Unlocking SEO Potential on a Shoestring Budget: Strategies from the Trenches of #SEOCHAT
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, the challenge of maximizing SEO impact with minimal financial resources is a battlefield familiar to many. Our recent #SEOCHAT session brought together SEO aficionados, ranging from seasoned experts to newcomers, all striving to conquer the complexities of scaling SEO on a tight budget.
The Budget Conundrum:
There are diverse budgets within the community, ranging from the modest $12,000 to the more lavish $60,000. Are smaller budgets are better suited for project-specific allocations, while larger ones can be deployed monthly for sustained impact?
Technical SEO: The Gateway to Success:
Technical SEO is the gateway to SEO triumphs. With Google pushing for GA4 compliance, the need to address technical deficiencies became a rallying cry. Over 90% of websites grapple with meaningful technical gaps. “You need to be clear about the theme and purpose of your site for search engines. This is not the case today.”
CMS Woes and Wins:
Tthe common struggle is working with a CMS that hinders customization. Out-of-the-box CMS solutions often fall short for SEO, with platforms like Wix and WordPress are emerging as frontrunners.
Metrics that Matter:
“Directional Metrics” for quick wins in the short term, should be paired them with more substantial “Revenue-Oriented KPIs” for a holistic evaluation of SEO efforts.
AI: A Strategic Ally:
AI can be used for crafting meta descriptions & generating structured data.
Business Owners as Digital PR Maestros:
Business owners should become their own “Digital PR” team, fostering cross-linkages and securing interviews to amplify their brand story. Optimize your navigation for both bots and human users.
Q1: Let’s kick off with a poll: What is your (or your clients’ average) allocated budget for organic search in 2024? #SEOchat
— Erika Varangouli (@finderika) November 16, 2023
How many Over $120k??? …. Calling all hotshot SEO braggers this one is for you! #seochat
Mordy Oberstein
Results are in – everyone who answered has a budget between $12,000 – $60,000. The lower end may be better handled in project pots vs monthly allocation of equal amounts. The higher end is decent to see results even as a monthly budget of $5K. What is your take?
Erika Varangouli
Q2: Which of the following are you prioritizing within your #SEO strategy: technical SEO, content, link acquisition? And why? #SEOchat pic.twitter.com/iDJT7w0x3m
— Erika Varangouli (@finderika) November 16, 2023
Usually not links
re: tech SEO v. Content – to me it often depends on where the site is (is it new- often the tech issues come into focus for example) #Seochat
Mordy Oberstein
A2: Technical SEO for sure. With Google forcing GA4 this year, I definitely think that making sure that sites are fully in compliance from a technical aspect will become more important.
Sweepsify
A1: The easiest, most demonstrable “wins” are via Technical SEO. I’d guess that over 90% of websites have meaningful deficiencies in this area. My pitch: “You need to be clear about the theme and purpose of your site for search engines. This is not the case today.”
travis
Q3: Which are the top challenges you’re faced with when trying to implement technical fixes on your site? How do you tackle them? #SEOchat pic.twitter.com/BMj5Mk23Fq
— Erika Varangouli (@finderika) November 16, 2023
A3: Having to work with a CMS that doesn’t make it easy to customize things in the way that the client wants
Sweepsify
A3: Rarely does a CMS, out of the box, serve SEO well. I suppose
@Wix &
@WordPress are best in this regard. The avg. PDP or page template needs considerable reworking to satisfy advocates of branding, design/style, AND SEO for a given team. (Header hierarchy is #1.)
travis
Q4: Quick wins: Where do you look to discover them in the context of #SEO? How “quick” is “quick”? How “much” win is a “win”? #gettingphilosophical #SEOchat pic.twitter.com/65jA1TGZRd
— Erika Varangouli (@finderika) November 16, 2023
A4: I measure in 2 ways: Directional Metrics: DA/DR, Visibility, Engagement, % New Users (the “quick” wins, 3-6mo) Revenue-Oriented KPIs: Content ROI Efficiency, Organic Tnxs +/-, Organic CR (real wins, 6-12mo+) Irresponsible to measure the former without the latter.
travis
Q5: Are you using generative AI as part of your #SEO or #Content strategy? Share your best use cases. #SEOchat pic.twitter.com/2VO0cWYNSY
— Erika Varangouli (@finderika) November 16, 2023
A5: So far, “AI” tools serve to accelerate & diversify my thinking. Some Use Cases: – Character count-limited structured data elements – Header ideation with “XYZ” requirements within – Draft new content with ABC existing page inputs, refine (much) further from there
travis
A5: Loving using gen Ai for meta descriptions and Table of Contents heading summaries. Quick and easy. Haven’t really found the image generation to be as useful. Image generation is more useful for SEM
Sweepsify
Q6: What is the most successful, cost-efficient way to amplify the results of your content? #SEOchat pic.twitter.com/qUfzTFh1ZN
— Erika Varangouli (@finderika) November 16, 2023
A6: Business owners are always networking. I encourage them to: – Be their own “Digital PR” team, cross-linking with estab. entities in their orbit – Share their story w/ news outlets, securing their own interviews, articles – Generate org. traffic via event attendance
travis
A6: Optimize the navigation. Just because the bots can find it doesn’t mean that human users can!
Sweepsify
