There are two kinds of tips. One that you give a taxi driver or waitress; this flows out of your pocket. The second type of tip is knowledge. What if this kind of tip was free? That’s even better. Today’s tips are the second kind, they are about the complex art of SEO or Search Engine Optimization. What if we can get some actionable SEO tips from the best SEO minds in the business? That’s even better. Here you go without further adieu…
You can download this Infographic and use it in your site as long as you give credit to the source with a link to this post.
SEO Tips from Neil Patel
I’m kind of a big deal – Neil Patel, QuickSprout
1. Customize Your 404 Error Page
When viewers land on your 404 error page, they will most likely exit your site if they can’t find what they are looking for. Why not customize the 404 error page? At the least you could have a list of your top posts, categories and frequent tags. You could also include a funny image or two.
2. Create an Interactive Infographic
Infographics have been around for a couple of years now. There is an Infographic on pretty much every topic; whether they are any good is a different issue. What about doing something unique like this Interactive Infographic? (Thanks, Neil Patel for the inspiration)
3. Create a 3D Infographic
Static Infographics are old news. What can you do differently to make your Infographic stand out? Go 3D of course. Check out my attempt at a 3D Infographic here. (See, I am following Neil’s advice)
4. Use Buzz Words in Your Heading
This helps improve your click through rate. The Buzz words to use are:
- How to
- [A number]
- Free
- You
- Tips
- Blog post
- Why
- Best
- Tricks
- Great
I have a few of these in my heading, can you see them?
5. Borrow an Awesome Infographic
Take an awesome Infographic and write about it. Don’t forget to link back to the original content. If you can utilize good content marketing techniques, then you may be able to get more social media shares than the author did. Who do you think has a better return on investment, purely from a cost and time perspective? (Of course, the original author will get more links and that’s a different form of return all together!)
6. Optimize Your Website Load Times
You should know that page load times affect Google rankings. Website speed is also important for your brand, a good user experience, retaining visitors and for conversions. There is an Infographic on how to improve your website speed on this site if you need help.
7. Length is Strength in Content
Viewers who are truly interested in a topic want to read and learn more. They want a free but a detailed course. Take them on an in-depth journey. Ensure your content is engaging otherwise they will snooze off. Did you know Neil writes 45,000-word guides that take him 6 months, WO, indeed!
Tip: The longer the content, the more time a visitor spends on your site.
A quick example to illustrate how content length is key: The longer posts have more social media attention and shares, that’s the 3,000 + word count articles for a good blogging site like successfulblogging.com – thanks, Sue Anne.
8. Ensure Your Website Design is Mobile Responsive
You would know about the last Google update this April. There are plenty of mobile devices these days and most of them are used to surf online. If your site is not mobile friendly then you lose visitors and Google rankings.
9. Give Away Free Tools
A free tool can generate more traffic and more backlinks than content marketing. Find out what tools are doing well in your niche. Can you get something built that will be useful to your audience? Bingo. Example tools can be a broken link checker, link and site analysis tools etc.
10. Target Commercial Keywords Not Informational Keywords
‘Free eBook on weight loss’ is most likely an informational search. ‘Top 10 weight loss products’ is a commercial keyword. Understand the difference and use them wisely.
Tip: Use a Keyword research tool that allows you to weigh up commercial value of a keyword.
11. Target Long Tail Keywords
Short keywords can be very competitive depending on your niche. There is a better chance for you to rank for long tail keywords. Long tail keywords also tend to bring traffic from various word combinations due to the number of words.
12. Target Competitor Keywords
If your competitor is outranking you in the search results, you can go to Google Keyword Planner and spy on them. Type in your competitor’s URL, instead of searching for a keyword. Then click on “Get Ideas” and select “Keyword Ideas” tab. You can now see the keywords your competitor is targeting. You may discover some keywords you haven’t even thought of. Isn’t that priceless?
13. Create Data Driven Content
Backup your content with some data. Data makes 
your content more authoritative. Data also shows you have done your research. Make sure your data is connected to the topic and you are not simply providing data for the sake of it. Too much data is also not a good idea, remember you want to support your content not supplement it.
SEO Tips from Brian Dean
When it comes to link building, Brian Dean is the best in the business – Neil Patel, Backlinko
14. Use the Skyscraper Technique with Your Content – 
Build Something Bigger and Taller
Have you seen the “Burj Khalifa” the tallest building in the world located in Dubai? Do you think anyone looking at it would say, I wonder how big the 5th largest building is?
Tip: Be the best or beat the best.
15. Vary Your Anchor Text
Gone are the days where you can get away with over-optimized keyword rich anchor text. It’s time for domain name and brand name anchor text. Vary your anchor text with keywords once in a while but don’t make this your only anchor text strategy.
16. Get Links from an Audio Sharing Site
Most SEO’s focus on video and ignore audio as link building strategy. Audio sharing is relatively quick and easy. We are not competing with a local rapper here, we merely want links. Pick a topic from your post and plug in your headset with microphone.
17. Get Links by Donating to Charity
Brian is not talking about donating $100s or 
$1000s to get high-quality links but he is talking about finding the small charities that would give a link back for small donations.
Here are some search terms you can use to find them:
- “donate to us”
- “contributors page”
- “sponsors page”
- allintitle: “contributors”
- allintitle: “sponsors”
18. Get Links from Product Reviews
If you have your own product or tool, why not give it to other bloggers for free and ask them for review? If you are successful in getting a review then you will have a link back to your site.
19. Get Links from Testimonials
Provide testimonials for products that you use and let the owners or website know it can be published. In most cases, you should get a link back.
20. Find your Brand Mentions and Claim Links
First, use a tool like Buzzsumo to find brand mentions. Second, send a simple email with a friendly reminder asking to add a link back to your site so viewers can find your site easily.
21. Get Links from the Right Directories
Directories may be old fashioned but they are not dead. The links you get from directories do add up.
22. Help a Reporter Out (HARO)
HARO can get quality backlinks from news sites if you can help a reporter out. First, register with HARO. Second, look out for emails from HARO and pick questions or topics where you can provide valuable information.
23. Get .Edu links
.Edu links are priceless as they usually have very high page rank and authority. You need a ‘WOW’ content on your site before approaching educational institutions for a link. If you don’t ask you don’t get.
Example Search – site: .edu “your keyword”
24. Get links from Website Review Sites
Website review sites will give you feedback on your site design and usability. This will be done mostly by other site owners and users of the site. The advantage of using a website review is you can get a nice do-follow link. Awesome!
You can use a site like Criticue to get feedback on your website.
Note: These are give and take communities, so you have to provide feedback first.
25. Find Broken Links and Offer Yours
Find broken links for websites in your niche and offer them your replacement link. The replacement content must be on a similar topic and must be of good quality.
26. Google+ Profile Link
This is not just for Google+, in fact, you should have a link to your site from all your social media profiles.
SEO Tips from Rand Fishkin
Rand is the Wizard of Oz, no Wizard of Moz. Any list of SEO experts or tips is not complete without Rand who was the ex-CEO of Moz
27. Do Not Use a Subdomain to Host Your Blog
Subdomains do not rank well in Search Engines hence, you should avoid it at any cost. Use your own domain name; you can get one for $10 – $15 a year.
28. Create a Unique Experience for Your Website Visitors
What is unique in your website? Find ways to provide a better user experience; in fact, you should provide a unique experience so users keep coming back to the site. You want people to bookmark your site and NOT bounce from it.
29. Keep Website Design and Navigation Simple
Keep everything in your site simple from design to navigation. Make it easy for people to find stuff. Make important things visible.
Tip: Simple sells and simple works – Rand Fishkin.
30. Reduce ads on Mobile Devices
The number of people using mobile devices to surf online is increasing by the minute. Is your site optimized for mobile devices? I hope you know about the last Google update, just a few weeks back. A tip to ensure your site loads fast and responsive in mobile devices is to cut down the ads on your mobile site.
31. Content Quality Beats Quantity
How many experts have said this? Countless. Don’t write for the sake of writing or pushing the publish button. Look beyond that, Quality beats quantity any day.
32. Improve Pages that Users Like that do not Rank in Search Engines
If there are pages in your site with a lot of comments or social media shares but are not getting organic traffic from the search engines, then why not optimize them?
33. Not All Links are the Same
There is do follow and no follow. Each do-follow link also has a different weight based on the Page Rank. Not all links are created equal so focus on high-quality do-follow links. Links from commenting are usually no-follow.
34. Try to Produce your Own Visuals and use Data
Homegrown images can get more Pins and help you stand out from the crowd. Have a go and experiment.
35. Have a Call to Action in your Home Page
Your home page will be the most visited and you should have at least an email sign up option. Social sharing buttons are also good to have on your home page.
36. Ensure People have a Visually Compelling Reason to Scroll Down the Page
Grab the reader’s attention at the start of your post. Give them something visually appealing to scroll down. This will reduce your bounce rate and improve the amount of time visitors spend on your website or blog.
37. Provide Social Proof and Credibility in the Home Page
People don’t want to read from a newbie. If you have some feedback or comments from someone authoritative in your niche, then now is the time to show it off. Make it visible and ideally link it to the homepage or the sidebar, so it’s visible on all pages.
38. Use a Keyword Research Tool, Google Adwords is not enough
Surprisingly, quite a few new bloggers postpone using a keyword research tool as they believe it will burn a hole in their pocket. Firstly, not using a keyword tool will burn you and secondly, there are really good tools that you can get for under $100. Do your research on a finding a tool then use it wisely!
39. Good and Unique Content are not Enough; Provide a Good User Experience
Good content, quality content and even unique content are getting old school. It is the unique user experience that will get attention. If you grab the attention then the good quality and unique content will sell.
40. Help Before you Sell
Your number one priority is to build a viewership and traffic. Selling and making money will take care of itself once you accomplish your first priority. When you go to some other site, would you like it if they try to sell off the bat? That’s what I thought, so help and provide good information first.
Conclusion
You remember the free tips; you should never want it because it’s free, you want it because you like it or you need it. My job is to dig the gems out and yours is to make an elegant jewelry out of it. To show off and being seen is up to you. Good luck!
References:
- The Beginner’s Guide to SEO by Rand Fishkin and the Moz team – Moz.com
- 11 SEO Changes That Will Give You Big Results by Neil Patel – QuickSprout.com
- The Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Your Google Rankings Without Getting Penalized by Neil Patel – NeilPatel.com
- Link Building: The Definitive Guide by Brian Dean – Backlinko.com
- 100 SEO Tips and Tweetable Quotes from Rand Fishkin by Marvin Russell – MySiteAuditor.com
WOW content indeed, thanks for the great design but most importantly rounding up these awesome tips from these experts.
You are welcome Steve and thanks for the comment. Much appreciated. Cheers, Cent
Now that is what you call an eye catching image/infographic
Hi Shane, as always thanks for leaving a comment. Cheers, Cent
Nice and useful article,another beautiful infographic.Thanks for sharing.
Hi Riyaz, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. Cent
very informative and definitely actionable.
I like it when you say actionable Sheila. Good luck. Cheers, Cent
Another great infographic. Lots of startups have trouble with SEO and I think this would be a handy starting point for them.
Hi Naveen, You always look at the other side of the coin, love it. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Cent
your tips are not just useful but your site is great too !!
Hi Rav, thanks for the compliments and comment. Cheers, Cent
Cent, i love the tips you have provided.My fav ones are 2,14 and 40. Thanks
Hi Mursal, Good stuff. Hope you are taking action. Cent
i like the way you present your articles,its like a quick checklist for any blogger.
Hi Lin, I am shooting for short, sharp, useful information for people who don’t have the time to read lengthy articles. Cheers, Cent
thats great Cent
Hi Cent,
Nice article. I love the way you have mentioned everything in a proper manner.
Thanks.
Hi Ashish, You are very welcome and thanks for the comment. Cheers, Cent
this good idea, informative and i don’t lose my pocket, hehehe
Hi Yanti,
Very good point. These tips wont break your bank account. Thanks, Cent
That’s all I want, a complete information about SEO in a single infographic. Thanks for sharing this. I like the way you explain content through infographics.
Hi, You are welcome and thanks for leaving a comment. Stay tuned for more Infographics on this site. Cheers, Cent
Your articles are interesting and not just useful for bloggers but anyone in general. Thank you for sharing it.
Hi Rima, Thanks for your comment, glad you found the information useful. Cheers, Cent
I like the intro you have written for this article. The post n infographic in itself are good. Nice work.
Hi Jeremy,
Glad you like the intro, post & Infographic. I cannot have asked for a better start for the day. Thanks, Cent
Nice article…all required are mention in the article…
Hi Hitesh, Thanks for leaving a comment. Cheers, Cent
Hey i like your infographic. I am also making one infographic for my next post and i think this will help me. Thanks for the post.
Hi Swapnil, Great to hear the post and Infographic was useful. I think Infographics are awesome and cool. So definitely the way to go. Good luck. Come back to the site and let me know when it’s ready, I would like to have a look. Cheers, Cent
Cent these SEO tips are very useful and if implemented will go a long way.Thanks for the tips.
Hi Morgan, absolutely correct, you are spot on. Thanks for the comment. Cent
I sure can see you have taken Neil Patel’s advise on infographics. I love the infographics on your site.
Hi Vishesh, yes I read and learn from all these experts, especially Brian & Neil. Glad you like the Infographics. We have some more lined up. Thanks for the comment and keep coming back. Cent
Hi,
Awesome article i must say this.Hats off to you!!..You article gives a briefly knowledge about SEO.I have learnt a lot from this article.It will help me in my work.Good work .Keep sharing more and more such type of information.I really really love the info-graphics on your site.
Hi,
I always love to read comments like this especially in the morning as it makes the day even better. Thank you for the encouraging and positive feedback. I am glad the information and the Infographic were useful. Bookmark the site and keep coming back. You will love what’s coming up in the next few weeks. If you like it share it. Thanks, Cent
Wow what an idea to explain about seo to make it easier to do better, people can get much traffic on their own site.
Thank for the sharing keep it active.
Hi Westen, it was a pleasure sharing this one as I learned quite a bit as well. Thanks for the comment, keep coming back for more. Cheers, Cent
The infographic really put forwards all the tips. I have learnt a lot from this post and who can share such tips better than the industry experts. Thanks for this informative share.
Hi, glad you found the information useful and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Cheers, Cent
Short but precise!
Thanks Matan. That’s exactly what we were aiming for. Regards, Cent
Nice Info graphics ,This will help me for next info graphics.
Hi Chetan, Great to hear it will help you. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Cent
Quality articles are difficult to come across. I’m glad i found this one, will share it too.
Awesome, I love people who share and great to hear you found the article useful Jemma. Cheers, Cent
Very useful article. Thanks
Thanks for the positive feedback and leaving a comment. Cheers, Cent
What a collection of SEO tips from the best. You have dug out the best points from the gems for others to follow.Thank you
Hi Shaz, you are welcome and great to hear the tips are useful. Cheers, Cent
I really love the simplicity you presented in the infographic. With keyword research and proper back link building you can have good ranks in Google.
Absolutely correct. Thanks for the comment. Cent
Thanks Mr CENT for this comprehensive post, Please i want you to help me review my health blog i started lately and give me tips on how to take the blog to another level.
Hi Mathew,
Thanks for the compliments. If you are referring to making your blog look more polished and professional check out this Infographic.
If you referring to building backlinks then check out this Infographic.
Good luck,
Cent
HI…
Nice SEO tips .
Hope i can improve my website with this tips.
thanks for sharing..
Hi Priya, Glad you liked the tips. Good luck. Please do come back to the site and let me know your results. Appreciate your comment. Cheers, Cent