SEO

Keyword Research

Foundation of everything. Know what people are actually searching for before creating content.

On-Page Optimization

Title tags, meta descriptions, header structure, internal linking. The basics that still matter.

Technical SEO

Check Indexed Pages

Use Google's site: operator to see how many pages are indexed:

1. Search site:yourdomain.com in Google
2. Click Tools (top right)
3. Look at "About X results" - that's your indexed page count

!google-site-index-check.png

Quick way to spot indexing issues. For deeper analysis, use Google Search Console.

Link Building

Backlinks signal authority. Quality over quantity. Relevant sites in your niche matter more than random high-DA links.

Resource: Semantic Links

Semantic Links by Bradley Benner focuses on building contextually relevant backlinks—the kind that actually move the needle. Worth following for link building strategies that emphasize relevance over raw metrics.

Local SEO

For businesses serving specific areas. Ties directly into Google Business Profiles—fill out your profile completely, get reviews, post updates.

Content

The The Marketing Show approach builds topical authority through genuine interconnection, not keyword stuffing. Every piece of content strengthens the others. Your 50th article makes your 1st one rank better.

Use Claude or ChatGPT to help draft content, but add your own insights and experience for EEAT.

Search vs Discovery

Search = people looking for answers (Google). Discovery = content finds them (social, YouTube). Different strategies for each.

EEAT

Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness. Google's quality guidelines. Show real experience, cite sources, build reputation over time.

PAA (People Also Ask)

Google's "People Also Ask" boxes. Create content that directly answers these questions. Best tackled after your main service pages are solid.

Notes

• Uses Opus 4.5 for all content now (Caleb)
• Consider AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) as AI search grows