Search Behavior & Search Engine Optimization

Editor's Notes

• #2: Think about how you consume media: Morning television news Laptop or tablet Check email Family, Friends & colleagues Visit links Save and/or share them Twitter & Facebook Share and retweet Search Based on TV Based on online Might visit actual news sites Ride to work: Check email and/or headlines on phone Radio Rewind Voice search Email to myself Share with networks Mobile app or site At work: Email from people Email newsletters Aggregators From specific news organizations Social networks Facebook & Twitter Search: For my own benefit For clients Mobile Throughout the day Walking down the hall In meetings At lunch Search Sharing Commute home Same After work Evening news Search Share Out & about Search Share
• #3: What are search engines? Rather than a place to go for information, think about them as: Bill Tancer: Database of desires People tell search engines what they want They are answer engines On-Demand content When they want it
• #4: What is SEO? Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Search Engine Advertising (SEA) Google AdWords, Yahoo!, Bing, Ask For Fee Pay Per Click (PPC) Search Engine Optimization (SEO) All search engines Natural Results Web design Content Optimization Why one page shows up and another does not? Keywords on the page Placement of the keywords Design of the page Authority of the web site Authority of the author Frequency of content Links to the content Text of links Authority of links Topicality of links Number of links Citation of the site Competition Deliberate optimization Competing authority Social signals Likes Shares Comments Search activity Surges in search Personalization Personal Search History Content shared within your social networks
• #5: Out of sight, out of mind Becoming a primary means by which people find news More convenient Aggregated content Don’t have to wade through a Web site
• #6: Why does SEO matter? Everyone uses search engines 2012 Pew Internet: 91% of online adult Americans use search engines Second only to email as most popular online activity Pew Internet, 2008: Average day: Lots of email – 60% General searches – 49% News reading – 39% ComScore Average Internet user performs 33 searches a month The primary means by which people find news Google/Yahoo!/Bing set expectations Internal search must be as good Drives traffic Impressions Registrations
• #7: Ambient Awareness Hear about it See it on TV Hear it on radio See it in social media They will: Visit news web site News aggregators Google Yahoo! YouTube Feedly Search Social Media Twitter Facebook Email newsletters Mobile Apps
• #8: Search for more information after learning about news Search query Scan for exact match or very close match Click link Scan for exact query
• #9: Certain types of search traffic is predictable Breaking news Event-based search Seasonal search Personality search Pop culture search
• #10: Research keywords - Front page of NYTimes.com on 4/17/13 What search terms to people use to find your site What are people searching for generally Google AdWords Keyword Tool Google Trends WordTracker KeywordDiscovery YouTube Keyword Tool Trending Searches Trending Hashtags Analytics Data Editorial calendar synchronization
• #11: Familiar with the prom season Either because you’ve got teens Or because you publish prom content Aware that proms take place in April
• #12: Seasonal traffic Prom Fashions example 2004 Mall of America microsite Begins to rise in January Peaks in April, during prom season Bill Tancer, author of Click Magazine prom fashion features in January Extend the advertising runs
• #13: Celebrity Searches Brett Favre search traffic
• #14: Track searches News coverage Events
• #15: Search traffic ties directly into analytics Understand Keyword patterns Searches & Behavior Understanding the entire process is equally important
• #16: Through search analytics you can learn Who is visiting your site Where they came from How they arrived at your site What they did they do on your site Conversions & Ultimately, Why: Insight
• #17: Huffington Post Low labor costs Aggregates content SEO to maximize page views Examiner.com Low labor costs Local content Quantity, not necessarily quality SEO to maximize page views
• #18: Graphic appeal Front page devoted to one story Photo commands attention Content teases below
• #19: Related content teases in photos Headline: Apple iPad Tablet Release Update stamp Social sharing tools RSS Feed Interactive features encourage registration Content tagging Ask visitors to share story Aggregated news updates Email signups, share, comment Most popular content encourages deep visits
• #20: Incorporates social content Mid-story advertising Promo popular bloggers Trending tags Email signup again “ Breaking News”
• #21: Huffington Post Apps & Feeds Creating lasting connections More distribution channels Big News pages Topic aggregation Follow on Facebook & Twitter Related HuffPo content Bing search Content syndication deal?
• #22: Real-time Twitter feed Links to other related news Your Reaction? Encourage interaction Registration More in Technology Encourage deeper visits
• #23: Google AdSense Ads About popular comments section At the bottom Scroll through content to get to feature Robust comment system Moderation Ratings Fans Favorites Abuse Promo iPhone App
• #24: HuffPo Article Optimized for Apple iPad Tablet Release Combination Apple iPad Tablet Apple iPad Release
• #25: Google Web Search Top link
• #26: Google News Search Top link
• #27: Yahoo Web Search Second link
• #28: Yahoo News Search Second link
• #29: Bing Web Search Fifth link Above the scroll
• #30: Bing News Search Second link
• #31: Interest begins at 9 a.m. Peaks at 10 a.m. Then sharply declines By that time, a new front page story Anticipated traffic
• #33: Personalized search results Google keeps track of your site visits My web history Get more personalized search results based on what you've searched for and which sites you've visited. See personalized query suggestions in Google Suggest based on what you've searched for and which sites you've visited.
• #34: Links to news about Apple iPad announcement shared in Twitter
• #35: Links to news about Apple iPad announcement shared in Facebook Trusted sources = Recipient of link is more likely to visit Link has been vetted: They’ll feel better about sharing with their networks
• #36: Links from social media shared through Google real-time search
• #37: Google’s Social Search experiment Google rolled out yesterday Includes content from my social network Trusted networks Social networks as a content distribution channel are increasingly important
• #38: Mobile Search: Voice activated search Aggregation applications Geolocation Augmented Reality Google Glass
• #40: What to look for in an in-house search optimization professional? Must understand communications, first and foremost Not just a techno-wiz Must completely understand SEO Also understand your CMS And your publishing process Understand online communities Who and where they are How people behave online How they consume media online Keyword research/analysis skills Understand analytics Understand the connection between content & advertising