If you’ve spent any amount of time in the SEO industry, you’ve probably become desensitized to Matt Cutts’ warnings and announcements, as well as the Google algorithm changes. Let’s be honest though. If you’re doing things the right way, none of this should effect your strategy and continued success. Google has constantly evolved to penalize those in the SEO industry that break the rules, and this will not change. As always, it is important to have a multifaceted strategy that includes SEO, social media, and content marketing. In that spirit, we gathered some of the best articles on these subjects from February. Enjoy, and if you’re looking for the same great content the rest of the month, don’t forget to check in with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
SEO
Link Auditing: Removing A Penalty From an Old Domain
More than several years ago now, some of my closer colleagues will remember SEOgadget had been subjected to a directory submission blast. Two, in fact. The domain had been submitted to around 2,000 adult website directories (sigh), and a batch submission to Directory Maximiser.
10 SEO Experiments that will Change the Way You Do SEO
Google doesn’t want you to know the secret sauce behind its ranking algorithm recipe. So, most SEOs rely on gut feeling when using certain SEO methods they think should work.
Link Building in 2014 is All About Building Your Brand & Reputation
Many of those who pursue link building have had a tough year. Google’s verbal and physical assault on link building practices has been unrelenting.
Why Duplicate Business Listings Are Like The Walking Dead
In the Local SEO biz, we spend a lot of time fixing duplicate business listings. Duplicate records of your business appearing throughout the Local Search ecosystem can cause a variety of issues like messing with your Google Local rankings, causing you to lose business, and may even make you feel like you’re experiencing a zombie apocalypse.
How to Social Proof Your Search Engine Optimization Campaign
Social proofing your business is one of the best ways to maintain a solid digital market positioning in your choice of industry. In constantly changing consumer behaviour, it is crucial for internet marketers to establish a good marketing stand where consumer behaviour becomes more predictable.
The Fine Line between Link Earning and Link Schemes
Ah, link building. It’s the quintessential trademark of SEO, especially recently, and while links are still important, how you obtain them has changed quite dramatically in the last year.
SEO 101: The 5 Parts of Your Site You Should Keyword Optimize
SEO can sometimes feel like it stands for “Something Extremely Obscure,” especially for busy marketers who just don’t have the time to sit down and figure it all out.
How To Create Content Google Hummingbird Loves
When Google announced its newest search algorithm, Hummingbird, in September 2013, many SEO strategists began to panic. And—at least, initially—that sense of panic was perfectly valid.
Google Didn’t Want Us To Use The Keyword Planner This Way. But It Works Nicely.
Just practicing my Upworthy titles. Did it make you click? Now that you’re here, we’ll look at what I’m talking about in a moment. But first let’s set the scene as to why and when you’d want to use keyword planner in such unorthodox manners…
Content Marketing
5 Time Management Tips for Content Marketers
Consumers have seemingly infinite options when it comes to reading content, whether in the form of written posts, images, videos, or micro blogs.
5 Frightening Facts About Content Marketing in 2014
SearchEngineWatch.com recently published a great article on how to “Crush Content Marketing in 2014.” The tips are spot-on and all but guaranteed to work. But they’re not user-friendly. In fact, what they say about content marketing is downright scary.
The LEGO Movie: Content Marketing Triumph or 100 Minute Advert?
You really don’t need me to tell you that there’s a LEGO movie out right now. It’s impossible to ignore. Heck, even as I write this there’s a Culture Show special on BBC2 right now about how LEGO has influenced architecture.
10 Content Marketing Growth Hacks [with Infographic]
By now, you’ve heard of growth hacking. Introduced by startup marketer Sean Ellis, growth hacking is a startup marketing methodology that turns clever tactics into fast-paced growth.
Your Biggest Mistake in Content Marketing and How to Avoid It
Successful content marketing has several important components that work together to attract your ideal customers. A solid content strategy and defined goals are your foundation.
Social Media
3 Ways to Generate Concrete Sales Leads through Social Media
How To Make Your Posts Stand Out on Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn: The Complete Guide to Social Media Formatting
Social media is a crowded place. You need every competitive advantage possible to stand out. Luckily, giving your social media posts a little something extra doesn’t have to mean to a lot of extra work for you.
#Hashtagology 101: How to Use Hashtags in Your Social Media Content
It took a while, but Facebook finally succumbed to the hashtag in June 2013. Now this humble little symbol can connect conversations on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest.
9 Things From The ’90s That Social Media Replaced
Teens today don’t have it as tough as we did: Answering machines sometimes didn’t record your message. You had to settle for a celebrity’s autograph because you forgot your camera. Times were hard; yet we still found ways to communicate.
Can We Say Goodbye to These Social Media Buzzwords in 2014?
When it comes to social media, 2013 was a pretty watershed year for brands and platforms alike.
Stop Doing That! THIS is How You Do Social Media.
Social media has been the whipping boy of digital marketing for quite some time. It has been used, abused, and disregarded for far too long. But marketers mistreat social media at their own peril.
We’ll finish up this month’s roundup with Matt Cutts answering the question, “Should I focus on clarity or jargon when writing content?”
Image: Flickr/Paul Downey