Comments on: Websites Need Content Before You Can Optimize!

By: Caryn Starr-Gates

Caryn Starr-Gates — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:44:54 +0000

Thanks Nick – had an experience recently while doing freelance copywriting and directory-building for an agency and its client. Client did not understand that the website had to first be optimized with new content. Wanted it all backwards! But we’re getting there …

By: Dave Abernethy

Dave Abernethy — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:09:21 +0000

We find this all the time too Nick.

We prefer to be involved early on in a site’s development to advise the client on what content they should have to maximise traffic AND sales too.

After all, if and when a human visitor does reach the site looking for the e.g. bathroom design service they were searching for, they need to find it and be sold on it – and you need real content to do that – it’s not just there for SEO

By: Nancy Wolff Leary

Nancy Wolff Leary — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:04:37 +0000

Thanks for the post, Nick. It’s surprising how often business owners are not aware of which keywords will resonate with potential customers, since these are the terms that should be used in both consultations and in written media. I have been mystified when working with business owners who are unable to articulate their value proposition and what they do in more than very general terms. Once I drill down with a client and identify the services they offer, a website architecture with keyword-rich landing pages and sub-pages emerges naturally. The customer-focused content follows from there.

By: Massimo Luciani

Massimo Luciani — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:19:08 +0000

They can add Panda, they can add +1, they can add any new tools but content is still king!

Content is the foundations of any web activities including SEO and you can’t build the roof withouth foundations.

By: Gary Victor

Gary Victor — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:17:45 +0000

When either developing a site from scratch or doing a site revision, we always stress to clients the need to write to their audience first (develop useful content) and that good SEO will follow that practice. It needs to be “on the page” before it can be “seen in the code”.

By: Tom Gerace

Tom Gerace — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:33:51 +0000

This is great advice, Nick, thanks. Time and time again, when we look at recent organic search performance for brand marketers, we discover that they have yet to make a sufficient investment in content to capture that search traffic.

As you suggest, we have found that the topic-focused landing pages that you describe are an important ingredient to success for our agency and brand partners. Focusing the searcher (and the search engines) on key topical areas is important.

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Tom Gerace is CEO of Skyword, the search-driven media company