Getting Started with SEO: Key Tips for Digital Marketing Newbies

It’s critical to connect your brand with the right audience and drive traffic to your site by establishing an easily accessible pathway. However, for many digital marketing newbies, SEO appears complex and intimidating.

Here are some essential SEO tips to help you get started.

How to Get Started with SEO

Before jumping into the tips, let's clarify what SEO is about. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It's the process of developing content to make it easily found on search engine results pages (SERPs). This involves crafting helpful content filled with topical keywords and distributing it across various channels like social media and email to increase your website's visibility and attract more visitors.

SEO requires a strategic approach to weaving keywords into content—communicating what you’re discussing while demonstrating an extensive level of expertise. You need to understand your audience's needs and preferences and tailor your content accordingly. Think of SEO as a dynamic process that combines creativity and data-driven insights to reach your audience effectively.

SEO Tips for Digital Marketing Newbies

Let’s review some of the top tips to implement when launching your SEO strategy!

Keep Tabs on Keywords

Your keyword list is the backbone of your SEO strategy. Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs are your best friends for discovering quality keywords. These sites also give you insight into people's goals and intentions while searching for these keywords. Are they looking for a location? Or something to purchase? What’s relevant for your content will differ depending on what people want from their search.

Start Small and Build to Better Keywords

Start by identifying long-tail keywords with lower search volumes. These are less competitive but can drive highly targeted traffic. Over time, you can expand your list to include more competitive keywords. These phrases are typically longer and more specific, making them easier to rank for. They may have lower search volumes, but they attract users who are closer to making a decision. As you gain momentum, you can gradually target broader, higher-volume keywords.

However, you’re not neglecting these specific keywords by focusing on long-tail keywords. They typically form the center point of longer keywords, so they help you toward those rankings.

Use Topic Clusters

Organize your keywords around specific topics and create interconnected content. This approach, known as topic clustering, helps establish your authority in your industry. By linking related content, you enhance your site's relevance and provide valuable information to your audience.

As you develop your keyword list, the topic will be the main, high-level keyword. Each part of your cluster will focus on specific long-tail keywords that all point to each other, including this central keyword. Having broad coverage demonstrates the topical authority search engines look for.

Share Your Content on Social and Email

Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, and relying solely on traditional ranking methods might not be enough. Promote your content through social media and email marketing. Engaging with your audience on these platforms drives traffic and signals to search engines that your content is valuable because it’s gaining so much traffic and attention. The more you point people to it outside of search engines, the more you’ll draw search engines to it.

Develop Unique and Original Content

Generic content won't cut it in the competitive SEO landscape. Your content should reflect your unique expertise and brand personality. Share insights, stories, and tips from your experience. Authenticity resonates with readers and search engines and helps your brand and content stand out as qualitative and beneficial.

Use a Variety of Content Forms

While blogs are essential for SEO, don't limit yourself. Explore different content formats like videos and podcasts. Videos can boost engagement and retention while gaining attention on the second largest search engine – YouTube. You can also optimize web pages by embedding your videos and podcasts to improve your site's user experience and search rankings.

Pay Attention to Keyword Intent

Keywords serve different purposes. Some indicate informational intent (e.g., questions), while others suggest commercial intent (e.g., product searches). Understanding keyword intent helps you align your content with user expectations and improve conversions.

Keyword sites indicate what prospects are searching for and trying to get out of your site, but you can learn a lot by searching for the keywords yourself and seeing the results. Search engines are sophisticated and change their layout according to what people are searching for, giving you some indication of how to frame your content to provide relevant information.

Monitor Performance but Roll with the Changes

SEO is a dynamic field influenced by algorithm updates and user behavior. Regularly monitor your keyword performance and website analytics. Be prepared for fluctuations and adapt your strategy as needed. Flexibility is critical to long-term success because so much of SEO success is learning what gets your content online.

Get SEO Help from McClatchy

Partnering with an experienced marketing firm like McClatchy can help you manage your content and implement a winning content strategy. They offer tailored SEO strategies that align with your goals and budget and can leverage the expertise they’ve developed in their audience by tapping into the McClatchy Premium Audience Network. Let them help you reach the people who will most likely become customers!

Reach out today to learn more about what McClatchy can do to develop your SEO presence!