[webinar] seo metrics that matter (and those that do not)
TRANSCRIPT
1
WEBINAR: EPISODE 03
SEO Metrics:Which SEO metrics matter and which don’t
WITH: PJ HOWLAND
2
3
4
Motion Graphics
Analytics
PPC
Content Marketing
Reputation Management
Copywriting
SEO & Technical On-Page
Audits
CRO
SMM
Development
UX Design
Email Marketing
Video Production
Graphic Design
5
Digital Marketing
6
...strategy and process that connect advertisers with their audiences across digital channels.
7
...generates 3 times as many leads as traditional outbound marketing, but cost 62% less.
11
What it is not...● Tutorial on Search Engine Optimization● Metric tracking and setup
12
Strategies, not specifics.
13
PJ HowlandEnterprise Campaign Manager
/pjhowland
@askPJHowland
14
15
SEO campaigns need proper tracking techniques
16
“Measure what can be measured, and make measurable what cannot be measured.”
― Galileo Galilei
17
18
“Awesome increase this year.”
19
“What caused the increase?”
20
“Well…”
21
“Well… Campaigns...”
22
“Well… Campaigns...”● Links● New content● Keyword movement
23
“Well… Campaigns… And metrics.”● Links● New content● Keyword movement
24
● Links● New content● Keyword movement
“Well… Campaigns… And metrics.”
Link-building campaign
Launched resource hub
4/5 focus KWs moved to spots 1-3
25
Macro Metrics● Traffic● Revenue● Conversions
26
Micro metrics move the macro metrics. Track and influence micro
metrics to hit macro results.
27
Micro Metric Categories● Keywords● Off-page● Content
28
Before I get started...
29
Before I get started...● I err on the side of measuring more
30
Before I get started...● I err on the side of measuring more● I realize that different circumstances require different metrics
31
Before I get started...● I err on the side of measuring more● I realize that different circumstances require different metrics● I’m not capturing every metric out there
32
Before I get started...● I err on the side of measuring more● I realize that different circumstances require different metrics● I’m not capturing every metric out there● I’m not covering every tool
33
34
35
Keyword Metrics
36
Keyword Metrics● Rankings● Featured snippets● Estimated organic traffic● Total ranking keywords● Top organic keywords● Keyword movements● Keyword metrics
○ Volume○ Difficulty ○ CPC
● Results in SERP
37
Keyword Metrics● Rankings● Featured snippets● Estimated organic traffic● Total ranking keywords● Top organic keywords● Keyword movements● Keyword metrics
○ Volume○ Difficulty ○ CPC
● Results in SERP
38
Keyword Metrics● Rankings - useful for micro-goals, careful not to set too many KW goals● Featured snippets - a must for this exciting time in SEO● Estimated organic traffic - GA is preferred, but useful for comp research● Total ranking keywords - snapshot at site, page, or subfolder performance● Top organic keywords - snapshot at top keywords, can be segmented● Keyword movements - too sporadic, measure weekly/monthly/quarterly● Keyword metrics
○ Volume - a metric that’s here to stay○ Difficulty - validation for needed resources to capture keywords○ CPC - indicator for quality of KW and user interaction
● Results in SERP - vanity metric
39
Off-Page Metrics
40
Off-Page Metrics● Referring domains● Referring pages● Backlinks● Backlink type● Follow and nofollow● CTLD distribution● Anchor text
41
Off-Page Metrics● Referring domains● Referring pages● Backlinks● Backlink type● Follow and nofollow● CTLD distribution● Anchor text
42
Off-Page Metrics● Referring domains - maybe the most important off-page metric● Referring pages - useful to track net references● Backlinks - a must for any SEO campaign● Backlink type - potential for competitive research, but not success metrics● Follow and nofollow - don’t go down the rabbit hole here, snapshot level● CTLD distribution - useful for analysis when site health is in jeopardy● Anchor text - Need to always keep an eye
43
Content Metrics
44
Content Metrics● Deliverables produced● Top pages● Site sectional metrics● Estimated organic traffic● Ranking keywords● Social shares● Backlinks
45
Content Metrics● Deliverables produced● Top pages● Site sectional metrics● Estimated organic traffic● Ranking keywords● Social shares● Backlinks
46
Content Metrics● Deliverables produced - rarely, if ever, should this be a success metric● Top pages - indicator of rising content● Site sectional metrics - validation for areas of focus on the site● Estimated organic traffic - better metric than ‘page authority’ or ‘URL rating’● Ranking keywords - indicator of on-page success for published posts● Social shares - not critical to SEO success, can indirectly affect other metrics● Backlinks - critical for single-page SEO success (as well as site-wide)
47
Takeaway
48
Turn attention to past content and retroactively update posts for new SEO wins.
49
Decline in organic traffic and ranking KWs
50
Homepage clearly dominates organic traffic
51
Most of top keywords are branded, not content
52
Backlink profile is healthy
53
Backlink profile is healthy
54
I would start by analyzing subfolder by subfolder (i.e. /recipes-home/ or /blog/ etc.) to identify lowest hanging fruit.
55
Knowing what metrics matter influences the work. Measure what’s needed and understand what’s not.
Summarization
56
WEBINAR: EPISODE 03
SEO Metrics:Which SEO metrics matter and which don’t
WITH: PJ HOWLAND
57
WEBINAR: EPISODE 04
Spam:Block spam traffic efficiently with Google AnalyticsWITH: BARRETT DASTRUP
May 91:00 pm MST
59