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What is the most important step of SEO?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Matthew Sayle, Aug 25, 2015.

  1. #1
    I am interested to hear what other SEO professionals think the most important step of SEO is.

    I am casting my vote for Keyword research.

    If you don't do your keyword research properly, everything you do after that will be in vain.

    What do you guys think?
     
    Matthew Sayle, Aug 25, 2015 IP
  2. jazmyn

    jazmyn Member

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    #2
    I think content plays very important role in SEO today. However keyword research is also important but have you ever noticed that today it is very difficult to get visitors from Google unlike a couple of years back. Google had changed their algorithms in 2014. they made over 500 changes to the algorithms where lots of websites gets lower their rankings. The major factor was the length of article where previously it was at least 300 word. But today google gives more priority to In-depths articles. If your article is lengthy and relevant to the keyword it will get higher in the results.
     
    jazmyn, Aug 25, 2015 IP
  3. maleeha

    maleeha Member

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    #3
    yes keyword research is the main thing
    after that you will do offpage seo for promoting your keywords on google
     
    maleeha, Aug 25, 2015 IP
  4. ChazB

    ChazB Member

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    #4
    Content is king, or so they say. It is vitally important but, without keyword research, your amazing content efforts could be going to waste. So, casting my vote for KW.
     
    ChazB, Aug 25, 2015 IP
    Matthew Sayle likes this.
  5. mikhailblaze

    mikhailblaze Member

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    #5
    Well Matt, you already answered it. Keyword research, hands down.

    You can't exactly write user-friendly and pro-SEO content without knowing what your keywords should be. The second spot isn't actually occupied by content, but web design. This might be an unpopular opinion, but you can't exactly organize content for your users (and the SE bots) without a structured design.
     
    mikhailblaze, Aug 25, 2015 IP
  6. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #6
    Passion

    If you don't have a passion for your topic then all the SEO in the world won't help elevate your site from a wannabe to first class.
    Passion also means that you know your market and can identify keywords that people search on looking for sites like yours and keywords people search on looking for something completely different.

    In our family business we can do keyword analysis and see that there are some pertinent keywords that rank really well, but because we understand our market we know that they're not our customers. Rather than putting our efforts into the wrong keywords our passion for our business means we know which keywords will bring customers that will convert to sales.
     
    sarahk, Aug 25, 2015 IP
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  7. mikhailblaze

    mikhailblaze Member

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    #7
    OMG. This nailed it.
     
    mikhailblaze, Aug 25, 2015 IP
  8. Leilani Sniffen

    Leilani Sniffen Greenhorn

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    #8
    Keyword research hands down!!! Get that wrong and it's like having your store's neon light flashing in a back alley where no one would think to go.

    Leilani
     
    Leilani Sniffen, Aug 25, 2015 IP
  9. arntel

    arntel Member

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    #9
    Honestly, From my Perspective "Content should be 100% unique" & then create very Strong BACKLINKS ... :)
     
    arntel, Aug 25, 2015 IP
  10. naeemak776

    naeemak776 Member

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    #10
    Yes content play very important role but if your article 1500 words or upto 1500 that would be great because in 1500 words you can easily explain everything and users can ready with interest. But only content not enough , Content structure also play very important role keep in mind your keywords well fit in your content , you can get idea keyword planner but you can also download cvs file in google webmaster and check queries and that is very easy to get idea about your relevant keywords .
    so check queries your website in webmaster after write a well structure article many chances you can get natural backlink for your sites
     
    naeemak776, Aug 26, 2015 IP
  11. King Manu

    King Manu Active Member

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    #11
    I don't know if I am a SEO professional or not, but I believe the question is wrong. Is like asking what piece of a puzzle is the most important. Well, tough to say right? And even if you struggle to find the most important piece of a puzzle, if that is possible, how is this going to help somebody ? You think that focusing on one single thing in SEO while search engines themselves become more complex day by day, is the right formula? I personally don't think so.

    I know that keeping it simple is the key to success, but also being flexible is. Being flexible to be secured. It just seem so unstable to put your whole balance in one single pillow. Why not 3 or 4 ? I sure would feel more stable like that. I've seen this story all over. People focus on one single aspect on SEO, search engines become smarter, treating it like a spam and they fall like dominoes.

    On another point of view, SEO must be adapted to the type of website , to fulfill its need. What works best for my website, a image gallery website, is not that great for a blog. Or for a tube website. In other words, what's important for me it might not be that important for someone else.

    I believe a better question is " what are the most important steps of SEO ? "

    There is a big problem with this need of finding the right formula, the secret key, the short passage to success. This is just an invitation for laziness, coziness and failure ; and should be avoided. JMO
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2015
    King Manu, Aug 26, 2015 IP
  12. Matthew Sayle

    Matthew Sayle Prominent Member

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    #12
    That's exactly why I proposed this question.

    I have ranked websites with zero backlinks.
    I have ranked websites with only a few posts.
    I have even ranked an autoblog once (don't ask me how).
    However, I have never ranked a website for a target keyword that was unrankable.

    Let me share a conversation I had just a few days ago:

    A member of DP approached me about doing some link building for him.

    I asked him what keywords he was targeting.

    He responded with:
    Free online games, free games for kids, and play free arcade game

    Now, what would happen if I built links on his site?

    He didn't do proper keyword research.

    No matter what any SEO professional did, he would never outrank these sites with anything less than $100,000 and 12 months.
     
    Matthew Sayle, Aug 26, 2015 IP
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  13. King Manu

    King Manu Active Member

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    #13
    Ooh, really? That's not good :).
    Anyway, I know what you are saying. Keywords are the foundation of everything, knowing your niche more specifically ; but still, I don't find it the single most important thing in SEO.

    Let me give you a counter example. I am a blogger. I like 90's pop music, Avengers comics and the beaches from Spain. That means that I can't write about all of these and still have a sweet amount of visitors, and furthermore , nice cash in my pockets ? I can guarantee you I can. Because I have something @sarahk mentioned: passion about it.
    All these robotics schemes, and plans, and trying to be the best for a specific phrase, sounds great if you are a robot or you like autoblogs.

    But if you want to build a business, a brand, to add value to the market, to leave your fingerprint on the world, while achieving financial freedom, you got to add the single most powerful energy that drives us : the human emotions.

    You see now why a single piece of knowledge is just a small element in financial success ?
    Have an open heart and an open mind !
     
    King Manu, Aug 26, 2015 IP
  14. LinkGenie

    LinkGenie Active Member

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    #14
    Keyword research is important. But it's not the best.
    If we discuss this matter 3-5 years back, yes keyword research is the one. But now it's not.

    Now we need to consider website as a whole and see whether our sites gives better user experience. Suppose a user is searching for a 'free beauty tips' and your site does offer that. If the landing page has everything that satisfy user intention, you are ok even you don't mention keywords on the page.
     
    LinkGenie, Aug 27, 2015 IP
  15. Matthew Sayle

    Matthew Sayle Prominent Member

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    #15
    If the keyword research is done wrong, the entire SEO pyramid collapses.

    Are you saying you don't agree?
     
    Matthew Sayle, Aug 27, 2015 IP
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  16. Mehdi.b

    Mehdi.b Active Member

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    #16
    I must agree with these guys, I also think if the keyword research is not done right then the whole shebang is in question.
     
    Mehdi.b, Aug 27, 2015 IP
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  17. KylieSweet

    KylieSweet Well-Known Member

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    #17
    Google knew that SEO world is focus on keyword targeting, to be able to rank a specific or home page. However, the search engine is more into "meaning" rather than "exact searches" so the basic keyword research method must improve or elevate to match Google practices. I will call it Advance Keyword research.
     
    KylieSweet, Aug 27, 2015 IP
  18. Moazzem Hossain

    Moazzem Hossain Member

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    #18
    Keyword Research and On Page Optimization is the primary and important parts of SEO
     
    Moazzem Hossain, Aug 28, 2015 IP
  19. Mehul B

    Mehul B Member

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    #19
    Yes keyword research is one of the most important steps in SEO. Selecting and Targeting right keywords can help you rank high in search engines and drive organic traffic to your site.
     
    Mehul B, Aug 28, 2015 IP
  20. Thetony

    Thetony Member

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    #20
    Keyword research is indeed important but many people just look at it from ranking perspective and not user intent or the goal they are trying to achieve.

    One of the common questions I get (especially from small businesses) is would it be beneficial for them to go after the "hot topic" keywords.
    For example, if "raw food" is trending, create raw food related content.
    Their thinking is to just drive traffic to their site but what they are missing is what those visitors will do after reaching to the site.

    Picking an easy to rank keyword is important but knowing the user intent (why they search for that keyword) and create the correct content around it is as important as well.

    Otherwise the users will just bounce and never come back.
     
    Thetony, Aug 28, 2015 IP
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