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SEO Strategy Masterclass

SEO Strategy Masterclass

Beyond Roadmaps creating a true strategy and getting management buy-in

DavetheSEO

April 10, 2025
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Transcript

  1. What we are going to cover 1. What is a

    Strategy? 2. Initial Information Gathering 3. Strategy Considerations (SWOT) 4. Putting a Definitive Strategy Together 5. Making your Strategy Happen
  2. What’s a Strategy “A plan to gain or maintain a

    Competitive Advantage” Strategy ≠ Can Meet Objectives
  3. What’s a Strategy “A plan to gain or maintain a

    Competitive Advantage” Strategy ≠ A Series of Tactics
  4. What’s a Strategy “A plan to gain or maintain a

    Competitive Advantage” Strategy ≠ Plan shown in a Roadmap
  5. What’s a Strategy “A plan to gain or maintain a

    Competitive Advantage” Strategy ≠ What competitive Advantage
  6. What’s a Good Strategy? “The competitive advantage(s) adds value for

    (end) users who offer value to the business” We Now Accept Cheques
  7. What’s a Good Strategy? “The competitive advantage(s) adds value for

    (end) users who offer value to the business” We Offer Cash On Delivery
  8. We Offer Cash On Delivery What’s a Good Strategy? “The

    competitive advantage(s) adds value for (end) users who offer value to the business”
  9. What’s a Good Strategy? “The competitive advantage(s) adds value for

    (end) users who offer value to the business” In reality, usually a mixture of factors combined into 1 Value Proposition e.g. Prices & Offers Shopping Experience Brand Value & Affinity Free Coffee Location
  10. Sufficient value to: Keep them as customers & spend more

    often Turn them into customers What’s a Good Strategy? “The competitive advantage(s) adds value for (end) users who offer value to the business” Make them spend more Do something else of value
  11. It will help you achieve your basic business objectives such

    as: Increase profit Increase sales What’s a Good Strategy? “The competitive advantage(s) adds value for (end) users who offer value to the business” Increase shareholder dividends Increase company/ share value Grow Market Share
  12. “The competitive advantage(s) adds value for (end) users who offer

    value to the business” Is achievable: With available resource / effort Long Term - sustainable For min. /available) budget Within other constraints, e.g. legal, political, ethical, Within a short enough time What’s a Good Strategy?
  13. The Difference between Business and Marketing Strategy Marketing Strategy Focus

    on Value Communication Business Strategy Focus on the Value Proposition
  14. The Difference between Business and Marketing Strategy Marketing Strategy Making

    the offer seem better Business Strategy Creating a better offer
  15. The Difference between Business and Marketing Strategy Marketing Strategy A

    Great Marketing strategy can make a success of an OK Business Strategy Business Strategy A Great Business Strategy needs an Ok Marketing Strategy
  16. Who are SEO •Search engines want to show the best

    content •For each search, •Either blue links or in AIOs etc. Users?
  17. Who are SEO •We need to give them a better

    value proposition for showing us in results over competitors Users?
  18. Who are SEO Users? •Initial Value Proposition is how we

    will match their search intent (e.g. content, entertainment, selling) •In SERPs (boost CTR) •On Page (Boost Engagement)
  19. Who are SEO Users? •If you ‘sell’ your visitors your

    end users are advertisers or data collection
  20. SEO Strategy boils down to •Find competitive advantages to: 1.

    Make the value proposition of your pages better for Search Engines than your Competitors’
  21. SEO Strategy boils down to •Find competitive advantages to: 2.

    Make the value proposition of clicking a link and engaging with your content better than your Competitors’
  22. SEO Strategy boils down to •Find competitive advantages to: 3.

    Do a better job of communicating, to site visitors, your business’ value proposition to end users (buyers) than your competitors do
  23. SEO Strategy boils down to •Find competitive advantages to: 3.

    - a) Do a better job of communicating, to site visitors, your business’ value proposition to end users (buyers) than your competitors do
  24. SEO Strategy boils down to •Find competitive advantages to: 3.

    - b) Make your Value Proposition to Advertisers and others having the right type/quantity of visitors
  25. Who are your Key Stakeholders? • Primary • CEO, MD

    • C-Suite, Directors, Dept Head(s) • CMO, Head of Marketing, Head of Digital etc. • People doing the work – SEOs, Copywriters, Content, Website Managers, (maybe Devs) • Who signs the cheques? • Gatekeepers (Client Contact?) • Primary • CEO, MD • C-Suite, Directors, Dept Head(s) • CMO, Head of Marketing, Head of Digital etc. • People doing the work – SEOs, Copywriters, Content, Website Managers, (maybe Devs) • Who signs the cheques? • Gatekeepers (Client Contact?)
  26. Who are your key stakeholders? •Secondary: • Devs • UX

    • Legal / Compliance • Digital Marketers, inc. Paid, Social •Secondary: • Devs • UX • Legal / Compliance • Digital Marketers, inc. Paid, Social
  27. You will need: • To know what you want •

    An (as) Real life (as possible) relationship • Ask (intelligent) questions • Discuss different answers • To know their drivers Possible Drivers: • Recognition • Pay Rise • Promotion • Efficiency • Knowledge • Experience • A Change • Changing Job • Less Work • An Easy Life Can you: • Make them look good? • Make your requests simple? • Make their lives easier? • Predict their objections? • Minimise risk & uncertainty? Building the Right Relationships?
  28. You will need: •To know what you want •An (as)

    Real life (as possible) relationship •Ask (intelligent) questions •Discuss different opinions •To know their drivers Building the Right Relationships?
  29. You will need: • To know what you want •

    An (as) Real life (as possible) relationship • Ask (intelligent) questions • Discuss different answers • To know their drivers Possible Drivers: •Recognition •Pay Rise •Promotion •Efficiency •Knowledge •Experience •A Change •Changing Job •Less Work •An Easy Life Building the Right Relationships?
  30. You will need: • To know what you want •

    An (as) Real life (as possible) relationship • Ask (intelligent) questions • Discuss different answers • To know their drivers Building the Right Relationships? Can you: •Make them look good? •Make your requests simple? •Make their lives easier? •Predict their objections? •Minimise risk & uncertainty?
  31. How is SEO seen in your company? •Is SEO siloed?

    Seen as stand alone? •Quick results expected? •Seen as too Long Term?
  32. How is SEO seen in your company? •Where does Content

    sit? •How about UX? •Seen as an alternative to Paid?
  33. How is SEO seen in your company? •Is it being

    measured on the right KPIs? •Which Attribution Model? •Is Brand Awareness & Engagement valued?
  34. Understanding your Business’ Strategy(ies) and Objectives •Is there one definitive

    strategy? •Is it written down somewhere? •Do different stakeholders have different interpretation?
  35. Understanding your Business’ Strategy(ies) and Objectives •Is there one definitive

    strategy? •Is it written down somewhere? •Do different stakeholders have different focus?
  36. Understanding your Business’ Strategy(ies) and Objectives •Is there one definitive

    strategy? •Is it written down somewhere? •Do different stakeholders have different objectives?
  37. Understanding your Business’ Strategy(ies) and Objectives ? ¿Growth vs profit?

    ¿Timelines? ¿Clear Marketing Strategy? ¿What is the Value Communication focused on? ¿Different Value Proposition for different users?
  38. Understanding your Brand & how it can help SEO •How’s

    your brand seen? •Associated value proposition?
  39. Understanding your Brand & how it can help SEO •Why

    do customers buy and keep buying?
  40. Understanding your Brand & how it can help SEO •Is

    the brand itself a sustainable competitive advantage?
  41. The Marketing & Digital Marketing Strategy •Is pricing or ‘value

    for money’ the main competitive advantage?
  42. The Marketing & Digital Marketing Strategy Is there an SEO

    shaped Hole? •Where can SEO help other activity?
  43. Integrating Paid & Organic Search •Break down Silos •Shared KPIs

    •Information & Data sharing •Fair attribution model Total Search Convs. Total Search Assists Total Search First Click Convs./Assists Total Search Last Click Convs./Assists Total Search Any Click Convs./Assists
  44. Integrating Paid & Organic SEO • Fair attribution model: First

    Click Last Click Time Decay Inverse Time Decay U Shaped Linear
  45. Integrating SEO & Content (+UX) as ‘Organic’ •Content isn’t just

    for SEO but: •SEO can’t exist without content •‘Non-SEO’ Content a ‘waste’ opportunity
  46. Working with PR PR – Train PR teams •Value of

    Links •Which URLs to Mention •When to speak to SEO •Value of Hero Content
  47. Using SEO to boost Brand Brand Recognition in SERPs •Clear

    in Page Title •Images & Logo •Push into AIOs • Check Knowledge Graph & Wikipedia page
  48. Where are you? The Importance of Benchmarking •What competitive advantages

    have you got? •What competitive advantages have you lost?
  49. Where are you? The Importance of Benchmarking • Is SEO

    fit for purpose? • Is the team fit for purpose? • Is the site fit for purpose (technically)? • Is the site fit for purpose (landing page availability)? • Is the site fit for purpose (content quality, topical relevance, E-E-A-T)? • Is the site fit for purpose (UX, Landing Page Experience User Journey)?
  50. What Timelines do you have? New Site Launch 1st Batch

    Content Live Product Pages Optimised 2nd Batch Content Live Conversions +50% New Site investment Organic Team Hired Link Agency Paid Money Runs Out
  51. What Timelines do you have? New Site Launch 1st Batch

    Content Live Product Pages Optimised 2nd Batch Content Live Conversions +50% KPIs Agreed Investment Made Dev Work Stalls Technical Fixes Patience Runs Out
  52. What Timelines do you Have? Home PLP1 PLP2 PLP3 About

    •Seen as a long term investment?
  53. What Timelines do you Have? Home PLP1 PLP2 PLP3 About

    •How quickly are results expected?
  54. What Timelines do you Have? Home PLP1 PLP2 PLP3 About

    •Do you have options? •Short vs long term vs balance?
  55. What Timelines do you Have? Home PLP1 PLP2 PLP3 About

    •Consider ‘visible’ impact on site e.g.
  56. What Timelines do you Have? Home PLP1 SPLP SPLP PLP2

    SPLP SPLP PLP3 SPLP SPLP PLP4 SPLP SPLP PLP5 SPLP SPLP About •Consider ‘visible’ impact on site e.g. •More categories •Improve experience for all channels
  57. What’s planned for Above the Line •What will the impact

    be? •Will brand search increase? •Is the value
  58. What’s planned for Above the Line •Is the value communicated

    by the ads alone? • e.g. Creates interest to find out more • Will some people get it and others not? • Is the ad just bad? Can SEO rescue things?
  59. What’s planned for Above the Line •Is the value communicated

    by the ads alone? • e.g. Creates interest to find out more • Will some people get it and others not? • Is the ad just bad? Can SEO rescue things?
  60. Dev, Content, SEO, PR Agency Site Tools, Add-Ons, Enhancements Backlinks

    Content & SEO Tools Dev Time Start To Finish Content / Copy Writers SEO Team / Your Time What resources do you have? Time=Money •How to Secure More Resources: Build a business case Prioritize effectively Understand stakeholder needs
  61. How do your Users use Search? •Do they use search?

    •Will they use AIOs? Featured Snippets? •Are they time poor? Risk Averse? •Consider by Cohort, Demographic Older, Personal Use, Younger, Desktop Users, Mobile Users, Low Internet Penetration Market For Work, High Internet Penetration Market Confidence Using Search Features & Complex Queries High High Low Low Time Available to Find a Solution & Search • Do they use search? • Will they use AIOs? Featured Snippets? • Are they time poor? Risk Averse?
  62. How do your Users use Search? Main Intent Category Secondary

    Intent Category Page Types Common Actions Features to boost Engagement Keyword Examples Transactional Range Info / Product Selection Product Category Page Browse •Specific categories for each search term with sufficient volume Which [product/service type] Compare •Relevant Imagery [Products/Services] for Select •Filters / Facets Best [product/service] for [customer type] Business Type Home Page / Service Page Find Local Expert • Organisation Schema and Reviews [Business type] Services Read Business Reviews • Clear contact Information [Product/Service Type] Providers Get in Touch / Sales Call • Chat function or appointment booker [Business Type] Near Me Product Info / Features Product Detail Page Compare to requirement •Benefits bullet point Can I use [product/service] for [task] Read Reviews •Returns policy [Product/service] reviews Check Features •Reviews Does [product/service] have [feature] Price / Value / Promotions Product Detail Page Check Affordability •Pricing [Product/service type] offers / Offers Category Value for Money •Special Offers / Codes [store] voucher codes Price Compaison •Money Back / Price Match Cheapest store for [product/service] Immediate Purchase Product Detail Page Add to Cart •Click to Buy / Call to Action Buy [product/service] Buy •Stock / availability information [Product/service] next day delivery Book Sales Call •Delivery information / time [Service] sign up Informational Specific Question Article / Article Section Improve Knowledge •Question in heading How old is [actor]? Definitive Answer •Concise (Voice friendly) Answer Is a US or imperial gallon bigger? Choose Action •Jump to Coding Which year was the Suez crisis? Topic Research Article Section / Article / 101 style guide Improve Knowledge • FAQ sections Fall 2024 trends Become Expert • Long Form Content Beginners guide to decolage Follow Trends • Read More /Related Posts Italian rennaisance Problem Solving Article / How To Post Find Solution •Images or Videos per step How to get to Statue of Liberty? Plan Task •List of steps How to make a baked alaska? Consider Options •Time estimate / materials needed Why is my internet so slow? Navigational Homepage / About Us etc. Find Site •Unique Selling Points Amazon UK Find Specific Page •Social responsibility credentials Bank of America contact details Continue Journey •Lifestyle / brand imagery eBay watchlist Entertainment Content Category / Watch •Reflect brand / lifestyle Where can I watch Dune II Entertain Internet Marketing podcast Videos / Interactive Listen •Shareability Cute cat photos
  63. How do your Users use Search? Main Intent Category Secondary

    Intent Category Page Types Transactional Range Info / Product Selection Product Category Page Business Type Home Page / Service Page Product Info / Features Product Detail Page Price / Value / Promotions Product Detail Page / Offers Category Immediate Purchase Product Detail Page
  64. How do your Users use Search? Main Intent Category Secondary

    Intent Category Page Types Informational Specific Question Article / Article Section Topic Research Article Section / Article / 101 style guide Problem Solving Article / How To Post Navigational Homepage / About Us etc. Entertainment Content Category / Videos / Interactive
  65. Who are Competitors? Direct Indirect /Search Other Similar products and

    services within your category Other websites competing for the same terms Brands with similar positioning in other verticals Brands in other countries Furniture
  66. Who are Competitors? Other Brands with similar positioning in other

    verticals Brands in other countries Furniture
  67. What are Competitors doing Badly? Poor Backlink Profile Thin Link

    Profile Unnatural Topically Unfocused Quantity over Quantity No Link Profile Missed Opportunities Focused on only High Search Volume Use of Experts Current / Recent Trends Upper Funnel Mid Funnel Post Purchase (Loyalty Driving) Poor Content / Landing Pages Topically Unfocused Content doesn’t match Intent (partial or fully) Out of date content Focus on 1 page type Poor Onward User Journey / Navigation ^ Clearly
  68. What are Competitors doing Badly? Missed Opportunities Focused on only

    High Search Volume Use of Experts Current / Recent Trends Upper Funnel Mid Funnel Post Purchase (Loyalty Driving) Poor Land Topica Conten Intent ( Out of Focus Poor Onw N ^ Clearly
  69. What are Competitors doing Badly? Poor Content / Landing Pages

    Topically Unfocused Content doesn’t match Intent (partial or fully) Out of date content Focus on 1 page type Poor Onward User Journey / Navigation ^ Clearly
  70. What are Competitors doing Badly? Poor Backlink Profile Thin Link

    Profile Unnatural Topically Unfocused Quantity over Quality No Link Profile ent / ages used match r fully) ntent e type Journey / n ^ Clearly
  71. Page Optimisation Good length of Content Match Intent Mix of

    Trend & Evergreen Linkworthy Hero Content & Supporting Content Onward User Journey / Navigation Multimedia, FAQs, How Tos, Demos, AIOs, Featured Snippets What are Competitors (etc.) doing Well? Other Channels Good use of PR / Digital PR Social supporting & Surfacing Content Organic & Paid working in Harmony ATL, Social etc. that directly drives Brand Search Site Design Accessible Site Professional Looking Easy to use navigation (Humans & Bots) Crawlable, Indexable Pages Fast, Responsive Market/ Language Specific Sites (inc. HREFLANG) ^ Clearly
  72. What are Competitors (etc.) doing Well? Site Design Accessible Site

    Professional Looking Easy to use navigation (Humans & Bots) Crawlable, Indexable Pages Fast, Responsive Market/ Language Specific Sites (inc. HREFLANG) Page Good Mix of Linkwo Sup Onw Multime AIOs, ^ Clearly
  73. What are Competitors (etc.) doing Well? Page Optimisation Good length

    of Content Match Intent Mix of Trend & Evergreen Linkworthy Hero & Supporting Content Onward User Journey / Navigation Multimedia, FAQs, How Tos, Demos, AIOs, Featured Snippets ^ Clearly
  74. sation ontent nt ergreen ontent & ntent urney / n

    How Tos, nippets What are Competitors (etc.) doing Well? Other Channels Good use of PR / Digital PR Social supporting & Surfacing Content Organic & Paid working in Harmony ATL, Social etc. that directly drives Brand Search ^ Clearly
  75. Why Copying Tactics Doesn’t Work 0 10 20 30 40

    50 60 70 80 90 100 • They have a head start • May have higher budget • Users won’t shift the same • Need a significant competitive advantage
  76. Why Copying Tactics Doesn’t Work • They have a head

    start • May have higher budget • Users won’t shift for same • Need a significant competitive advantage 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
  77. Why Copying Tactics Doesn’t Work 0 10 20 30 40

    50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 • They have a head start • May have higher budget • Users won’t shift for same • Need a significant competitive advantage
  78. Why Copying Tactics Doesn’t Work 0 10 20 30 40

    50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 • They have a head start • May have higher budget • Users won’t shift for same • Need a significant competitive advantage
  79. Why Copying Tactics Doesn’t Work 0 10 20 30 40

    50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 • They have a head start • May have higher budget • Users won’t shift for same • Need a significant competitive advantage
  80. When Copying Tactics can work If different competitors do different

    things well: •Compete on topic or keyword level and have a Competitive Advantage for each
  81. When Copying Tactics can work If different competitors do different

    things well: •Copy successful tactics from other, comparable, verticals
  82. Understanding ‘The Funnel’ 0 Not actively buying but may become

    aware of brands and products in the market or a need requiring a solution 1 A customer becomes aware of a need (or desire) for a product / service. Triggers can come from TV ad, word of mouth, news article, urgent issues etc. 2 Customers may have an initial set of brands or products/services they are aware of. 3 As they research, consumers may consider brands outside of their initial set. Brands can ‘enter’ the process and/or put themselves ahead of rivals. 4 Ultimately, the consumer selects a single choice at the moment of decision 5 The purchase is made and the experience impacts the consumer’s view of the brand. 6 A consumer’s experience is made up of the product or service itself as well as customer service and support. 7 The consumer has a further trigger to buy again, such as a product running out, subscription ending or a product or service being not fit for purpose. 8 The loyalty loop, or disloyalty loop, could see the consumer going straight to repurchase, or to start with a new consideration set and / or active evaluation depending on experience. 0. Unconscious Evaluation 2. Initial Consideration Set 3. Active Evaluation 4. Moment of Decision 5. Purchase 6. Post Purchase Experience 7. Repurchase-Trigger 1. Initial Trigger 8. Loyalty Loop
  83. What can you Actually Rank for? What Domain Authority do

    you have? Topical Authority & Relevance ? Are there Niches? Low Competition KWs? Are you the Right Site to Match Intent & Journey
  84. Who can you Add Value for? Research UK Unclear Buying

    UK In Market Topic Research UK No Budget Unclear UK Unclear Research UK Business Owner Buying USA In Market Transactional UK ‘Cheap’ search term Existing Customer UK Support
  85. Who adds value for you? Research UK Unclear Buying UK

    In Market Topic Research UK No Budget Unclear UK Unclear Research UK Business Owner Buying USA In Market Transactional UK ‘Cheap’ search term Existing Customer UK Support
  86. Choosing Objectives & Focus •Based on your Information Gathering: In

    Initial Consideration Set? Build awareness of Offering Brand Awareness? Ready to Buy Traffic? Value Communication Post-Purchase Loyalty
  87. Keeping Flexibility “No battle was ever won according to plan,

    but no battle was ever won without one” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower
  88. Translating Strategy into Tactics •What does your ‘Target’ Website/SEO look

    like? •What is essential to achieve this? •Where are there different ways to achieve this?
  89. Translating Strategy into Tactics What is the most efficient way

    to reach your target? What is the lowest risk way to reach your target?
  90. Prioritising Tactics •Which resources are finite, •Impact vs effort vs

    urgency •What is needed to build foundation •What can start straight away •What looks good and is visible •Prerequisites / Dependencies
  91. Prioritising Tactics • Which resources are finite, • Impact vs

    effort vs urgency • What is needed to build foundation • What can start straight away • What looks good and is visible • Prerequisites / Dependencies
  92. Prioritising Tactics • Which resources are finite, • Impact vs

    effort vs urgency • What is needed to build foundation • What can start straight away • What looks good and is visible • Prerequisites / Dependencies
  93. The Purpose of a Roadmap •Arrange in an Efficient Way

    •e.g. have Dev work ongoing while you start planning content
  94. Keeping your Strategy & Roadmap on track •Turn into an

    Interactive Project Plan •Move don’t Remove •Give Personal Responsibility
  95. Keeping your Strategy & Roadmap on track • Get individuals

    etc. to Confirm Acceptance •Include Downtime and Delays •Consider Best & Worst Case Scenarios
  96. Keeping your Strategy & Roadmap on track • Get individuals

    etc. to Confirm Acceptance •Include Downtime and Delays •Consider Best & Worst Case Scenarios
  97. Building a Feedback Loop •Include Engagement Metrics •Rank track groups

    of keywords – including: • by intent, • by topic, • by cohort •Eliminate what isn’t Working •Are Competitors copying you?