Here's what to bear in mind when optimizing your pages, before even thinking about building links to them.

1) Title Tag

The title tag of a page performs two key functions in SEO. First, it sums up what the page is about, providing a context for the rest of the content.

Importantly, while a good title tag does little directly to boost rankings, a poor one can do a lot to suppress them. In particular, using the same generic title across multiple pages provides little differentiation, adding to the risks of duplicate content issues.

The second role of the title tag is in driving engagement. Often but not always, it's the title that's used in search results and social media posts. A compelling and readable title drives clicks, boosting engagement and sharpening Google's sense that a page is popular and therefore high quality.

2) Meta Description

Many of the same points apply to the meta description, although to a lesser extent as its power isn't as great. A good meta description includes relevant keywords to strengthen a page's topic focus, while also presenting a message that encourages clicks.

3) Headlines

The main headline is perhaps the single most important on-page factor. It should sum up the page's content, contain relevant keywords, and yet also be compelling enough to draw readers in.

This is a difficult balance to achieve, but it's a vital one. No matter how much time you spend on developing and optimizing your content, devote a significant proportion of it to nailing the headline.

4) Subheadings

Although they aren't critical to SEO success, subheadings play a strong supporting role. When carefully optimized, they can strengthen the theme of the page by introducing secondary keywords with a close semantic relationship.

Subheadings also provide structure to a page, making it easier for a reader to scan and understand the content. This feeds through into higher rankings as the algorithm seeks to reward a better user experience.

5) Bold and Italic Tags

Back in the day, enclosing your most important keywords in bold or italic tags was standard practice, albeit an often ugly one. The technique is much less effective now, but deftly enclosing your main keywords in bold or italics tags adds a little extra relevancy, and it all counts.

However, the effect is fairly minimal, so don't do it at the expense of good looks and readability.

6) Relevant Linking

Using focused anchor text to link to relevant pages gives a boost to both source and destination. From an on-page perspective, linking to either internal or external pages provides benefits.

However, there are two things to bear in mind.

- Linking to your site's internal pages keeps the benefits within your own site, as you're benefiting from both sides of the linking equation.

- Linking to external pages can boost your domain authority by increasing your site's value as a resource.

Therefore, use internal and external linking whenever each is appropriate, and don't worry unduly about hoarding your ranking power by keeping links in-house.

7) Tight Keyword Focus

Although including a range of related keywords is important to round out a page's topic profile, you need to decide which individual keyword you're targeting for each page.

If several pages on your site all include the same mix of keywords without any strong differentiation, their individual rankings risk being merged and suppressed. This effect is known as keyword cannibalization, and it's an important trap to avoid.

Make sure each page has a strong, clear focus on a primary keyword, and that no two pages supply the same overall profile.

8) Image Optimization

There are four ways to approach images with SEO in mind.

- Make sure you include relevant, accurate alt attributes to describe the image. It's a minor aspect in the ranking, but every little helps to add relevancy

- Good-looking images with optimized alt and title attributes can drive traffic through Google Image Search.

- Carefully chosen images enhance the user experience to drive engagement, with all the ranking benefits that brings.

- Reducing the file size of images increases loading speed, and this is a confirmed factor in ranking.

9) Content Quality

Lastly, no matter how carefully you optimize your on-page factors, it's all for nothing if your content isn't worth ranking highly. Google is highly adept at spotting low-quality content and demoting it accordingly.

Even more importantly, poor content also means poor user experience. Whatever traffic you generate won't convert into high engagement levels, driving down both immediate profits and long-term rankings.

It's undeniably difficult to rank a site unless it has a healthy backlink profile. However, without a strong foundation provided by on-page SEO, no amount of link building will be enough to thrive in a competitive sector.

 

Find Your Competitors

In many cases, businesses already know their main competitors. These competitors may be taking a different approach to online marketing, though, so it is important to check the search listings for relevant keywords. You can conduct searches for the terms most appropriate to your business, recording common sites that appear. You may find the best ranking content comes from a video site like YouTube, making it important you target this platform with your own video content. If you are aiming for local rankings, looking at the local pack can offer high ranking competition.

Keyword Research

To really get an accurate picture of all the keywords your competitors are ranking for, you will need to use a quality SEO tool. SEMrush, SpyFu, and Ahrefs all offer tools that analyze a huge number of keywords over time, so you can see what terms sites are ranking for. These tools will show you what keywords sites are getting traffic from, while also offering difficulty ratings, search volume, trends, average position, and more.

Backlink Research

You will again need to make use of an SEO tool to gain an accurate picture of a backlink profile. You can then study where the competition are getting their backlinks, helping to show why they are ranking so highly. Breaking down each backlink will show factors like page and domain strength, number of outbound links on the page, and topical relevance. The best tools also allow you to input multiple sites, checking for pages that link to multiple competitors. If a page is linking to a number of related sites, you should make this a prime target for your own content.

On-Page Optimization and Content Analysis

You can conduct research by manually looking at a competing page. However, tools like Ahrefs and Moz can simplify the process. You can check pages for title tags, H1 tags, content length, internal linking, and any indexing errors. This data will show patterns within competing pages, letting you know if you need to create longer content, write shorter snippets, include keywords within tags, and more.

Social Media

Social media is an excellent tool for performing research as users often give their unfiltered opinions. In terms of SEO, tracking your competitors lets you see which sites they are focused on, how often they post, which other accounts they interact with, and what type of content is resonating with audiences. A tool like BuzzSumo,for example, can tell you which pieces of content got the most social media likes and shares, allowing you to create similar content that you already know people want to consume.

Rather than looking at competitive research as an optional extra, it is worth making it one of the central pillars of any SEO campaign. Research can be used to find keyword opportunities and backlink targets, while also helping to avoid overly difficult search terms. Additionally, competitive research can be completed quickly, so it won't take too much of your time or resources. SEO can be a complex process, but knowledge of your competitors strategies will give you a boost when facing difficult targets.

 Adioma

If you want to stand out from other social media marketers and build a reputation as an infographic wizard, add Adioma to your resource list of awesome audience outreach tools. Adioma offers infographic components as a service. Create your own amazing infographics using custom timelines, illustrations, charts, and icons. Use caution discovering Adioma; you just might end up with a second career as an infographic designer.
(adioma.com/presentation-templates)

Moosend

If you're a busy social media marketer, chances are good email plays an important role in your daily business activities. Thanks to Moosend, email marketing just got a whole lot easier. Moosend offers drag-and-drop email creation. Choose from a multitude of templates on topics ranging from e-commerce and products to invitations and launches. Add images, text, social sharing capabilities, and html code to your emails. Customize everything from your link settings to the size of your email newsletters. With options for everything from an informational newsletter to a blog post newsletter, your clients will think you're a master email marketer as well as an awesome social marketing professional!
(designer.moosend.com)

Vookmark

Video is an integral part of social media marketing these days. Thanks to Vookmark, video discovery has never been easier. Vookmark lets you bookmark videos you want to share with your social media followers for review at a later time. Available for Chrome, Safari, iOS, and Android, Vookmark is a social media marketer's dream for keeping track of helpful video content.
(vookmark.co)

Burst

Visual marketing is a key component of successful social media networking. Thanks to Burst, you can now easily find royalty-free stock images to use in your social media posts. Image categories range from entrepreneurs and business to cat and dogs (plenty of pugs to enjoy!).
(burst.shopify.com)

Sprinkles

Available from Microsoft, Sprinkles is a cool new photo-editing app that will help you take your social media images to the next level. Snap a picture with your smartphone and the Sprinkles app will automatically suggest captions based upon the content of your photograph. This cool image-recognition app lets you add geo-specific stickers to your photos, emojis, and facial adornments like mustaches and hats. You'll never share a plain old selfie again once you discover the power of facial detection software. Get ready to supercharge your visual marketing with your social media followers.
(itunes.apple.com/app/id1210163720)

There's never been a better time to be a social media marketing professional. Developers are creating all sorts of awesome tools for busy marketers. Building a list of powerful outreach resources can help you build a reputation as a skilled marketer and social media thought leader. Do you think you'll be integrating any of these tempting tools into your audience outreach efforts? Please let us know in the comments.

Misconceptions About Optimization

When alarmists say that these techniques are "dead", what they really mean is that certain techniques don't work anymore. Many of these people are also laboring under some delusions about what optimizing for a search engine really means. Here are some common misconceptions about optimizing for search engines:

Optimized Content is Spam

There's a flawed idea that S.E.O. techniques have somehow "poisoned" the world wide web--filling it with spam content and focusing less on content quality. Although optimization is a marketing technique in the broadest sense, it's more of an attempt to "speak the same language" as the search engine.

The best optimized content is nearly invisible to the untrained eye. It's understandable why writers (and readers) hate spam content, but gone are the days when keyword stuffing and similar techniques boosted a website's search engine rank.

Social Media is More Important Now

Although social network popularity now affects Google results, that doesn't mean they've thrown their rules out the window. Optimization strategies such as link-building will never lose their importance, because it's an essential part of how Google separates legitimate websites from spam.

Advertisements Are the Wave of the Future

Though Google has displaced some of the real estate on their SERPs with paid advertisements, no search engine could survive if it was comprised entirely of advertisements, featuring no organic results.

The other reason why optimization strategies aren't going anywhere is that search engines like them. The techniques are relatively simple guidelines that makes it easier for the search engine to find pertinent information. Any optimization strategy is, in essence, an attempt to "speak the same language" as the search engine.

The ability to pay for advertising might lend an air of legitimacy to some businesses, but the fact remains that many individuals (and even businesses) don't have the financial resources to pay for advertising on a search engine.

Search optimization will never "die", because it has the same primary benefit that bolsters social media platforms: it's one of the only "free" ways to improve your traffic. SEO tools allow those with talent, but little capital, to succeed in a crowded market.

In addition, a search engine comprised of inorganic pages and links would put an undue amount of pressure on the search engine itself. Currently, if something goes wrong, search engines can blame the page in question.

So-Called Optimization Isn't Worth the Money

This misconception is a lot easier to counter--many people who say these techniques are dead are just trying to sell you their own techniques. Another part of this group are businesses who have been jilted or swindled by bad optimization techniques.

It's extremely difficult to build a truly successful, Google-trusted website from scratch. In addition to time-consuming and sometimes expensive techniques like link-building, developers also need up-to-date knowledge about search engine policies.

The fact is that, years ago, many businesses paid for lousy optimization. Some purchased this "optimization" from a cold-caller or an email queries from an "expert". We can hardly blame businesses who've had this experience, but it doesn't mean that there aren't useful, ethical optimization strategies.

However, in defense of the "haters", an optimized site certainly doesn't guarantee traffic. If you don't believe us, just ask the New York Times about their adventures purchasing About.com, mostly because of its great optimization. It's now an all but irrelevant site.

A New Take on Search Engine Optimization

When it comes to search engine optimization, change is the name of the game. That's one reason why you should never believe the charlatans who claim to know all the secrets of this ever-changing field.

While SEO will probably never be "dead", it's also no longer the end-all-be-all of web strategy. Instead, it should be cultivated in a similar fashion to social media--as a free tool to drive high-quality traffic.

A "Holistic" Web Strategy

We advise developers and companies to look at the bigger picture: how can they attract as many users as they can using free and low-cost techniques. After all, how many of the world's most successful businesses pay for their leads?

Instead of dividing web strategy up into a "pie chart"--a little here, a little there--you should start thinking only of paid and free marketing. Whether we're talking about your Facebook presence, drip email marketing campaigns, everything is now part of that strategy.

It can be frustrating trying to stay ahead of the curve when optimizing for search engines. Techniques can turn from ethical "white hat" strategies to spam in a single update. But, an individuals frustration has absolutely no bearing on the techniques used to optimize websites for search engine results--that's not going anywhere.

Through all of these changes, optimization has not only lived on, but has thrived. It's pretty unlikely that this series of strategies is going anywhere. Although the techniques will change, it's highly unlikely that they will ever disappear altogether.

What is DMOZ and Why is it Important?

DMOZ is considered one of the most influential web directories online since Google and other major search engines use it to determine the authority of a website. As a matter of fact, you cannot get listed on the Google Directory if your website is not listed with DMOZ.

While there are many other web directories on the web, none can lay claim to the same sort of credentials as DMOZ. For starters, it is almost as ancient as the World Wide Web itself. It is also a volunteer edited directory, with each and every listing compiled by human volunteers.

The Most Effective Tips and Tricks to Get Listed on DMOZ Fast

It is worth pointing out here that there are no surefire approaches to getting your site listed within a particular time frame. Being a cloud sourced, human controlled process there is no way you can take advantage of bugs or loopholes in the code to get your site ahead of the queue. But there are certain proven approaches which will ensure that your submission stands the best chance of getting approved without undue delays if you follow them to the letter.

Become a DMOZ Editor

DMOZ are constantly recruiting new editors to join their editorial team. While this does not give you free rein to approve any listing requests, it offers you an opportunity to ensure your site (or sites for that matter) is listed speedily.

Applying to become a DMOZ editor is straightforward. However, there is a huge demand for places in the editorial team so you may have to bid your time and keep hoping.

Begin by identifying a specific category which fits your website's content. Below the list of websites, there is a link prompting you to "Volunteer to edit this category". Click it and you will be redirected to a page with detailed instructions about how to do the editing work competently. Make sure you read and understand the guidelines and tips effectively. You can then click "Proceed" to be redirected to the actual application form.

If your application to be an editor at DMOZ is accepted, you will be given limited editorial privileges. You can only edit one category at this level and that is why you should choose the category that best fits your website. But in case you need to have a website in another category, you can always request a fellow editor with full editorial privileges to help you expedite a listing in another category.

 

Don't Try Shortcuts and Underhand Tricks

Never try to use shortcuts and underhand means to expedite the registration of your site. Some "SEO experts" for instance advice that you add some patently misleading information to make your site appear consistent with DMOZ guidelines and then reverting to your actual content once the listing is approved.

Another ineffective trick is trying to submit your website under different categories with the hope that one of them will be picked. The DMOZ editors regularly sift for such applications and label them as spam. In the worst-case scenario, your website could be permanently blacklisted.

It is also becoming common to find adverts for some "automated submission services" to expedite your DMOZ application. Don't even think about it. For starters, such an approach is strictly forbidden in the DMOZ policy statement. Secondly, no automated process can make a better application intended for a human editor than you can do by following the clear guidelines.

Be Specific in Your Selection of Category

As explained above, submitting your site to multiple categories or even sub-categories is more likely to cause harm than good. Just as well, submitting your site to the most general category possible is not helpful. The more general your categorization, the likelier it is that you will join a long queue of prospective sites leading to further delays and frustration about how your request is processed.

Independent statistics show that sites which are submitted to correct and very specific categories in DMOZ are up to four times more likely to be registered compared to those which are not. It is a sobering fact considering that only about 31% of sites listed on DMOZ are submitted to their proper categories.

Make your Description Accurate, Objective and Concise

Each DMOZ application should be accompanied by a brief description of the website. This is where most people fail or excel in making their site approved for listing. Avoid any flowery or biased information. Do not include superlatives like "best", "greatest" or adjectives like "amazing" in the description.

Just as well, avoid stuffing the description full of keywords. Remember the application will be read by a human editor. Do not be too promotional as this will only prompt the editors to edit away the flowery language to project a more neutral tone. More often than not, editor-corrected descriptions are less than impressive.

Do Not Resubmit your Entry

I understand that it can be frustrating waiting for months on end for your application to be processed. However, do not make the mistake of resubmitting your request. This will only lead to further delays as your request will be moved to the back of the queue.

Continue Improving your Website Even as you Wait

Most website owners and editors spruce up their websites prior to applying for inclusion in the DMOZ directory. However, they neglect adding more content as they await the approval to go through. This can lead to rejection as DMOZ editors are specifically tasked with the duty of identifying fresh and engaging content at the time of approving a request. Ensure that you do not have banners declaring "under construction" even if this is only in the minor pages of the site. If certain pages do not have any or adequate content, do not publish them until they are ready.