πŸ— The 4 Key Documents You Need For Great SEO


Use Data Or Be Used By Data!

The October 2 issue of Seotistics is here for you!

The HCU has messed up with many websites and showed us once again the importance of boring SEO.

Repetitive processes can be scaled and that's why some websites are able to endure many hits.

I want to show you what is possible to do today with 4 simple documents and this doesn't only apply to content websites.

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πŸ”‘ Short vs Long Term

Taking immediate action is good when you have to start a project.

I can't say the same for Core Updates or for Keyword Research.

You can do small research in a few hours if you ALREADY have a strategy in place.

In either case, immediate action without thought is dangerous.

Updating all of your pages because someone else said so doesn't solve anything.

πŸ₯· Steal My Blueprint

If you have been confused at the start of any SEO project... I feel you.

Currently, what I recommend having is the following:

  • Content & Keyword Database - use Airtable
  • SEO Roadmap - Google Sheets is fine
  • SEO Plan - Google Docs
  • SEO Briefs + Templates/Writing Guidelines - Google Docs

This is what I do for every website, the bare minimum to create order out of chaos.

πŸ›’οΈ Content & Keyword Database

I always mention this because it's crucial for success.

Have an Airtable template with the following:

  • URL
  • Title
  • Target keyword(s)
  • Author
  • Published Date
  • Last Update
  • Cluster

Or just check this ready template or this one (I like this more) and you are ready to go!

It's important to build your processes but it's stupid to reinvent the wheel...

Airtable offers Kanban views that allow you to create super useful visualizations:

πŸ—Ί SEO Roadmap

No one explained me at first, I had to figure it out by myself.

You need to write down your goals and what to do to achieve them.

But this isn't enough, goals without a strategy that takes challenges into account are desires.

If you read Seotistics, you hate wishes, you want facts.

The best thing you can do now is write down what you want to achieve AND the actions you will take to achieve your goals.

​Graydot Co. gives you a great example below:

A roadmap should also consider time into account or else you will never act.

Clients want guidance and solid planning, they won't figure it out by themselves.

Even a temporary or flexible roadmap is better than having 0 planning.

πŸ“ƒ SEO Plan

This document would include the "boring" part where you go into details and explain your chosen KPIs, goals and steps.

I always include these details:

  • Goals
  • KPIs
  • Content Strategy
  • How to order the resources

A plan can outline your strategy and articulate your thoughts.

N.B. An effective plan is focused on something. At the same time, a great strategy requires you to focus your resources somewhere too!

πŸ–‹ SEO & Writing Guidelines (Content Briefs + Templates)

This document includes all your writers and editors need to know.

My experience taught me that you should never trust writers, always assume the worst.

That's what brings us to the next point: details.

Briefs and Templates must be specific and include examples:

  • Tone of Voice
  • Audience
  • Linking policies
  • How to structure sentences
  • Content Structure

You want to standardize as much as possible to prevent surprises.

πŸ”‹ Synergy First

I don't believe in the superiority of one method over the others. Do what works for you.

I see too many people using online templates and putting them to poor use.

That's because they forget about the importance of synergy.

Some templates don't fit your current processes and that's completely fine.

You should focus on adapting them instead or using what is needed.

For instance, if you have to do content pruning, you will find several templates online.

Most of them will tell you to:

  • Check GSC/GA4 data
  • Check backlinks
  • Define an action (301 or 410?)

While they are correct, they may not fit your website or your goals.

What if you have a page with a handful of users but that gets good money from Email Marketing?

Context is key and so is adapting what you do to a specific use case.

🧴Data As The Glue

I didn't mention data before because it's actually the glue that keeps all the pieces together.

Your database is a set of data, your roadmap will be validated by it and use data to measure your progress.

Such a thing as data-driven SEO doesn't exist, anything is by default dictated by data!

The Content & Keyword Database helps you to add additional data that can enhance your analysis.

From a different POV, you can consider the following:

  • Add GSC/GA4 to Airtable via Integromat
  • Check your SEO Roadmap to see how often you have to update content

And your SEO Plan can be used to define the details and how to use data.

πŸ’­ A Different School Of Thought

I don't believe in over-optimization or excessive focus on SEO.

Even as an SEO Specialist, focusing too much on the details and not on the big picture can be dangerous.

Nurturing solid processes while doing research is a great way to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage.

And I can tell for sure what I do NOT do:

  • Overanalyze every update
  • Radically change my processes
  • Adding new processes without considering what I already have
  • Listen to noise

Once you have enough practice, you will notice that SEO fundamentals will get you quite far.

πŸ“š Recommended Reads

Today's resources include what you need to get started today.

The book I recommend is about strategy because it's a misused word in Marketing and we've lost its true meaning.

πŸ“ž One-Hour Call

If you have doubts about SEO or Analytics, you can book a call with me.

Have doubts about your content website or with your data?

Look no further, I can help you:

πŸ‘₯ Join Our Community

Our Discord community offers a small place where we can talk business and SEO.

If you hate all the noise of social media, then this place is for you.

πŸ”Ž Analytics For SEO Ebook (v5) - v6 Coming Out This Week!

This ebook is aimed at SEOs or Business Owners who want to explore the combination of SEO and Analytics.

It will teach you or your employees to:

πŸ‘‰ Avoid common pitfalls that cost you money πŸ’Έ

πŸ‘‰ Create meaningful analyses that add value πŸ’―

πŸ‘‰ Shorten the learning time of Analytics ⏳

This comes with monthly updates because I want to create the Ultimate Guide out there.

v5 includes the following new information:

βœ… More than 2x the original size

βœ… 10+ Python/R Notebooks

βœ… How To Detect Seasonality/Anomalies

βœ… Content Audits in Detail

βœ… Exclusive Content

v6 will be the BIGGEST update so far and will include:

πŸ‘‰ SQL Queries

πŸ‘‰ ChatGPT Prompts

πŸ‘‰ Updates To All The New Use Cases

πŸ‘‰ Frameworks & Models

❗️ Feedback and Recommendations

If you have ideas/recommendations for the next issues of Seotistics, you can simply reply to this email.

Marco Giordano
​
SEO Specialist & Data Analyst

Follow me on πŸ”½πŸ”½πŸ”½:

Bernerstrasse SΓΌd 169, Zurich, Switzerland
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Seotistics - Web Analytics + Business + Strategy

The Seotistics newsletter is written by Marco Giordano, a Data/Web Analyst with the goal of combining business and web data. Tired of the usual boring Analytics content without any business impact? Seotistics teaches you how to use Analytics, web data and even content in your workflow while helping you with Strategy.

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