To increase a blog's traffic from search engines in 2014/15, Google keep telling us to create 'great content'. But what does that mean, and how does it affect ranking in Google and other search engines? In this presentation, given to the London Bloggers Meetup on 9th September 2014, I attempt to explain how engaging your readers will eventually help build your traffic.

1. Charlotte Gunnell
SEO Manager at Metro.co.uk
@cavatica_copy
www.cavatica.co.uk

2. Three things to start with:
● Links for SEO aren’t dead.
● Guest blogging is not dead.
● Social shares do not count towards Google rank.
(We want these for exposure - not for ranking)
There is no magic secret - sorry :(
@cavatica_copy

3. Links do help ranking, but...
● Never do guest posting just to get links.
● Do it for exposure and contacts instead.
● Proportions - the more people you reach, the more
chance you have of getting links.
● Think long-term (and enjoy yourself).
@cavatica_copy

4. ‘The objective is not to “make your links
appear natural”; the objective is that
your links are natural.’
Matt Cutts,
Head of Google’s Webspam team
@cavatica_copy

5. How to ‘do’ SEO in 2014:
Everything comes from your obsession.
1. Always having something to say
(= more content = authority = ranking)
@cavatica_copy

6. How to ‘do’ SEO in 2014:
Everything comes from your obsession.
2. Conversation
(= comments)
@cavatica_copy

7. How to ‘do’ SEO in 2014:
Everything comes from your obsession.
3. Community/engagement
(= shares)
@cavatica_copy

8. How to ‘do’ SEO in 2014:
Everything comes from your obsession.
4. Contacts/following
(= guest posts)
@cavatica_copy

9. How to ‘do’ SEO in 2014:
Everything comes from your obsession.
5. Exposure/brand-building
(= links)
@cavatica_copy

10. How to impress bigger blogs:
● File copy while subject is still newsworthy.
● Write fantastic headlines - attract the editor’s attention.
● Being interesting is only 40% of the work.
● Be polite – don’t forget people are busy.
● Roll with the punches and you’ll be hired again.
● Don’t be afraid to go into detail.
@cavatica_copy

11. Where to get ideas and keywords from:
● Social (questions/conversations)
● Topsy.com
● Keywordtool.io
● Bigger sites - news and other people’s opinions
Never settle - take it one step further.
@cavatica_copy

12. Useful SEO blogs:
● Moz.com
● Search Engine Roundtable
● Search Engine Land
● Kate Toon’s copywriting blog
@cavatica_copy

13. Thanks for listening!
@cavatica_copy