image credit
You’re a visionary. Your Idea will change the world!Every time you tell someone about your idea they instantly become a believer and start spreading the word. Your energy and passion for what you do is so contagious that you are attracting talent, people want to get involved. Only problem is you need funding, cash is tight, and can’t afford to hire a top notch SEO agency.
If you’re like me you’re a jack of all trades. My trade is SEO. Little did I know, I’m also a bookkeeper, attorney, real estate advisor, human resources department, project manager, marketing director, sales manager, public speaker, and the list goes on….
So, my fellow start-up friend, let me help make you the best overnight DIY SEO expert possible! Here are some tools and insights to help with your journey!
On Page Optimization
This will show you what the Perfectly optimized page looks like
Keep in mind that 70% of all internet searches are long tail searches, a critical factor when creating your content strategy
Use this tool to do keyword research. It’s important to understand the difference between broad match searches and exact match searches. Also, understand that the long tail lives between the exact match and broad match
Don’t waste your time with the meta keywords tag
Always keep users in mind when optimizing page content, never stuff keywords into a page to rank.
Set up a profile with Google Webmaster tools and Bing webmaster tools
Submit an XML sitemap to both Google & Bing through their webmaster tool accounts. Remember, Bing controls Yahoo. Need a sitemap? Use this Generator
Use this Tool to find broken links, missing alt tags, 404 errors , and other technical issues in your site. Export the report and tell your web dev to get busy!
More tools by the Ninjas! The DIY SEO Guys best friend
SEO Tools
SEOmoz has a great SEO tool kit, some say the best. Hey, with 18 million in funding they should have a kick butt tool kit!
OpenSiteExplorer will show you all of your competitors links. Go get em! Check out the “compare link metrics” on this tool
Megistic SEO will show you how many links your competitors have generated over time
SpyFu will show you how much money your competitors are spending on AdWords, and what keywords they are using. Also, compare two competitors to see what overlapping keywords are used….target these!
Raven Tools – This is SEOmoz’s largest competitors. They have a robust suite of SEO tools for link acquisition, bench marketing, and reporting
Link Building
Use UBL or YEXT to get into the local directories
The Penguin update put a stop on manufactured link building strategies. Put every link service through the test and ask yourself, “Will my target market find this useful?” If the answer is no, stay away.
Always ask link vendors for a deliverable. If they will not show you the link URLs do not do business with them
When you get your deliverable run the domain through Open Site Explorer to see the domain authority. If it’s a high domain authority (30+) then keep the link building service. If it’s of low domain authority then get rid of the service.
Never sign monthly contracts with link building vendors, keep them on their toes with purchase orders.
Here are some vendors that deliver manufactured strategies. Your success is through vendor management : AstaMedia , Link Narwhal, Backlink Mafia, Link Fool
Local SEO
This is your local SEO bible, if you’re a local business or have plans to operate many locations it’s critical that you read this
Content Generation
: Crowdsouring platform for content generation. Need 1000 product reviews in 48 hours, this is your source. Need affordable movie reviews writer, product descriptions, or blog content? This is a great place to start. Sidenote: The founder of this company is a local Badass (what up Joe!)
Zerys – Project management platform that connects you with a pool of writers. Find one writer or power a crowd.
Crowd Content – another content platform. Content generation is getting easy now days…..
SEO Resources
– worlds largest SEO community, blog, and user generated blog
Search Engine Journal – Search marketing trends and updates. Check out my posts
Search Engine Watch – Authority in search info. Sign up for their weekly updates and get high level major updates in your inbox….
Search Ranking Factors – by SEOmoz, a complete look into the Google Ranking Algo, this is true science
Google Algorithm Changes – Track Google’s Algorithm changes with this web page by SEOmoz
All of the resources in this section (Search Ranking Factors and Google changes) have been tweeted thousands of times. This is because the content is the best in the business…..That’s your goal, create the best content in your business and deliver it to those that care. If you can do this, and you’re an ethical company, Social media will give you life
Alright – this will get you started! Start-up’s stick together….before funding and after! In the comments below, feel free to ask any questions or add to the list. I’m happy to help.
About Gabriel Gervelis
@seo_pro – I’m a digital expert a search marketing samurai, social ad serving gun slinger, start up entrepreneur, & marketing master mind who’s mission is nothing less then to change the world!
Find me on Linkedin
