Hello gang! If you’ve landed here, you are in for an absolute treat. We’ve got cookies. Well, not actual cookies, but we do have some delicious SEO strategies to feast on brought to you by none-other than (IMHO) the content GOAT, Brian Dean.
Now, if you’re new to the world of SEO, don’t fret. We’re not about to bombard you with jargon and complex concepts. We’re here to make SEO as easy as pie. And who doesn’t love pie, right? Especially some sweet old Brian Dean pie.
Welcome to the middle of the year 2023 where, according to some experts, SEO is apparently dead for the 13th year running. BUT!!! SEO is still the secret sauce to making your website visible online. It’s like a beacon that signals to Google (and other search engines, but let’s face it, Google’s the big kahuna) that your site exists and has some pretty cool stuff to offer.
But here’s the thing — SEO isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. It’s constantly evolving, just like that sourdough starter you’ve got fermenting in your kitchen. What worked yesterday might not work today. And what works today? Well, that’s what we’re here to find out.
The SEO Landscape in 2023
Brian Dean’s latest SEO update is full of so much goodness that I had to bring you the latest and greatest in SEO strategies for 2023 according to the great man. Now, if you’re wondering who Brian Dean is, let’s just say he’s kind of a big deal in the SEO world. Think of him as the Gordon Ramsay of SEO, but with less yelling and more helpful tips.
So, buckle up, grab a cup of coffee (or tea, if that’s your jam), and let’s dive into the exciting world of SEO in 2023. And don’t worry, we promise to keep the tech-speak to a minimum. After all, we’re not trying to put you to sleep here!
Stay tuned for the next sections where we’ll be exploring the magical world of Curated Collections, the art of Reverse Outreach, the secret behind AI-Proof Content, and more. It’s going to be a wild ride, but don’t worry — we’ve got the map, and we’re pretty good navigators.
And remember, SEO isn’t about who gets there first, it’s about who stays on top. So let’s climb that mountain together, one strategy at a time.
Ready? Let’s go!
Curated Collections: A Deeper Dive
Alright, let’s delve a bit deeper into the concept of curated collections. The term itself might sound a bit fancy, but the idea is quite simple.
What Exactly Are Curated Collections?
Curated collections are essentially a form of content that gathers information from various sources and organises it in a meaningful and user-friendly way. They are designed to provide a comprehensive overview of a specific topic, saving the user the time and effort of having to search for the information themselves.
Think of it as a library. A library is a curated collection of books. The librarian (that’s you) has carefully selected books (information) on various topics and organised them into sections (your website). When a library visitor (your user) is looking for books on a specific topic, they don’t have to go hunting around the entire library. They can go straight to the relevant section and find a collection of books specifically curated for their needs.
Curated Collections in the Context of SEO
In the context of SEO, curated collections work because they provide a lot of value to the user. When a user searches for a specific topic and lands on a page that has a wealth of information all in one place, they’re likely to stay on that page longer, explore further, and even share the page with others. All of this user engagement sends positive signals to search engines, which can boost your SEO ranking.
For instance, in Brian Dean’s video, he talks about creating curated collections of startups in various industries. These collections include details about each startup, such as its funding, founding date, location, and growth. This kind of content is valuable to anyone interested in the startup scene, and having all this information in one place makes the user’s search experience much more efficient and enjoyable.
Implementing Curated Collections
Creating curated collections involves a few key steps:
- Identify a Topic: The first step is to identify a topic that is relevant to your audience and has a wealth of information available. This could be anything from a list of resources for learning a new skill, to a collection of articles on a trending topic.
- Research: Once you have your topic, it’s time to start researching. This involves scouring the internet for reliable and valuable sources of information on your chosen topic.
- Organise: After you’ve gathered your information, you need to organise it in a way that makes sense to your audience. This could involve grouping information by subtopics, creating a timeline of events, or even designing an infographic to visually represent the information.
- Publish and Optimise: Finally, you’ll publish your curated collection on your website. But the work doesn’t stop there. You’ll also need to optimise your collection for SEO. This includes using relevant keywords in your content, creating a compelling meta description, and ensuring your page loads quickly.
Remember, the goal of a curated collection is to provide value to your audience. It’s not about simply gathering information; it’s about presenting that information in a way that is helpful and engaging to your users. So, put on your curator hat and start creating!
Reverse Outreach: Turning the Tables on Traditional SEO
Next up on our SEO strategy hit list is Reverse Outreach. Now, before you start picturing yourself reaching out backwards to people, let’s clarify what this term actually means.
Understanding Reverse Outreach
In traditional SEO outreach, you’d typically find yourself sending out a barrage of emails to bloggers, journalists, and influencers, hoping that they’d link back to your website. It’s a bit like fishing — you cast your line out into the vast ocean of the internet and hope for a bite.
Reverse Outreach, on the other hand, flips this process on its head. Instead of you reaching out to them, you make it so they come to you. It’s about creating such valuable, unique, and in-demand content that bloggers and journalists will naturally want to link to it in their own content.
Reverse Outreach in Action
In Brian Dean’s video, he talks about identifying what bloggers and journalists in your niche are searching for and then creating content that fills that gap. For instance, if a journalist is writing an article about a trending topic, say, ChatGPT, they might be looking for specific statistics or facts. If you have a blog post that provides this information, they’re likely to link to your post in their article.
Implementing Reverse Outreach
So, how can you put Reverse Outreach into action? Here are some steps to guide you:
- Identify the Need: The first step is to figure out what information bloggers, journalists, and influencers in your niche are searching for. This could involve some social listening, or even directly asking them what kind of information they often look for.
- Create the Content: Once you’ve identified the need, it’s time to create content that fills it. Remember, the goal is to provide value and answer a question or solve a problem that your target audience has.
- Optimise and Publish: After creating your content, make sure it’s optimised for SEO. This includes using relevant keywords, creating a compelling meta description, and ensuring your page loads quickly. Then, publish it on your website.
- Promote: Don’t just sit back and wait for people to find your content. Promote it on your social media channels, in your email newsletter, and any other platforms where your target audience is likely to see it.
Remember, the goal of Reverse Outreach is to create content so good that it does the outreach for you. It’s about attracting backlinks naturally by providing value and meeting the needs of your audience. So, get out there and start reversing!
Bottom of the Funnel Content: Catching Them When They’re Ready
Moving on, let’s talk about the Bottom of the Funnel Content. If you’re picturing a literal funnel right now, you’re on the right track. But instead of water or sand, this funnel is filled with potential customers. The weird part is how this seems obvious, but in some cases there is ripe for the picking bottom of funnel content waiting for us to be taken, not just the obvious.
Decoding Bottom of the Funnel Content
In marketing, we often talk about the sales funnel, which represents the customer’s journey from first learning about your brand (top of the funnel) to making a purchase (bottom of the funnel).
Bottom of the Funnel Content is specifically designed to target potential customers who are at the decision-making stage. They’ve done their research, they’ve evaluated their options, and now they’re ready to make a purchase. Your job is to convince them that your product or service is the right choice.
Bottom of the Funnel Content in Practice
In Brian Dean’s video, he talks about creating content around keywords like “trend spotting software” and “Google Trends alternatives.” These are not keywords that a casual browser would search for. These are keywords that someone who is ready to invest in a trend spotting software would search for.
By creating content around these keywords, you’re positioning your website to be found by people who are ready to take action. And while these keywords might not have a high search volume, they have a high potential for conversion, which is ultimately what matters for your bottom line.
Implementing Bottom of the Funnel Content
So, how can you create effective Bottom of the Funnel Content? Here are some steps to guide you:
- Identify Your Keywords: The first step is to identify keywords that someone who is ready to make a purchase might search for. These could be specific product names, comparisons between products, or even questions about how to use your product.
- Create the Content: Once you’ve identified your keywords, it’s time to create content around them. This could be product reviews, comparison articles, how-to guides, or even case studies. The goal is to provide valuable information that helps the user make their purchase decision.
- Optimise and Publish: After creating your content, make sure it’s optimised for SEO. This includes using your chosen keywords in the content, creating a compelling meta description, and ensuring your page loads quickly. Then, publish it on your website.
- Promote: Don’t forget to promote your content. Share it on your social media channels, in your email newsletter, and any other platforms where your target audience is likely to see it.
Remember, Bottom of the Funnel Content is all about catching potential customers when they’re ready to make a purchase. It’s about being there at the right time, with the right information, to guide them towards choosing your product or service. So, start thinking about what your potential customers need to know when they’re ready to make a purchase, and create content that provides that information.
AI-Proof Content: Staying Ahead of the Bots
Next on our list is AI-Proof Content. Now, before you start imagining a dystopian future where robots rule the world, let’s clarify what we mean by AI-Proof Content.
Understanding AI-Proof Content
AI, or Artificial Intelligence, has made significant strides in recent years, including in the field of content creation. Today, AI can generate content that’s pretty decent, but it’s not perfect. It can describe what something is, but it struggles to explain why something is happening or to connect seemingly unrelated pieces of information.
AI-Proof Content, then, is content that AI can’t replicate well. It’s content that requires a human touch — a level of analysis, insight, or creativity that AI just can’t match.
AI-Proof Content in Action
In Brian Dean’s video, he talks about focusing on “why” keywords rather than “what” keywords. For instance, an AI can write an article about what business trends are, but it would struggle to write an article about why these trends are happening or what implications they might have for the future.
Implementing AI-Proof Content
So, how can you create AI-Proof Content? Here are some steps to guide you:
- Identify Your Keywords: The first step is to identify “why” keywords in your niche. These are keywords that require a level of analysis or insight that AI can’t provide.
- Create the Content: Once you’ve identified your keywords, it’s time to create content around them. This could involve analysing trends, making predictions, or providing expert insights. The goal is to provide a level of value that AI can’t match.
- Optimise and Publish: After creating your content, make sure it’s optimised for SEO. This includes using your chosen keywords in the content, creating a compelling meta description, and ensuring your page loads quickly. Then, publish it on your website.
- Promote: Don’t forget to promote your content. Share it on your social media channels, in your email newsletter, and any other platforms where your target audience is likely to see it.
Remember, the goal of AI-Proof Content is to provide a level of value that AI can’t match. It’s about leveraging your unique human insights and creativity to create content that stands out from the AI-generated crowd. So, start thinking about the “why” behind your content, and let your human touch shine through.
Riding the Wave: Catching SEO Trends Before They Peak
As we continue our journey through the world of SEO, let’s turn our attention to the concept of “Riding the Wave.” No, we’re not talking about surfing here (though that would be pretty cool), but rather about catching SEO trends before they peak.
What Does “Riding the Wave” Mean?
In the context of SEO, “Riding the Wave” refers to identifying and targeting keywords that are trending upwards but haven’t yet become highly competitive. It’s about spotting potential trends in their early stages and capitalising on them before everyone else jumps on the bandwagon.
Riding the Wave in Action
In Brian Dean’s video, he talks about the importance of going after keywords that are likely to trend up in the future, rather than established keywords that already have a lot of competition. By doing this, you can get ahead of the curve and establish a strong SEO presence for these keywords before they become highly competitive.
Implementing the “Riding the Wave” Strategy
So, how can you start “Riding the Wave” in your own SEO strategy? Here are some steps to guide you:
- Identify Potential Trends: The first step is to identify keywords that are currently low in competition but have the potential to trend upwards. This could involve keeping an eye on industry news, monitoring social media, or using SEO tools to spot emerging trends.
- Create Relevant Content: Once you’ve identified potential trending keywords, it’s time to create content around them. This could involve writing blog posts, creating videos, or even developing an infographic.
- Optimise and Publish: After creating your content, make sure it’s optimised for SEO. This includes using your chosen keywords in the content, creating a compelling meta description, and ensuring your page loads quickly. Then, publish it on your website.
- Promote: Don’t forget to promote your content. Share it on your social media channels, in your email newsletter, and any other platforms where your target audience is likely to see it.
Remember, the goal of “Riding the Wave” is to get ahead of SEO trends before they peak. It’s about being proactive and forward-thinking in your SEO strategy. So, keep your eyes on the horizon and be ready to ride the wave when it comes!
Time to Value: Delivering Quick Wins to Your Audience
As we near the end of our SEO strategy journey, let’s discuss the concept of “Time to Value.” This isn’t about time travel or finding a magic stopwatch. Instead, it’s about delivering value to your audience as quickly as possible.
Unpacking Time to Value
In the realm of SEO, “Time to Value” refers to how long it takes for a user to get what they want from your page. If your page has a long introduction or is difficult to navigate, the time to value is high. On the other hand, if a user can quickly find the information they’re looking for, the time to value is low.
Time to Value in Practice
In Brian Dean’s video, he uses the example of Investopedia, a site that provides quick, concise answers to financial questions. When a user lands on an Investopedia page, they can immediately find the answer to their question, resulting in a low time to value.
Implementing Time to Value
So, how can you improve the time to value on your own site? Here are some steps to guide you:
- Identify User Needs: The first step is to understand what your users are looking for when they visit your site. What questions are they trying to answer? What problems are they trying to solve?
- Structure Your Content: Once you know what your users want, structure your content in a way that quickly delivers this value. This could involve putting key information at the top of the page, using clear headings and subheadings, or including a summary or key points section.
- Optimise Your Page: In addition to structuring your content, make sure your page is optimised for speed and usability. This includes things like reducing page load times, ensuring your site is mobile-friendly, and making your site easy to navigate.
- Test and Refine: Finally, continuously test and refine your site to improve time to value. This could involve using analytics to see where users are spending time on your site, conducting user testing to identify potential issues, or regularly updating your content to ensure it remains relevant and valuable.
Remember, the goal of improving time to value is to quickly deliver value to your users. The faster a user can find what they’re looking for on your site, the more likely they are to stay, explore further, and even become a customer. So, start thinking about how you can deliver quick wins to your audience and reduce your time to value.
Conclusion: Mastering SEO in 2023 and Beyond
Well, we’ve come to the end of our SEO journey, and what a ride it’s been! We’ve explored the world of Curated Collections, turned the tables with Reverse Outreach, delved into the depths of Bottom of the Funnel Content, outsmarted the bots with AI-Proof Content, caught the wave of trending keywords, and delivered quick wins with Time to Value.
But remember, SEO isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. The strategies that work today might not work tomorrow, and that’s okay. The key is to stay adaptable, keep learning, and always strive to provide value to your audience.
Recap of the Strategies Discussed
Let’s do a quick recap of the strategies we’ve discussed:
- Curated Collections: Compile valuable information from various sources into a one-stop-shop for your audience.
- Reverse Outreach: Create such valuable, unique, and in-demand content that bloggers and journalists will naturally want to link to it.
- Bottom of the Funnel Content: Target potential customers who are at the decision-making stage with content that convinces them your product or service is the right choice.
- AI-Proof Content: Create content that requires a human touch — a level of analysis, insight, or creativity that AI can’t match.
- Riding the Wave: Identify and target keywords that are trending upwards but haven’t yet become highly competitive.
- Time to Value: Deliver value to your audience as quickly as possible by making your content easy to navigate and your page quick to load.
The Next Steps
Now, it’s your turn to put these strategies into action. Remember, SEO is not about quick fixes or gaming the system. It’s about providing value to your audience and making your website the best it can be. So, go forth and conquer the world of SEO!
And remember, if you ever feel lost or overwhelmed, just take a deep breath and think back to this guide. We’re here to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of SEO, one strategy at a time.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on these strategies. Have you tried any of them? Do you have any other strategies to share? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments section below. After all, SEO is a team sport, and we’re all in this together. Happy optimising!
