potential keywords for content creation.
    • Auto-Generated Outlines: A core feature that provides structured article outlines based on target keywords and competitive analysis. This saves significant time in the planning phase.
    • Meta Tag Generation: Automates the creation of optimized meta titles and descriptions, improving click-through rates from SERPs.
    • Content Optimization: Guides the writing process with real-time suggestions for keyword usage, word count, and overall content quality.
    • Multilingual Support: Often a key differentiator for AI content tools, allowing content generation and optimization in multiple languages.

    Pricing: Typically tiered based on usage (e.g., word count, number of content briefs).

    • Basic: $49/month. Ideal for freelancers and small websites: 1 user, 1 website, AI writer, brand voice training, keyword research & bulk generation.
    • Plus: $149/month. Designed for small e‑commerce sites and teams: supports three users, unlimited sites/projects, keyword gap analysis, custom templates, and extended usage limits
    • Enterprise: $749/month. For agencies and large e-commerce teams: 5 users, unlimited sites, high‑volume word limits (50k–1M+), onboarding, and premium support.
    SEO.ai pricing showing Starter, Professional, and Premium plans

    Pros:

    • Comprehensive solution for AI-assisted content creation.
    • Significant time savings in outlining and meta tag generation.
    • Suitable for content marketers looking to scale production.

    Cons:

    • AI-generated content still requires human review and editing for quality, accuracy, and brand voice.
    • It may not have the same depth of technical SEO auditing as a dedicated SEO suite.

    10. SE Ranking

    Definition: SE Ranking is an established all-in-one SEO platform that now includes AI-driven tools for rank tracking, on-page optimization, competitor research, and AEO tracking, further enhancing its already robust feature set.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    SE Ranking combines rank tracking, on-page SEO audits, and competitor research in one platform. Seamless AI integration enhances these core tools, especially in content recommendations and keyword grouping, which sets it apart without replacing human input or workflow control.

    • AI-Enhanced Rank Tracking: AI is used to identify subtle shifts in SERP landscapes and predict potential ranking fluctuations. It also helps to categorize keywords by intent more accurately.
    • AI for On-Page Optimization: Provides intelligent suggestions for on-page elements, similar to Semrush Copilot, leveraging its extensive database.
    • AI-Powered Competitor Research: Identifies key competitor strategies, content gaps, and backlink opportunities more efficiently.
    • AEO Tracking (AI Overviews, Featured Snippets): This is a key differentiator. SE Ranking explicitly tracks visibility in AI Overviews and various SERP features (featured snippets, People Also Ask), allowing users to monitor their performance in the answer-first environment. This provides concrete data for AEO efforts.
    • Content Assistant: An integrated tool for generating content outlines and optimizing text based on SERP analysis.

    Pricing: SE Ranking offers tiered pricing with scalable features. 

    • Essential: $65/month (or ~$52/month when billed annually)
    • Pro: $119/month (or ~$95/month when billed annually)
    • Business: $259/month (or ~$207/month when billed annually)
    SE Ranking pricing for SEO toolset with various plans

    Pros:

    • A comprehensive all-in-one solution with strong core SEO features.
    • Explicit AEO tracking is a significant advantage for future-proofing SEO.
    • Good value for money compared to some specialized tools.

    Cons:

    • AI features are integrated, not a standalone “agent” with autonomous actions.
    • The depth of AI content generation might not match dedicated AI writing tools.

    11. NightOwl (Nightwatch.io)

    Definition: An always-on AI SEO agent that automates site audits, rank tracking, and technical SEO monitoring.

    It also focuses on delivering continuous and autonomous insights.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    NightOwl stands out for its “always-on” functionality, which provides round-the-clock SEO monitoring and alerts.

    As a result, it acts as a proactive SEO assistant, reducing the need for manual checks and catching issues early. 

    • Automated Audits: Conduct regular technical SEO audits (crawlability, indexability, site speed, core web vitals) and provide alerts for critical issues.
    • Continuous Rank Tracking: It monitors keyword rankings 24/7, detecting fluctuations immediately and providing context for changes.
    • Competitor Monitoring: Automatically tracks competitor ranking shifts, content updates, and link acquisition.
    • Proactive Alerting: Sends automated notifications via email or other channels when significant SEO issues or opportunities are detected (e.g., sudden ranking drops, new competitor content).
    • Anomaly Detection: Uses AI to identify unusual patterns or anomalies in SEO data that might indicate a problem or a new trend.

    Pricing: Nightwatch.io offers tiers based on keywords, sites, and page crawls.

    • Starter: $32/month (250 keywords)
    • Optimize: $99/month (1,000 keywords)
    • Agency and enterprise: Custom pricing based on scale

    Pros:

    • Truly autonomous monitoring and alerting, reducing manual oversight.
    • Excellent for catching critical SEO issues early.
    • Strong focus on technical SEO and rank tracking.

    Cons:

    • Less focused on content generation or strategic content planning.
    • Its “agent” capabilities primarily focus on monitoring and alerting, not directly implementing changes.

    12. Semrush Copilot

    Definition: An AI assistant built into Semrush that helps improve your SEO by suggesting keyword optimizations, on-page fixes, and competitor insights.

    It also simplifies complex data into clear action steps to boost your rankings and content performance.

    Key Features & How it Stands Out:

    Semrush Copilot analyzes your pages and competitors to suggest improvements for keyword usage, internal links, and content depth.

    Moreover, since it is built directly into the Semrush platform, it helps simplify complex data into step-by-step SEO recommendations, making it easier to optimize without digging through reports.

    • On-Page SEO Recommendations: It analyzes your content against top-ranking pages for target keywords, suggesting improvements for content depth, keyword usage, readability, and internal linking opportunities. Moreover, this leverages Semrush’s vast keyword database and SERP analysis capabilities.
    • Keyword Suggestions: Copilot often highlights related keywords or tangential topics based on content gaps found through competitor analysis, helping you build for both topical authority and search visibility.
    • Competitive Analysis: It distills competitive intelligence, highlighting what competitors do well in content and on-page optimization.
    • Integration with the Semrush Ecosystem: Its primary strength is seamless integration. Additionally, it uses the same data infrastructure as Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool, Site Audit, and On-Page SEO Checker, providing a unified experience.

    Pricing: Semrush Copilot is part of the broader Semrush subscription.

    • Pro: Starts at $117.33/month (billed annually).
    • Guru: Starts at $208.33/month (billed annually).
    • Business: Starts at $416.66/month (billed annually).
    Semrush Copilot pricing showing Pro, Guru, and Business plans

    Pros:

    • Leverages Semrush’s massive, high-quality data.
    • Streamlines workflow for existing Semrush users.
    • Suitable for high-level strategic insights and identifying content gaps.

    Cons:

    • It is not a standalone agent; it requires a Semrush subscription.
    • Recommendations can sometimes be generic if not combined with deeper manual analysis.
    • Less focused on generative content creation compared to dedicated writing tools.

    Honorable Mentions

    • ChatGPT / Claude: These generative AI tools aren’t SEO-specific, but they’re excellent for brainstorming keywords, drafting content, and generating meta descriptions. Their strength lies in natural language understanding, making them versatile for research and ideation.
    • Copy.ai: An AI writing tool that excels in creating SEO-friendly content like blog outlines, ads, and product descriptions. It’s best for scaling content quickly, especially when paired with a more technical SEO tool.

    Conclusion: Will AI Replace SEO Professionals?

    SEO AI agents are changing how SEO works. It’s no longer about doing everything manually. These tools help SEO professionals work smarter, focusing more on strategy and high-level decisions instead of repetitive tasks.

    • Efficiency: They automate repetitive tasks, freeing time for complex problem-solving and strategic thinking.
    • Precision: AI can process vast amounts of data far more accurately and quickly than humans, uncovering hidden insights.
    • Adaptability: Tools focusing on AEO/GEO are critical for adapting to the answer-first future of search.

    SEO professionals shouldn’t fear AI agents but learn to master them. By understanding their strengths and limitations, you can use them to handle routine tasks and surface insights that shape more innovative strategies.

    The most effective approach often blends tools. For example, an all-in-one platform like Semrush or SE Ranking supports broad analysis. In addition, a content optimizer like SurferSEO or Clearscope helps achieve more profound relevance.

    Furthermore, a monitor like NightOwl provides real-time alerts. Finally, add generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude for brainstorming and content creation, and you’ve got a powerful stack.

    AI isn’t here to replace SEO. However, it empowers it. As a result, your role shifts from doing it all to guiding strategy, thinking critically, and leading with the help of intelligent tools in a search world that’s constantly changing. This allows you to focus on more innovative strategies.

  • Image SEO: How to Optimize ALT Text, Size, and Load Speed (Without the Tech Headache)

    Image SEO: How to Optimize ALT Text, Size, and Load Speed (Without the Tech Headache)

    Most people don’t think of images when they hear “SEO.”

    But here’s the truth: optimized images can boost your rankings, speed up your website, and even help you show up in Google Images.

    That means more clicks, more traffic, and a better experience for your visitors.

    In this guide, we’re not just going to throw buzzwords at you. We’ll walk through how to optimize images for SEO step-by-step, like you’re sitting next to someone explaining it over coffee.

    Whether you’re running a blog, a small business website, or an online store, this guide is for you.

    1. What Is ALT Text (and Why Should You Care)?

    Imagine you’re blind and using a screen reader to browse the web. When it gets to an image, it reads a short line of text that tells you what’s in that image. That line is the “ALT text.”

    But screen readers aren’t the only ones reading it. Google uses ALT text to understand what your images are about. And if it can’t understand your images, it won’t show them in search results.

    Why ALT Text Matters:

    • It makes your site accessible for visually impaired users (a legal and ethical must!)
    • It gives Google extra context for ranking your pages
    • It helps your images appear in Google Image search, driving extra traffic

    How to Write Great ALT Text:

    1. Be descriptive: Describe exactly what’s in the image.
    2. Be concise: You don’t need a paragraph. One sentence is plenty.
    3. Be natural: Include keywords only if they make sense. Don’t stuff them in.

    Examples:

    • ❌ image123.jpg
    • ✅ close-up of a chocolate cake with strawberries on top

    How to Add ALT Text:

    • In WordPress: When uploading an image, look for the “ALT text” field
    • In HTML: Add alt=”your description here” inside the <img> tag

    How to Check Your ALT Text:

    • Right-click the image > Inspect (in Chrome)
    • Look for alt=”…” in the image code

    2. How (and Why) to Compress Your Images

    Ever been on a site that loads painfully slow? Big, bloated images are often the cause.

    Image compression reduces the file size so your site loads faster—without making the image look ugly.

    Why This Helps SEO:

    • Google uses site speed as a ranking factor
    • Faster pages keep users from bouncing
    • Smaller images save bandwidth for mobile users

    Tools to Compress Images (Before Uploading):

    WordPress Plugins That Do It Automatically:

    • ShortPixel
    • Imagify
    • Smush

    Pro Tip:

    Always compress before uploading. Uploading large images and relying only on plugins means wasted space and processing time.

    How to Test If Images Are Too Large:

    3. Choosing the Right File Format (It Actually Matters)

    Not all image formats are created equal. Some are great for photos, others for simple graphics.

    Common Formats:

    • JPEG/JPG: Great for detailed photos, keeps file size small
    • PNG: Best for logos or graphics with transparency (but bigger file sizes)
    • WebP: Modern format that’s smaller and high-quality (use if supported)

    What to Do:

    • Use JPEG for photos
    • Use PNG for icons, logos, and transparent backgrounds
    • Use WebP whenever possible—it’s lighter and loads faster

    Most image optimization tools let you convert formats easily.

    Bonus Tip:

    Don’t upload screenshots as PNG if they’re just full-color photos. Convert them to JPEG.

    4. Resize Images to Match Their Display Size

    Let’s say your site shows product photos at 600px wide. But you upload a 3000px-wide image. That’s 5x bigger than needed.

    Your page wastes time loading extra pixels nobody ever sees.

    Why This Matters:

    • Large images waste bandwidth
    • They slow your page down
    • Visitors on slow internet will hate it

    How to Fix It:

    • Use a tool like Canva, Photoshop, or even Preview (Mac) to resize images before upload
    • Aim for display size ×2 (for high-res screens)

    Example: If your layout shows images at 800px, upload them at 1600px max

    How to Check:

    • Right-click > Inspect > look at the actual display size vs file size

    5. Enable Lazy Loading for Images

    Lazy loading means your images won’t load until someone scrolls to them.

    This speeds up the first view of your page—which Google loves.

    Why Use Lazy Loading:

    • Improves Core Web Vitals (important for SEO)
    • Loads only what’s needed when it’s needed
    • Speeds up the “above-the-fold” experience

    How to Implement Lazy Loading:

    • In HTML: Add loading=”lazy” to your <img> tags
    • In WordPress: Use plugins like:
      • WP Rocket
      • Autoptimize
      • LiteSpeed Cache

    How to Test Lazy Loading:

    • Open a page with lots of images
    • Open dev tools > Network tab > Refresh
    • Scroll slowly—images load as you scroll

    Quick Checklist (Print or Save This):

    • ✅ Write ALT text for every image
    • ✅ Compress images before uploading
    • ✅ Use JPEG for photos, PNG for logos, WebP when possible
    • ✅ Resize images to actual display size (x2 for retina)
    • ✅ Turn on lazy loading for images

    Final Thoughts

    Images are often the heaviest part of a webpage—and the most overlooked when it comes to SEO.

    But now you know how to:

    • Make them faster
    • Make them readable to Google
    • Make them work for your rankings, not against them

    Best of all? You didn’t need to learn any code.

    If your site is still slow or your images are unoptimized, start small. Pick one of these tips today, and do another one tomorrow. SEO is about stacking small wins—and image SEO is an easy place to start.

    Need help with your specific site? Let me know. I’ll walk you through it.

  • Checklist: 25 Technical SEO Fixes to Run on Any Website (Explained Like You’re 5)

    Checklist: 25 Technical SEO Fixes to Run on Any Website (Explained Like You’re 5)

    If you’ve ever wondered why your website isn’t showing up on Google—or why it’s not bringing in traffic—chances are, technical SEO is the missing piece.

    And don’t worry, I’m explaining this like you’re five. Because that’s how simple technical SEO should be.

    Let’s go through 25 key fixes one by one, like a friendly guide walking you through the backstage of your website.

    1. Make Sure Google Can See Your Website

    What it is: Think of Google like a visitor at your house. If your door is locked, they can’t come in. Your website has a special file called robots.txt that tells search engines what they’re allowed to see. If it says “stay out,” then Google won’t look at anything.

    Why it’s important: If Google can’t access your site, it won’t be able to rank it. That means nobody will find you in search.

    How to fix it:

    1. Type yourwebsite.com/robots.txt in your browser.
    2. Look for a line that says Disallow: /—that blocks everything.
    3. If it’s there, change it to Allow: / or delete the line.

    How to test it:

    • Go to Google Search Console
    • Use the URL Inspection Tool
    • Type in your homepage URL
    • If it says “URL is on Google,” you’re good. If not, check your robots.txt again.

    2. Submit a Sitemap

    What it is: A sitemap is like a table of contents for your website. It lists all the pages you want Google to know about.

    Why it’s important: It helps Google crawl your site more efficiently. Especially useful for new websites or large sites with lots of pages.

    How to fix it:

    1. If you’re using WordPress, install Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
    2. These plugins automatically create a sitemap for you (usually at yourwebsite.com/sitemap_index.xml).
    3. Log into Google Search Console
    4. Click on Sitemaps on the left
    5. Paste your sitemap URL and click submit

    How to test it:

    • Google will show “Success” under submitted sitemaps
    • It will also tell you how many pages were discovered

    3. Fix Broken Links (404 Errors)

    What it is: A broken link is like giving someone directions to a store that no longer exists. When they get there, they hit a dead end, also known as a 404 error page.

    Why it’s important: Broken links frustrate visitors and tell Google your site isn’t well-maintained. Too many of them can hurt your rankings.

    How to fix it:

    1. Use tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or Google Search Console
    2. Find all pages or links that return a “404 Not Found” error
    3. Decide how to fix them:
      • If the page still exists, update the link to the correct URL
      • If the page was deleted, either remove the link or redirect it to a related page

    How to test it:

    • Click each link to make sure it opens a real page
    • Use a free broken link checker like BrokenLinkCheck.com

    4. Ensure Mobile-Friendliness

    What it is: Your website needs to work well on mobile phones. That means it should load quickly, text should be readable without zooming, and buttons should be easy to tap.

    Why it’s important: Most people use their phones to browse. If your site doesn’t work on a phone, they’ll leave. Google also checks mobile experience before deciding to rank your site.

    How to fix it:

    • Use a responsive theme that automatically adjusts to different screen sizes
    • Make fonts large enough to read on a small screen
    • Avoid using pop-ups or elements that cover content

    How to test it:

    5. Speed Up Your Website

    What it is: Imagine clicking on a website and waiting 5 seconds for it to load. Annoying, right? Slow sites lose visitors fast.

    Why it’s important: Page speed affects user experience and rankings. Google wants to show fast-loading sites.

    How to fix it:

    • Compress large images using tools like TinyPNG
    • Use a caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache)
    • Use a reliable, fast hosting provider
    • Limit heavy scripts (especially those that load ads, popups, or animations)

    How to test it:

    6. Use HTTPS, Not HTTP

    What it is: HTTPS is a secure version of HTTP. It keeps your site safe by encrypting data.

    Why it’s important: Google uses HTTPS as a ranking signal. Plus, browsers now mark HTTP sites as “Not Secure,” which scares visitors away.

    How to fix it:

    1. Get a free SSL certificate from your hosting provider (most offer this)
    2. Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL (if on WordPress)
    3. Set up a redirect so all traffic goes from HTTP to HTTPS

    How to test it:

    • Visit your site and make sure the URL starts with https://
    • Look for a padlock icon next to your URL in the browser

    7. Remove Duplicate Content

    What it is: Duplicate content means having the same content on more than one page. For example, if two pages have the same product description word-for-word.

    Why it’s important: Google gets confused. It might not know which page to rank—or it might ignore both.

    How to fix it:

    • Merge similar pages into one stronger page
    • Use a canonical tag (a special code that tells Google which version is the “main” one)
    • Avoid copying content from other websites

    How to test it:

    • Use Siteliner.com to scan for duplicates
    • Or use Copyscape to make sure your content is original

    8. Set a Preferred Version of Your Website

    What it is: Some websites can be accessed in multiple ways:

    Google treats these like different sites unless you tell it otherwise.

    Why it’s important: If you don’t choose one preferred version, Google may split your rankings between them.

    How to fix it:

    • Set up 301 redirects from all alternate versions to one preferred version
    • Choose the same preferred domain in Google Search Console

    How to test it:

    • Type all four versions in your browser and check that they all redirect to one version (e.g., https://example.com)

    9. Fix Redirect Chains

    What it is: A redirect is when one URL automatically takes you to another. A redirect chain is when a URL redirects to another, and then that one redirects again—and maybe again.

    Why it’s important: Each hop in the chain slows things down. Google might stop following the chain altogether.

    How to fix it:

    • Use Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find redirect chains
    • Update links to point directly to the final URL in the chain
    • Example: Instead of A → B → C → D, go straight from A → D

    How to test it:

    • Enter a URL into Screaming Frog and look for chains in the report
    • Click links manually and watch the browser bar—if it jumps through more than one URL, you have a chain

    10. Remove Unnecessary Redirects

    What it is: Sometimes, people link to a page that’s redirecting—but they could have just linked to the final page directly.

    Why it’s important: Each redirect slightly delays page loading. Clean, direct links are better for users and search engines.

    How to fix it:

    • Find links on your site that point to redirecting URLs
    • Update them to link directly to the final page

    How to test it:

    Click the link and watch the browser bar. If it hops to another page, and then another, you need to fix it.

    11. Fix Orphan Pages

    What it is: An orphan page is a page on your site that nobody links to. It’s floating out in space with no path leading to it.

    Why it’s important: If there’s no link to the page, Google (and visitors) might never find it. It’s like building a great room in a house but forgetting to add a door.

    How to fix it:

    • Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find orphan pages
    • Add internal links to those pages from other relevant articles or your main menu
    • For example, if you have a blog post about “summer shoes,” and your orphan page is about “summer sandals,” link them together!

    How to test it:

    • Crawl your site again with Screaming Frog to make sure those pages are now linked from at least one other page

    12. Add Structured Data (Schema Markup)

    What it is: Structured data is extra information you add to your website’s code that helps Google understand what your content is about—like telling Google, “Hey, this is a recipe!” or “This is a product!”

    Why it’s important: It can help you appear in fancy search results, like star ratings, FAQs, and product details. These are called “rich results” and they catch more attention.

    How to fix it:

    • Use plugins like Schema Pro or Rank Math if you’re on WordPress
    • Or use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to generate the code manually

    How to test it:

    13. Use Descriptive, Unique Titles on Every Page

    What it is: The title tag is what shows up as the big blue link in search results. It tells people (and Google) what your page is about.

    Why it’s important: If your titles are boring, duplicate, or missing, nobody will click on your results—and Google might not rank them well.

    How to fix it:

    • Make sure every page has a title that is clear, unique, and includes relevant keywords
    • Keep titles under 60 characters so they don’t get cut off

    How to test it:

    • Use Screaming Frog to find pages with missing or duplicate title tags

    14. Write Unique Meta Descriptions

    What it is: This is the short summary that appears below the title in search results. It doesn’t directly impact rankings, but it affects whether someone clicks.

    Why it’s important: Good meta descriptions = more clicks. More clicks = more traffic.

    How to fix it:

    • Write a 1–2 sentence summary for each page
    • Include keywords naturally
    • Make it sound like a mini-ad or teaser

    How to test it:

    • Check the HTML of your pages or use SEO plugins
    • Use Screaming Frog to find missing or duplicate meta descriptions

    15. Use Only One H1 Heading Per Page

    What it is: An H1 tag is your page’s main headline. It’s like the book title. Other headings (H2, H3, etc.) are chapter or section titles.

    Why it’s important: Having multiple H1s confuses search engines. They want to know: what is this page mainly about?

    How to fix it:

    • Check your page editor (like WordPress) and make sure there’s only one H1
    • Use H2 and H3 for subheadings

    How to test it:

    • Use a browser extension like SEO Meta in 1 Click or Web Developer Toolbar

    16. Avoid Thin Content

    What it is: Thin content means pages with very little useful information—usually under 300 words, or just fluff.

    Why it’s important: Google wants to rank pages that actually help people. If your page is too short or empty, it probably won’t rank.

    How to fix it:

    • Add more useful content: answer common questions, include visuals, write real examples
    • Merge thin pages into one better resource if they’re about the same thing

    How to test it:

    • Use Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find pages with very low word counts

    17. Use Clear, Clean URLs

    What it is: A clean URL is short and easy to read. Example: yourwebsite.com/blue-running-shoes is better than yourwebsite.com/page?id=4738201.

    Why it’s important: Clear URLs are better for users and give Google more context.

    How to fix it:

    • Go into your site settings and make sure URLs use words, not numbers
    • Remove unnecessary words like “and,” “the,” or weird characters

    How to test it:

    • Just look at your URLs. Are they readable? Descriptive?

    18. Check for Crawl Errors

    What it is: Sometimes Google tries to visit your pages and runs into errors (like 404s, server errors, or blocked pages).

    Why it’s important: If Google can’t access your pages, it can’t index them. And if they’re not indexed, they won’t appear in search.

    How to fix it:

    • Go to Google Search Console
    • Click on Pages > Why pages aren’t indexed
    • Fix the issues shown (usually broken links, incorrect redirects, or blocked content)

    How to test it:

    • After fixing, re-submit the pages in Search Console and wait for them to be re-crawled

    19. Avoid Mixed Content (HTTPS + HTTP)

    What it is: If your website is HTTPS (secure) but still loads images or scripts over HTTP (non-secure), that’s called mixed content.

    Why it’s important: It creates security warnings in browsers and breaks trust. Google also dislikes insecure setups.

    How to fix it:

    • Update image, script, and stylesheet URLs to HTTPS
    • Use plugins or search-and-replace tools to do this in bulk

    How to test it:

    20. Minimize JavaScript That Blocks Content

    What it is: JavaScript can be useful, but too much of it—or poorly used code—can slow down your site and hide content from Google.

    Why it’s important: If important content can’t be seen or loaded quickly, your rankings suffer.

    How to fix it:

    • Defer non-essential scripts
    • Remove scripts you don’t need
    • Use a plugin to load scripts asynchronously

    How to test it:

    • Run PageSpeed Insights and check if “Reduce unused JavaScript” appears in the suggestions

    21. Add ALT Text to Images

    What it is: ALT text is a short description added to your images. Google can’t “see” pictures, so this helps it understand them.

    Why it’s important: Improves SEO, helps visually impaired users, and allows your images to show in Google Images.

    How to fix it:

    • For every image, add a clear and simple description in the “ALT text” field
    • Use your main keyword if it makes sense naturally

    How to test it:

    • Right-click the image > Inspect, and check for the alt="..." attribute

    22. Compress Large Images

    What it is: Large image files slow down your page speed.

    Why it’s important: Slow pages = bad rankings and unhappy users.

    How to fix it:

    • Use tools like TinyPNG, ShortPixel, or ImageOptim
    • Save images in WebP or compressed JPEG/PNG format

    How to test it:

    • Use PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix and look for “Efficiently encode images” in the report

    Here is the full image SEO guide you can follow to ensure your images are well optimized for search engines.

    23. Use Pagination Properly

    What it is: When you split a long list (like blog posts or products) into multiple pages, that’s pagination.

    Why it’s important: If not done correctly, search engines may not crawl your full content, or may treat each page as duplicate content.

    How to fix it:

    • Add rel=”next” and rel=”prev” tags in the HTML (developers can help)
    • Or use a “Load more” button instead of numbered pages

    How to test it:

    • Use Screaming Frog or view source code to confirm the presence of pagination tags

    24. Block Low-Value Pages from Indexing

    What it is: Some pages (like thank-you pages, login pages, internal searches) don’t need to show up in Google.

    Why it’s important: Indexing junk pages wastes crawl budget and can dilute your site’s relevance.

    How to fix it:

    • Add a noindex meta tag to those pages
    • Or block them in robots.txt

    How to test it:

    • Search site:yourdomain.com/page-url in Google to see if it’s indexed

    25. Check Core Web Vitals

    What it is: These are three performance metrics Google uses:

    • LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): how fast the main content loads
    • FID (First Input Delay): how fast the page responds to interaction
    • CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): does stuff jump around as it loads?

    Why it’s important: Good scores = better rankings and happier users

    How to fix it:

    • Optimize images and fonts
    • Reduce JavaScript
    • Improve server response times

    How to test it:

    • Go to Google Search Console > Core Web Vitals
    • Run a test on PageSpeed Insights or use Chrome’s Lighthouse tool

    Final Tip

    Don’t try to fix everything in one day. Start with the basics: speed, crawlability, and mobile-friendliness. Fix 2–3 things per week, and before you know it, your site will be faster, cleaner, and ranking better.

    Bookmark this guide. Run through it every few months. Your future self—and your rankings—will thank you.

  • What Is SEO and How Does It Work? (A Simple Guide for Beginners)

    What Is SEO and How Does It Work? (A Simple Guide for Beginners)

    Let’s say you just launched your website. It looks great, it has all your services, maybe even a blog post or two. Now what?

    How do people find you on Google?

    This is where SEO comes in.

    In this guide, I’ll explain what SEO really means, how it works, and how to start using it—in plain, non-technical language. Whether you’re a small business owner, startup founder, or total beginner, this is for you.

    What Is SEO?

    SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.

    It simply means making changes to your website and content so that search engines like Google can:

    1. Find your pages
    2. Understand what your pages are about
    3. Decide to show them to people searching for something relevant

    In other words: SEO helps your website show up when people search for things on Google.

    If you sell handmade soap, and someone types “natural lavender soap for sensitive skin” into Google—you want your page to show up, right?

    That’s SEO.

    How Does SEO Work?

    To understand SEO, you have to know what happens behind the scenes when someone types something into Google.

    Here’s a simple version of what Google does:

    1. Crawls your site (like a robot scanning all your pages)
    2. Indexes your pages (stores them in its giant library)
    3. Ranks them (decides which page should show up first for each search)

    To help Google do this well, your site needs to be clear, helpful, trustworthy, and easy to navigate.

    Let’s break it down further.

    Key Concepts to Understand

    1. SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages)

    The SERP is what you see after typing a question or phrase into Google.

    It includes:

    • Organic results (these are the ones SEO helps with)
    • Ads (people pay to show up here)
    • Featured snippets, AI overviews, people also ask, and more

    Your goal in SEO is to appear in the organic results—ideally near the top, because most people don’t scroll far.

    2. Keywords

    Keywords are the words or phrases people type into Google.

    For example:

    • “how to bake banana bread”
    • “best hiking shoes for beginners”
    • “accounting software for freelancers”

    To rank on Google, your content needs to match the intent behind those keywords. That means:

    • If someone wants a guide, give them a full tutorial
    • If they want to compare products, create a comparison
    • If they want to buy, show them pricing and features

    Keyword research is the process of figuring out what people search for, how often, and how hard it is to rank.

    3. Links (Backlinks and Internal Links)

    Backlinks are when other websites link to your site. Think of it like a vote of confidence.

    • The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more Google trusts your content.
    • That trust helps your pages rank higher.

    Internal links are when you link from one page on your site to another.

    • This helps users navigate your site
    • It helps Google understand how your pages relate to each other

    4. Crawling and Indexing

    Google uses bots (called spiders or crawlers) to scan the web.

    • Crawling is when the bot visits your site and checks out your pages.
    • Indexing is when Google stores that information and decides whether your page should be shown in search.

    If your site has broken pages, weird code, or missing information, Google might skip it or not understand it well.

    That’s why technical SEO—making sure your site loads fast, works on phones, and is structured clearly—is so important.

    What SEO Looks Like in Practice

    Here’s an example:

    Let’s say you run a local dog grooming business in Seattle.

    You create a page titled “Professional Dog Grooming Services in Seattle.”

    You include:

    • A clear description of your services
    • Prices
    • Photos
    • Customer reviews
    • Your location and hours

    You also:

    • Add this page to your website’s menu
    • Submit your site to Google using Search Console
    • Ask a local pet blogger to mention your service (earning a backlink)

    Now when someone nearby searches “dog grooming near me” or “pet grooming Seattle,” Google might show your page—especially if your competitors aren’t doing SEO.

    That’s the power of SEO.

    Why SEO Matters

    • It brings free traffic to your website
    • It compounds over time: the longer you invest, the more results you get
    • It builds trust and authority with your audience
    • It helps you get discovered by people actively searching for what you offer

    You don’t need to be an expert to get started.

    You just need to:

    • Create helpful content
    • Make your site easy to use
    • Learn a little at a time
    • Keep showing up

    SEO is like planting seeds. It takes time, but once things start growing, the results keep coming.

    What’s Next?

    Now that you understand what SEO is, you might want to:

    Let’s take it one step at a time. You’ve already started.

    Welcome to SEO.

  • Fix “Alternate Page With Proper Canonical Tag” Status

    Fix “Alternate Page With Proper Canonical Tag” Status

    Are you getting the “alternate page with proper canonical tag” message in Google Search Console and wondering what to do with it? In this article, we will discuss this status in further detail so that when you see it on your Google Search Console, you can take the necessary steps to fix the issue.

    How to fix "alternate page with proper canonical tag" status

    If you feel this is too much work already, check out our SEO audit service to help you discover why your website has canonicalization errors, among other technical issues.

    What Is a Canonical Tag?

    A canonical tag is also known as a canonicalized URL, a canonical link, or a rel canonical. A page is tagged on Google Search Console as canonical when there is a duplicate version of it. A canonical tag means that Google has marked the page as the original and indexed it.

    What Does “Alternate Page With Proper Canonical Tag” Mean?

    In summary, Google is telling you that the pages listed here on this status have alternative duplicate pages, and Google has preferred those duplicate pages for indexing. Therefore, these pages listed here have not been indexed and are not being served on Google.

    What Does “Alternate Page With Proper Canonical Tag” Mean?

    This means that Google can index alternative pages by inspecting the URLs listed here. 

    For example, this page is listed under “alternate page with the proper canonical tag.” I clicked on the URL, which gave me a pop-up on the side with some options. I chose to Inspect the URL to find out which page Google serves users instead of this one. In other words, which page is canonicalized?

    Inspect URL to see which page Google servers users

    When inspection of the URL ended, Google showed me below the canonicalized page and the page that it is showing users instead of the one above:

    Google shows canonicalized page

    Under the “Indexing” sub-title, Google shows me the indexing page instead of the first URL. 

    Inspecting the Links in This Scenario

    When analyzing these two URLs, I can see that the only difference is the forward slash (/) at the end of the link: URL 1 doesn’t have the forward slash, while URL 2 does.

    URL 1: /the-cloud-mvrdv

    URL 2: /the-cloud-mvrdv/

    When we publish blog posts on this WordPress site, the forward slash is automatically added at the end of every link. The original blog post has the forward-slash (/) at the end. That makes the URL 2 above the original one. It makes sense why Google didn’t pick URL 1 for indexing – it is not the original link.

    URL 2 is the alternate page with the proper canonical tag, which is being indexed and served on Google.

    This also means that URL 1 is not being served. The message on Google Search Console is that this URL 1 link exists on your site. Even though Google found it, it is a duplicate URL and will not be preferred over URL 2, which is the original version.

    Troubleshooting

    You might be asking yourself, how in the world did URL 1 without a forward slash exist if all articles automatically publish with a forward slash?

    Well, in this case, there is only one scenario why this URL 1 exists. Someone on the site added this link as an internal link on a different blog post but did not add the forward slash at the end of the link. Therefore, when Google crawled the site and came across this link without the forward slash, it became a duplicate version of the original link with a forward slash. Google chose not to index the page without a forward slash and marked the page with the forward slash as the proper canonicalized URL for indexing.

    This is just one example of some links in the “alternate page with proper canonical tag” status on the Google search console. 

    How Do You Fix the ‘Alternate Page With Proper Canonical Tag” Status?

    In some cases, you don’t need to fix anything. Why? Google has checked a set of duplicate links and chosen the original version—most likely the one we created first. Google has then added all the other duplicates to this list so that you know it chose the original. Therefore, Google is not indexing these pages listed under this status.

    In this case, Google is correct in choosing the original page, so Google is accurate. So you don’t have to do anything. 

    But what if Google is wrong? In some cases, this happens. Google chooses to index an alternate page from the one listed here, but you want the one listed here to be the right page for indexing.

    If that’s the case, then you need a fix.

    So what do you do?

    1. Set the Correct Canonical URL

    These pages under “alternate page with proper canonical tag” are not being indexed because other pages are marked as canonical, and Google is crawling them instead. 

    Removing the canonical URL and setting the right one on the page under the “alternate page with proper canonical tag” status is the best fix for this issue.

    Therefore, you would go to the alternate page that Google is currently indexing and remove the canonicalization. Then, return to the page you want Google to index instead and add the rel canonical in the page header.

    Use the simple code below:

    <head>
    
    <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.kontely.com/canonical-url/>
    
    </head>

    2. Check Your Internal Links

    In the case we shared in the screenshots above, we need to be careful about adding internal links on this site. This would ensure that the URL 1 without the forward slash would never happen. All my internal links would have the forward slash like URL 2.

    I would quickly fix this issue using one of two ways:

    1. Redirect URL 1 to URL 2 using a 301 redirect
    2. Audit my internal links to find where URL 1 was added without the forward slash. Fix this by adding a forward slash at the end of that link.

    Depending on which is more manageable, both solutions would work just fine. 

    3. 301 Redirects

    I have used a 301 redirect because the page is the same. Only the forward slash creates a scenario where Google thinks these are two duplicate pages.

    When using 301 redirects to fix this for your use case, ensure you don’t want to keep the duplicate pages. Once you redirect them, you cannot access the duplicate pages. You might as well delete the pages and implement the redirect.

    The redirection plugin for WordPress websites is a quick way to implement the 301 redirect.

    Conclusion

    We have established that the “alternate page with proper canonical tag” status means the pages listed are not being indexed. Some might be okay, while others need a fix by:

    • Telling Google which page to canonicalize and index instead
    • Going through our internal URLs to fix poorly done internal links
    • Implementing 301 redirects to the right alternate page with proper canonical tags. Inspect the URL to find which links Google is indexing, and then do the 301 redirect to those links.

    Remember, if you need us to do a thorough SEO audit of your website, don’t hesitate to contact us. The most common reasons for canonicalization errors are excessive duplication and poor internal linking practices. Today, we can investigate these technical issues by diving deeply into your website.

  • Is ClickBank Legit? A Comprehensive Evaluation

    ClickBank is a popular affiliate marketing network that offers a large selection of digital and physical products in many categories and niches. Given the amount of attention to online scams, it makes sense to be worried before deciding to join ClickBank. To help you decide whether ClickBank is worth your time, we will offer you an in-depth review of ClickBank, how to monetize on ClickBank, a brief on the do’s and don’ts when selling products on ClickBank, and much more.


    Below is our comprehensive ClickBank review.

    What is Clickbank?


    ClickBank is an affiliate marketplace where businesses can post their products for sale to affiliates and affiliate marketers have access to products to offer to their audience. Affiliate marketers are paid a one-time payment or recurring commissions depending on the product. It is mostly a marketplace where digital product creators display their products, although nowadays they feature physical products.


    ClickBank affiliate network was established back in 1998. No matter how new to affiliate marketing you are, you can be one of the many people who use this platform to gain experience.

    Here are some noteworthy details about the ClickBank marketplace:

    • They have 200 million users distributed among 190 nations.
    • 87th-biggest online shop in the United States
    • There are 276 categories and 21562 products listed.
    • There are 6 million business owners on the platform.
    • Annual sales of more than $200 million
    • They have generated commissions exceeding $4 billion.

    Is Clickbank Legit?

    ClickBank is a 100% legit. Below is the ClickBank rating done by different rating agencies;

    • According to Authority Hacker’s affiliate marketing statistics page, it is the second most popular affiliate network, after Amazon.
    • The Better Business Bureau rates ClickBank an A+.
    • Trustpilot reviewers rate ClickBank 3.9 out of 5 stars based on over 3,600 reviews.
    • ScamAdviser rates ClickBank 3.9 out of 5 with a trust score of 100 out of 100 and more than 3,700 reviews.

    ClickBank’s merchant approval procedure is rigorous. However, ClickBank’s platform offers a wide variety of products, and not all of them will meet your standards or expectations, just like any other marketplace.

    Before making a choice, we advise you to carefully consider products and read user reviews.

    ClickBank is not a scam network, as proven by its wide range of affiliate marketers and long company history.

    How To Monetize With Clickbank

    Creating a Clickbank account is the first step towards making money off of your work.

    Affiliates can easily sign up and begin earning money immediately with Clickbank as it is free to join and there is no screening procedure.

    However, if you intend to sell your products or services You must pay $49.95 and $29.95 for extra accounts. In addition, sellers must register a domain name, set up a pitch page on ClickBank, and create a thank-you page.

    Affiliates can earn a commission of anywhere from 1% to 75% when they choose a product from Clickbank to offer their audience.

    In addition, sellers must register a domain name, set up a pitch page on ClickBank, and create a thank-you page. The seller determines their affiliate pricing, and oftentimes, they will provide an attractive deal to start attracting affiliates.

    You can also design and list your offerings as an additional way to earn money with Clickbank. Also, other users of the platform have the option to sell your products and earn affiliate revenue.

    Both alternatives are excellent ways to begin earning money online, and they are all conveniently accessible through Clickbank.

    Type of Products on Clickbank

    There is a product on ClickBank for any seller or affiliate, regardless of their niche, thanks to their impressive variety of over 1,000 different products. They include;

    • Arts and Entertainment
    • As Seen on TV products
    • Betting Systems
    • Business/Investing
    • Computers/Internet
    • Cooking, Food, &Wine
    • E-Business & E-Marketing (Internet Marketing)
    • Education
    • Employment & Jobs
    • Fiction
    • Games
    • Green Products
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Languages
    • Mobile
    • Parenting & Families
    • Politics/Current Events
    • Reference
    • Self-Help
    • Software & Services
    • New Age & Alternative Beliefs
    • Sports
    • Travel

    Selling Clickbank Products

    Determining which platform to sell on is the first step towards becoming a profitable affiliate with Clickbank.

    It might be quite beneficial if you already have a following on a particular platform. It’s usually where you should start promoting this affiliate product first.

    It’s important to spend some time determining why your target market would find this product appealing, as this will enable you to create a message that will increase the number of sales.

    You can promote your products through;

    • Your email list
    • Your YouTube channel
    • Your social media channels
    • On your website
    • In your blogs
    • Paid ads
    • Forums

    To get good results, as an affiliate, you must take into account at least half of these promotional criteria while starting a campaign for your product. Since there are so many different types of products on the market, your entire online presence should be up to the most recent standards.

    Presenting a new product that will leave buyers speechless is almost impossible right now. All you have to do to rule the market is become an expert storyteller while being loyal to your brand.

    Selling your Own Clickbank Digital Products

    It might be worthwhile for you to invest some time honing your copywriting abilities if you are making the effort to list your product on Clickbank. Make sure your landing page is current and prepared to explain to visitors why they should purchase your product.

    Though bloggers who offer digital products have a hard time attracting leads to their websites, Clickbank may offer a helping hand. You might be able to persuade those who don’t purchase your products to subscribe to your newsletter, which will allow you to reach out to them again in the future.

    Below are the dos and don’ts when selling digital products on ClickBank;

    The Dos

    Understand Your Target Audience

    Knowing your target market is essential when using ClickBank, just like with any other business. Your chances of offering products that meet the demands of your readers increase if you understand who they are, what they need, and how they think. Please do thorough audience market research before posting your product on ClickBank. You must offer a product that meets the needs or addresses a particular problem for your intended market.

    Provide Quality Products

    Even though ClickBank allows you to sell a range of digital products, you must create and sell quality products. Providing high-quality products increases your client base and builds your reputation.

    Subsequently, the more customers you have, the more money you may make selling your items. Furthermore, ClickBank is quite selective regarding the products that are sold on its marketplace.

    Use Effective Product Presentation

    Your ClickBank product presentation has a big influence on how many sales you make. A product’s captivating description, catchy title, and eye-catching images can all work to attract more customers. This means that you should give your product presentation a lot of careful thinking.

    The Don’ts

    Don’t Ignore ClickBank’s Terms of Use

    Each seller on ClickBank is required to abide by the comprehensive terms of service (ToS). Ignoring these terms could result in the rejection of your products or, worse, the suspension of your account. Therefore, before signing up and using ClickBank’s services, make sure you are aware of their policies.

    Don’t Overprice Your Products

    It makes sense that you want to maximize your profits, but you also need to keep in mind that overpriced goods may turn off potential buyers. Always set fair pricing for your products to draw in more customers and eventually boost your total revenue.

    Don’t Have Unrealistic Expectations

    While ClickBank offers an excellent opportunity to earn a big income, don’t expect to become wealthy overnight. Successful sellers often devote time and resources to developing high-quality products and an effective marketing plan.

    Why You Should Join Clickbank

    Clickbank is beneficial to both affiliates and sellers. If you are a product seller, Clickbank is a useful platform to help you sell more of your goods with less work on your part. It presents a good chance for making money since you don’t pay the affiliates upfront to market your products.

    Affiliates benefit from Clickbank as they can market other people’s products without necessarily owning them. This can be more beneficial if you have an already existing audience.

    Conclusion

    ClickBank is a wonderful platform for affiliates, but due to the lower rates, it may not be equally beneficial for sellers. It is really difficult to succeed on the platform since there are just too many affiliates vying for a limited number of high-quality products.

    However, ClickBank is one of the greatest affiliate marketing networks for beginners. It’s an excellent place to begin obtaining the expertise and knowledge in digital marketing that you need to close your first affiliate deal. Almost everybody can be accepted to become a member of the ClickBank Marketplace.

    The journey with ClickBank can be fulfilling if you approach it with awareness, discernment, and a dedication to quality. So feel free to explore and take advantage of all that ClickBank has to offer with confidence.

  • Is Affiliate Marketing Worth It? An In-Depth Analysis

    Affiliate marketing has received a lot of attention in recent years. Still, one issue remains: is affiliate marketing worthwhile despite its increasing popularity? Companies today have an overwhelming number of options for promoting themselves and their offers thanks to the growth of social media and other digital marketing methods. This is a question that any brand or an affiliate needs to answer before getting started on affiliate marketing. So, if you are wondering if it is worthwhile to establish an affiliate marketing business this article got you covered.

    What is Affiliate Marketing  

    Affiliate marketing is when you earn a commission for the online promotion of another company’s product or service. Essentially, affiliates perform online marketing on behalf of a merchant, to drive traffic and conversions for the merchant’s website. For every click or conversion earned, the affiliate is paid by the merchant.

    Essentially, it involves three key parties: the merchant (or advertiser), the affiliate (or publisher), and the customer:

    Is Affiliate Marketing Worth It?

    Affiliate marketing is worth it if you have a plan for promoting products or services that your target audience will find useful. And that is not all. The statistics below show that affiliate marketing is worth investing in for brands.

    The affiliate marketing industry keeps growing. The global affiliate marketing sector is expected to grow to $27 billion by 2027, up from $15.7 billion in 2021. This is a huge increase in just a few years, so there are plenty of potential clients for new publishers and influencers. Additionally, there has been a consistent increase over the past five years, and it does not appear that this will stop anytime soon.

    • Affiliate marketing spending is growing. Over 80% of businesses use affiliate marketing, and they invest billions of dollars in these programs.
    • Spending on affiliate marketing hit an all-time high of $8.2 billion in 2022, continuing an upward trend that had been ongoing for more than ten years.
    • Affiliate marketing accounts for 16% of total internet orders in the United States.
    • Affiliate marketing generates 5% to 25% of major brands’ total online revenue.

    When is Affiliate Marketing Worth It?

    Here are some situations where affiliate marketing can be worth it;

    1. You are promoting quality products and services 

    You don’t have to promote the very best quality in the world but at least make sure it is worth the money.

    Evaluate your offers against those of competitors to make sure yours are up to standard, and address any apparent shortcomings.

    2. Are passionate about your niche

    As an affiliate marketer, you will dedicate a significant amount of time to thoroughly studying and actively advertising the product of your choice.

    Since you will not see results immediately, you should choose a niche you are passionate about to stay motivated.

    Unfortunately, you will not always find it fun to build your affiliate marketing business. Even in the worst of circumstances, you will find it difficult to give up if you truly love the whole thing and are passionate about your work.

    3. You Already Have An Engaged Audience 

    The basis of a profitable affiliate marketing company will be your existing, well-established audience.

    This is a big plus since it makes it much simpler to encourage them to click on your affiliate link when there is already a relationship. 

    4. Are an “expert” in your chosen niche

    Expertise is a wide word that encompasses more than just your qualifications and field of work. To make affiliate marketing successful, you must educate and lead individuals through their purchasing decisions. You are in business as long as you know more about your product than the average reader.

    It is not required that you hold a PhD. But to grow an audience, you should have some kind of distinctive understanding of your niche.

    Perhaps you have read a lot about it. Perhaps it is been a hobby in your life. Perhaps you made a life off of it. You should never talk about a product with insufficient expertise or experience since your audience will trust you when you suggest it can help them with the issue at hand.

    5. Offered High Commissions 

    Your products and the affiliate network you join need to provide high Earnings Per Click (EPC) and commissions for affiliate marketing to be worthwhile. In general, you can afford to spend more money on product promotion if the amount is larger.

    You must first choose a viable niche, so research what sells before making any commitments.

    6. Adding Value To Your Customers

    Providing value to your clients should be your top concern, regardless of whether you are working for a client base or a specific audience. Adding value shows your sincere concern for your clients and your commitment to giving them the finest.

    While concentrating on your traffic and ranking has its benefits, it is always preferable to be a partner that adds value for your clients.

    7. You Have a Long-Term Perspective

    Affiliate marketing can provide rapid effects for some firms.  However, most require time to build momentum. Affiliate marketing may not be the greatest option if you are looking for a quick-fix marketing channel.

    However, it may be extremely rewarding if you are patient and committed to long-term, continuous sales and revenue growth.

    When Affiliate Marketing is Not Worth It 

    Even though affiliate marketing can be a profitable business model and monetization approach, it may not be suitable for everyone or a wise investment for you. The following are reasons why affiliate marketing may not be a good idea:

    1. You’re Looking For Instant Results

    It is possible to get results on the first day of affiliate marketing. However, the majority of businesses won’t notice significant improvements immediately. You’ll probably be disappointed if your goal is to cash out quickly.

    If you lack the necessary enthusiasm and patience, you should avoid doing affiliate marketing. It’s critical to approach it with reasonable expectations and a long-term outlook.

    2. Your Business,  or Products and Services  promoted have A Negative Reputation

    Before you start promoting a product or service, make sure to research whether it’s on the good side of the law.    Affiliates may be hesitant to connect themselves with your brand if your company has a terrible reputation or your products fall short of expectations. Before starting an affiliate program, make sure you solve serious product or service concerns,  handle the main issues raised by customers, and start building a positive brand image. Concentrate your efforts on a reputable, beneficial affiliate product that will not jeopardize your business.

    3. Are In a Low-Paying Niche

    If you don’t choose a profitable product, most of your effort will be wasted, and you will not be able to generate a consistent affiliate income.

    Even if you are passionate about a particular niche, you should not commit to it if they pay pennies merely because you like the product.

    Doing so would almost certainly result in exhaustion and deciding to leave affiliate marketing.

    4. You’Re Not Using The Right Affiliate Marketing Tool

    Your affiliate marketing program may suffer if you choose the wrong affiliate program software.

    For example, if your chosen tool is not user-friendly, affiliates may struggle to access and use the platform. They can be discouraged from promoting your offers.  

    5. Your Chosen Vendor Doesn’t Follow FTC Guidelines

    Since 2009, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made it mandatory for all affiliate partners to use particular affiliate marketing disclosures and disclaimers.

    Essentially, you must indicate you will make money when customers purchase the things you promote. The same principle applies to vendors.

    It is a major concern if they do not display the required information. If you do not take this seriously, you risk losing your commission.

    This means that the affiliate platforms, or the FTC itself, may shut them down.

    Can You Make Money With Affiliate Marketing

    Affiliate marketing needs expertise, experience, and hard effort. Although it is not a simple or quick path to success, done right, it may yield impressive revenue.

    The Key to Making Affiliate Marketing Worth It

    Creating an affiliate network from scratch might be difficult, especially if you’re just getting started. Investing in an affiliate marketing tool will help you move more quickly. The tools below will make your work easier;

    1. Semrush

    SEMRush helps with keyword research, solving SEO mistakes, and competitor analysis. It helps to monitor your keyword rankings every week, Running SEO audits to monitor for website mistakes that could damage your search rankings.  

    2. Ahrefs

    Ahrefs provides nearly the same functions as SEMRush. However, Ahrefs places a far bigger priority on backlinks than on-page SEO.

    3. Grammarly

    If you regularly publish content on your affiliate site, Grammarly is a must-have. In short, Grammarly is an enhanced spell-checker. They offer this tool in a free version but the options for content reviews are even more detailed in the premium version.

    4. Yoast SEO

    Yoast SEO is a WordPress plugin that enhances a website’s content and keyword rankings. This tool is available for free. However, the premium version comes with an advanced redirect manager and round-the-clock assistance.

    5. ShareASale

    ShareASale connects publishers with advertisers who want to boost sales. Publishers get compensated for each phone call, lead, or website visitor that they generate for the advertiser. Even though the affiliate can get more money by linking with the brand directly, ShareAsale offers a better starting point for beginners. 

    Conclusion

    While there are numerous factors to consider before entering the industry, do not rely on your opinion on biased or deceptive posts on the internet.

    Affiliate marketing is worthwhile. If you have premium products and services, the right tools, a smart strategy, and a long-term mindset, affiliate marketing might be incredibly profitable.

  • Top 14 Free & Paid Affiliate Marketing Courses

    Affiliate marketing courses have become increasingly popular as digital marketing has grown. These courses give learners the basic understanding and skills they need to succeed in the affiliate marketing sector. The biggest challenge is that there are dozens of resources and courses on the market. Some offer free memberships and some require a monthly or annual fee. We have compiled a list of the best paid and free affiliate marketing courses to help you grow your own affiliate business that is well-suited for long-term, sustainable success.

    Best Free Affiliate Marketing Courses

    1. Ahrefs’ Affiliate Marketing Course for Beginners (Youtube)

    The video is well-edited and produced. It lasts 1 hour 48 minutes. It has over 10k likes on YouTube. Ahrefs is one of the most popular search engine optimization (SEO) platforms. It is well-made and provides straightforward explanations, often with examples from real life. You will discover more about website promotion than just WordPress website setup. You will learn the basics of affiliate marketing, identifying a niche for affiliate marketing, choosing an affiliate program, planning and building affiliate websites researching keywords, creating content for affiliate websites, and building links. According to reviews, this course is useful, educational, and best for beginners.

    2. Great Learning – Affiliate Marketing Course for Beginners

    This video lasts 1 hour 30 minutes (video) plus one quiz and has a rating of 4.44/5. Over 90,000 people have enrolled in this course. It is helpful even for absolute beginners, as seen by the thousands of positive reviews. Its primary emphasis is on basics. Also rather than providing a step-by-step manual, it gives an overview of the principles. This course covers affiliate marketing basics, the benefits of entering the industry, and information on affiliate marketing networks. You will also learn a breakdown of the affiliate marketing program, strategies, and techniques for affiliate marketing, how to create an affiliate website, and common mistakes beginners make.

    3. Miles Beckler’s Affiliate Marketing Crash Course (Youtube)

    This video lasts for 1 hour 13 minutes and has a rating of 19k likes on YouTube.

    Miles Beckler, a well-known online entrepreneur, shares his experience-based thoughts. This free affiliate course explains how to choose the best affiliate marketing network and plan, what to look out for as a beginner, and how to succeed at making affiliate money.

    Miles also provides a free supplementary course called WordPress 101, which teaches the technical fundamentals of using the WordPress platform.

    4. Income School – The Complete Guide to Affiliate Marketing Youtube)

    This video lasts 27 minutes and has a rating of 1.9k likes on YouTube. This video is a great way for beginner and experienced affiliate marketers to learn online. It provides numerous insights into the profitable affiliate sites run by Income School. Aimed at individuals who want to break free from the 9–5 grind, the focus is on doable SEO, creation of content, and revenue tactics monetization. Along with helping you stay competitive in the content marketing sector, they also teach you how to manage profitable websites and blogs for your affiliate marketing campaigns.

    5. Voluum’s Affiliate Academy

    The duration of this course varies depending on the course and your studying pace. They offer three free courses available on affiliate marketing that include reading materials, videos, and knowledge tests. Users can learn the fundamentals of affiliate marketing, how to create an affiliate marketing strategy, and how to maximize an affiliate campaign by enrolling in Voluum’s affiliate courses. Once you complete the course and pass the exam, you will receive a certification for these courses.

    6. Alison: Master Affiliate Marketing Step-by-Step Guide

    This course takes 1.5-3 hours. This free affiliate course, offered by Alison and taught by Juan Galavan, is a great way for any affiliate marketer to launch their business and has been trusted by over 35,000 students worldwide. Alison covers a variety of topics including

    lead generation, Facebook ads, pre-selling, clickfunnels, CPA marketing, etc.

    Upon successful completion of the final exam, students will get a CPD accreditation at the end of the course.

    7. Authority Hacker’s Free Webinar

    Entrepreneurs can learn how to establish and expand their online presence by visiting Authority Hacker, a resource center for online marketing and business. In this free webinar from Authority Hacker, you will learn 7 insider tips that have increased the success of over 83% of affiliate marketing websites.

    Additionally, Authority Hacker offers The Authority Site System, a premium affiliate marketing course.

    Best Paid Affiliate Marketing Courses

    1. The Authority Site System

    Price: 6 monthly payments of $330 to gain lifetime access

    The Authority Site System affiliate marketing course includes interactive courses and a step-by-step guide to building a profitable affiliate site. It has 194 video courses that cover tech setup, design, creating content, link building, monetization, market research, and keyword research. After enrolling, participants can communicate with peers and the course creators directly in a private Facebook community. Unfortunately, the course only offers enrollment once or twice a year, so if you would like to enroll in it, you will need to keep an eye on the website.

    2. The Affiliate Lab

    Price: Price: $997

    The Affiliate Lab is a popular affiliate marketing course that was developed by well-known SEO expert Matt Diggity to assist beginners as well as professionals who wish to generate passive income online. Matt Diggity teaches building websites with WordPress in this course as opposed to alternative hosting servers. It features more than 210 videos that span over 45 hours of training and include topics like keyword research, niche selection, and useful SEO strategies.

    It is built on thousands of tests across different websites, ensuring tactics are proven and effective, and it provides lifetime upgrades to stay current with SEO improvements.

    3. Income School – Project 24

    Price: $499 for the first year with a yearly renewal of $299

    Project 24 is an incredible course for anyone looking to launch a successful blog or YouTube channel. Project 24 presents a more easy strategy for building successful affiliate sites that do not rely on pricey keyword tools or active link building.

    It provides straightforward, systematic directions that are simple to follow. It also provides multiple courses in one, covering a wide variety of topics.

    Like other online courses, it offers a community, a members-only podcast, and a live support center. Unfortunately, there are no refunds. Learners also complained about the lack of a search function, which made it difficult to find specific lessons.

    4. ClickBank Success – Affiliate Marketing Without a Website

    Price: $93

    The course consists of three hours of video on demand, 23 articles, and 22 downloaded materials.

    You will learn how to run a profitable ad campaign and generate money with ClickBank without having to build your website. This course also teaches you new marketing concepts and tactics for affiliate programs other than ClickBank. Unlike other courses, you will learn how to design a squeeze page (without a domain) and attract subscribers to sign up for your email list. You will need to invest $1-$5 every day for “online marketing purposes”.

    5. Doug Cunnington – Multi-Profit Niche Site

    Price: $187 per month for the premium package or $49 for standard

    This course features 12 video lessons.

    This affiliate marketing course teaches you how to create a website for a specific niche and monetize its content through display ads and affiliate marketing.

    You will learn how to analyze the competition, Research keywords, Outsource, build links, and much more. Although the course is mostly focused on Amazon affiliate marketing, it also teaches how to select a niche and construct an affiliate site around it.

    6. Blog Growth Engine

    Price: $3297

    Blog Growth Engine is an online training course created by well-known blogger Adam Enfroy. Adam began blogging in 2019, and within a year, he was earning more than $150,000 per month. Adam incorporated all of the perfected tactics in this training session so you can quickly begin making money with your blog. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced expert, the training has something for you. This course is extremely informative and offers excellent bonuses, competent training, and a 14-day money-back guarantee. However, it is pricey, and only a few reviews are available.

    7. Affiliate Marketing Mastering

    Price: $997

    If you want a broad introduction to digital marketing, this is the place to start. The training materials include videos, documents, and complementary resources.

    Overall  AMM training is broad rather than deep. As a student, you may expect to learn the fundamentals of a variety of digital marketing topics. Affiliate Marketing Mastery offers a 30-day refund policy.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I Earn Money Immediately After Completing These Courses?

    Although these courses offer useful information and tactics, perseverance, experimentation, and persistent effort are necessary for success in affiliate marketing.

    The outcomes could differ, thus it is critical to put what you learn into practice and modify it for your target market and niche.

    Do I Need a Course To Learn Affiliate Marketing?

    Even though it isn’t mandatory, receiving affiliate marketing training may speed up the learning process and offer practical guidance from experienced marketers and structural knowledge.

    How Do I Teach Myself Affiliate Marketing?

    You can learn about affiliate marketing in a variety of methods, such as by enrolling in one of the numerous available online training programs. You may learn about affiliate marketing by doing it yourself, and experience can be the best teacher.

    How Much Time Do I Need To Complete These Courses?

    Although the length of each course may differ, most are meant to be completed at your own pace. You can finish them whenever it is most convenient for you, depending on your availability and learning pace.

    Conclusion

    Understanding affiliate marketing basics is essential, and with the correct affiliate marketing materials, you can successfully begin affiliate marketing programs. The ideal affiliate marketing course for you is entirely determined by your level of experience, comfort with the procedure, and accessibility to resources. Take the time to review the list above and select the best affiliate marketing courses that meet your needs and budget.

  • Affiliate Marketing Scams: Understanding and Avoiding Affiliate Marketing Scams

    The global industry for affiliate marketing is estimated to be over $12 billion and is still rising rapidly. Consequently, affiliate marketing programs are seeing an increase in investment from brands and merchants, offering a great way to generate passive revenue. With the expansion of the affiliate marketing sector comes the potential for dishonest affiliates and risky digital marketing frauds that can destroy your company.

    The amount of fraudulent affiliate advertising exceeded $65 billion in 2020, and by 2023, it may surpass $100 billion!  

    That is why, before you get involved in affiliate marketing, you should be aware of common scams. This article aims to inform affiliate marketers and business owners alike about the most common types of affiliate marketing scams, how they operate, and tips to avoid them. 

    Is Affiliate Marketing Legit

    Affiliate marketing is legit, as long as you follow your country’s laws and regulations. But keep in mind that this isn’t a quick way to get rich. Gaining a lot of money overnight won’t happen on its own. However, you have to approach affiliate marketing with a realistic perspective.

    To succeed in affiliate marketing, you need to be prepared to put in a lot of effort and draw in a sizable audience. That’s when your promotions will start to pay off significantly. Nevertheless, all affiliate program is made equally.

    Some programs either don’t compensate their affiliates properly, impose unjust regulations, or are outright frauds. It’s crucial to investigate any program in-depth before enrolling.

    Common Affiliate Marketing Scams Aimed At Affiliate Marketers

    1. Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

    In this fraud plan, scammers utilize overpromising advertisements to persuade individuals that it is possible to make a lot of money quickly and with little work. New affiliate marketers are typically drawn to this clickbait scam, which also has the potential to result in fraudulent affiliate clicks or private data breaches that enrich criminals.

    These scams are distinct because they frequently offer questionable goods that are worthless or very cheap. These programs’ terms and conditions are designed to make affiliate marketers pay nothing.

    Often, terms and conditions are ambiguous or contain hidden clauses designed to avoid payment.

    2. Fake Products

    Fake products are another common scam that targets affiliate marketers. These scammers would offer to sell a cheap (and often stolen) replica of an authentic product manufactured by a reputable company. Customers are deceived by an inferior counterfeit. In the second, they make a payment for a product they never get. In either case, you receive no compensation.

    Their pricing often shows lower prices than the actual products to give an illusion that buyers are receiving a better deal.  Always, look for real customer reviews and ratings along with the contact details of customer support representatives.

    3. Pyramid Schemes and Multi-level Marketing Programs

    Even though these pyramid scheme strategies have been utilized by scammers for a long time, they are still in use and effective today. It is now referred to as multi-level marketing (MLM).

    Instead of selling products, they concentrate on recruiting new members to invest in the “opportunity.”

    Since the products tend to be of poor quality or unreasonable price, real sales are hard. Marketers are promised more rewards if the people they bring in attract more people.

    The plan eventually fails because it gets harder and harder to locate new members. These scammers then launch the scheme under new names. Also, they might ask you to pay a joining fee that they refer to as an investment.

    4. Pay-to-Join Affiliate Programs

    A pay-to-join affiliate marketing scheme requires you to make purchases or pay fees to become a member. That is a major warning sign. It should be free to sign up for any affiliate marketing program.

    Usually, scammers claim that they have an exclusive affiliate partnership program and that you must pay a small fee to participate. They claim it to make sure that only legitimate marketers join their program. To ensure that the transaction cannot be undone or tracked back, some may even ask that you pay with Bitcoin. Joining any legit affiliate program is free of charge. In the long run, they have no risk if you fail to generate sales. Nevertheless, before you promote a product, a lot of respectable companies want you to be familiar with everything there is to know about it.

    5. Fake Gurus and Influencers

    Another common scam is when you are urged to endorse a fake guru or social media celebrity. Occasionally, self-proclaimed gurus may provide coaching programs or courses that guarantee extraordinary outcomes. However, they may be coaching in outdated or unethical techniques.

    Perhaps they stopped doing it a long time ago, or they don’t genuinely practice what they teach. Their source of income is not affiliate marketing but rather the sales of their courses. In addition, refund requests are typically not honored. Most of the time, these fraudsters have no prior experience in their purported field. Their testimonies would come across as fake and unconvincing.

    They try to convince you to promote them by using pushy sales techniques. They may use bot accounts to boost their social media following.

    6. Bait-and-switch commissions

    A bait-and-switch commission is when an affiliate is promised a particular commission rate, but then abruptly changes after a few sales. They can start by making small adjustments like a decrease by 1% and then reducing to a higher rate later.  It could further involve charging “hidden fees,” which lower their profit margin on each transaction. Make sure you read the contract thoroughly and get a copy. Next, print it out so you have a hard copy in the unfortunate circumstance that they alter the terms of the agreement. Furthermore, maintain your private record and compare rather than depending on affiliate managers to track your sales.

    7. Phishing Scams

    Phishing schemes are another method scammers use to prey on affiliate marketers to obtain private information.

    They fake emails or websites that look authentic to fool affiliates into sending their login credentials or personal data.

    Scammers may target affiliate marketers on social media platforms and messaging applications in addition to fake websites and emails. They might trick victims into thinking they are speaking with an official account by using the branding of well-known affiliate networks. Verify website addresses one more time before logging in. If in doubt, close the window and go straight to the official website. Never respond to shady communications by clicking links or entering personal information.

    Common Affiliate Marketing Scams Aimed At Businesses

    1. Cookie Stuffing

    Cookie stuffing, also known as cookie dropping, is a type of affiliate fraud in which scammers install tracking codes on a visitor’s computer from different affiliate networks. The fraudsters will get paid when a visitor clicks on the link and makes a purchase on the advertiser’s website.

    Unless the user clears all cookies from their browser, these cookies are often set to never expire. The user would never have interacted with the affiliates’ content or been directed to them via their URL.

    2. Fake Leads

    For companies who pay affiliate marketers to generate leads, fake leads can be a serious affiliate scam.

    Fake lead generation through the use of bots to fill out forms with fictitious contact details is known as affiliate fraud.

    They can even create fake leads by using stolen contact information.

    In any case, even though the lead is not a real person interested in the product or service, the affiliate marketer will still be compensated for creating it.

    A notable decline in conversions may indicate that the leads you are receiving are fake or of poor quality. Reaching out to customers is another method used to identify quality leads.

    3. Click Spam

    Click spam is when scammers use malware to make it appear as though someone has clicked on a PPC advertisement when, in fact, no real click has taken place. This can lead to great losses for Businesses running pay-per-click affiliate programs.

    Keep track of IP addresses to detect click fraud. Tools for identifying and preventing click fraud might also be included in your affiliate management software. Furthermore, Analyze major differences between your conversion rates and industry averages.

    4. URL Hijacking (Typosquatting)

    When an affiliate partner creates a domain name that is identical to or incorrectly spells a URL, that is another popular scam that targets businesses.

    For example, if a company has an Amazon.com website, scammers might register Amozon.com or other related names.

    It is simple to monitor by looking at Google Analytics’ referral domains. However, some of these affiliates may use dubious redirects to ensure that the squatting domain does not appear as a referral domain.

    To identify odd trends examine the websites and other sources that drive traffic to your affiliates.

    Also, you can secure any potential misspellings of your domain and route them to your primary website.

    5. Fraudulent Transactions

    Scammer affiliates’ sales and transaction frauds rank among the most frequent scams in affiliate marketing that affiliate managers encounter. They might make transactions using their affiliate links or codes through strategies such as using stolen or fake credit They will receive commissions for such fake sales. After you pay them a commission, you are left to handle chargebacks and refunds from angry and probably nonexistent customers.

    Examine the return rates of suspected affiliates in comparison to other affiliates to spot any unusual activities. An abrupt increase could indicate problems.

    6. Google Ad Keyword Hijacking

    Ad hijacking is a type of ad fraud that involves purchasing ad space for a branded term on search engines and then redirecting visitors to a false website that appears to be the original website.

    Scammers purchase advertisements using your brand’s keywords, increasing the difficulty and cost of reaching potential clients.

    Furthermore, the fraudster will receive the affiliate commission if they buy anything on the fake site.

    Make it clear that affiliates are not permitted to bid on your branded keywords or imitate your brand in any manner.

    How To Avoid Affiliate Marketing Scams

    1. Partner with Reputable Platforms: Pick a reputable affiliate network with a solid history. Look for customer complaints, internet reviews, and any news stories that discuss the affiliate program. A history of bad customer service or problems with product quality are examples of early warning signs.

    2. Understand Affiliate Program’s Terms & Conditions: Before signing up for an affiliate marketing program, review the terms and conditions offered by the company. Verify that you are aware of the commission timetable, any extra fees or requirements, and the payment procedures.

    3.  Monitor Your Traffic: You can identify and stop fraud and scams by routinely tracking the traffic to your website. Unusual spikes in clicks or referrals can be detected with tools like Google Analytics paired with a WordPress plugin like MonsterInsights.

    4. Avoid Programs That Make Unrealistic Promises: Avoid programs that offer unrealistic rewards, such as “get rich quick” schemes. Legitimate affiliate programs will be honest about the time and effort needed to earn a profit.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Affiliate Marketing Scams

    Is affiliate marketing risky?

    Making money online with affiliate marketing is a brilliant idea. But there are a lot of frauds out there that pose as affiliate marketing plans when they are just money-laundering schemes that give the idea of being risky.

    How can I identify a legitimate affiliate program?

    Legitimate programs are open about how they operate, how they handle payments, and what products they offer. Analyze reviews, make sure communications are clear, and select programs with a track record of reliability.

    What steps should I take if I suspect affiliate fraud or scams?

    Any suspect activity should be reported to the affiliate program and appropriate authorities, such as the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Stay up to date on frequent affiliate marketing scams to protect yourself and others in the affiliate marketing industry.

    Conclusion

    To protect your business, arm yourself with information on these affiliate marketing frauds and take note of real-world examples. Remember that if anything seems too good to be true, it usually is. Be sure to thoroughly examine the affiliate program terms and conditions before joining.

    Hopefully, the information provided here will alert you to some of the most common affiliate marketing frauds, so keep an eye out and be cautious.

  • How to Remove Outdated Content From Your Website

    How to Remove Outdated Content From Your Website

    In the fast-paced digital landscape, it is crucial to remove outdated content from your website regularly. Outdated content can mislead readers, harm your website’s credibility, hinder search engine optimization efforts, and sometimes create compliance risks.

    Proactively identifying and eliminating outdated content can ensure accuracy, enhance the reader’s experience, improve search rankings, maintain industry compliance, and present a positive brand image.

    In this post, we will explore the importance of removing outdated content and provide insights on how to do it effectively if you want your website to stay fresh and updated.

    What Is Outdated Content?

    Outdated content refers to any information, media, or resources that have become obsolete, inaccurate, or irrelevant to the current context or audience. It can include various forms of content, including articles, blog posts, images, videos, product descriptions, and more. 

    Outdated content on most websites may arise due to changes in industry practices, technological advancements, legislation updates, consumer preference shifts, product/service offerings, products out of stock or no longer available, and more.

    It can confuse readers, damage a website’s reputation, and hinder improved search engine rankings. Google has favored websites that continuously update their content and keep it fresh for readers by rewarding them with better search engine rankings.

    Identifying and removing outdated content is crucial to maintaining credibility, providing accurate information, and enhancing user experience. We are in the age of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness), where content relevance at any particular time is a ranking signal. When your content is irrelevant to the current times, your rankings drop; when it is relevant, your rankings improve.

    Why You Need to Remove Outdated Content 

    1. Accuracy and Credibility

    Outdated content can provide incorrect or misleading information to your audience. Keeping your content up to date ensures that you provide accurate and reliable information, enhancing your credibility and reputation.

    With more accurate and credible content, you can also command more clicks to your offers because of the improved trust with your audience.

    2. User Experience

    Users rely on your content for relevant and valuable information. Outdated content can frustrate and confuse them, leading to a poor user experience. A lousy reader experience makes them leave your website without spending much time on it, increasing your bounce rate. A high bounce rate is recorded by Google: “Even though we send readers to this website, people leave the website very fast, which means they don’t like the website. So we will stop sending people to this website.”

    It’s not exactly what Google says, but this is what it will think, and then boom! Your rankings drop.

    Removing outdated content improves user satisfaction and engagement, positively impacting your website’s performance, keeping readers on your website longer (hence a lower bounce rate), and a positive signal to Google that the readers it’s sending to your website love it.

    3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

    Search engines prioritize fresh and relevant content. Outdated content can negatively impact your search engine rankings, reducing your visibility and organic traffic. Regularly removing and updating obsolete content with current and optimized content can help improve your SEO efforts.

    Read Also: SEO Tips to Help You Rank Higher

    When people search for things on Google, now Google shows them how long ago the content they’re finding was published or last updated. See this screenshot below:

    The one with the most recently published data is ranked higher than the article with a later date. In most cases, Google’s users will prefer to click on the topmost result that’s been recently updated.

    Don’t miss out on the clicks or higher SEO rankings because of outdated content. Keep your content updated whenever you can.

    4. Industry Compliance

    Industries undergo changes in regulations, best practices, and standards over time. Outdated content may no longer align with the latest compliance requirements for your niche, potentially leading to legal or regulatory issues.

    Some marketers have lost money in court battles because they didn’t understand the offers they were promoting or were too busy promoting them, and they didn’t realize the policies of those programs had become fraudulent. Think it’s a joke? Read this: Affiliate Marketers to Pay More Than $4 Million to Settle Charges that They Promoted a Fraudulent Business Coaching and Investment Scheme.

    By removing outdated content, you ensure that your platform remains compliant and avoids any potential liabilities. If you were promoting a program that became fraudulent, you need to update your content as soon as possible to stay compliant.

    5. Resource Optimization

    Outdated content takes up storage space, server resources, crawling budget, and maintenance efforts. By removing outdated content, you free up valuable resources that can be allocated to more relevant and helpful content, improving overall website performance and efficiency.

    6. Brand Perception

    Outdated content reflects poorly on your website.

    It may give the impression that you are not actively maintaining and updating your site, potentially diminishing trust with potential visitors.

    Removing outdated content demonstrates your commitment to providing current and valuable information, enhancing your website’s perception.

    Read Also: Why is Content Marketing Important for Your Brand?

    How to Remove Outdated Content Safely 

    Removing outdated content safely is necessary to ensure your website’s integrity and user experience and avoid the loss of good content that could still serve your readers.

    Here are detailed steps on how to remove outdated content safely:

    1. Conduct a Comprehensive Content Audit

    Before removing any content, perform a thorough content audit to identify outdated pages, articles, or resources.

    This audit should include checking website analytics, feedback or comments from your readers, engagement metrics, and SEO KPIs.

    Look for content with outdated information, low user engagement, high bounce rates, or declining traffic.

    In some cases, even pages with consistent traffic (not falling or rising) might get better performance after an content update.

    2. Establish Clear Criteria for Outdated Content

    Define specific criteria for determining whether the content is obsolete.

    This could include outdated facts, statistics, references, technologies, or practices. Also, check for links to any broken or 404 pages.

    Consider consulting subject matter experts or doing more research to ensure the content’s accuracy and relevance.

    3. Prioritize Content for Removal

    Once you have identified outdated content, prioritize the removal process.

    Focus on pages with the highest negative impact on user experience, search engine rankings, or compliance issues.

    Consider the potential consequences of removing content, such as broken internal links or adverse user reactions, and plan accordingly.

    4. Archive or Update Relevant Information

    For content that still contains valuable information but needs updates, consider archiving or updating it.

    Archiving involves moving content to a separate section of your website and preserving it for reference. Updated content can be edited to reflect current information.

    5. Implement Proper Redirects

    When removing outdated content, implement proper redirects to guide users and search engines to the new addresses where they can find the most relevant and up-to-date version of the content.

    To redirect visitors and search engines from old URLs to the new equivalent URLs, utilize 301 redirects.

    This prevents users from encountering 404 errors and helps preserve your website’s search engine rankings because Google will direct users to the new page and keep your rankings intact.

    6. Update Internal Links and References

    After removing or updating content, review and update any internal links or references pointing to the outdated content.

    This includes updating links within your website’s content, navigation menus, sidebar widgets, or related post sections.

    Broken or incorrect internal links can negatively impact your user experience, which has a ripple effect on your website’s rankings.

    7. Communicate Changes to Users and Stakeholders

    Inform your readers about the removal or updating of outdated content.

    Consider adding a notification on the affected pages that shows the content has been updated or removed. You can also publish a blog post explaining the reasons behind the changes.

    This helps manage user expectations, reduces confusion, and demonstrates transparency with your audience.

    8. Maintain a Backup of the Removed Content

    Before removing any content, create a backup to preserve a copy of the original content.

    This ensures that you have a record of the removed content for future reference or in case you need to restore it.

    9. Handle 404 Errors Properly

    Despite implementing redirects, some users may still encounter 404 errors due to outdated links or cached pages. Customize your 404 error page to provide a helpful message and suggest alternative resources or navigation options. Monitor your website for 404 errors and fix them promptly to enhance the user experience.

    10. Update Xml Sitemaps and robots.txt Files

    After removing or updating content, update your XML sitemap to reflect the changes.

    This allows search engines to locate and index your updated information quickly.

    Review your robots.txt file to ensure it doesn’t block search engine crawlers from accessing your updated pages.

    11. Conduct Thorough Testing and Quality Assurance (QA)

    Before and after removing outdated content, conduct thorough testing and QA checks.

    Test your website’s navigation, internal links, redirects, and search functionality to ensure everything functions correctly.

    Also, check for any unintended consequences of the removal, such as broken design elements or functionality.

    12. Monitor Search Engine Indexation and Traffic

    Keep a close eye on search engine indexation to ensure your updated content is properly crawled and indexed.

    Monitor your website’s traffic, user behavior, and engagement metrics after removal to gauge the impact and identify any necessary adjustments.

    SEO Factors to Remember Before Removing Your Outdated Content

    When removing outdated information from your website, it’s critical to consider the possible influence on your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.

    Here are the key SEO factors to keep in mind before removing outdated content:

    1. Traffic and Rankings

    Review the organic traffic and search engine rankings of the content you plan to remove.

    If the content drives significant traffic or ranks well for relevant keywords, consider the potential impact on your website traffic and visibility.

    Look for opportunities to update or repurpose the content instead of removing it to maintain the traffic and rankings.

    2. Backlinks

    Examine the backlinks pointing to the outdated content pages.

    Backlinks are crucial for SEO as they contribute to your website’s authority and search engine rankings.

    If the writing has important backlinks, redirect the URLs to relevant pages on your site to maintain link equity and keep the SEO juice.

    3. Internal Link Structure

    Evaluate the internal links pointing to outdated content.

    Internal linking plays a significant role in distributing link equity across your website and helping search engines understand the hierarchy and relevance of your content.

    If you remove internally linked content, ensure that you update or remove those internal links to maintain a logical and organized internal link structure.

    4. User Experience

    Consider the impact on user experience when removing content.

    If the outdated content provides valuable information or serves as a reference for users, removing it abruptly can disrupt their experience.

    In such cases, it’s better to update the content with current information or redirect users to a relevant alternative rather than remove it entirely.

    5. Redirect Strategy

    Implement proper redirect strategies when removing content. If the outdated content has valuable traffic or backlinks, use 301 redirects to redirect users and search engines to relevant and updated pages.

    This helps preserve link equity, maintain user experience, and prevent organic traffic loss.

    6. XML Sitemap and Robots.txt

    Update your XML sitemap and robots.txt file after removing the content. Remove the URLs of the outdated content from your XML sitemap to ensure search engines don’t crawl and index them.

    Review your robots.txt file to ensure it doesn’t block search engine crawlers from accessing your updated pages.

    7. Keyword Considerations

    Evaluate the keywords targeted by outdated content. If the content ranks for valuable keywords or contributes to your keyword strategy, consider updating it with fresh information rather than obliterating it.

    Ensure the updated content aligns with your keyword strategy and provides relevant and optimized content for target keywords.

    Read Also: Keyword Optimization Guide For SEO Beginners

    8. User Intent and Search Queries

    Analyze the user intent and search queries behind outdated content. If the content no longer aligns with user intent or fails to address users’ queries effectively, it may be appropriate to remove it.

    However, consider creating new content or optimizing existing pages to meet user intent and address those search queries, ensuring you don’t leave gaps in your content coverage.

    9. Monitor and Adapt

    After removing outdated content, monitor your website’s performance, organic traffic, and search engine rankings.

    Analyze the impact of the removal and make necessary adjustments based on the data. If you notice significant drops in traffic or rankings, consider revisiting your content strategy and finding alternative ways to address user needs and search engine requirements.

    Tools You Can Use to Remove Outdated Content

    1. Content Management System (CMS) Tools

    If your website is built on a CMS like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, you can leverage the built-in tools and plugins to manage and remove outdated content.

    These CMS platforms often offer features to delete or update content in bulk, schedule content removal, and manage redirects.

    2. Google Analytics

    Google Analytics provides valuable insights into the performance of your website’s content.

    Utilize the “Behavior” section to analyze engagement metrics, such as bounce rates, time on page, and exit rates.

    Identify pages with low engagement that may be candidates for removal or updating.

    3. Screaming Frog

    Screaming Frog is a powerful website crawler that can help you identify outdated content and broken links.

    It scans your website and provides detailed reports on URL status codes, metadata, and other SEO-related information.

    Use it to find pages with outdated timestamps, low word counts, or other indicators of obsolete content.

    4. SEMrush

    SEMrush is an all-in-one SEO tool that offers various features to assist with content management.

    Use the Site Audit feature to identify outdated pages, broken links, or issues affecting SEO performance.

    The Content Analyzer tool helps you analyze content quality, relevance, and engagement metrics.

    5. Google Search Console

    Google Search Console gives information about how your website ranks in Google’s search results.

    Use the “Coverage” report to identify any errors or issues with your pages, including outdated content.

    The “URL Inspection” tool allows you to check individual URLs and request removal from Google’s index if necessary.

    6. Ahrefs

    Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO toolset that offers features to analyze and manage your website’s content.

    Searching for specific keywords or subjects may uncover old information with the content explorer tool.

    You can also utilize the Site Audit feature to identify pages with low traffic, low backlinks, or other indicators of outdated content.

    Final Take 

    Removing outdated content from your website is crucial for maintaining relevance, user experience, and SEO performance.

    You can safely identify and remove outdated content by following a systematic approach, utilizing tools, and considering SEO factors.

    This process helps ensure that your website provides accurate and valuable information to your audience while maintaining its visibility and authority on search engine pages.

    Keep your content fresh, up-to-date, and aligned with user needs to impact your website’s performance positively.

  • 10 Techniques for White Hat Link Building In 2024

    10 Techniques for White Hat Link Building In 2024

    With backlinks being one of the leading Google ranking factors, link building has become very popular with every industry. Most marketers are desperate to grow their brand’s backlink profile and will do anything to gain authoritative links. However, there is a fine line between how you should and shouldn’t build your links, and it can drastically impact your Google rankings. That’s where white-hat link building comes in.

    What Is White Hat Link Building?

    White hat link building is an SEO approach that uses search engine optimization techniques to drive traffic to a site. Unlike the other link-building strategies, white hat aligns with Google’s webmaster guidelines and is least likely to generate a Google penalty that affects a site’s search engine rankings. 

    White hat strategies can be slower than other link-building forms, but they focus on long-term search engine optimization results. 

    White Hat vs. Black Hat vs. Grey Hat Link Building

    White Hat vs Black Hat vs Grey Hat Link Building
    Image Source: tycoonstory.com

    White, gray, and black hat link-building strategies aim to help a site rank. 

    • White hat link building is an ethical and honest way to optimize your site. It follows Google’s guidelines, but it might take longer to work. It involves developing original, high-quality content, legitimate link-building through relationships or guest blogging and creating a valuable user experience on your website. This approach will help Google find, index, and rank your site.
    • Black hat link building: This strategy works faster than the white hat form but goes against Google guidelines and is more of a short-term plan. With this strategy, you use tactics that can work until they don’t. 

    The tactics employed here may bring some wins, but they also come with high risks, as Google can penalize you for using them. Therefore, if you plan to achieve long-term goals for your business, it’s best to avoid these strategies altogether. 

    Some Black hat backlink techniques include spamming blog comments with links to your website, purchasing low-quality backlinks, and writing low-quality guest posts.

    • Gray hat link building uses techniques that are not strictly against Google’s guidelines but are outside what would be considered best practices.

    For instance, if you contact an authoritative site and request them to link your site and ask for a fee, that is considered gray hat link building. Requesting a site to link to your site is a white-hat outreach strategy, but it’s against Google’s guidelines to pay for it. 

    5 Benefits of White Hat Link Building

    1. For better website ranking

    Besides following search engine rules and policies, white hat linking guarantees safer and solid ranking results. Although the results are slower and may take longer on the surface, they will become steady over time.

    The best way to get a better ranking is to create insightful content. You can invite guest bloggers to create content for your site to attract traffic and build relationships with people in the industry. 

    2. Build Brand and Site Authority

    White hat link building will also help you build your brand and site authority. Since Google uses backlinks to signal that your site publishes high-quality content and is relevant, the links tell Google that you are the authority in the space.

    The more authority you have, the more likely search engines will rank your website for keywords associated with your niche.

    Additionally, a white hat helps you build trust with Google, which then helps build trust with your audiences or potential clients. These links can also help provide third-party credibility. 

    3. Drive More Traffic to Your Website

    Despite helping you rank higher in SERPs, the White hat will also help you increase traffic to your website. You select a network of sites that direct audiences to your website when you build high-quality links. 

    When recognized as reliable sources, these sites transfer their authority and audiences to you. Google notices this, and the SERPs reflect that. Having a higher spot on SERPs means better site exposure, which could boost traffic and expand your customer reach.

    4. Save Money

    Seeing results with black hat SEO takes a short time, but it uses much more resources than the white hat method. With the White hat method, you will require less Money and more time because search engines do not need to update security parameters regularly. Think of this strategy as a long-term investment. 

    5. Improve Your Relationships With Other Websites

    In most cases, you are required to reach out to other website owners and content managers to request for ask for links. Outreach is an opportunity to network and contribute to other people’s sites through guest blogs. You can continue to build upon all white-hat linking strategies with your new relationships.

    For instance, if you have a great relationship with the manager or owner of a popular website, they will be willing to feature your site on their website or link to your content. This will help increase your website’s reputation, and you will likely rank on SERPs.

    10 Techniques for White Hat Link Building In 2024

    1. HARO Links

    Help A Reporter Out (HARO) is a free online service for journalists and bloggers to receive feedback from the public. It enables them to connect with experts on issues relevant to their reporting. With the proper techniques, HARO can help you obtain high-quality backlinks and build brand awareness for your PR efforts, regardless of your niche.

    As the source, you must only sign up for daily queries from other bloggers or journalists looking for experts in different fields. Then, you will have the chance to respond to any queries that interest you. This will likely result in high-quality backlinks from seriously high-authority websites.

    Acquiring backlinks via HARO is considered a white hat technique since it’s an honest way to get relevant links from high-quality sources. 

    How to Use HARO for White-Hat Link Building

    1. The first step is to go to www.helpareporter.com and sign up for an account as a source.
    2. Look for queries that match your expertise or niche.
    3. Reply to queries that are relevant to your niche.
    4. Create replies that are original, informative, and on-topic.
    5. Have a link to your website in your signature.
    6. Observe the responses you submit and respond to any questions from journalists.

    2. Niche Edits

    Niche edits or curated links are links from other websites in your area of expertise that mention or link to your site. These links point back to your site, improving your overall link-building strategy. Niche editing involves obtaining permission from other site owners and authors to link your site’s content to theirs, achieved via a contextual backlink. 

    There are usually three types of niche edits. The most organic type is the white hat approach. In simpler terms, this means manually reaching out to other site owners to exchange content value for a free link. 

    Even though this process is time-consuming, there is a high chance of building lasting relationships with fellow bloggers, enabling you to approach them again in the future with much ease. 

    How to Use Niche Edits for white hat Link Building

    1. The first step involves finding websites or articles relevant to your niche. You can use SEO tools such as Ahrefs to see what sites link to your competitors.
    2. Then, analyze and evaluate the relevance, authority, and traffic of the site you have picked. This will help you determine which sites or owners fit your link well.
    3.  Reach out to the webmasters for your link placement. It is advisable to send them a personal email pitching your link.

    3. Guest Post-White-Hat link building

    Guest posting or blogging is another white hat SEO strategy that will help improve its SEO ranking score and visibility in the SERPs and drive targeted traffic to your website.

    A guest post is a piece of content you create for a site with a similar niche to yours to be featured there and get your word out. Your post will contain a section about the author, where you can link to your sites.

    However, it would be best to link with credible websites with high domain authority. You can use free link-building tools to find the best sites or contact respected publications.

    How to Use Guest Posts for White Hat Link Building

    1. Find good link-building opportunities from sites in your niche
    2. Contact the webmasters and craft a pitch that’s impossible to ignore
    3. Write a high-quality guest post
    4. Add contextual links to the post and homepage link in your author bio
    5. Reply to comments on your post

    4. Broken White-Hat link building

    Broken link-building is another effective and impactful white hat link-building technique that can help you earn high-quality and relevant backlinks from other sites. It involves finding a dead page and requesting linkers to switch the links to a working page on your site. The idea is that they will do this because they don’t want to send audiences to a dead resource.

    How to Use Broken Link Building

    1. Find broken pages with backlinks. You can use Ahrefs’ free backlink checker for this.
    2. Identifying or creating high-quality content that is worth linking to
    3. Conduct outreach to persuade a site owner to replace the dead link on their page with your page link

    5. Press Releases

    Press Releases or PR Link Building uses public relations approaches such as press releases and media pitching to get valuable editorial links that direct back to your site. This white hat SEO backlink-building approach is a critical component of a Digital PR strategy that will result in measurable and consistent high-quality traffic coming to your site from relevant links.

    The goal is to present your site as a thought leader and pitch to influential online publications. This strategy can be used to extend your content marketing strategy, aiming to generate publicity.

    How To Get Started with PR Link Building

    1. Identifying the target audience for your digital PR strategy 
    2. Research the content you will create to leave a mark on the audiences
    3. Create relevant and high-quality content 
    4. Outreach and promote your content. Here, you can reach out to website owners, publishers, bloggers, influencers, and journalists to help generate enough buzz around your content.  

    6. Link Magnets

    Link magnets are content assets created to acquire links. Instead of producing high-quality content and waiting for someone to link to you, link magnets incentivize other sites to link to you. This is an excellent strategy for attracting quality links, driving traffic to your site, and ranking higher on the search Engine Results Page (SERP).

    Unlike the spam-oriented black hat link-building tactic, this white hat approach helps you acquire more links organically with minimal outreach. This saves time and helps get links from web pages that typically wouldn’t link to you.

    Tips for making your site a Link Magnet

    1. Write outstanding blog posts and place valuable resources on your webpage.
    2. Create a section for news, trends, and tips on your page
    3. Run an affiliate program for people in complementary businesses
    4. Blog about issues that are controversial and people are passionate about
    5. Create a forum on your website for your visitors to exchange ideas.

    7. Content Promotion

    Most of the white hat link-building strategies we have mentioned are low-volume approaches, but content promotion is quite the opposite. If you follow off-page SEO practices, you can quickly place many links on your site, resulting in a high volume of referral traffic and quick brand growth.

    With this approach, you will create and publish unique content on your website. Then, reach out to several online media outlets, such as news stations or magazines. Then, request that they cover your content on their website. This strategy will showcase your brand’s expertise and help to build its authority in your niche.

    Content Promotion Tactics and Tips 

    1. Know who you’re creating content for
    2. Research and create content that is relevant to your audiences
    3. Research Your Competitors and tackle their best-performing topics
    4. Promote your content

    8. Commenting on Authority Blogs

    Blog commenting is a simple yet effective strategy that lets others know about your site. It involves publishing blog comments that link to a site or post. You can include the links in the comment or as a link behind your name.

    When you leave a relevant and insightful comment on a blog post, you create a noteworthy connection with the site’s owner and the audience. Blog commenting helps you build online relationships with webmasters with authority sites, who then share backlinks to your site.

    Tips on How to Write Comments for Your White-Hat link building Strategy

    1. Add valuable stuff to the conversation.
    2. Comment early
    3. Don’t over-promote yourself.
    4. Do you disagreeable or agree with the comments
    5. Please include links to external references where they will be most helpful.

    9. Reciprocal White-Hat link building

    Reciprocal linking is another simple white-hat link-building tactic. It occurs when two or more site owners agree to link to each other on their sites. This kind of linking makes up a large portion of earned backlinks because you are trading outbound links for inbound links to your website.

    However, you must know that not all sites are willing to engage in this kind of linking, especially if your site lacks authority.

    How to Use Reciprocal Linking for White-Hat Link-Building

    1. Make sure the link is to relevant content
    2. Ensure the linking content adds value
    3. Check SEO metrics of the linking site
    4. Build authentic relationships

    10. Podcasts Features

    Lastly, Guest podcast features are a perfect way to get more white-hat links for your website. Since most brands and companies use podcasts, it shouldn’t be hard to find one you can feature.

     The good thing is that you don’t need to feature in podcasts only within your niche. You could also feature in podcasts that concentrate on your job role, demographics, life events, etc. 

    When asked to feature in a podcast, request a free backlink in the podcast notes in exchange for your time. You could also use this and mention your brand as you speak.

    Ways to Find a Podcast for Your White-Hat Link Building

    1. Use Google to search for the “best of” lists.
    2. Use a podcast newsletter.
    3. Use social media platforms like Twitter to search for a specific topic.
    4. Using niche podcast discovery apps

    Final Take: White Hat link building Strategy

    Gray and black hat link-building strategies are tempting since they are speedier and require less work. However, white hat strategies are the best ethical option for a long-term strategy with no risk. 

    Hopefully, this guide has given you a better understanding of white hat SEO and provided insight into some link-building techniques you can use.

  • The Keyword Research Checklist For Ranking in 2024

    The Keyword Research Checklist For Ranking in 2024

    If you have been involved in search engine optimization (SEO) for over a few years, you have undoubtedly witnessed a dramatic change in keyword research. Early on, obtaining keywords with a high search volume and little competition on search engines was at the top of the keyword research checklist.

    As a result, few websites competed for the exact keywords, making creating a keyword research checklist simple. However, as more businesses entered the fray and the level of competition increased, it became harder to find high-volume, low-competition keywords.

    Good SEO relies on getting your site to rank for the appropriate keywords, but how can you choose which ones to target? Or even how to rank for them? Well, we got you.

    In this keyword research checklist guide, we’ll show you how to find opportunities to rank for terms your audience searches for that your competitors are ignoring.

    So, let’s dive right in.

    What is Keyword Research?

    Keyword research is locating and analyzing search phrases or words that people are searching for in search engines. The idea is to use this information to determine which keywords will help your SEO and marketing campaigns.

    Specifically, effective keyword research aims to identify target audiences’ inquiries and the frequency, difficulty, and intent of these searches. By adequately understanding your audience, you can optimize your content with the right keywords, aiding your content marketing strategy and approach.

    The Definitive Keyword Research Checklist You Need to Rank in 2024

    The cornerstone of SEO is keywords. No matter how hard you try, Google traffic won’t come to your site if no one is looking for what you’re writing about. Using a keyword research checklist helps guarantee that you are taking all the necessary steps to achieve your desired outcomes.

    Additionally, you can use the checklist to ensure you have entered the appropriate keywords to increase website traffic and sales. Furthermore, it might save you time by making it simple to identify and fix any mistakes you made while conducting your research.

    Look at the keyword research checklist for success in 2024 without further ado.

    1. Study Your Niche

    You need to understand your specialty before looking for and researching the ideal keywords for your website and content that you can rank for. It is impossible to sell everything to everyone.

    Even big corporations target particular populations or demographic groups despite having thousands of items in their mix. You must identify and target your niche as a new business owner.

    How to Understand and Determine Your Niche

    Keyword Research Checklist
    Image Source: theblogpilot.com
    1. Determine your hobbies and interests: The first step is to identify your passions and areas of interest. What do you like to do the most in your spare time? If your current job is tedious, you might consider changing careers. A new career might be challenging to establish and sustain, but the more you value your work, the easier it will be to keep motivation.
    2. Identify problems you can solve: Any company or service’s principal objective is to address a problem for its clientele. Spend time coming up with ideas and researching the market. You may generate some prospective ideas for free by using Google Trends.
    3. Determine the profitability of your niche: Get a sense of how much money you could make in your niche; this is crucial.
    4. Gather feedback: If you’re uncertain, talk to people. Family members or coworkers can offer opinions and insights. Ask the people who could become your customers about their unique demands. 
    5. Test your ideas: Testing your niche is the most significant approach to determining if it is correct. Create a website, or visit different business fairs to promote your ideas and see if people are interested in the products.

    2. Know Your Audience

    To succeed with SEO, you must have a solid understanding of your audience and their needs. Regardless of your SEO technique, if you understand your audience, you will know which keywords are pertinent to them.

    Ways to Define Your Target Audience for Your Keyword Research Checklist 

    1. Understand your current customer demographics: If you want to determine who your SEO strategy should target, it is prudent to begin with your present customers.
    2. Use social insights: It is highly likely that the audience you’ve attracted on social media is intrigued by the goods or services you provide. Using the insights provided by your social media platforms can be a terrific approach to finding out more about your audience.
    3. Study the SERPs: Although it may seem easy, analyzing the SERPs can help you identify the audience you should be targeting.

    Read Also: How to Use SERP Analysis for Keyword Research and Content Creation

    3. Define Your SEO Goals

    You don’t just start searching for keywords randomly without first deciding your SEO objectives. SEO objectives are essential since they will give your plan a clear direction and enable you to concentrate more on your aim. You won’t be forced to fumble your way through in the dark. With goals, you can track your development objectively and correct courses if necessary.

    While conducting keyword research, you aim to rank for specific phrases in your industry, increase traffic, and expand your business. Because your intention is clear and focused, you can figure out how to achieve it.

    Read Also: SEO Tips to Help Your Rank Higher

    You’re prepared to begin researching your primary keyword lists now that your niche and objectives have been identified.

    4. Research Primary Keyword

    Whether a page can draw visitors depends on the keyword you use on each page. Since pages with carefully selected keywords are more likely to draw visitors to your site, keyword research is crucial.

    You must consider, select, and research the phrase or term that best describes your company. These key phrases can refer to a product or a service. Recognizing and examining the search engine terms that people search for is critical. Again, you need to ensure that they are relevant to the content you create on your website.

    As a general guideline, your site’s primary keywords should be spread throughout the text and targeted to a larger audience. Your primary keywords should appear in the main title, headings, subheadings, anchor links, and first and final lines. You should include no less than one or two primary keywords on each page.

    Tips on Choosing Keywords for Your Keyword Research Checklist 

    1. Consider yourself a customer: When making your initial list of keywords, you must decide who your target market is and imagine yourself as a consumer. Consider what you’d put into Google to find your product or services.
    2. Utilize keyword research tools: Use keyword research tools to look up prospective target keywords. With tools like SEMRUSH and Raven, you can obtain information on keyword traffic and trends, keyword competitiveness, related keywords, and more.
    3. Examine the outcomes: After selecting your keywords, track them and evaluate the results and unique keywords your competitors might utilize.

    Remember to include your primary keywords in blog articles, social media postings, metatags, and content on your website. Your target audience will find you more quickly if you frequently employ keywords.

    5. Find Long-Tail Keywords

    Long-tail keywords are search terms with comparatively little competition and search volume. Additionally, compared to most other keyword classifications, long-tail keywords typically have a length of 3+ words.

    Keyword Research Checklist
    Image Source: instapage.com

    These exact keywords align with what a searcher would type in. Search volume is often relatively low for these keywords, but the potential conversion rate is significant. Creating high-quality content focusing on long-tail keywords will boost your website’s long-lasting SEO. 

    To perform keyword research, competitor analysis, Pay-per-click research  (PPC ), and backlink research, you can utilize SEO tools like SEMrush or KWFinder. Additionally, you can use Google Suggest to look for long-tail keywords on the web.

    How to Identify Long-Tail Keywords

    1. Directly examine Google’s autocomplete suggestions: Simply typing a broad phrase into Google or another search engine) Checking the autocomplete options is a smart way to gather a list of long-tail keywords.
    2. Google users are increasingly submitting questions instead of statements in their searches. Make sure to include some long-tail questions that start with modifiers like “what,” “how,” “where,” etc. when coming up with long-tail questions that your target audience might ask. When evaluating long-tail keywords in your preferred SEO tools, these words will undoubtedly frequently emerge as they reveal individuals’ unique problems.
    3. Add qualifiers to short-tail keywords: Try reinforcing your keywords with qualifying terms relevant to your brand, products, or content. 
    4. Analyze the gaps: To determine which subject areas and long-tail keywords to focus on on your pages, you must analyze the content of your website for topics that you are not currently addressing or performing strongly for.

    6. Analyze Keyword Intent

    The reason a user types a specific query into a search engine is called search intent or keyword intent. The motivation leads the user to use terms or keywords to search for information on the internet. It is essential to SEO because it enables you to understand the keyword’s intent.

    Understanding user intent lets you choose the most relevant keywords for your initiatives and content. User intent is typically expressed as a search query entered into a search engine to find concrete answers.

    There are three types: navigational, informational, and commercial.

    1. Informational intent: The user wishes to learn more about a topic without intent to buy a product. For instance, one could look for how to walk a dog or What Google EAT Is.
    2. Navigational intent: This keyword includes the name of a business or brand, and the searcher is looking for the appropriate website or web page. For instance, Facebook login or Netflix signup
    3. Commercial intent: These keywords, or transactional intent, are used by people ready to purchase a product. They are also used by searchers looking for more information about a product before buying it, for instance, used vehicles for sale near me or the best laptops for gaming.

    Therefore, it is possible that you won’t rank for your keyword if you only consider query volume and neglect search intent. Even if you manage to rank on search engine results pages (SERPs), the fact that your page does not correspond with the searchers’ intent will result in a negative user experience and a higher bounce rate.

    Read Also: Top 10 Best SEO Practices to Dominate the SERPs

    7. Research Related Search Terms or Competitive Keywords 

    Checking out the related search terms at the bottom of a Google search result page is another excellent tactic to aid in understanding your keywords and target market.

    If you are having trouble thinking of more keywords that people might be searching for related to your particular issue, you should use this method. These suggestions might provide you with some other keyword ideas to think about, after which you can use the methods described in the earlier sections to conduct keyword research.

    8. Understand Your Competition 

    Knowing who your competitors are, how they are doing, and why may be quite beneficial when attempting to improve SEO.

    Using SEO software like Semrush, you can compare your website directly to your competitors, making it simple to see where you excel and fall short. A wise strategy is to get a list of your top-performing rivals’ keywords and track them frequently.

    Knowing how your competitors are doing is helpful since it might help you identify the keywords they aren’t utilizing so you can outrank them. It’s vital to remember that any successful company will probably use these similar strategies; therefore, to compete and rank, you must continue to maintain and analyze your keyword research.

    Read Also: Build a B2B Content Marketing Strategy

    9. Update and Refresh Content

    Consumer preferences change over time. You should update your keyword research and renew your content as often as necessary. Remember that your competitors monitor current changes, trending subjects, and popular issues and adjust as necessary.

    Use the terms you’ve researched to naturally reference your products and services in your post. Maintain it as close to the top of the page as you can. Just write for real humans rather than just Google when you do so.

    Conclusion

    If you desire to succeed online, your keyword research efforts must be prioritized. Knowing which keywords are most relevant to your business can help ensure that your site shows up prominently in search engine results pages, generating traffic and leads.

    Effective keyword research can be difficult and time-consuming, though. However, if you adhere to the comprehensive keyword research checklist for 2024 provided above and these SEO tips, your SEO efforts will be successful, and you will be well on your way to more significant positions on SERPs.

  • The Full Guide To Blogger Outreach Strategies For SEO

    The Full Guide To Blogger Outreach Strategies For SEO

    Whether you’re a savvy entrepreneur, a marketer, a blogger, or someone crafting content, diving into blogger outreach can boost your game. It’s all about broadening your audience, scoring top-notch backlinks, and advancing your business.

    In this guide, we’ll dig into spotting outreach opportunities, sizing potential connections, and sealing the deal with some irresistible perks for SEO. That’s the secret sauce to standing out from the crowd. So, let’s dive in!

    What is Blogger Outreach

    In SEO practice, blogger outreach is like connecting with key players in your niche. Brands reach out to respected bloggers or influencers to spotlight their products and services. Choose influencers or bloggers who resonate with your domain, boast a solid following, and voila! Blogger outreach will become an influential asset in your link-building toolkit.

    The end game? Persuade those influential voices with substantial, targeted audiences to talk about you and provide a link to your website. It’s a strategic move to spread the word in the right circles.

    Step-By-Step Guide To Do Blogger Outreach

    1. Set a Clear Goal

    Begin your outreach strategy by establishing specific, measurable goals like any other project. Set concrete objectives to provide you with clear guidelines for how to evaluate your achievement. You won’t know whether your campaign was successful if you don’t have concrete goals.

    Even when your campaign achieves excellent success, evaluate its effectiveness to identify areas for improvement. Therefore, choose your goals before starting to develop a blogger outreach approach.

    In case you want to clarify your objectives, consider the following questions:

    • Do you desire to boost sales?
    •  Do you desire to boost brand recognition?
    •  Would you want to boost off-page SEO by acquiring some high-quality backlinks?

    2. Define Measurable Success Criteria

    After deciding on a specific objective or set of goals, you must establish the criteria for evaluating possible blogging partners. These standards will help you visualize your ultimate goal.

    The standards may change depending on your niche and objectives. For instance, consider the scenario where obtaining high-quality backlinks is your aim. In that case, your primary considerations should be traffic, spam score, and domain ranking.

    A few quantifiable criteria are:

    1. Audience Engagement

    There are various ways to gauge how engaged a site’s readership is. The easiest way is to ask yourself the following questions:

    • Does the blog’s audience leave frequent comments? 
    •  Do authors respond to comments? 
    •  Do readers of this blog share posts on social networks? 

    The more comments and social shares you receive on your blog post, the more engaged the audience is.

    2. Traffic

    A target site’s traffic might make it very qualified. The more traffic a blog receives, the better it becomes. The best part is that you can measure a site’s traffic, domain ranking, or authority using SEO software.

    3. SEO

    You can also evaluate a site using SEO data. If you want to obtain high-quality backlinks, use SEO metrics. Evaluate the following when analyzing SEO metrics:

    • Page Authority: This reflects the SEO authority of the page; the stronger its authoritativeness, the better.
    •  Spam Score: This shows the domain’s spam toxicity. You don’t want your site penalized by search engines because you link to spammy or unethical websites.
    •  Content Relevancy: This indicates how pertinent a hyperlink is to a post’s context. The more relevant the backlink, the higher the quality of the audience you receive from the site.

    3. Find Prospects

    Now that you have quantifiable standards, it’s time to look for outreach candidates. Start by identifying the bloggers who best represent your brand. You may use a straightforward spreadsheet to determine who the best influencers are for your local brand.

    For instance, you can use Excel or Google Drive to construct a spreadsheet with a list of popular blogs. For each site, you want to learn about the blogger who runs it and acquire their contact information. You can use tools like LinkedIn email finder Chrome extension to find their updated contact details from LinkedIn.

    However, check each publisher against the following standards before you start reaching out to them:

    • Quality: Their online design and content standards should be on par with or higher than yours.
    • Relevance: Do they create appropriate content for your audience and brand?
    • Opportunity: Do they frequently provide opinions from brands or individuals like you?

    The best part is that you can use different tools to get around. For instance, you could use BuzzSumo. This tool is valuable if you are looking for relevant bloggers, trending topics, and content ideas for guest posting. Alternatively, you could use Google or your preferred search engine to search for your niche’s best bloggers. 

    Now that you have researched and created your list of bloggers, you must group them into different categories.

    • The first group is the elite influencers or bloggers you want to collaborate with—the handful of powerhouses in your niche. 
    •  The second group should have a list of well-liked bloggers who receive respectable comments on their articles. They most likely have a long history of blogging.
    •  The third group should consist of bloggers who are relatively new to the industry but often create relevant content. This section should have fewer bloggers.  

    4. Choose Your Type of Blogger Outreach Strategy

    Select the blogger outreach strategy that best suits your prospective outreach partner. Several fantastic blogger outreach methods are available. The kind of outreach you conduct will typically depend on your niche, target market, and objectives.

    Here are some of the top blogger outreach strategies you can use.

    1. Guest Posting

    This kind of blog outreach is when organizations or individuals produce content for another blog. It can be helpful to reach a new audience, and you can use it to advertise a good, service, or website. Most of the time, specialists in their fields who can offer the blog’s visitors useful information write guest pieces. Blogger outreach services exist to do this for you at a price.

    2. Sponsored Posts 

    These are a sort of blog outreach where organizations or people pay to post their content on someone else’s blog. You can use it to advertise a particular commodity, service, or website. Most often, writers of sponsored pieces are subject-matter experts who can provide readers of the site with helpful information.

    3. Product Evaluations

    Another excellent chance for outreach is a product review. You can provide a free product sample for a blogger to review. Free samples are always appreciated; this is a quick and straightforward outreach strategy. 

    Genuine reviews can position your company as a market leader, introduce your goods to a new audience, and build a long-lasting backlink profile.

    4. Persuade Them Using a Powerful Incentive

    After choosing your target bloggers and deciding on your blogger outreach strategy, developing an alluring perk will persuade bloggers to support your outreach plan. Consider what you can provide your prospects that they will find beneficial as you search for the ideal reward. Here are some pointers to assist you:

    • Money: If you engage in high-volume blogger outreach in a highly transactional manner, using money as an incentive works well.
    • Freebies or Subscriptions: Swag or free subscriptions can be effective marketing tools if you offer a product or service. This is especially true if you contact bloggers to get them to mention and evaluate your products. Swag or free subscriptions frequently accompany free samples and gifts.
    • Content: If you aim to deliver the content in exchange for free placement, you have an easy task. Most bloggers won’t accept content unless you have built a great relationship with them, have specialized knowledge that they and their audience would value, or can produce an epic piece of worthwhile content. 

    Whatever the situation, you must always give bloggers or influencers something worthwhile. Once you’ve identified the ideal bait, it’s time to contact your target.

    5. Structure Your Message 

    You can begin structuring the messaging. The email you send will decide whether or not the entire adventure was worthwhile. Remember that if your messaging is unclear, you won’t get excellent results, regardless of how qualified your list is or how many emails you send. So, do this:

    • Be concise and to the point. Include these three things in your cold email: your identity, proposal, and what you want the potential customer to do. Keep in mind that most people view emails on mobile platforms. Reading and responding to a short message is considerably simpler than scrolling through a short article. 
    •  Keep it Personalized: Include the name of the person whose attention you are seeking. People are much more likely to respond if you know it, so look it up if you don’t. A little individuality goes a long way when emailing a generic email address, so try to find a contact who works there. Don’t be scared to take a step further with this, as it frequently determines whether you receive a response or if your email is deleted.
    •  End with a CTA. Use the appropriate call-to-action (CTA) to increase your reaction rates. This section of your email convinces recipients to respond, click a link, complete a form, etc. The CTA and the objective of your email should be precisely aligned. Try to concentrate your outreach efforts on a particular goal.
    •  Be prompt with your follow-up emails. Your outreach email should hopefully receive a response from the receiver. Your emails may occasionally go unanswered; if so, consider following it up. 

    6. Track Your Results to Optimize Your Outreach Strategy

    When your outreach effort is over, you must analyze your results. This will help you get the most out of your efforts and understand the overall performance of your campaigns. You can do this by comparing the outcomes to what you had anticipated.

    Benefits of Using Blogger Outreach Strategies 

    1. Increases Online Visibility

    Having an active online presence is crucial for any e-commerce brand. Although marketing on social media is compelling, most people already use it. To differentiate yourself, you must look for an alternative. 

    An influential blogger outreach strategy increases your brand’s online visibility while promoting it across different platforms. It ensures you step outside the social media bubble and advertise your business on various sites. The exposure is excellent for your company’s short- and long-term digital blogger outreach strategies.

    2. Builds Relationship

    These days, establishing good relationships with renowned industry experts who have an online voice or influencers has become crucial for business growth. A compelling blogger outreach strategy will help you build good relationships and enhance your brand.

    3. It Is Cost-Effective

    Outreach to bloggers is a very economical method of marketing. It’s a terrific approach to improving your SEO and content marketing strategies. Working with bloggers in your niche will help you market your brand to the right demographic. Additionally, this approach can generate more leads for your brand and is far less time-consuming than conventional approaches.

    4. Blogger Outreach Strategies Enable Brands to Access New Markets

    Given how quickly the eCommerce business world is changing, it is becoming clear that market diversification is essential for success. A business cannot afford to concentrate solely on one SEO strategy, and exploring new markets is a way to continue developing. Blogger outreach is one of the few strategies that will significantly improve your chances of success.

    5. Blogger Outreach Strategies are Excellent for Backlinks

    Backlinks are crucial since they direct potential clients to your site. Building many backlinks to your website through blogger outreach is an intelligent SEO strategy. Your website will rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) if you have more high-quality backlinks, increasing your brand’s visibility.

    6. It Improves a Brand’s Connection with Its Audience

    You cannot overstate the value of exposure for a business. However, raising awareness by itself won’t help your brand much. If you want to persuade an audience member to commit financially, connect with them. With this in mind, a blogger can improve a brand’s relationship with its targeted audience by educating and reassuring them about their products. The corporation can more easily encourage specific user actions with the help of this brand promotion.

    Conclusion

    In addition to introducing you to the most influential voices in your niche, a strong blogger outreach campaign promotes blog development and visibility. Develop and implement a successful blogger outreach strategy for your brand using the tips and techniques described in this blog. 

  • What Are Contextual Backlinks, and Do I Need Them?

    What Are Contextual Backlinks, and Do I Need Them?

    Launching a successful content marketing campaign in today’s competitive digital landscape requires innovative strategies to enhance search engine rankings and brand visibility. Contextual backlinks emerge as a powerful tool for achieving these goals effectively.

    By integrating contextual backlinks within your content, you enrich your blogs and articles and provide search engines like Google with valuable insights into the relevance of your content to specific topics and themes.

    This comprehensive guide aims to delve into contextual linking, elucidate the significance of prioritizing contextual backlink building, and outline various effective link-building techniques.

    What Are Contextual Backlinks?

    Contextual backlinks are hyperlinks embedded within a webpage or blog post intricately connected to the content’s topic or theme. Unlike conventional backlinks, contextual links seamlessly blend into the narrative, offering readers a natural progression within the text.

    These links can be in your page’s body content, the resource box, or the author’s biography. You can also find them on the website in pictures, movies, and other types of material.

    Typically, there are three primary categories of contextual links that a company may utilize for its website:

    1. Internal links: These links lead people to other pages on the same website. You may link your blog post to one of your product pages so visitors can easily click through and purchase.
    2. External links: These are links that take visitors from your website to another pertinent or authoritative website. For instance, you can direct readers to the study’s source by providing a fact or statistic and then linking to it.
    3. Reciprocal links: These are links acquired from agreements between two websites, where they link back to one another’s websites so that both websites can gain from each other’s authority and popularity with search engines.

    What’s critical in this case is that the link has to point to a relevant webpage; otherwise, it’s not contextual.

    Why Are Contextual Backlinks Important?

    1. Brand Awareness

    Contextual links are an excellent way to increase or expand brand awareness. When you obtain a contextual link or participate in a reciprocal link-building campaign, the website you mention in your content will be able to find it via search or social media. This exposes more people to your content, website, and everything you offer.

    2. Higher Credibility

    Contextual linking lends credibility to both your content and the website or blog. This is because a backlink from an authoritative website demonstrates that you conducted thorough research and contributed to creating helpful content.

    When links come from popular websites in your industry, your credibility as a blogger or website owner is enhanced.

    3. Improved Rankings and Organic Traffic

    Another critical benefit of contextual backlinks is that they help you rank higher and increase the traffic to your website. Because they are placed on relevant web pages, these links are thought to be more natural. Backlinks boost the quality of your website by providing search engines with relevant information.

    Read Also: SEO Tips to Help Your Rank Higher

    4. Better SEO Efforts

    Contextual backlinks can also enhance your SEO efforts. These links can be helpful to search engines because they are put on relevant web pages. Additionally, increase your chances of appearing higher on their search pages. This implies that more individuals will find your content using Google or other search engines.

    5. Enhanced SERP Rankings

    Raising brand awareness and acquiring more high-quality backlinks will eventually help your website rank higher on search engine results pages (SERP).

    Because Google views contextual links as endorsements, they aid in improving your ranks. When a website with a lot of authority links to your content, Google interprets this as a recommendation that your work is worthy of being ranked.

    In essence, Google and other search engines are more likely to rank your pages higher on their search result pages when you acquire contextual links and use them to enhance users’ experiences.

    Read Also: Best SEO Practices to Dominate the SERPs

    How Do You Get Started With Contextual Link Building?

    Contextual Backlinks

    1. Guest Blogging Contextual Backlinks

    Guest blogging, or guest posting, creates content for another website while including a link to your own. It’s one of the most successful link-building techniques for attracting new clients and increasing brand recognition.

    Read Also: Why is Content Marketing Important for Your Brand?

    Why is it a little more straightforward than other approaches? Well, both the author and the publishing site benefit from them. The webmaster receives top-notch content for their website, while the author gains the ability to add external links to their site, improving their backlink profile.

    You want to research your industry to find suitable sites for your guest links. Find out where audiences will find the most delinquent news and the sites they consider the most authoritative.

    However, keep in mind that not all backlinks are created equal. If you want to boost your site’s search performance, your guest post should be on a site with a high DA or domain rating (DR).

    Once you’ve decided which websites to contact, you can either write content for them to read or suggest themes for future articles. Remember, your main goal should always be to establish relationships. 

    2. Broken Link Building

    One of the many practical contextual link-building strategies is creating backlinks from broken links. Getting other websites to fix their broken links also entails providing them with more resources. If the content is relevant to your industry, this could be a chance for you.

    It is evident that webmasters want to avoid broken links appearing on their pages, but occasionally, unexpected things happen. This implies that if the resource URL changes or the resource itself disappears, a once-useful link could soon stop working.

    By pointing broken links at the website owner and providing them with a resource like the one on your website, you can leverage broken link building to your benefit.

    3. Create Shareable Content for Contextual Backlinks

    Producing high-quality, helpful content is one of the most crucial elements in developing contextual backlinks. Natural links from other websites will occur when your content is helpful, informative, and relevant to your target audience.

    Since it benefits their audience, people will want to link to it, share it, and recommend it. When creating content, consider your intended audience’s questions and issues. Ensure that your information is precise, thoroughly researched, and current.

    Read Also: How to Remove Outdated Content from Your Website

    Additionally, your writing should be simple to read and comprehend by dividing lengthy text passages into manageable sections and employing headings and subheadings. It would be best to consider producing various content, including blog articles, infographics, videos, and podcasts. Connect with a variety of audiences by using different formats. Besides that, your content needs to be SEO-optimized.

    Lastly, spread the word about your content using email marketing and social media. Inform your network about it, and request that they tell their network about it. More opportunities exist to obtain those priceless backlinks as more people read your article.

    4. Guestographics for Contextual Backlinks

     A study found that 90% of the information sent to the brain is visual. While blog postings are terrific, infographics often have a more significant emotional impact. Because designing infographics requires few people’s strategic expertise, only some marketers use them to their full potential.

    Using infographics, you can obtain contextual links. Find a popular blog post and create an infographic for it. Next, contact the bloggers and inquire about putting the infographic on their sites along with a link to your website.

    5. Conduct or Receive Interviews

    Another excellent content strategy to obtain a contextual backlink is to secure an interview. When you conduct interviews for your business, you can build additional contextual backlinks for your website. For instance, if you interview an expert in your field and publish the interview on your website, they are most likely to link to the interview from their website, enhancing both their brand and yours.

    A great place to start the interview process is to find websites that frequently feature interviews with business owners and are relevant to your industry. Published interviews typically have backlinks

    Additionally, you may request an interview with industry leaders, particularly from smaller companies and brands. You and them will gain from this relationship because you can both increase your marketing efforts. 

    6. Use Manual Outreach to Bloggers or Influencers

    One of the best ways to get an excellent contextual link is to conduct a manual outreach to bloggers. Making a list of target websites is the first stage in the manual outreach link-building process. Finding sites important to your company and with a high domain authority will be necessary. 

    When you have a list of potential websites, the following step is to contact the website owners and present your idea. For instance, if you’re a florist, you might suggest writing a guest blog post about spring flowers. The site owner will link to your post if your pitch is compelling.

    In addition to increasing website traffic, this link will raise your website’s search engine position. Although manual outreach link building takes time, it is a valuable method for obtaining high-quality links from pertinent websites.

    7. Participate in Online Communities for Contextual Backlinks

    Engaging in online communities related to your specialty and industry is another successful method for creating contextual backlinks. By conversing with other users and sharing insightful knowledge, you can establish yourself as an authority in your niche and draw links from others.

    You can accomplish this through forums, social media groups, SEO Slacks, and other social clubs. However, it’s crucial to remember that establishing a reputation and trust within the community takes time. Being a productive member of these platforms can increase your chances of earning trust, which may open up options like backlinks.

    Contextual Link Best Practices

    When you’re ready to start a contextual link campaign, there are several best practices to adhere to. Some of the top tips we suggest you should follow include: 

    1. Select Relevant Websites for Contextual Backlinks

    Google appreciates links from comparable websites. Therefore, you must develop contextual links with appropriate websites within your niche.

    2. Analyze Website Metrics

    We advise double-checking their SEO analytics as you select prospects. Attention to their domain rank (DR) and authority (DA). The more authoritative a website is regarding domains, the more benefit you receive from its links. This is ultimately what raises your ranking and increases traffic.

    3. Check Backlink Profiles

    Regarding backlink profiles, quantity and quality matter; therefore, you must perform a backlink analysis to determine how many backlinks an external website has. Remember to examine each backlink’s quality.

    4. Anchor Text

    Pay special attention to the anchor text as you acquire contextual links. This is the text where your link will be inserted. We recommend using highly descriptive keywords or long-tail keywords in each anchor text. This benefits the ranking of your website for such keywords, which is the explanation. 

    5. Personalized Outreach

    Whether you contact prospects or use a unique SEO tool, you must personalize your messages. Again, make each pitch unique to improve your chances of obtaining a relevant backlink.

    The Bottom Line

    Search engines are moving toward contextual link creation. Context and relevance linking are becoming increasingly crucial factors in their algorithms when determining a link’s worth. It’s, therefore, vital that you acquire contextual links.

    Good quality contextual backlinks can be hard to come by, but fortunately, you can either buy backlinks from an agency, outsource your operations, or generate these links manually.

    Additionally, numerous strategies exist to acquire a contextual connection with vital link metrics. In this manner, you can design a varied strategy for constructing contextual backlinks to produce the best outcomes for your campaign.

  • 10 Tried and Proven Ways to Get High Authority Backlinks

    10 Tried and Proven Ways to Get High Authority Backlinks

    Ever wonder how to boost your website’s visibility and increase search engine rankings? Well, backlinks are the secret sauce! These little connections from trustworthy sites can make your website look more credible and give it a better shot at standing out in search engine results.

    This article will dive into ten strategies tested and proven to snag those high-authority backlinks. Ready to take your website’s SEO game to the next level? Keep reading!

    What Are High Authority Backlinks?

    High authority backlinks are links from reputable and trustworthy websites with significant influence and credibility online. These backlinks carry more weight and value in search engines’ eyes than links from low-quality or spammy websites.

    High-authority websites are typically well-established, have a solid online presence, and enjoy a good reputation in their respective industries. Obtaining such backlinks from authoritative sources signals to search engines such as Google, Yandex, or Bing that your site is credible and trustworthy, thereby improving your website’s credibility, organic rankings, and overall visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).

    Why Are They Important?

    High authority backlinks play a crucial role in search engine optimization (SEO) and are essential for several reasons:

    1. Enhanced Search Engine Rankings

    Search engines see backlinks from high-authority websites as a vote of confidence and trust. When credible sites connect to your site, search engines understand that your content is significant and deserves higher ranks. As a result, your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) can improve.

    2. Increased Organic Traffic

    Backlinks from authoritative sources can drive organic traffic to your website. When users come across a link on a trusted website and follow it to your site, it not only boosts your website’s traffic but also brings in relevant and interested visitors who are more likely to engage with your content and convert.

    3. Improved Website Credibility

    Obtaining backlinks from high-authority websites adds credibility and trustworthiness to your site. It indicates that reputable sources acknowledge and endorse your content, products, or services. This can instill confidence in visitors and potential customers, increasing trust, brand recognition, and conversions.

    4. Faster Indexing and Crawling

    Backlinks from authoritative sites can help search engine crawlers discover and index your web pages more efficiently. When search engine bots encounter links to your website from trusted sources, they are more likely to crawl and index your pages faster, ensuring that your content appears in search results promptly.

    5. Competitive Edge

    Acquiring high-authority backlinks can give you a competitive advantage. If your competitors have fewer or lower-quality backlinks, a robust backlink profile can help you outrank them in search results and establish your website as a go-to resource in your industry.

    10 Ways To Get High Authority Backlinks

    1. Guest Blogging

    Guest blogging is a highly effective tactic for acquiring high-authority backlinks while simultaneously establishing yourself as an expert in your industry. You may demonstrate your knowledge and skills to a larger audience by providing well-written articles to credible websites in your area.

    When guest blogging, it’s essential to focus on providing valuable and unique content that resonates with the host website’s target audience. Craft your articles with thorough keyword research, actionable insights, and engaging storytelling to capture readers’ attention.

    Including a relevant and well-placed link to your website within the guest post allows readers to visit and link back to it. This link drives traffic to your website and signals search engines that the content you create is valuable and deserves higher rankings.

    2. Build Relationships with Influencers for High Authority Backlinks

    Building relationships with influencers is another effective strategy for acquiring high-authority backlinks. Suppose influencers have established credibility and a considerable following within your industry or niche. In that case, you can build rapport by engaging with them through social media, sharing their content, and providing thoughtful comments.

    This genuine connection can open doors for collaboration, guest posting opportunities, or endorsements, resulting in valuable backlinks from authoritative sources. When reaching out to influencers, approach them with a personalized and genuine message, expressing your admiration for their work and explaining how you can provide value to their audience.

    Offer to contribute unique insights or collaborate on content projects that align with their brand and audience. By establishing mutually beneficial relationships, you increase your chances of earning backlinks and gaining access to their engaged audience, expanding your reach and credibility within your industry.

    Remember, building relationships with influencers takes time and effort. It’s essential to be authentic, supportive, and consistently engage with their content to foster a strong connection that can lead to valuable backlink opportunities.

    3. Resource Link Building

    Resource link building is a powerful approach to acquiring high authority backlinks by creating valuable and informative resources within your industry. These resources can include comprehensive guides, tutorials, industry reports, or research studies that provide useful insights and information to your target audience.

    By developing high-quality resources, you position yourself as an authoritative source of information, making it more likely for other websites within your niche to link to your content as a reference. To leverage resource link building effectively, you must identify relevant websites, blogs, or online publications that could benefit from your resource.

    When reaching out to these websites, emphasize how your resource can add value to their content or provide additional insights to their readers. Explain why your resource is unique, comprehensive, and informative and how it aligns with their audience’s interests.

    This approach increases the likelihood of them linking to your resource as a credible and valuable source, resulting in high-authority backlinks that enhance your website’s credibility and SEO performance.

    Resource link-building service helps acquire backlinks and establishes your brand as a go-to resource within your industry, attracting targeted traffic and potential customers.

    4. Broken Link Building

    Broken link building is another powerful technique involving finding broken links on authoritative websites and offering relevant content as a replacement. Start by identifying relevant websites within your industry and use tools like Check My Links or Broken Link Checker to locate broken links on their pages. 

    Inform the website owner or webmaster about the broken link and recommend your material as a good substitute. By helping website owners fix broken links while providing valuable content, you can earn high-quality backlinks from reputable sources.

    5. Skyscraper Technique

    The Skyscraper Technique is a tried and proven method for acquiring high authority backlinks by creating unique content that surpasses existing popular content within your niche. The process involves three steps: researching, developing, and reaching out.

    First, research popular articles or blog posts that have earned significant backlinks. Identify the key elements that make them successful, such as topic, format, or depth of information.

    Next, create an improved version of the existing content. Add more value by updating information, incorporating unique insights, providing additional data, enhancing visuals, or improving the overall presentation. Make your content the best resource available on the topic.

    Finally, reach out to websites linked to the original content. Notify them about your superior version and explain how it provides more value to their audience. Show genuine interest in their website and offer your content as a replacement or additional resource. This outreach increases the chances of earning high authority backlinks from websites already interested in the topic.

    6. Participate in Interviews and Podcasts

    Seek out opportunities to participate in interviews or podcasts within your industry. Online podcasts, industry-specific blogs, or media outlets often feature interviews with experts in various fields. Actively reach out to bloggers, podcast hosts, or journalists who cover topics related to your niche and offer yourself as an interviewee. 

    Interview participation lets you showcase your expertise, build credibility, and provide opportunities for high-authority backlinks. Most interviewers include links to their guests’ websites in the show notes or accompanying articles, driving traffic and improving your website’s backlink profile.

    7. HARO (Help a Reporter Out)

    HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is an excellent platform for acquiring high authority backlinks by connecting journalists and reporters with expert sources. As a source, you can sign up for HARO and receive email notifications with relevant media opportunities within your industry or niche.

    When you come across a query that matches your expertise, craft a well-researched and informative response that addresses the journalist’s needs. Provide valuable insights, data, or expert commentary that aligns with the topic.

    If your response gets selected, the journalist may include your insights or quote in their article, providing you with a valuable backlink from a reputable news outlet or publication. This can significantly enhance your website’s credibility and SEO performance.

    8. Create Shareable Infographics 

    Creating shareable infographics is a highly effective strategy for acquiring high-authority backlinks. Infographics combine visual appeal with valuable information, making them highly shareable and engaging content formats. For this strategy, select essential facts, statistics, or insights that may be visually displayed in your sector.

    Design visually captivating infographics that effectively convey the information you want to share. Focus on creating clear, concise, easy-to-understand, and compelling visuals. Consider using color schemes and fonts that align with your brand and industry.

    Once your infographics are ready, reach out to relevant websites, bloggers, or content creators in your niche. Offer them your infographics as valuable visual content to enhance their articles, blog posts, or resource pages. Ensure you explain how your infographic adds value to its content and gives the audience valuable insights. When they use your infographic, they are likely to include a backlink to your website as the source of the visual content.

    9. Testimonials and Reviews for High Authority Backlinks

    Providing testimonials or reviews for products, services, or tools within your industry can lead to high-authority backlinks. Identify companies or service providers you have had positive experiences with and contact them, expressing your satisfaction and offering a testimonial. 

    In many cases, they will include a link to your website alongside the testimonial, giving you a valuable backlink from a reputable source. Additionally, consider writing reviews on platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, or industry-specific directories, as these platforms often provide backlink opportunities.

    10. Offer Expert Insights and Guest Contributions 

    Become a recognized expert by offering expert insights, opinions, or guest contributions to industry publications, online magazines, or blogs. Research publications or websites that align with your niche and audience, and reach out to them with your content ideas or expertise. 

    Many websites have dedicated sections for expert contributions or guest posts. By offering valuable insights, expert commentary, or contributing well-written articles, you can earn high authority backlinks from respected sources while establishing your authority and expanding your reach.

    Frequently Asked Questions on Ways to Get High Authority Backlinks

    1. Do high authority backlinks help SEO?

    Yes, backlinks play a crucial role in SEO. Backlinks from high-authority websites are seen as votes of confidence by search engines, indicating that your website is trustworthy and valuable. Quality backlinks can improve your website’s visibility and organic rankings and guarantee a first-page SEO.

    2. How many backlinks per day is safe? 

    There is no universally safe fixed number of backlinks per day. It’s essential to focus on the quality rather than the quantity of backlinks. Building a natural and diverse backlink profile over time is more effective than acquiring many backlinks quickly. Aim for high authority backlinks from reputable sources and prioritize the relevance and value of each link.

    3. Can backlinks hurt your site? 

    Backlinks themselves generally do not harm your website. However, low-quality or spammy backlinks from irrelevant or suspicious websites can hurt your SEO. It’s essential to monitor your backlink profile regularly and disavow any harmful or toxic backlinks using Google’s Disavow Tool.

    4. How long do high authority backlinks take to work?

    The impact of backlinks on your SEO can vary. Some backlinks may immediately affect your website’s rankings and organic traffic, while others may take time to show their impact. Generally, it can take several weeks or even months for backlinks to have a noticeable effect on your website’s SEO performance. Patience and a consistent link-building strategy are critical.

    5. How many high-authority backlinks do I need to rank?

    No fixed number of backlinks is required to rank, as the number of backlinks needed can vary depending on factors such as competition, industry, and the quality of backlinks. It’s more important to focus on acquiring high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites rather than obsessing over a specific number. The quality and relevance of backlinks matter more than sheer quantity.

    Featured Image Source: simplilearn.com

  • How Many Backlinks Per Month Should You Get?

    How Many Backlinks Per Month Should You Get?

    Link building is the backbone of any successful SEO strategy. Backlinks signal credibility to Google and resonate with your audience, showcasing your website’s authority and relevance within the digital community. However, amidst the quest for backlinks, a common question emerges: how many backlinks should one aim to acquire monthly? Let’s embark on a journey to unravel this enigma.

    What Makes a High-Quality Backlink?

    While building new backlinks, many things must be considered to verify the link’s legitimacy. Getting quality links is crucial and impacts your SEO results. However, gaining low-quality links might harm your website and impair your search rankings.

    Yet, if link building is done correctly, a website will benefit from improved brand recognition, more organic traffic, improved keyword ranks, and new relationships.

    We will give you a thorough overview of “what makes a good backlink” to help you get the most out of your link development approach.

    • Authority of the linking page or site. Depending on the page’s authority that links to you or its URL Rating (UR), you may estimate how much “link juice” you receive from a specific backlink. Further details regarding the Ahrefs UR metric may be found here. Generally, a link from a site with high authority will be more effective than one with low authority.
    • In addition to DR and UR indicators, a website’s outbound link count is also essential. The value of a backlink from a website (domain) or web page linking to hundreds of other URLs will be lower than that of a website with only a few outbound connections.
    •  It is better to use “do-follow” links. The SEO experts have differing views on whether or not no-follow links improve your ranking. Seize the opportunity if you can obtain a no-follow link from a reputable domain.
    • According to research, an anchor text may impact the relevance and quality of a backlink. The anchor text and the material around it should be on-topic for search engines to be able to select the appropriate keywords to rank your content.

    How Many Backlinks Per Month Should You Get?

    The burning question remains: How many backlinks should one procure per month? While the allure of escalating page ranks swiftly is enticing, it’s essential to recognize that quantity alone won’t suffice in the long haul. Google favors websites with a robust backlink profile, yet quality trumps quantity in link building.

    That said, there isn’t a certain quantity of backlinks that you should aim for per month. However, Google will send more organic traffic to a website with more backlinks. Backlinks are among the best strategies for attracting visitors from authoritative websites in your niche. They can raise your domain rating, Google PageRank, Alexa rank, and domain authority.

    Of course, these links must be high-quality and relevant to your website’s topic. Remember, high-quality backlinks will always protect SERP ranks. A new site can gain five to seven high-quality links per month for a prolonged period.

    After the site’s DA increases, you may build more high-quality monthly links to advance its ranking. Think of links as Twitter and Instagram hashtags that you can use in social media. They can increase your content’s exposure, visibility, and brand confidence on your website. Links can also expand the website’s authority, raising its Google rating.

    Read Also: Why is Content Marketing Important for Your Brand?

    Although having plenty of high-quality backlinks is always beneficial, remember to improve your site’s meta tags, URL structure, and meta description.

    As your page becomes more optimized, you’ll need fewer backlinks. If you have many links but your page needs to be optimized, you’ll find it challenging to compete with other sites with comparable links but higher optimization. This is because a poorly optimized site needs to improve the relevance and authority backlinks provide.

    In other words, link building must maintain an optimized page to save time.

    Great SEO works like a snowball: the more effective you are, the simpler it is to implement tactics to make it even more effective. When the traffic to your website increases, getting new links will be a breeze.

    Also, it’s essential to keep your material relevant. You can be sure of this by updating your page with the most recent information.

    A great rule of thumb is to refresh your page’s content every 90 days. Stay calm with your link building, even if your site starts to rank and your DA rises. It’s crucial to expand your link profile continuously.

    Read Also: How to Remove Outdated Content from Your Website

    Would It Be Safer to Avoid Quantity?

    No. The total amount of backlinks you finally receive is still essential for ranking. A successful site should be allowed to expand and get more backlinks over time without your interference.

    If you link growth to quality content, a website may gain many more new links over a month and still do well in the SERPs.

    Read Also: Best SEO Practices to Dominate the SERPs

    Because it’s natural for people to connect to good material more frequently, Google anticipates that increased backlinks will coincide with increased quality content.

    Your ability to grow quantity while lowering red flags depends on having high-quality backlinks and content. And it’s safer to retain good quality over time than to heedlessly increase link acquisition while disregarding best practices.

    Additionally, remember that compared to a new site with few connections, older, more established domains with many previous backlinks may safely acquire more links without generating penalties. This is only a tiny portion of how difficult ranking is.

    Final Words

    How many backlinks should you aim for each month? It should be clear that the solution to this question is rather complex. There are a ton of variables that affect how well a specific website will do for a given keyword.

    A few things, though, are definite. As long as you do it ethically, you can safely get as many backlinks as you can each month. Google, however, prioritizes quality over quantity.

    Lesser backlinks are necessary for steady growth, but reputable backlinks can accelerate your development. A balanced mixture of links from various sources is the secret to success if you want to master SEO and your backlink strategy.

  • How Many Backlinks Do I Need To Rank On Page 1?

    How can you secure that coveted spot on the first page of Google search results? It’s a quest every content creator embarks upon, hoping to decipher the mysterious algorithms that govern search engine optimization (SEO). Among the myriad factors influencing website rankings, backlinks stand out as a crucial component. This guide delves into the perennial question: “How many backlinks do I need to rank?”

    Why Are Backlinks Important?

    Backlinks are more like votes that search engines use to check if a particular site is trustworthy and if the content on the site is credible, valuable, and useful. This means the more links you have, the higher your chances of ranking in Google and other search engines. Therefore, earning these backlinks can positively affect ranking or search visibility.

    Read Also: SEO Tips to Help Your Rank Higher

    Additionally, backlinking will increase your site visitors through referral traffic. Individuals who read a popular page may click on your backlinks, redirecting them to your page to find more information about a particular topic.

    How Many Backlinks Do You Need to Build to Rank?

    Unfortunately, there is no specific number of backlinks all businesses should chase when attempting to build their domain authority (DA). Mostly, the number of backlinks you need to rank on page 1 of Google depends on how much competition there is in your niche and how reliable your website is. 

    Generally, you will need more backlinks if your site is in a highly competitive niche. Therefore, if you are in a less competitive industry, you will only need fewer backlinks. Additionally, if your site is not authoritative, you will need more backlinks; if it is authoritative, you will need fewer backlinks.

    To be competitive for SEO, a site should have at least 40 to 50 backlinks to the homepage and between 0 and 100 backlinks to each web page. For a low-competitive niche, you will need at least 20 backlinks to rank and between 50 and 100 for highly competitive keywords.

    However, the exact number of backlinks required to rank a web page also depends on your site’s domain authority and the page rank of the incoming backlinks. Instead of worrying about the exact number, you should focus on creating high-quality content, building rapport with other people in your industry, earning high-quality backlinks organically, or getting the best niche edit backlinks every month to boost your efforts.

    According to studies, the average number of backlinks a site needs to rank on the first page of Google search results is around 203, and to rank in the top 3, you will need close to 521 backlinks. This indicates that the more backlinks you have, the better your website’s SEO is. However, this only counts if you have high-quality backlinks.

    How Many Backlinks Per Day Is Safe?

    One of the most common link-building myths is that search engines penalize businesses for building too many backlinks in one day. However, you can use as many links as you wish as long as they come from an authoritative site and your anchor text profile feels natural.

    Besides the fact that the anchor text looks natural, you must also remember that you can only build a few backlinks to web pages that should only get a few backlinks. For instance, a non-promotional power page is content-heavy with fantastic content, usually goes in-depth to solve a problem, and can accommodate more backlinks than a site that only offers services.

    Factors That Affect the Number of Backlinks You need in your Site To Rank

    As we have stated, the number of backlinks you need depends mainly on the SEO competition for the keywords you want to rank for and the current domain authority in your industry.

    Read Also: The Keyword Research Checklist For Ranking 

    Nevertheless, some factors can help you estimate how many backlinks you need to build so that you can see results. Even so, it is necessary to note that Google is always re-crawling pages on the web, making search rankings. To keep high rankings solidified, you need to continue building backlinks to pages even after the initial results are achieved.

    Let’s now look at these factors: 

    1. Domain Authority and Domain Rating

    Domain Authority is SEO merit that measures the strength of a domain and shows the power of your site’s backlink profile. Small businesses and new sites in the early stages of growing traffic usually need more domain authority. So when high domain authority sites link to your page, it tells the search engine crawlers that your site is valuable. 

    Your current domain authority will give you an understanding of your starting point. If you have a new site, you are starting from zero. This means you will need a solid backlinking strategy to build authority. If you have high domain authority, ranking for more difficult terms will take fewer backlinks per page.

    2. Keyword Difficulty

    Keyword difficulty is another factor affecting your page’s chances of ranking at the top of search engines. Most SEO tools use keyword difficulty to determine how to rank a page for a target keyword. 

    Several factors influence keyword difficulty scores. Some of these factors include domain authority, which is the strength of the domain; page authority, which is the strength of a particular web page; citation Flow, which is the total number of backlinks to an individual page; and trust flow, which is the overall quality of the backlinks to the individual page.

    The number of links measures the keyword complex SEO tools predict you need to outrank other sites. For instance, if you target a keyword with an SEO difficulty of 20, you will probably need between 25 to 40 links to rank. Consequently, if you desire to rank at the top with a keyword with a difficulty of 50, you will need more relevant backlinks.

    3. On-Site Optimisation

    On-site optimization is another factor affecting your search engine ranking. If your website is well-optimized, you will only need a few backlinks. Conversely, poorly optimized sites will waste the relevance, trust, and authority of backlinks.

    To ultimately optimize your website, there are some crucial steps you need to follow, including:

    1. Position the most significant pages one or two clicks from the homepage
    2. Ensure all the pages are located more than five steps from the homepage.
    3. Check for and fix any broken links
    4. Add content to the most important pages
    5. Remove any unnecessary outbound links.

    4. Internal Linking

    The internal linking strategy you use can significantly affect the strength of a web page. The stronger the web page, the stronger the backlinks from that page. Internal links will help increase a web page’s ranking in the SERPs. On average, three internal links are equivalent to one external backlink.

    Read Also: Best SEO Practices to Dominate the SERPs

    The more internal links you have on your web page, the more search engine crawlers will recognize your site. This means your page will be more visible in the SERPs.

    5. Content Quality

    Another way to build links and rank on Google is to publish high-quality content on your website. Search engines want the most relevant and genuine results at the top of their results. If you have high-quality and relevant content, you will rank higher and get more high-quality organic links.

    Read Also: How to Remove Outdated Content from Your Website

    Consequently, sites with blogs get more links than non-blogging businesses. Therefore, you must give other site owners a reason to link to your website. If you provide low-quality content, even with a high domain authority site, it won’t rank at the top.

    Also, if your competitors publish more high-quality content than you but have yet to have all types of backlinks compared to your site, Google will still prefer to rank them higher. Therefore, it is paramount to pay attention to how your content performs.

    Final words

    So, How many backlinks do I need to rank my site on page 1 of Google? As you can tell by now, the answer is quite nuanced. Several factors determine whether or not a particular web page will rank for a keyword. First, however, there are a few specific factors.

    You can comfortably earn as many backlinks every month or even daily as long as you do so ethically. However, You should remember that search engines concentrate more on quality than quantity.

    High-quality and reputable backlinks will help you grow faster, while smaller links will help you grow consistently. If you want to master SEO and a quality backlink strategy, a healthy mix of links from different sources is your key to success.

    Image Source: seoexpertscompanyindia.com 

  • First Page SEO Guarantee: Does it Work? 

    First Page SEO Guarantee: Does it Work? 

    In the sprawling landscape of online business, navigating Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services can feel like traversing a labyrinth. Most online businesses use search engine optimization (SEO) services to optimize the website content to rank better on search engine results pages. However, selecting an SEO agency can be challenging since many choices exist. Each one of them provides a unique justification for choosing them.

    Some SEO firms offer SEO guarantees, such as a first-page ranking guarantee or your money back. While an SEO guarantee is a compelling offer, any guarantee is a red flag that you should seek other SEO services. Read on to learn why you should avoid SEO companies that guarantee first-page ranking results and what to look for instead.

    What Are Guaranteed SEO Services?

    At first glance, guaranteed SEO services seem like a lifeline in the turbulent seas of digital. Who wouldn’t be enticed by the promise of skyrocketing to the top of search engine results? They often promise first-page rankings for particular keywords, an exact timeline for when you will see results and even a money-back guarantee.

    Remembering that such first-page SEO guarantees come with several additional risks would be best. For instance, in most cases, any guaranteed SEO services use unethical SEO techniques to improve rankings. These techniques may include black hat strategies instead of acceptable SEO strategies like white hat link building.

    In that case, aggressively using black hat SEO techniques to guarantee first-page results will be more detrimental to your company than beneficial.

    Why Are First-Page SEO Guarantee Services Unreliable?

    As we’ve already discussed, an SEO guarantee is reasonable. Businesses would be tempted to cooperate with SEO firms that guarantee first-page SEO.

    However, selecting an SEO firm that advertises guaranteed SEO services carries many risks. It frequently results in subpar results over the long term or even significant harm to your rankings and business permanently.

    Let’s talk about why such services are unreliable.

    1. The First-Page SEO Guarantee Is Impossible

    Simply put, you can’t guarantee what you can’t control. Although aggressive SEO techniques may raise your rankings, it is hard to say how much a specific strategy will boost your rankings and how high. This is mainly because SEO demands producing relevant and quality content and engaging with Google algorithms.

    This first-page SEO guarantee is also unattainable because various factors outside the SEO agency’s control affect search engine results. These factors may include your brand’s online reputation, the intense rivalry with other companies, the time factor, and the ever-changing search engines’ ranking algorithms.

    2. A First-Page SEO Guarantee Firm Will Use Black-Hat SEO Techniques

    Guaranteed SEO services employ black-hat strategies. Black-hat tactics are essentially a set of actions that violate Google’s policies. These unethical SEO techniques deceive Google’s ranking algorithms into giving your website a higher rating.

    Because it is intended entirely to target search engines rather than consumers, this SEO technique is against Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. Some famous black hat SEO tactics include:

    • Engaging in link exchange schemes
    • Concealing keywords
    • Producing redundant content
    • Leaving spammy comments on other blogs

    Black-hat tactics are used by agencies that guarantee results because they are quick. They may get away with it for a few weeks, just long enough to meet their SEO KPIs and get paid, but your website will eventually be exposed.

    If Google discovers that you are utilizing these SEO techniques, your website may be penalized or banned from Google. Imagine spending all that time and money to have it vanish into thin air.

    3. Your Website Will Appear in Search Results for Irrelevant Keywords

    If you’re collaborating with an agency that offers outcome assurances, they will likely choose the keywords they want to help you rank for. It doesn’t matter to them whether the keywords they help you rank for are relevant to your business, provided they think it will be an easy win quickly.

    Imagine placing on page one for over 10 keywords with zero search volume. Or that they’ve assisted you in ranking for terms unrelated to your industry so the traffic you get results in zero conversions.

    4. A First-Page SEO Guarantee Firm Endangers Your Business

    Most first-page guaranteed SEO services might cost you a lot of time and money. Not just that, though. They will do more harm than good as well. Even if you choose to work with a different SEO agency later, you will still have to deal with the penalties and poor rankings you accrued while working with the guaranteed SEO services.

    Authority is crucial to rank higher in search engine results. It will take some time for your site to recover if you used first-page guaranteed SEO services and they interfered with the authority you had gotten before. The best and only option is to avoid these first-page SEO guarantee companies from the start.

    5. Limited Services

    The fact that these organizations frequently offer very few services is another factor to consider. They often have contract clauses that allow them to avoid responsibility if they don’t deliver results or if your website rankings decline rather than rise.

    Again, these companies frequently emphasize quick rankings and neglect other aspects of the SEO process, like great content, high-quality backlinks and niche edits, and technical SEO factors, among other things.

    6. A First-Page SEO Guarantee Service Offers a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

    Good SEO is particularly customized and tailored to your company and your niche. Therefore, it would be wise to be cautious of any company offering you an SEO approach employed on numerous other businesses they’ve worked with.

    A good SEO agency will take the time to research your brand, dive deep into it, do an SEO audit, and develop a cutting-edge SEO plan to win the game.

    7. A First-Page SEO Guarantee Firm Provides Low ROI

    Any efficient SEO technique aims to gain more relevant traffic to your website. You have a better chance of generating leads and closing sales when you drive qualified traffic to your website. As a result, you will notice an increase in your SEO return on investment (ROI).

    Read Also: Crucial Metrics for Measuring Your Content Marketing ROI

    The opposite occurs with guaranteed SEO services. The emphasis moves from quality to quantity.

    For instance, if you pay an SEO service $6,000 to grow your traffic by a predetermined number, let’s say 100% in 30 days, even if your traffic doubles, it will only matter once you also experience an increase in leads and sales.

    Instead, you’re merely spending money on vanity metrics that don’t affect your financial situation. You get the traffic but not sales or leads of any kind.

    How to Choose a Good SEO Agency

    Now that we understand why you should avoid first-page SEO guarantees let’s look at the criteria for selecting a reputable SEO agency.

    1. Experience

    The first and most crucial factor to consider is an agency’s experience. A modest amount of experience will say a lot about the company’s methods of operation and principles. Furthermore, if a company has an established track record in its field, it is easier to trust it.

    It would be best if you were alert to whether or not they have experience in your specific field of expertise. This does not, however, indicate that you should not have faith in a newly founded company. Of course, you can, but you must be sure they can deliver results.

    2. Approach

    Trustworthy agencies also offer a unique content strategy specific to your target market, business objectives, and industry. A competent agency will pay close attention to your demands and want to know exactly what you’re having trouble with. Avoid companies that provide generic solutions to your site’s problems and are cookie-cutter in their approach.

    3. White Hat Techniques

    Any reliable SEO agency knows that using white hat techniques is the best approach to ranking a website. These include creating unique, high-quality content, adjusting your website’s SEO, and using social networking platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn to disseminate material.

    Given that they know they can neither control nor circumvent search engine algorithms, white-hat SEO businesses will never provide first-page SEO guarantees. They prefer to adopt natural and legitimate methods to increase your website’s authority; rankings will come from this type of effort.

    Google’s E-A-T provides a detailed understanding of this methodology.

    4. Transparent

    Furthermore, you want an SEO agency that is open and honest about its interactions with previous clients, their achievements, and their statistics. Trustworthy agencies support their promises with facts and previous client experiences. Ensure they can provide evidence to support their claims of expertise that they are willing to share. Avoid the agency if they are unable to do this.

    Again, good agencies should also give regular updates on their progress and provide data on the effectiveness of their campaigns. Ensure the agency you select keeps you informed and explains the information it sends you. SEO is a long game, so weekly to monthly updates are good for knowing that the SEO agency is still working on your campaigns.

    5. Reviews and References

    Reviews and testimonials show a company’s dedication and effort. If you need help deciding between multiple businesses, check out their web reviews and client endorsements first.

    Additionally, you can contact previous customers and inquire specifically about their interactions with the agency. Any honor or recognition the agency receives for its work is an extra feather in its cap.

    6. Are They Willing to Teach You?

    An SEO agency is likely reliable if it is eager to share its expertise and assist you in becoming familiar with SEO tactics. They demonstrate their knowledge and good intentions by being forthright, open-minded, and willing to respond to inquiries regarding their procedure.

    Before partnering with any firm, you can ask them questions about SEO in general and how they approach it. It is a scam if they appear distant or unwilling to provide information.

    What Can You Expect From a Reliable SEO Company?

    What will a professional SEO provider deliver if they don’t guarantee you results?

    Any reliable SEO agency should assist you in achieving a few goals as part of your continuing SEO campaigns. Here are a few things to expect:

    1. Attract Qualified Leads

    A competent SEO agency should raise your page rankings for keywords related to your industry. This results in more qualified traffic visiting your website over time. Additionally, more qualified traffic translates into high-quality leads subscribing to your email and expressing interest in your goods or services.

    2. Long-Term Results

    Any long-term SEO strategy aims to get you on top and keep you there. While getting page-one rankings within 30 days sounds impressive, it’s a far-fetched dream in most cases. It can take between 3 and 12 months to see benefits from a top-notch SEO campaign.

    On the other hand, white-hat SEO strategies increase the likelihood that you’ll remain at the top, where you’ll receive targeted visitors and make money for years to come.

    3. Quantify Results

    Every step of the SEO process should be data-driven, from creating results to measuring them and leveraging these metrics to produce additional results. The most powerful SEO tools are used to make SEO and content decisions. This allows for setting realistic, reachable goals and real-time progress tracking.

    Reputable services often analyze your customers’ site navigation, pinpoint your precise problem areas, and determine how much of your income improvements are directly linked to SEO using a range of indicators, such as rankings, traffic, and average session time.

    4. Credibility and Authority

    With an excellent, personalized approach, you earn more than just high rankings. You will increase your authority and trustworthiness with your target audience. Consequently, you gain many high-quality backlinks and boost your Google rankings.

    If you consistently show up when clients are looking for information about your product or service, eventually, they will come to view you as the authoritative source in your field.

    5. Quality Backlinks

    Building backlinks is a crucial component of SEO and digital marketing in general. Quality contextual backlinks prevail over quantity.

    Using strategies like blogger outreach, a trustworthy service provider will promote links to your website on high-quality, pertinent websites, like media websites or websites with high authority. These types of backlinks benefit your website in two ways:

    • They raise your website’s authority and online exposure.
    • They also bring in targeted internet visitors relevant to your business.

    Conclusion: First Page SEO Guarantee

    Guaranteed SEO is something that ought to be avoided at all costs. Even the best SEO companies cannot guarantee traffic growth or results for a specific number of keywords. They will be focused on what is essential: utilizing white hat SEO tactics to assist you in exceeding your business objectives and fostering commercial success.

    Remember, if your website is experiencing a drop in traffic or rankings, or you have done everything you can to increase traffic and nothing works, our team at Kontely will be happy to help. We run a detailed SEO auditing service with the help of the best SEO audit tools to find out why your website’s rankings are not taking off and help you fix them. You can reach out to us at any time.

  • DIY SEO Software For Better Ranking

    DIY SEO Software For Better Ranking

    SEO doesn’t have to break the bank or fry your brain. You don’t need to splash out on fancy software or hire an expert. With the right free tools and some know-how, you can boost your website’s visibility all on your own, and your site will rank higher.

    In this blog post, I’ve added some user-friendly SEO software to help you assess your website’s performance and tackle any issues. Keep reading to determine which budget-friendly options can help you climb the rankings ladder.

    Can You Do Your SEO?

    You can tackle SEO yourself, commonly known as DIY SEO. While it’s true that professional SEO agencies and experts can handle a lot of the heavy lifting, plenty of folks prefer to roll up their sleeves and give it a shot on their own. With a bit of digging and practice, you can become adept at optimizing your business’s online presence and keep a few extra dollars in your pocket.

    A great starting point for diving into SEO is to seek out top-notch DIY SEO software, grasp the basic principles of SEO, and understand what factors Google considers when ranking websites. Some critical elements of SEO that you’ll want to get a solid grip on include:

    1. On-Page SEO: On-page SEO involves optimizing the elements on your web pages to help bring clients to your site. It means optimizing your keyword strategy for metatags, using high-quality content, and other site components like images to keep clients onsite longer, with a more positive experience.
    2. Off-Page SEO: Off-page SEO involves leading traffic from other sites to your site. The main components of this SEO component involve building relevant links from other sites, guest-blogging, and raising social media awareness.
    3. Technical SEOTechnical SEO enables search engines to engage with your site to identify keywords and phrases that potential customers have used in their searches. 
    4. Page Experience: This mainly deals with improving your customers’ experience on your web pages through faster load times, visual stability, and response times.

    Pairing the best DIY software tools with your fundamental SEO knowledge will empower you to do SEO effectively. Nevertheless, it is necessary to remember that SEO is a continuous process requiring time to see results. 

    What Is DIY SEO Software?

    DIY SEO Software is any tool that allows you to conduct various search engine optimization tasks from your computer. While many tools are on the market today, some are very complex and designed for SEO experts. Nevertheless, you can find other software that SEO experts love, and it is easy for DIYers to use.

    Here are some of the best DIY SEO software and tools to start DYI-in SEO. 

    1. SEMRush DIY SEO Software

    Semrush is one of my favorite software for keyword research. It’s an award-winning all-in-one SEO tool best suited for local and non-local businesses. This comprehensive software provides everything you need to achieve profitable keywords for targeted traffic and leads.

    Some of the Key Features

    • Backlink Analytics
    • Competitive Analysis
    • On-Page SEO checker
    • Site Audit
    • PPC Keyword Research
    • Position Tracking
    • Organic Traffic Insights
    • Organic Research
    • Keyword Overview
    • Link Building Tool
    • Social Media Management

    How to Use SEMRush as a DIY SEO Software

    1. Sign up for Semrush’s page. It would be best to have your email and a password to create an account.
    2. Then, you can either sign up for a free trial or use Semrush’s free version. The free trial allows you to test the complete tool for seven days, while Semrush’s free version will give you limited searches and access to data. It is the best for beginners.
    3. To start the free version, click on skip trial; to try the free trial, click on get a free trial.
    4. If you skip the trial, you’ll head straight to your Semrush dashboard. Then, pick one of your seed keywords and go to Keyword Overview from the left menu.
    5. Then, insert a keyword or phrase into the search bar and click the “search” button. Once you click Search, you’ll see specific data on your chosen keyword.

    Pricing For SEMRush

    This software has a seven-day free trial and three pricing plans: 

    1. The Pro plan costs $119.95 monthly and is suitable for small teams or beginners. Under this plan, you can add up to 5 tasks and track up to 500 keywords.
    2. The guru plan costs $229.95 monthly and suits agencies and mid-size businesses. It can add up to 15 projects and 1500 keywords.
    3. The business plan costs $449.95 monthly and is suitable for large agencies and enterprises. It offers up to 40 projects and 5000 keywords to track.

    2. Google Search Console

    Google Search Console is a DIY SEO software that lets you observe and report your website’s presence in Google SERP for free. Even though you do not require a Search Console account to pop up in Google’s search results, you can manage what gets indexed and how your site represents itself with this account. 

    As an SEO checker software, this tool helps you understand how Google works and lets you optimize for better search results performance. It’s useful for new sites or beginners as it allows them to submit their web pages for search indexing. 

    Some Key Features

    • Keyword Analysis Through Search Queries
    • Page Positioning in Search Results
    • Assess User Interaction 
    • Site Coverage
    • Submit Pages for Indexing with The URL Inspection Tool
    • Sitemap Submission
    • Mobile-first Indexing
    • Penalty Reviews

    How to use Search Console as a DIY SEO Software

    1. To create an account, go to Google Search Console’s official page.
    2. Then, pick a property type by adding your website address to the URL prefix or domain.
    3. After that, you need to Verify Site Ownership. You can do this by using your Google Analytics tracking ID.
    4. Next, you will add a Sitemap to Google Search Console. This is important because it helps Google find and crawl your website’s dominant content. To do this, navigate to “Sitemaps” and paste the URL of your XML sitemap into the box labeled “Enter sitemap URL.” 
    5. After that, hit “Submit.” You will now receive an overview of your website’s most important data, which you can use to identify significant issues and check your site’s overall performance.

    Pricing 

    Free

    3. Ahrefs DIY SEO Software

    Ahref is another comprehensive DIY tool for local SEO. It includes keyword research, site explorer, and rank tracking. It is one of the most recommended SEO tools highlighting your site’s ranking performance. Also, from a competitor analysis approach, this tool determines your competitor’s backlinks quality and uses them as a starting point for your brand. 

    With this tool, you can find the most linked content within your niche, look over and fix broken links on your site, and get an overview of your best-performing pages.  

    Some of the Key Features

    • Do keyword research for search engines
    • Get total search traffic estimations.
    • See ‘clicks’ data.
    • See backlink growth or decline over time.
    • See keyword click distributions.
    • See top subfolders by traffic.
    • Analyze SERP history
    • See ranking history
    • Monitor outbound links
    • Get keyword ranking alerts.
    • Analyze internal backlinks

    How to use Ahref as a DIY SEO Software

    1. Create your Ahref account or log in to the Ahref site. 
    2. Then, enter your site’s URL into the search bar on the homepage and hit “enter.” After that, Ahref analyzes the site and provides all the data regarding that URL, including its organic traffic, URL backlinks, and much more.
    3. Key in a keyword in the search bar to research specific keywords or phrases.
    4.  After that, Ahref will provide you with all the data about that keyword, including organic search traffic, related keywords, and more.

    Pricing 

    Ahref has four pricing options:

    1. The Lite pricing plan starts at $99 and is essential for small businesses or starters.
    2. The standard pricing plan costs $199 for in-house marketers and SEO experts.
    3. The advanced pricing plan is $399 for a mid-sized enterprise or growing business.
    4. The enterprise pricing plan is $999 for large businesses and big agencies. 

    4. Screaming Frog’s SEO Spider

    Screaming Frog’s SEO Spider helps you optimize your website and increase traffic. Unlike most SEO software, this tool lets you search, filter, and customize your crawls. It also informs you of identical content, errors to fix, and improvement areas for link building while directing you on what to do next.

    Some Key Features

    • Audit Redirects
    • Find Broken Links
    • Discover Duplicate Content
    • Analyse Page Titles & Meta Data
    • Review Robots & Directives
    • Extract Data with XPath
    • Generate XML Sitemaps
    • Schedule Audits

    How to use Screaming Frog’s SEO Spider

    1. Before performing any site crawls via the Screaming Frog SEO spider software, install the software on your PC. 
    2. After installing the software, navigate to the configuration menu, then pick the Spider option.
    3. After that, select crawl all subdomains. Start crawling and wait until it is completed.
    4. Once the software finishes crawling, click on the Internal tab.
    5. Filter your results by HTML, then export the data.

    Pricing

    This DIY SEO software for has two pricing options: free and paid. The paid version is usually $209 annually and has more features than the free version.

    5. SpyFu SEO Software

    SpyFu is another SEO tool with excellent competitive research features. It provides detailed SEO analysis on keywords to help boost your website’s ranking in search engines.

    In addition to keyword information, SpyFu software provides data on your competitor’s ad spending, displaying how much they are willing to spend to be visible for different keywords. It’s valuable software for any business that wants to improve its website ranking and visibility. 

    Some Key Features 

    • Comprehensive Keyword Research
    • Google Ads Spending Data
    • PPC Competitor Research
    • SEO reports 
    • Backlinks builder
    • Social Outreach for Backlinks
    • SERP Analysis
    • Website Ranking Information

    How to use SpyFu as a DIY SEO Software

    1. Create a SpyFu account
    2. Enter your URL into Spyfu and navigate to the SEO Overview. 
    3. Scroll down and see which keywords you share with your competitors.
    4. After that, Spyfu will provide you with a list of your top 5 most valuable keywords. Review content that is already optimized for the top keywords.
    5. Then, identify related posts you may have on this particular topic. Link these posts together where it makes sense. This will drive more traffic and build strong organic growth.

    Pricing

    SpyFu offers three different pricing plans in addition to their free trial option.

    1. The basic plan costs $39 per month.
    2. The professional plan goes for $79 per month.
    3. They also have an enterprise price plan that they price upon request. This price version is mainly for larger businesses and agencies.

    6. Keywords Everywhere

    Keywords Everywhere is a great SEO Chrome extension that collects data from different SEO tools, like Search Console, Google Analytics, or Google Trends, to help you find the perfect keywords to rank. This tool simplifies discovering the best keywords for your site. So, instead of going through different websites daily, you can save time using this software.

    Some Key Feature

    • Accurate Search Volume Data
    • Competitor Gap Analysis
    • On-Page Analysis
    • Traffic Metrics
    • Trend Charts
    • Keyword Research Widgets

    How to use Keywords Everywhere as a DIY SEO Software

    1. Download and install the Keywords Everywhere extension from either Google Chrome or Firefox
    2. Then, decide if you want access to the premium features or not. For the premium features, you require an API key, which includes creating a Keywords Everywhere account (select the get API key option and enter your email address). However, you can easily access the free features after installation.
    3. To access the premium features, copy the API key link sent via mail and open Keywords Everywhere. 
    4. Select Settings and paste the API Key into the API settings box. Then, you can purchase credits to access the premium features.
    5. Now you are set to go. You can search for any of the supported APIs. Your keyword metrics will appear below the search bar or be inserted into the platform you use.

    Pricing

    This DIY tool has different pricing plans for credits, where one credit equals one keyword.

    1. Free version: Here, you can relate keywords and People Also Search For (PASF) keywords in Google and Bing or see YouTube insights and Tags, but no volume data.
    2. $10 gets you 100,000 credits, $50 gets you 500,000 credits, $100 gets you 1,000,000 credits, $200 gets you 2,000,000 credits, $500 gets you 5 million credits, and $1000 gets you 10 million credits.

    DIY Tips for Better SEO

    1. Find the keywords Google attributes to your site
    2. Optimize content for relevant, long-tail keywords 
    3. Do basic on-page optimization
    4. Improve Click-throughs
    5. Optimize Title Tags
    6. Monitor Analytics
    7. Identify Keyword Gaps
    8. Set up Google Alerts to trail mentions of your company
    9. Make sure your site is mobile-friendly
    10. Study your competitors

    Final Thoughts

    If you own an e-commerce business or have a website, performing DIY SEO is essential. It saves money and puts you in control of organic rankings. You can use the best DIY SEO Software to make it even easier. They provide insights that would otherwise take ages to generate manually.

    That said, you need to work to get the best results. This means creating SEO-optimized content, conducting keyword research, and staying current with the latest SEO trends.

    Image Credit: matchboxdesigngroup.com

  • 15 Types of Backlinks To Get You Ranking High in SERPs

    15 Types of Backlinks To Get You Ranking High in SERPs

    If you’re running a website, whether a blog, an online store, or a web portal, chances are you want to boost your organic traffic and improve your search engine rankings. It’s a big goal, and there are countless strategies out there, but one of the fundamental tactics is link-building. Now, not all backlinks are created equal. Some make a difference in elevating your search rankings and landing a prime spot in search engine results.

    To determine which backlinks are the real game-changers, you need to dive into the different types, understand how they benefit your website, and choose the correct quantity to go after. That’s where we come in. This article has compiled a comprehensive list of the various types of backlinks that can supercharge your link-building efforts. It’s all about helping you craft a solid plan to snag those top-notch links for your site.

    What Are Backlinks? 

    Backlinks, also known as inbound, incoming, or one-way links, emerge when a website links to another. Imagine it as a virtual recommendation – if someone links to your website, you score a backlink, and vice versa. These clickable connections serve as digital pathways, allowing users to seamlessly navigate from one site to another.

    Backlinks aren’t just superficial nods; they reflect your website’s popularity. Consequently, integrating, overseeing, and evaluating their performance becomes a pivotal element in search engine optimization (SEO) and overall SEO strategies. The quality and quantity of your backlinks play a crucial role in elevating your ranking on search engines.

    In essence, backlinks serve as a digital reputation, determining how widely recognized and respected your website is in the vast online landscape. Managing these connections is the key to boosting your website’s prominence and relevance in the ever-evolving digital sphere.

    Image Source: moz.com

    Besides ranking, backlinks can increase organic traffic and help you get noticed by search engines. For example, if many sites link your webpage or website severally, search engines can conclude that content is worth linking to and surfacing on search engine results pages (SERP).

    However, if you are learning to create a link-building campaign, you must know that not all backlinks are valued similarly. Some types of backlinks will help improve your search rankings, while others are low-quality and can negatively impact your website’s organic search performance.

    We have listed some backlinks you need to know to help you determine the best types for your site.

    Types of Backlinks To Get You Ranking High in SERPs

    Image Source: backlinko.com

    1. Editorial Backlinks

    Editorial or contextual links are acquired from purely having a site that produces high-quality content and applies white hat SEO. Where the acquired link has been paid for or requested, editorial links are earned organically by providing valuable content.

    Image Source: backlinkboss.com

    These links don’t come cheap; they only come from highly authoritative sites with higher rankings. Additionally, you can acquire these outbound links from news agency sites or extensive publications like the New York Post, Forbes, or The Guardian. Generally, an editorial link comes from a trustworthy source with high domain authority.

    The most effective way to earn editorial links is to focus on writing high-quality, engaging, shareable, original content on prevalent topics that most people find attractive. When your content can sell itself, your content marketing strategy becomes much more manageable.

    2. Guest Blogging Backlinks

    Guest blogging backlinks are among the highest-valued backlinks that digital marketers should target as part of their link-building strategies. It involves creating content as a guest author on another person’s site with a link to your website.

    Image Source: backlinko.com

    A guest link can be free or paid, but usually, it’s an arrangement between one website and another. You can write a guest post for another site and get a link within the article to the writer’s site.

    Practicing guest blogging outreach to request more valuable sites for these opportunities should be vital to any SEO strategy. Undoubtedly, this backlink can be beneficial and boost your rankings tremendously.

    Read Also: SEO Tips to Help Your Rank Higher

    3. Acknowledgment Backlinks

    You can issue this backlink if your label or brand sponsors an industry event, has representatives speaking, or does other similar activities. You can use backlink checkers to get this type of backlink.

    The best way to form acknowledgment backlinks to your site is to constantly monitor your competitors regarding the events they participate in and then make a wise move that conveys benefits for your company.

    4. Authority Links

    Authority backlinks deliver raw ranking power, authority, and relevance to promote your site’s ranking in a SERP. Due to their age, quality, and size, these website links have established significant trust and authority with search engines.

    Image Source: robpowellbizblog.com

    Authority sites are market-leading sites representing established government and educational institutions, large corporations, or leading websites. Authority links can bring massive ranking power to a site if you can obtain one or more.

    These backlinks are extremely difficult; the best approach to authority links is to be watchful for opportunities to obtain them.

    5. Image / Infographic Backlinks

    Infographics are educational or informative images showing data or research. You can attain these links by creating a well-designed image and sharing it with others on their sites.

    Infographic links can help people apprehend complex concepts using visual aids such as images, charts, graphs, or diagrams. They can use images and text in a visual format to demonstrate concepts. They are often used for marketing purposes but can be helpful when writing articles or sharing research.

    You are credited as the creator each time someone shares the image, whether via social media, blogs, or sites. This attribution correlates to a backlink to your site.

    6. Pillow Links

    Pillow backlinks are like the supportive backbone of your website’s link strategy, adding diversity to your link profile. While they might not skyrocket your rankings in highly competitive niches, they support your link-building efforts. These links act as a protective layer, offering insulation for your main page.

    The beauty of pillow backlinks lies in their flexibility. You can incorporate them before, during, or after your dedicated link-building campaign, signaling to Google and establishing a foundation for further activities. Their ease of attraction sets them apart, requiring minimal cost and effort.

    Consistency is critical here; integrate them gradually into the ranking process, using them as the foundational steps for building your website’s authority. These links contribute to initial rankings and play an ongoing role in constructing your site’s credibility and influence.

    7. Private Blog Network (PBN) Links

     Private Blog Network or PBN links is a powerful link-building strategy that can help you rank in competitive niches. PBNs are confidential and, ideally, leave no digital footprint, achieved with several manipulative and deceitful measures.

    These contextual and authority backlinks are typically on a blog’s homepage to manipulate search engines. That said, it is necessary to note that PBN link building is entirely a black hat practice and goes against Google’s guidelines. Suppose a site is found to indulge in this practice. In that case, Google reserves the right to penalize or remove it from its search results based on the intensity of spam involved.

    8. Social Bookmarking Links

    Social bookmarking is simple, accessible, and natural to obtain links that allow users to post high-quality content and share links to web pages. These bookmarks are public on bookmarking sites, with groups, networks, or private domains.

    Image Source: expert-seo-training-institute.in

    Social bookmarking links could be more effective than other recent types of backlinks. However, if you still want to get involved with communities relevant to your industry, you can engage with your audience on forums with relevant content and sharing.

    9. Niche Edits or Curated Links

    SEO professionals often leverage curated links or niche edits as potent tools in digital marketing to enhance website rankings. Instead of creating new blog posts, contextual backlinks can be seamlessly integrated into existing, relevant blog posts. These targeted posts have already aged, indicating that Google has indexed their content, and their backlink profiles continue to resonate actively.

    Acquiring niche edits or curated links involves various approaches. One method is contacting webmasters and authors through payment for link opportunities or securing them for free. Success in this endeavor requires dedicated efforts to identify content that closely aligns with your own.

    Search for similar topics and locate content that would benefit from including your outbound link. For example, if your blog focuses on pet care, your content could significantly enhance the value of any site that has previously covered pet-related topics.

    The second involves hiring a professional agency to help you do the hard work. Most companies that offer SEO services will provide link-building. The best will manage your outreach and build a contacts database for appropriate white hat opportunities.

    10. Article Directory Types of Backlinks

    Article or blog directories are websites that contain collections of articles written on different subjects. Also referred to as content farms, article directories allow an author to present an article and syndicate it across various websites. Other site owners can then reuse these articles for their websites.

    Article directories are links placed in content that are reproduced every time the original article is syndicated. This type of link-building is an outdated tactic that will not advance search engine rankings. Marketers should focus on attaining more qualified and trustworthy website links than those obtained from article directories.

    11. Blog Comments Backlinks

    Blog commenting is one of the most straightforward ways to get backlinks. Go to the sites that have enabled the comments feature. Then, comment with your website URL; you will get a backlink after the comment is approved.

    That said, you should not exploit blog comments to attain links. Once blog comments become spammy, they contribute to a link scheme that violates Google’s guidelines.

    If you want to leave an organic and meaningful comment on a post, then do so. If you’re engaging with authoritative websites, blog commenting can bring organic traffic to your site if your comment is particularly insightful or relevant. However, several factors must be considered when commenting to avoid participating in manipulative link schemes.

    12. Auto-Generated Types of Backlinks

    When you generate links automatically, you’re creating programmatic links. This means these links are generated without a clear indication of intent. Tools like WebEffector and SEO Hammer allow you to automate posting links in comments and online posts, targeting specific website anchor keywords. However, it’s worth noting that these automated links may provide short-term benefits, but they often come with risks.

    The practice of auto-generated link-building goes against Google’s guidelines. Authors shouldn’t have to take specific actions to generate links automatically. Moreover, this method is considered aggressive and manipulative in link-building. It contributes to the degradation of the web by introducing spammy and low-quality practices. Knowing that these shortcuts may lead to short-lived gains before Google detects and penalizes such activities on your site is essential.

    13. Links From Press Releases (PR Links)

    PR Link Building uses public relations techniques such as press releases and media pitching to secure useful editorial links to your site. This SEO backlink-building practice is a critical component of a Digital PR strategy.

    You can increase your PR backlinks by increasing social shares with visual content. Gaining more social shares will help you rank higher in Google search results. However, you should note that PR is not a link-building tactic that will advance search engine visibility.

    14. Widget Backlinks Types

    A widget is a web-based app with a link to your website, which can be taken and added to a web page or article on another website. By giving a widget to another website, they can display your links on their page, providing a backlink to your website.

    Most of the time, widget backlinks are in the form of tools, resources, or additions like calculators or weather widgets to a page. The primary goal of widgets is their viral effect in boosting traffic to your site.

    15. Testimonial & Review Types of Backlinks

    Testimonial and review link building is the process of getting positive comments or reviews about a product or service featured on your website. At its essence, the testimonial link-building strategy is about providing a lot of value to the owner in exchange for a link from their site. 

    Image Source:trafficradius.com

    These types of backlinks work in two ways. The first is when you write a review on someone else site. You can add it as a testimonial and include a link to your website. The second is a review a customer leaves for your service on a platform, including a link to your site.

    Unlike other backlink strategies, like the guest post strategy, you will not need to write long articles to build links. Instead, you only need to write a paragraph to get a testimonial link. In some cases, you can record your video testimonial and send it to the brand you’re working with. In addition, testimonial link-building efforts will have a higher success rate than other strategies.

    Wrapping Up on Types of Backlinks

    Getting websites to appear higher on search engine results is a big deal, and one key factor is backlinks or inbound links. It’s like the online world giving your site a thumbs-up. But here’s the thing – not all thumbs-ups are created equal. Many of these links are out there; some are more valuable than others.

    So, to make your website shine, you’ve got to put in some serious effort to create an intelligent strategy for building the best possible collection of these links. It’s all about making your website friends with the right crowd on the internet!

    We hope this guide helps you avoid low-quality tactics and focus on the best link-building approaches for high-quality backlinks in your next digital marketing campaign.