SEO is Dead
You probably have heard that SEO is dead.
There are many articles claiming this and I just read one.
You know with the algorithm changes... the websites monopolising certain niches... backlinks not being what they once were... it's all just becoming too hard for new websites.
Funny enough, there is one way you can learn exactly how to get free traffic to your website every month using SEO (spoiler alert... you're on the website right now)
SEO Proof...
I started a website in possibly one of the most competitive niches out there... marketing/ make money online (I had no idea at the time, I just wanted to learn more about it and show people the journey as I went along)
So after 6 months of using Wealthy Affiliate's training I was getting 10 users view my website organically (i.e. through searching on Google/ Bing). It's safe to say I thought it sucked! All this time and effort for what?!
But simply by following the training, writing long form content (but making sure I'm not just rambling... easier said than done!) and being consistent, look what starts to happen.
Eventually 25 users per week...
next month 50 users in a week...
then 100...
then 200
You can hear all of this talk about how backlinks are crucial for your website (and I'm not saying they are not important). But the fact is, if you keep writing great content that people want to read, you'll get results. This website is living proof.
Most people tend to give up in those first 6 months (I was very nearly one of them) but if you can keep going it's impossible to lose.
STOP!!
Re-read that last sentence.
If you want to succeed at anything then always have faith, work hard and stay consistent
What are your thoughts? Is SEO dead? Are you struggling to see results (I've been there and wish I reached out more)? What do you think is the most important trait to succees?
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Update to a question I had... here is how you find these metrics
Acquisition --> Overview --> Organic Traffic
Oh and it just keeps going...
Recent Comments
46
I think that SEO is the longer term solution. Short term I use social media. Both free and both have their uses.
Very true Linda,
I'm a massive fan of Pinterest. This time last year I had no idea what it was. Now I've just started a new website focussing on driving traffic from Pinterest with SEO the longer game!
What social media platforms do you use/ recommend?
Thanks for sharing!
In fact, just adding to that Pinterest actually helps SEO and even has it's own SEO as it's also a search platform like Google
I agree Pinterest with that and it is very good for growing fairly quickly.
My favourite is Twitter as that produces the fastest results. It can also be grown fairly quickly too if you use it twice a day, retweeting others tweets, having diverse followers, not just your own field and following back when people follow you.
FB used to be a favourite despite being time consuming but sadly now it is even harder work for next to no return. I had a few good years on there though.
Instagram is something I need to take time to focus on and really get to grips with. I post and like others posts but that’s about it so far, so still stuck on 700 or so followers there.
Hope this helps.
Great post, thank you, Mike. Although I should maybe expand on this, I can't right now but . . . the most important trait to success is to keep driving toward it, no matter what the odds are. Happy Monday, Steve C
Thanks, Steve, happy Monday!
I think you are so right about that. Perseverance is so important if it's something you really believe in or want.
I'd love for you to expand on it whenever you can. I do hope everything is OK.
Take care
Hi Mike, I did and sent you a link at the time . . . I think :-) Hang on, I will look back, it's on the list somewhere.
Hey Mike,
I hope its not dead as I just signed for one & am now in process of learning how it work. It's not as easy as some people say,
Don
Mike, great information. A lot of things I am reading about content reflects what Carson stated below. "Write for the reader." If we help the reader, the rest will take of itself.
Great post,
David
Congratulations, Mike, on the solid foundation that you have worked hard to create.
An article prompting, the demise of SEO, appears with regularity on the wider internet.
From observation, Google and other leading search engines are looking to present, the most relevant answers to searchers, queries.
As content creators the best thing we can do is to work hard to make their job easy.
Best wishes as you continue to grow your presence.
Thanks Alex,
Yes, it really does seem that Google is getting better and better at putting the best content in front of the readers.
The thorough (but not long-winded) content around a certain question or key phrase seems to be crucial moving forward.
All the best to you too
SEO is certainly not dead. As my friend and former co-worker who is a senior programmer at Google has said to me,...
"SEO will never die. It will evolve. For if SEO were to die, Google would die too."
Great point well made Rob! You're so right it will evolve and it has evolved. But in reality, the same holds true... the best content will be provided to the person typing in a keyword.
Great content that people engage with, share, and even link to is far more valuable
Hi, Mike...
SEO is most certainly not dead, as you point out. It works and will work and can provide a solid base from which to build out your entire business.
The best SEO is the stuff you don't see. Often people stuff keywords or create content that does not flow naturally just to address the SEO angle, but that really is counterintuitive...
The unnatural use of the keywords will drive people away after they are drawn to your content. The trick is as Carson has mentioned...Write for the reader, add in lots of valuable content and add the keywords as they may fit...
There are ways to ensure that you do this, i.e. using broad templates that you can use as a starting point (and as a check prior to publishing)...
You are making a lot of progress and I am glad to see that. Over time this will build and build, and success and more success will follow.
SEO is dead? Not for the foreseeable future, it isn't *thank goodness!)...
Cheers!
Dave : )
Hi Dave,
You're so right about keyword stuffing! Sometimes articles are impossible to read and follow due to the number of stuffed keywords.
Again, it does seem that the longer form content lends itself much better to naturally placing keywords rather than shorter content. But equally getting the balance between what needs to be said and keeping it to the point is so important for engagement.
Great idea about using the broad templates. I've personally found this saves a lot of time and helps the overall flow of content.
Thanks for stopping by!
Great Post.... great insight ,,,and congratulations for having the stick to it attitude.
TIM
To be honest Fran, I didn't really start seeing results until I upped the workload.
I'm currently posting 4 articles a week (1's the podcast show notes) and all of them are over 1,500 words... usually much more than 2,000 words. I'm lucky enough to not be working full time this year so I know that's not possible for everyone, but setting the habit is possible (I wrote every morning), which I did last year whilst working full time.
At the end of the day, it's not a race and some weeks I won't be able to do that but I certainly understand what it takes to grow a website now. I'd be pretty confident starting from scratch tomorrow if I had to.
Do let me know if there's anything you need help with.
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Hey Mike,
Great post and I'm glad that you've dug your heels in and followed the training here at WA. We have always taught strategies that focus on the end-user. That's the person reading your content, the person that you're helping, the person finding your content in the search engines. Too many people get stuck when looking for instant success when the real way to build an online business is to put the time into learning about your customers, and delivering them a great (and helpful) experience.
Rather than building a site for Google, build a site for the person who you you are aiming to help with your content. That is truly what Google, Bing, and Yahoo want to see and they will reward great content with rankings and loads of traffic.
When an algorithm core update happens, the folks who are building website with engagement, quality, and the user in mind will always end up on top. Backlinks for example, can be purchased, faked, or traded for, and Google knows that. With each update made to their ranking algorithms, websites who are trying to "game" the system are targeted. This happens in the way of lower rankings, less traffic, and ultimately leads to lower revenue.
Build your website to help people and do it in a way that engages your audience and makes them want to finish reading your content...and maybe even read a few other bits of our authoritative content too (or follow your recommendations).
At WA you're learning to be an authority in your chosen niche, and as you are experiencing that takes a bit of time. You've stuck with it, and your stats are proof that what you've been working has been well worth the time.
Keep pushing forward, the trend you are experiencing will continue! You're building a real business here and anything of quality happens with time.
Congrats,
Carson
Carson, I really appreciate that. It means a lot to me that you took the time to comment on here.
I couldn't agree more that the best way to build any business is to focus on the end-user.
What a great way to phrase it!
I've spoken to quite a few people over the last year who tell me about getting major setbacks from Google updates (I've never had enough traffic to know if my site was effected at all) but I truly do believe in writing content that people actually want to read and find useful.
I don't see this as a get rich scheme, I see it as a long term business that I can build with time and help people along the way. If it helps someone else start living life on their own terms then I would be happy with all the time I have put in.
Thanks again
That is not a comment from Carson, mate, it is a post in itself!.
100% can't agree more! Useful to reminder to re-read that again just now!