SEO and Steamers


     Search Engine Optimization-- its something that, if you aren't familiar with it, you've probably at least heard it mentioned before. When it comes to digital marketing, SEO is... well, its crucial. If you know what you're doing, and how to squeeze every drop of usefulness out of SEO, then you hold what is arguably the biggest part of the key to website success. But, what is it? What does SEO even stand for? We'll get to that, but first I need coffee. Actually, caffeine is the last thing I need (I've already had two lattes today), so how about a steamer? Its coffee and caffeine free, but a steamer is no doubt my favorite warm drink. Maybe part of what makes me love them so much is the fact that no one (including my barista self) makes them better than my boyfriend. The best part of my weekend is when he wakes me up with a salted caramel steamer. Perhaps he can whip one up for me real quick...


     Mmmm. Its comfort in a cup. Anyway, lets get back to SEO, or Search Engine Optimization. Search Engine Land's Danny Goodwin defines SEO as "the process of improving your website to increase its visibility in Google, Microsoft Bing, and other search engines whenever people search for: products you sell, services you provide, (and) information on topics in which you have deep expertise and/or experience." Think of the last time you Googled something-- you had a whole host of results come up, but likely clicked on one of the ones on the first page, near the top. SEO is what determines which result shows up first, second, third, so on and so forth. SEO for your brand's website, blog, etc. is the difference between being a common result that thousands of people see, and being four or more pages down the line of results. So, what are my top three tips for successfully using Search Engine Optimization as a marketing tool? Without further ado...


Tip Number 1
     Do some more research. There is so much more to search engine optimization than the basics I'm explaining to you here, and one of the best ways to master something or even to just improve in an area is to learn more. When I tell you that cappuccinos call for microfoamed milk, and that there is a special 
technique for microfoaming, that probably makes sense. But to find out how to perfect that technique, its going to take more than just some written instructions from me. So when I tell you that SEO works differently depending on how you're using it (social media, blogs, websites, etc), and that that is because things that are based in social media use audience engagement as well as searches, that probably makes sense. But why is that so? Danny Goodwin from Search Engine Land from says that when it comes to SEO, research and understanding is key.

Tip Number 2
     List at least ten keywords. These would be words that you would expect consumers to type into a search bar when trying to locate your brand's page. For example, a few keywords for The Caffeinated College Student might be: college or marketing blog, coffee blog, and coffee recipes. The best and most competitive keywords are one to two words long, versus three or more words that are more specific, but less competitive amongst brands. Choosing the right keywords for your brand is also something that you can cross-reference with a similar brand as yours, like how Scooter's Coffee might cross-reference their keywords with 7Brew. Brian Dean from Backlink says, "if you want to check out the search volume and competition levels for those terms, you can use a keyword tool like Semrush or Ubersuggest." 

Tip Number 3
    Determine your approach. Once you've done your research, you've listed your keywords and have seen what your competitors are up to, its time to make a plan regarding your approach. Backlink's Brian Dean says, "When it comes to SEO content, you’ve got two options: Option #1: You can create something different. Option #2: You can create something better. Sometimes you want to create something bigger and better than what’s out there." What he's saying is that you can either compete, or create a category of your own. As in, if there are a whole host of articles on 5 Tips for Microfoaming Milk then you can choose to do something similar, and create a line like "Top 3 Tips for Microfoaming Milk," or you can do something different and create a line like "Why This Is the Best Microfoaming Technique." They both get you to the type of article you're looking for, but the latter doesn't get lost in the sea of tips and tricks articles. 

Like I said, SEO is crucial to a successful brand, but its also a deceptively intricate and tedious business. Hopefully, this gives you an idea of where to start, so that you can dip your toes into the world of Search Engine Optimization and give your brand the boost it needs to stand out.

Thanks for Reading,
The Caffeinated College Student

Comments

  1. Tyler HeinemanApril 14, 2024 at 10:18 PM

    Hi Stephanie! Awesome blog post. I really enjoyed reading!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Most Viewed Posts

Social Media and Shakeratos

Image
     In today's world, there is one marketing tool that can make or break your company and that, my friends, is social media. It's no surprise that in this the age of the internet, your presence on the many different social media platforms is crucial to building your brand, your business, and your following. The amount of effort you put into your platforms directly correlates to the popularity of your brand. If you're thinking, "social media is too hard," "it requires too much time and attention," "I wouldn't even know where to start," or even if you've already established brand social media and are looking to jus it up-- you've come to the right place, because today we're going to go over my top three Tips and Tricks for using social media marketing to your advantage. But first, how about a coffee? Try my recipe for the perfect Italian Shakerato.      Now that we're caffeinated, let's dive into social media. Social medi...
Read more

Dutch Bros and Doppios

Image
       As a marketing student who wants to go into independent brand management, I am always thinking about social media marketing. I'll scroll past an ad or post and think about what they could have done better, or I'll see a product at work and think about how I would use social media to market it if that were my job. Determining how to best approach social media marketing comes largely down to knowing your target audience, knowing which platforms they use the most, and knowing what your goals are both long and short term, but there is still so much more to it. So, what exactly does a successful social media brand look like? We'll get to that in a minute, but first, I think its coffee time. If you like strong espresso, try my recipe for an Italian Doppio.      When looking at brands that succeed in their social media marketing, one of the first companies I tend to think of is Dutch Bros Coffee. In case you aren't familiar with them, Dutch Bros is a ...
Read more

Canva and Cappuccinos

Image
         As a marketing student, there are many different applications and programs that I use on a near-daily basis. My favorite of these, however, is Canva. Canva is a graphic design tool that allows you to make virtually any media you desire, such as business cards, logos, social media graphics, cards and invitations, and so much more. It is easy to use, incredibly customizable, and is an easy way to ensure that your designs never look too similar to anyone else's. If you've never heard of Canva before, or if you're new to the Canva scene and are looking for a little more information on how to use it-- well, you've come to the right blog. But first, let's make coffee, shall we? Follow my recipe for the perfect Cappuccino.      That's better. Now, let's talk about Canva. Like I said, Canva is the tool of all tools, but using it in a way that allows you to end up with professional-grade designs at a bare minimum skill level? That's the tricky (an...
Read more