Category: SEO

How Important Are Backlinks To SEO? It Depends.
How Important Are Backlinks To SEO? Yes, it depends.

In this detailed case study, we explore the actual impact of backlinks on search engine rankings and visibility on Google. The conventional wisdom in SEO circles suggests that more backlinks equate to higher rankings, but is this really the case.
The Challenge
Consider a scenario where your website has seen a consistent decline in both the number of referring domains and backlinks over the past year. This trend poses a fundamental question: Do the number and quality of backlinks significantly impact your site’s SEO performance?
Does it matter?
This Ahrefs graph above shows the referring domains or websites that linked to a page on the client’s website (could have given them one backlink or a number of it).
Some SEO specialists when they see this would rather focus on getting backlinks for your site and charge you greatly. It’s reasonable because backlinks are definitely hard to acquire and requires extra effort to get. But, the truth is, a quality backlink (could be one or two) would be a great investment rather than getting a thousand of it for a fraction of the price.

Now this brings us to this dilemma.
(1) How can we say that the backlinks acquired are of good quality? And,
(2) is it all that there is and needed for SEO to work?
Let’s get back to these later in this case study
The Solution
I first audited on this website last Feb 2024 and what I proposed was content creation, keyword realignment on the pages and monthly on-page and technical optimizations for the website.
You might be wondering why I did not include off-page optimizations. Below is the reason why
The Result
Results are below, and this also shows the reason why, keyword realignment, keyword-guided content creation and relevant on page and technical SEO optimizations were recommended more than just going for off page SEO (or acquiring backlinks)
As you can see even though the website had a number of backlinks for years, it did not drive the website to gain keywords and help it show up on Google Searches. While we cannot discard the importance of backlinks, it should be a second level strategy after consistently ranking on Google Search.
As an SEO specialist working for 4 years now, I know that while backlinks are important, content should be the first priority since content is like the backbone that amplify the effect of the backlinks.
THROUGH THIS CASE STUDY, ONCE AGAIN, WE PROVED THAT QUALITY CONTENT IS A GREAT DRIVER OF TRAFFIC AND ONLINE VISIBILITY THAN BACKLINKS.
The lessons from this case study are clear: while backlinks are still a vital part of SEO, they shouldn’t overshadow the importance of content. Adopting a content-first strategy not only amplifies the benefits of backlinks but also builds a strong foundation for sustained SEO success and better user engagement.
Why Prioritizing Content Over Backlinks Makes Sense
Content as the Foundation: Think of content as the bedrock upon which all SEO strategies stand. Without content that’s informative, engaging, and valuable, even the most robust backlinks will only get you so far. Search engines love content that meets what users are looking for, as it leads to better user engagement and higher rankings.
Content Draws Natural Backlinks: Great content pulls in backlinks effortlessly. When your site offers real value and credibility, other sites are naturally inclined to link to you. By focusing on crafting high-quality content, you’re more likely to engage in organic link-building. This kind of natural linking is not only more sustainable but also less likely to get you in trouble with search engines compared to forced link-building strategies.
Ensuring Long-term SEO Health: Google and other search engines are continually refining their algorithms to favor relevant and high-quality content. If your site consistently offers fresh and engaging content, it’s more equipped to handle changes in SEO algorithms and maintain or even boost its ranking.
Boosting User Experience and Engagement: Content directly impacts how visitors interact with your site. High-quality content keeps them around longer, lowers the rate at which they leave (bounce rate), and increases the likelihood of them taking the action you want (conversion rate). These are all crucial factors that search engines take into account when ranking sites.
So let’s circle back.
How important are backlinks to SEO?
It depends on whether you already have ranking content. Without content content/pages, getting more backlinks can only give you a small push to show up for the keywords you are targeting.

But if you already have ranking content and up to beating up the others ranking above your content, then you need quality backlinks.
But what are considered as quality backlinks?
Quality backlinks are vital for effective SEO as they improve a website’s search rankings and enhance its credibility.
Essential characteristics of quality backlinks include: a high domain authority, relevance to the website’s niche, contextual integration within content, and “dofollow” attributes which allow for the passing of link equity. Additionally, valuable backlinks should come from websites with significant traffic, use relevant anchor text, and originate from trustworthy and diverse domains with low spam scores.
The process of acquiring such backlinks typically involves creating compelling content that naturally attracts these links, alongside targeted outreach and public relations efforts. This strategic approach ensures the backlinks not only boost SEO but also contribute to the website’s long-term online authority and trustworthiness.
Frequently Asked Questions

Can you do the same for my website?
Yes I can create a strategy for you that is customized for your website need and target outcome. Implementation time may vary in time depending on your budget and results are also variable due to the different competitiveness of different business niches.

You can set up a call/email exchange with me for a free consultation.
What did you actually do on this project?
I did everything from initial audit, monitoring, on page, and technical SEO optimizations on WordPress , keyword research, and content strategy.

The content creation was done by their writer and I only guided them with my keyword research.
Which package did they get?
They chose the Custom package since they have their own writer and they plan to implement an SEO strategy for one year.
Read more case studies or articles about on-page SEO and technical SEO. You can also check out my available services:
August 8, 2024
How to create a Sitemap for Google Search Console
What is a Sitemap?
A sitemap is a file where you provide detailed information about the pages, videos, and other files on your website, as well as their relationships. Search engines like Google use this file to crawl your site more efficiently. A sitemap informs search engines which pages and files you consider important on your site and provides valuable details such as when a page was last updated or if there are alternate language versions.
Types of Content in a Sitemap
- Video Content: You can specify details such as video running time, rating, and age-appropriateness.
- Image Content: Include the location of images on your page.
- News Content: Provide the article title and publication date.
If you’re using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, Wix, or Blogger, it’s likely your CMS has already created a sitemap for you, so you might not need to take further action.
Do I Need a Sitemap?
When You Might Need a Sitemap
- Large Sites: It’s harder to ensure every page is linked on a large site, making a sitemap beneficial.
- New Sites: New sites with few external links might not be discovered by Googlebot.
- Rich Media Content: Sites with a lot of videos, images, or news content benefit from a sitemap as Google can take additional information into account for Search.
When You Might Not Need a Sitemap
- Small Sites: If your site has about 500 pages or fewer, and all pages are properly linked, you might not need a sitemap.
- Comprehensively Linked Sites: If Googlebot can find all important pages by following links from the homepage.
- Minimal Media Content: If you don’t have many media files or news pages you want to show in search results.
Building a Sitemap
Choosing the Right Format
Google supports several sitemap formats, each with its own benefits and drawbacks:
1. XML Sitemaps: The most versatile, can provide extensive information about your URLs.
  - Pros: Extensible, versatile, widely supported by CMS plugins.
  - Cons: Can be complex to maintain, especially for large sites.
2. RSS, mRSS, and Atom 1.0: Easy to create, particularly for video content.
  - Pros: Automatically generated by most CMS.
  - Cons: Limited to videos, cannot provide information about images or news.
3. Text Sitemaps: Simple format, lists URLs to HTML and other indexable pages.
  - Pros: Easy to create and maintain.
  - Cons: Limited to HTML content.
Best Practices for Sitemaps
- Size Limits: A single sitemap should be no larger than 50MB (uncompressed) and contain no more than 50,000 URLs. If necessary, break it into multiple sitemaps and use a sitemap index file.
- Encoding and Location: The sitemap file must be UTF-8 encoded and can be hosted anywhere on your site. However, it should preferably be at the site root to affect all files.
- URLs: Use fully-qualified, absolute URLs in your sitemaps. For instance, use https://www.example.com/mypage.html instead of /mypage.html.
How to create a Sitemap for Google Search Console
1. CMS-Generated Sitemaps: Most CMS like WordPress, Wix, and Blogger automatically generate sitemaps. Check your CMS documentation for details.
2. Manual Creation: For small sites, you can create a sitemap manually using a text editor.
3. Automatic Generation: For larger sites, use tools or plugins to generate sitemaps. Talk to your developers about creating scripts to extract URLs from your database.
Example of a Basic XML Sitemap
```
xmlCopy code<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
  <url>
    <loc>https://www.example.com/foo.html</loc>
    <lastmod>2022-06-04</lastmod>
  </url>
</urlset>
```
Submitting Your Sitemap to Google
Submitting a sitemap helps Google find your URLs, but it doesn’t guarantee all will be crawled. Here’s how to submit your sitemap:
1. Search Console: Use the Sitemaps report to submit your sitemap URL.
2. API: Programmatically submit your sitemap using the Search Console API.
3. robots.txt: Add a line in your robots.txt file specifying the path to your sitemap, e.g., Sitemap: https://example.com/my_sitemap.xml.
Troubleshooting Sitemaps on Google Search Console
Use Google Search Console to manage and troubleshoot sitemaps. The Sitemaps report provides details on submission history and any errors encountered. Here are common issues and solutions:
- Fetch Errors: Ensure the sitemap URL is correct and accessible. Check for robots.txt restrictions or manual actions.
- Parsing Errors: Ensure your sitemap follows the correct format and syntax.
- Size Issues: If your sitemap is too large, break it into smaller sitemaps.
Having a sitemap is crucial for SEO, but ensuring it’s functioning correctly is equally important. Google Search Console provides various tools and reports to help you troubleshoot any issues with your sitemap. Here’s a detailed guide on how to troubleshoot sitemaps using Google Search Console.
Accessing the Sitemaps Report
To get started with troubleshooting your sitemap, follow these steps:
1. Log into Google Search Console: Use your Google account to access your Search Console dashboard.
2. Navigate to the Sitemaps Report: On the left-hand menu, click on “Sitemaps” under the “Index” section. This will display all the sitemaps you have submitted.
Common Sitemap Issues and How to Fix Them
1. Couldn’t Fetch Sitemap
  - Description: This error indicates that Google couldn’t retrieve the sitemap file.
  - Possible Causes:
    The sitemap URL is incorrect.
    The sitemap is blocked by your robots.txt file.
    The site has manual actions that prevent Google from accessing it.
    Server issues or site downtime.
  - Solution: Verify the sitemap URL and ensure it’s accessible. Check your robots.txt file for any blocking rules and remove them. Address any manual actions in the Search Console and ensure your server is up and running.
2. Sitemap Parsing Errors
  - Description: Google encountered errors while trying to read the sitemap.
  - Possible Causes:
    Incorrect XML syntax.
    Unescaped characters in the sitemap.
  - Solution: Validate your sitemap against the XML schema. Use tools like XML validators to check for syntax errors and ensure all characters are properly escaped.
3. URLs Not Accessible
  - Description: Google cannot crawl one or more URLs listed in the sitemap.
  - Possible Causes:
    URLs blocked by robots.txt.
    URLs leading to 404 errors or redirects.
    Server errors when trying to access URLs.
  - Solution: Use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to check the availability of the problematic URLs. Ensure they are not blocked and fix any server-side issues.
4. Sitemap File Size Error
  - Description: The sitemap exceeds the maximum file size limit of 50MB (uncompressed) or contains more than 50,000 URLs.
  - Solution: Split the sitemap into multiple smaller sitemaps and create a sitemap index file that lists all the individual sitemaps.
5. Invalid Date
  - Description: The sitemap contains one or more invalid dates.
  - Solution: Ensure dates follow the W3C Datetime format. For example, 2005-02-21 or 2005-02-21T18:00:15+00:00.
6. Compression Errors
  - Description: Google encountered an error when trying to uncompress the sitemap file.
  - Solution: Recompress your sitemap using tools like gzip, upload it again, and resubmit.
7. Missing Tags or Attributes
  - Description: Required tags or attributes are missing in the sitemap.
  - Solution: Review the sitemap schema and ensure all required tags and attributes are included.
8. Too Many URLs
  - Description: The sitemap contains more than 50,000 URLs.
  - Solution: Split the sitemap into multiple sitemaps, each with no more than 50,000 URLs, and use a sitemap index file.
Using the URL Inspection Tool
The URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console allows you to see how Google views a specific URL. Here’s how to use it:
1. Enter the URL: In the URL Inspection tool, input the URL you want to check and press Enter.
2. Check for Issues: The tool will display various details about the URL, including whether it’s indexed, any errors encountered, and the page’s status.
3. Live Test: Click on “Live Test” to see the real-time status of the URL. This helps identify current issues affecting Google’s ability to crawl the URL.
Reviewing and Fixing Errors
To fix errors in your sitemap:
1. Click on the Sitemap: In the Sitemaps report, click on the sitemap with errors.
2. View Details: You’ll see a detailed page listing all errors and warnings.
3. Expand Errors: Click on each error to expand and see more details.
4. Fix Issues: Based on the error details, take appropriate actions to fix the issues. This might involve editing the sitemap, fixing server errors, or addressing robots.txt blocks.
5. Resubmit Sitemap: After making corrections, resubmit the sitemap via the Sitemaps report.
Monitoring Sitemap Performance
Regularly monitor your sitemap performance using the Sitemaps report. Check back periodically to ensure Google is fetching and processing your sitemaps correctly. Address any new issues promptly to maintain your site’s SEO health.
Troubleshooting sitemaps is an essential part of SEO maintenance. By using Google Search Console effectively, you can identify and fix issues that might hinder your site’s performance in search results. Regular monitoring and timely adjustments ensure that your content remains accessible and well-indexed by search engines, leading to better visibility and traffic. Happy optimizing!
Cross-Submitting Sitemaps
If you manage multiple sites, you can simplify submission by creating sitemaps that include URLs from all your sites and saving them in a single location. Use Search Console or robots.txt to submit these cross-site sitemaps.
Maintaining and Updating Your Sitemap
Regularly update your sitemap to reflect changes on your site. If you make significant updates, resubmit your sitemap to Google. For minor changes, Google will recrawl your sitemap periodically.
Wrapping Up
A well-structured sitemap can significantly enhance your site’s visibility on search engines, making it easier for users to find your content. Whether you’re managing a small blog or a large e-commerce site, following these guidelines will help ensure your content is efficiently crawled and indexed.
By taking the time to understand and implement effective sitemap practices, you’re setting the foundation for better SEO and a more successful website. If you encounter any issues, refer to the Google Search Console documentation for further guidance. Happy optimizing!
June 20, 2024
SEO Guide for Beginners
When you built your website, you aimed to make it user-friendly, helping visitors easily find and explore your content. One of these visitors is a search engine, which helps people discover your site. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is about helping search engines understand your content so users can find your site and decide to visit it through search results.
Understanding Google Search
Google uses programs called crawlers to explore the web and add pages to its index automatically. You usually don’t need to do anything except publish your site online. If you’re curious, you can find more detailed documentation about how Google discovers, crawls, and serves web pages.
Patience with Search Results
Changes you make to your site take time to reflect in Google’s search results. Some updates might take a few hours, while others could take several months. Generally, wait a few weeks to see if your efforts have had a beneficial effect. Remember, not all changes will result in noticeable improvements.
Helping Google Find Your Content
First, check if Google has already found your content by searching for your site with the “site:” search operator. For example, search “site.com.” If you see results, your site is indexed. If not, ensure there are no technical issues preventing your site from showing up.
Google mainly finds pages through links from other pages it has already crawled. Encourage other sites to link to yours naturally over time, or promote your content to help people discover it.
You can also submit a sitemap, which lists all the URLs on your site. Some content management systems (CMS) can do this automatically. This step isn’t required, but it helps Google discover your pages more efficiently.
Ensuring Google Sees Your Page Like Users Do
Ensure Google can access the same resources (like CSS and JavaScript) as users. If your site hides important components, Google might not understand your pages, affecting your ranking.
To see how Google views your page, use the URL Inspection Tool in Search Console.
Controlling Content Visibility
If there are pages you don’t want in search results, like personal posts, Google supports various ways to opt out. Check Google’s guide on preventing content from appearing in search results.
Organizing Your Site
A well-organized site helps search engines and users understand how your pages relate to each other. However, there’s no need to overhaul your site immediately. These suggestions are more helpful for larger websites.
Using Descriptive URLs
Descriptive URLs help users and search engines understand your content. For example, “www.example.com/pets/cats.html” is more informative than “www.example.com/2/6772756D707920636174.”
Grouping Similar Pages
Organizing similar pages in directories helps Google understand how often each section of your site is updated, optimizing crawl frequency.
Reducing Duplicate Content
Duplicate content can confuse users and waste search engine resources. Ensure each piece of content is accessible through a single URL. If duplicates are necessary, use canonical tags or redirects to indicate the preferred page.
Creating Compelling Content
High-quality content influences your site’s presence in search results. Write clear, well-organized, and original content. Keep your information up-to-date and helpful, focusing on what your audience finds valuable.
Anticipating Search Terms
Think about the words users might search for to find your content. Anticipating different search behaviors can improve your site’s performance in search results.
Managing Ads
While ads are common, they shouldn’t distract or prevent users from reading your content. Ensure ads are not overly intrusive.
Linking to Resources
Links help users and search engines discover more content. Use appropriate anchor text to give context about the linked pages.
Enhancing Search Appearance
Optimize your title links and snippets to make your site appealing in search results. Write clear, concise titles and use descriptive meta descriptions to summarize your pages effectively.
Optimizing Images and Videos
Use high-quality images and descriptive alt text to help search engines understand your visuals. Embed videos near relevant text and use descriptive titles and descriptions.
Promoting Your Website
Promote your content through social media, community engagement, advertisements, and word of mouth. Effective promotion leads to faster discovery by interested users and search engines.
Avoiding Outdated Practices
Focus on what’s best for your business and avoid outdated SEO practices. Don’t worry about meta keywords, keyword stuffing, or the number of headings. Instead, focus on creating valuable content and a positive user experience.
Wrapping Up: SEO Guide for Beginners
Setting up a Search Console account helps you monitor and optimize your website’s performance on Google Search. Maintain your website’s SEO over time with more in-depth tasks, and enhance how your site looks in search results with structured data.
Stay updated with the latest SEO information through the Google Search Central blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube Channel. Use the Google Search Central Help Forum to ask questions and find tips from experienced contributors.
By following this guide, you can improve your site’s SEO, making it easier for users to find and engage with your content.
Read more case studies or articles about on-page SEO and technical SEO. You can also check out my available services:
June 20, 2024
Why is my website not showing on Google? Here’s the steps that you missed.
“Why is my website not showing on Google?” There’s nothing more frustrating than pouring your heart and soul into crafting an article, only to realize it’s not attracting any traffic.
You search for your targeted keywords, but your content is nowhere to be found. Often, this happens because your page isn’t indexed by Google.
Without indexing, your content is essentially invisible on search engines. In this guide, we’ll explore how to get Google to index your site faster using RankMath, a powerful WordPress SEO plugin. Stick around till the end for some bonus tips to enhance your indexing success.
Understanding Google Indexing
Before diving into practical steps, it’s essential to grasp the basic concept of how Google indexing works. Indexing involves two main phases:
1. Discovery (Crawling)
Google continuously searches for new and updated web pages using robots or spiders known as Google bots. These bots either follow links from known pages or use site maps provided by website owners to discover new content. Once a URL is found, the bot crawls the page to analyze its content and layout.
2. Indexing
After a page is crawled, Google processes it to understand its purpose, meaning, and context. This includes analyzing the title tag, text content, alt attributes, images, and videos. The page is then sorted and ranked based on different search terms. Our focus here is to ensure your content gets indexed, setting the stage for better ranking.
Steps to Get Your Pages Indexed
Now, let’s walk through some practical methods to get your pages indexed by Google and other search engines efficiently.
Submit Your Sitemap
A sitemap is a file where you provide information about the pages, videos, and other files on your site, and the relationships between them. Search engines like Google read this file to crawl your site more intelligently. Here’s how you can submit your sitemap using RankMath:
1. Install RankMath Plugin:
  - Go to your WordPress dashboard.
  - Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
  - Search for “RankMath,” install and activate the plugin.
2. Setup RankMath:
  - After activation, follow the setup wizard.
  - Connect RankMath to your Google account to integrate with Google Search Console and Analytics.
  - Ensure all post types and assets are selected for inclusion in the sitemap.
3. Submit Sitemap to Google Search Console:
  - Find your sitemap link in RankMath under Sitemap Settings.
  - Copy this link and go to Google Search Console.
  - Navigate to Sitemaps, paste your sitemap link, and submit.
By submitting your sitemap, you make it easier for Google to discover all the links on your site.
Use URL Inspection Tool
For individual pages, you can use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to see if a page is indexed and request indexing if it’s not.
1. Access URL Inspection Tool:
  - In Google Search Console, enter the URL of your page in the URL Inspection tool.
  - If the page is not indexed, click on “Request Indexing.”
Enable Instant Indexing
For time-sensitive content, such as news articles or live events, instant indexing can be crucial. RankMath offers an Instant Indexing plugin for Google that allows you to send URLs directly to Google’s API.
1. Install Instant Indexing Plugin:
  - Go to RankMath > Instant Indexing.
  - Add new URLs or updated URLs and hit “Send to API.”
Avoid Common Indexing Issues
Certain settings and content types can prevent your pages from being indexed:
- Duplicate Content: Ensure your content is unique. Consolidate similar pages or use canonical tags to indicate the preferred page.
- Robots.txt and Meta Tags: Make sure your robots.txt file and meta tags aren’t blocking Google from indexing your site.
- WordPress Settings: Ensure the “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” option is unchecked under Settings > Reading in WordPress.
Monitor and Troubleshoot Indexing Status
RankMath Pro provides an Index Status tab under Analytics, making it easy to monitor which pages are indexed and troubleshoot any issues directly from your WordPress dashboard.
Bonus Tips for Better Indexing
Internal Linking
Leverage internal links from indexed pages to new content. This helps search engines discover your new pages faster.
Produce High-Quality Content
Always create unique, valuable content that directly answers specific queries. This increases the likelihood of your content being deemed worthy of indexing.
Manage Crawler Traps
For e-commerce sites, avoid creating too many filter-generated URLs, which can confuse search engines. Use your robots.txt file to block unnecessary pages from being crawled.
Wrapping Up: Why is My Website Not Showing on Google?
If your website isn’t showing up on Google, it’s likely because it’s not indexed.
Indexing involves two main phases: discovery and processing of your pages. To ensure your site gets indexed, you should submit your sitemap via Google Search Console using a plugin like RankMath (when using WordPress), utilize the URL Inspection tool for individual pages, and enable instant indexing for time-sensitive content.
Avoid common pitfalls such as duplicate content and improper use of robots.txt or meta tags and regularly monitor your indexing status and ensure your site’s settings are optimized for search engines.
By following these steps and utilizing RankMath, you can significantly improve the chances of getting your content indexed quickly by Google. Regularly monitor your indexing status and adjust your strategies as needed. Remember, quality content and proper SEO practices go hand in hand for successful indexing and ranking.
Read more case studies or articles about on-page SEO and technical SEO. You can also check out my available services:
June 20, 2024
Why blogs are important for your website
In this case study we look at why blogs are important for your website. You could be thinking that having a website is enough, especially if your SEO specialist is impressing you with lots of backlinks.
But does the backlinks really help? Truth is, backlinks help but it’s effect is negligible without content and a content strategy guided by keyword research.
The Challenge
This website was created July last year and they were keen on improving their website’s visibility.
This Ahrefs graph above shows the backlinks (blue line) and organic keywords (orange line) that the website is ranking for before I started working for them.
On the graph below is the Google Search Console metric of the website.
- Blue line represents the organic clicks of the website (means the website showed up as a search result and a user clicked on the result)
- Violet line represent impressions (or when the website shows as a search result but no use clicked on it).
These website metrics show that the website built backlinks (blue line from Ahrefs) from the very start (July 2023), and it produced great impressions (violet line in GSC) but it didn’t help getting clicks for the website and thus the website found it hard to rank for keywords (orange line in Ahrefs).

While it does show that the website had a spike of organic keywords in Ahrefs last September 2023, the Google Search Console shows no spike in clicks and impressions on that date range.
The Solution
I first audited on their website last March 2024 and what I proposed was a keyword realignment, content creation guided by my keyword research, technical SEO fixes and on-page SEO optimizations.
The Result
The first few days of optimization involved keyword realignment which at first created a dip as it shook off keywords that are non-relevant to our targeted terms.
Technical and on-page SEO optimizations were done on the next month and it was on April 29 that their first article was published.

In a span of three months their website had a great improvement.
As of June 15, 2024, they have already published 5 articles and you can see from the graph below that after consistent publishing of keyword research guided content, their clicks and impressions simultaneously trended upwards which also means that they were able to create content that were relevant for their target market.
This is a clear example of how backlinks can definitely create visibility for your website but creating blogs guided by keyword research can create more traffic and relevant clicks from your target market.
If you’re thinking that maybe the website just drove clicks and impression due to increase of backlinks, see below and you might be surprised to know that backlinks are not that powerful.
You can see from the above Ahrefs graph that the website’s backlinks were definitely not the driver of clicks and impressions. It was the organic keywords that drove those, which also is a great example how having quality content is the best way to get traffic for your website than just having backlinks.
THROUGH THIS CASE STUDY, ONCE AGAIN, WE PROVED THAT QUALITY CONTENT IS A GREAT DRIVER OF TRAFFIC AND ONLINE VISIBILITY THAN BACKLINKS.
More Reasons Why Blogs Are Important For Your Website
Here are additional reasons why blogs are important for your website:
1. Engages Visitors: Blogs create opportunities for engagement through comments, shares, and discussions, fostering a community around your brand.
2. Showcases Expertise: Detailed and insightful blog posts demonstrate your knowledge and expertise, positioning you as a thought leader in your field.
3. Supports Social Media: Blogs provide content that can be shared across social media platforms, driving traffic from those channels back to your website.
4. Improves Conversion Rates: By addressing common questions and concerns through blog posts, you can guide visitors through the buyer’s journey, improving the likelihood of conversions.
5. Builds Internal Linking Structure: Blogs allow for internal linking, which can help distribute page authority and enhance the SEO of your entire site.
6. Provides Value to Customers: High-quality blog content offers valuable information to your customers, helping them make informed decisions and improving customer satisfaction.
7. Generates Leads: Blogs can be used to capture leads by including calls-to-action (CTAs) that encourage visitors to subscribe to newsletters, download resources, or contact your business.
8. Supports Long-Tail Keywords: Blogging allows you to target long-tail keywords, which are specific phrases with lower search volumes but higher conversion rates.
9. Keeps Your Audience Informed: Regularly updated blogs keep your audience informed about industry trends, company news, and new products or services.
10. Enhances Brand Voice: Blogs help in developing and maintaining a consistent brand voice, strengthening your brand identity.
11. Offers Evergreen Content: Some blog posts remain relevant and valuable over time, continuously attracting traffic long after they are published.
12. Improves User Experience: Well-structured and informative blog posts enhance the overall user experience by providing helpful and engaging content.
13. Supports Link Building: High-quality blog posts are more likely to be linked to by other websites, improving your backlink profile and domain authority.
14. Increases Dwell Time: Engaging and relevant blog content can increase the amount of time visitors spend on your site, which can positively impact SEO.
15. Provides Shareable Content: Blogs create shareable content that can increase your website’s visibility and reach when shared by readers across social networks.
16. Facilitates Personal Connections: Blogging offers a platform to share personal stories, insights, and experiences, fostering a deeper connection with your audience.
17. Enables Content Repurposing: Blog posts can be repurposed into other formats like videos, podcasts, infographics, and e-books, maximizing the value of your content.
18. Supports Customer Service: Blogs can address common customer questions and issues, providing a resource that supports customer service efforts.
19. Strengthens Email Marketing: Blog content can be used to enhance email marketing campaigns by providing subscribers with valuable information and updates.
20. Offers Analytics Insights: Analyzing blog performance through metrics such as page views, time on page, and conversion rates provides insights into your audience’s preferences and behavior.
21. Enhances Credibility: Consistent, high-quality content can enhance your website’s credibility and reputation in the eyes of your audience.
Frequently Asked Questions

Can you do the same for my website?
Yes I can create a strategy for you that is customized for your website need and target outcome. Implementation time may vary in time depending on your budget and results are also variable due to the different competitiveness of different business niches.

You can set up a call/email exchange with me for a free consultation.
What did you actually do on this project?
I did everything from initial audit, monitoring, on page, and technical SEO optimizations on WordPress , keyword research, and content strategy.

The content creation was done by their writer and I only guided them with my keyword research.
Which package did they get?
They chose the Custom package since they have their own writer and they plan to implement an SEO strategy for one year.
Read more case studies or articles about on-page SEO and technical SEO. You can also check out my available services:
June 15, 2024
SEO Internal Linking Best Practices for Beginners
Internal linking is a critical aspect of SEO that is often misunderstood or oversimplified. While many explanations focus on basic linking strategies, they often overlook the deeper principles of creating relevancy This article will provide a detailed, yet easy-to-understand guide on how to master these principles for a more effective SEO internal linking best practices that you implement alongside your SEO .strategy.
Internal Linking = Passing Relevance
At its core, internal linking is about passing relevance. Think of relevance as a signpost that guides readers from one piece of content to another, ensuring a seamless and contextually appropriate transition. Here’s how to achieve this:
1. Contextual Matching: Ensure the content of the linked article is related to the main topic of the current page. For instance, if your main topic is “coffee makers,” the internal link should direct readers to related subjects like “types of coffee makers” or “how to clean a coffee maker.” This maintains a coherent narrative and enhances the user experience.
2. Semantic Relevance: The headings and subheadings (like H2 and H3 tags) in your article should contain terms related to the main concept. If your article is about “coffee makers,” headings should reflect this theme, covering various types or maintenance tips, rather than unrelated topics like “types of tea.”
Avoiding Irrelevant Links
A common mistake is linking to articles that are not contextually related. For example, linking a word like “stainless steel” in an article about “coffee makers” to an article solely about stainless steel without any connection to coffee makers is misguided. The linked content must always relate back to the main topic to provide value.
Balancing Link Quantity and Quality
The number of internal links within an article affects their effectiveness. More links can dilute the relevance or “link juice” passed from one article to another. Here’s how to manage this balance:
1. Prioritize Important Links: Ensure that the most crucial links appear earlier in the content. For instance, an article about “coffee makers” should prioritize links to comprehensive guides on selecting a coffee maker or troubleshooting common issues.
2. Limit Excessive Linking: Avoid overwhelming your content with too many links, which can confuse readers and dilute the SEO benefits. Aim for a manageable number of highly relevant links that genuinely enhance the reader’s understanding of the topic.
Advanced Concepts: Core and Outer Sections
Internal linking can become more complex when considering different sections of your website, such as core and outer sections. Core sections represent your main content areas, while outer sections might include supplementary content. Understanding how and when to link between these sections can further enhance your site’s structure and SEO performance. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Core to Core Linking: Link main articles within your core content to strengthen the primary structure of your website. For example, a core article on “choosing the best coffee maker” should link to other core articles like “types of coffee beans” or “coffee brewing methods.”
2. Core to Outer Linking: Occasionally link from core content to outer content to provide additional value. An article on “coffee makers” might link to an outer content piece on “kitchen appliance maintenance tips.”
3. Outer to Core Linking: Use supplementary articles to drive traffic back to your main content. For example, a blog post on “the history of coffee” can link back to your core article on “coffee makers.”
By focusing on the principles of passing relevance and balancing link quantity, you can create a more effective internal linking strategy. This approach not only improves SEO but also enhances the user experience by providing contextually relevant pathways through your content.
SEO Internal Linking Best Practices
For beginners, mastering the principles of internal linking is essential for building an effective SEO strategy. Here are detailed best practices to help you get started:
1. Passing Relevance: Internal linking should be about guiding readers to content that is contextually relevant. This means your links should make sense within the flow of the article and lead to related content. For example, if your main topic is “coffee makers,” you might link to articles on “types of coffee makers” or “how to clean a coffee maker.” This helps maintain a coherent narrative and enhances the user experience.
2. Contextual Matching: Ensure that the content of the linked article is directly related to the main topic of the current page. This involves using links that naturally fit into the content and provide additional value. For example, if you mention “espresso machines” in your coffee maker article, link to a detailed guide on espresso machines.
3. Semantic Relevance: Use headings and subheadings that include terms related to the main concept of your article. This helps search engines understand the context and importance of the content. For example, in an article about “coffee makers,” headings should include related topics like “types of coffee makers,” “how to use a coffee maker,” and “best coffee makers for home use.”
4. Avoiding Irrelevant Links: A common mistake is linking to articles that are not contextually related. This can confuse readers and dilute the SEO benefits. For example, linking the term “stainless steel” in an article about coffee makers to an article solely about stainless steel cookware without any connection to coffee makers is misguided. The linked content must always relate back to the main topic to provide value.
5. Balancing Link Quantity and Quality: The number of internal links within an article affects their effectiveness. More links can dilute the relevance or “link juice” passed from one article to another. Here’s how to manage this balance:
  - Prioritize Important Links: Ensure that the most crucial links appear earlier in the content. For instance, an article about “coffee makers” should prioritize links to comprehensive guides on selecting a coffee maker or troubleshooting common issues.
  - Limit Excessive Linking: Avoid overwhelming your content with too many links, which can confuse readers and dilute the SEO benefits. Aim for a manageable number of highly relevant links that genuinely enhance the reader’s understanding of the topic.
6. Strategic Placement of Links: Place links where they naturally fit within the content. For instance, within a paragraph discussing the benefits of different coffee makers, you can link to specific reviews or comparisons of those coffee makers.
7. Use Descriptive Anchor Text: The text you use for your links, known as anchor text, should be descriptive and give readers an idea of what they’ll find when they click the link. Instead of using generic text like “click here,” use specific phrases like “learn how to clean a coffee maker.”
8. Consistency in Linking: Be consistent with your linking strategy. Regularly update your articles to include new relevant links as you publish more content. This helps keep your content interconnected and accessible.
Benefits of Following These Best Practices
By adhering to these practices, you’ll not only improve your SEO but also create a more structured, relevant, and user-friendly website. Effective internal linking helps search engines better understand your content’s structure and context, which can lead to improved rankings. Additionally, it keeps readers engaged by guiding them to more content that interests them, potentially increasing the time they spend on your site and reducing bounce rates.
For more in-depth tutorials on semantic SEO and other SEO strategies, subscribe to our channel and stay tuned for upcoming videos. By mastering these techniques, you’ll be well on your way to creating a more structured, relevant, and user-friendly website.
Read more case studies or articles about on-page SEO and technical SEO. You can also check out my available services:
June 15, 2024
On-Page SEO Examples: Beginner’s Guide to On-Page SEO
If you’re looking to improve your website’s visibility on Google, you’re in the right place. On-Page SEO is crucial for ensuring your web pages rank well for their target keywords and are both useful and relevant to visitors. Let’s dive into the essentials.
What is On-Page SEO?
On-Page SEO involves optimizing various elements of your web pages so that search engines like Google understand and rank them higher. These elements include how and where you use your target keywords, the content on your page, and several technical aspects.
Why is On-Page SEO Important?
On-Page SEO affects two critical areas:
1. Search Engine Results Page (SERP): This is the page that shows up when you search for something on Google. Your snippets, links, images, and text that appear here are influenced by your On-Page SEO efforts.
2. The Web Page Itself: It ensures that both users and search engine crawlers understand and find value in your content.
Key On-Page SEO Factors
1. Keyword Usage: Using your target keywords appropriately is vital. Here’s how you can do it:
  - Title Tag: Include your main keyword naturally in the title tag. Keep it under 60 characters.
  - Meta Description: Use your keyword in a meta description under 160 characters. Although Google sometimes uses other parts of your page for the snippet, a good meta description can still help.
  - URL Slug: Use a short, descriptive URL slug that includes your main keyword (e.g., example.com/target-keyword).
  - Headings (H1, H2, etc.): Your primary keyword should appear in the main heading (H1) and at least one secondary heading (H2).
  - Body Content: Naturally incorporate your keyword throughout your content, especially in the introduction and relevant sections. Avoid keyword stuffing.
2. Content Quality: High-quality content satisfies search intent (the underlying need behind a search query). Here’s what you should consider:
  - Relevance: Ensure your content directly addresses what the searcher is looking for.
  - Depth: Cover your topic comprehensively, but don’t overdo it if a quick answer suffices.
  - Readability: Make your content easy to read with short paragraphs, bullet points, and clear subheadings.
3. Alt Text and File Names for Images: Use descriptive alt text for images, including your keyword if relevant. Keep file names descriptive and short (e.g., red-stop-sign.png).
On-Page SEO Examples of Implementation
Let’s take the keyword “How to go to Balabac” as an example. If you search for this term, you’ll see Lasang Uulit ranking at the top. Here’s why:
- Keyword Usage: The keyword “How to go to Balabac” appears in the title tag, meta description, URL slug, headings, and throughout the content.
- Content Quality: The page provides detailed information about how to go to Balabac, with related articles connected to it and other insights needed by the reader.
- Readability: The content is broken down into easily digestible sections with clear headings and bullet points.
Tools to Help with On-Page SEO
1. SEO Content Template by Semrush: This tool helps you create a content template based on your target keyword by analyzing the top-ranking pages.
2. SEO Writing Assistant by Semrush: This tool offers real-time feedback on your content’s SEO, readability, and originality.
3. On-Page SEO Checker through Semrush and or Ahrefs: This tool audits your existing web pages and provides specific recommendations to optimize them.
4. WordPress SEO Plugins
5. Available SEO optimizations offered in your choice of CMS.
6. Manual content, alts, and meta edits
Tips for Success
- Focus on user experience: Create content that is valuable, easy to read, and helpful to your audience.
- Avoid keyword stuffing: Overusing keywords can make your content seem spammy and reduce its quality.
- Keep updating: SEO is not a one-time task. Regularly update your content to keep it relevant.
On-Page SEO is the foundation of your website’s visibility in search engines. By using your target keywords effectively, creating high-quality content, and utilizing helpful SEO tools, you can significantly improve your rankings. Remember, the ultimate goal is to make your content useful and engaging for your visitors, which in turn makes it more likely to be favored by search engines.
Happy optimizing!
Read more case studies or articles about on-page SEO and technical SEO. You can also check out my available services:
June 13, 2024
Simple Reason You’re Not Getting More Traffic To Your Website
So you’re not getting more traffic to your website?

We’ve all been there. You’ve got a shiny new website, and you’re excited to fill it with amazing content. You’re writing blog posts, maybe even doing a bit of social media, but the traffic just isn’t coming. What gives?
Well, let me share a little secret with you: the problem might be that you’re writing content without a strategy.
Let’s look at one of my client’s progress and see what difference having a strategy in place helps.
The Challenge
This case study features an old service-based website created last 2019 with a few content that seems to be ranking some of its pages already , but seems to be getting little to no clicks on most days for years now.
The following are the website’s metrics before the optimization.
For 5 years, they never created a Google Search Console profile so it was the first thing I did while doing the website audit.
The client came to me to ask for help on getting traffic for their business objective and to create an ebook for them and help them on their planned email campaign.

Their primary objective is to show up for location and a specific niche keyword.
Why a Having a Content Strategy is a Game-Changer
Think of a content strategy as your roadmap. It’s not just about writing for the sake of writing; it’s about creating and sharing content that your audience actually cares about. Here’s why having a strategy matters:
Knowing Your Audience: A strategy helps you pinpoint who you’re talking to. It’s like having a conversation with a friend rather than shouting into a void.
SEO Love: Good content strategy means your stuff is optimized for search engines, making it easier for people to find you when they’re looking for what you offer.
Consistency is Key: A solid strategy ensures you’re posting regularly, which keeps your audience coming back for more.
Aligning with Goals: Whether you’re looking to drive sales, gather leads, or just get your name out there, a strategy keeps your content aligned with these goals.
The Risks of Wingin’ It
When you’re writing without a strategy, a few things can go wrong:
Missing the Mark: Without knowing your audience, you might end up writing about things they don’t care about. Result? Low engagement.
Posting When You Remember: Inconsistency can confuse your audience and make them lose interest.
SEO Fails: If you’re not optimizing your content, don’t expect search engines to help people find you.
No Clear Direction: Without a strategy, your content might feel all over the place, making it hard to build a loyal following.
The Solution
A website audit showed needed technical and on-page optimizations.
It also showed that it needed keyword realignment for most of its pages.
Ranking articles needed an update to make it more helpful and relevant.
Intensive keyword research was done to find the best strategy to show up for future blog pages, location pages, and for the ebook.
The Results
In a span of 4 months, the website was able to get more keywords (graph below) from Feb 15-June 3, 2024 exceeding their previous performance.

This rise in keywords shown in the Ahrefs tools shows a rise in organic traffic and pages (graph above), but a more accurate picture would be to look at its performance in the Google Search Console shown below.
Current stats (June 2024)
Imagine having a content strategy in place for your website… how much traffic do you think your website will get in 5 years?
Writing content without a strategy is like trying to get somewhere without a map. You might move, but you’re not likely to get where you want to go.
By taking the time to develop and implement a good content strategy, you can attract more visitors, engage your audience, and hit your business goals. So, start planning your content strategy today, and watch your website traffic take off.
Here’s to Getting More Traffic To Your Website

So the what can we take from this… well, I guess today is never too late to start getting a plan for your website.
Getting more traffic to your website should not only rely on links shared on your social media. The key to make it sustainable is to have organic traffic that you can only get when you have a solid technical structure, on page SEO optimization every now and then, and creating helpful content guided by a keyword strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions

Can you do the same for my website?
Yes your website could rank with my strategy, but not every website could get the same result in 4 months as my content strategy is not just about creating content but also includes optimizing the website to have a web structure with a good technical SEO and keyword map in mind and sometimes it takes longer specially when there are a lot of pages and fixes needed.

You can set up a call/email exchange with me for a free consultation.
What did you actually do on this project?
I did everything from initial audit, monitoring, on page, and technical SEO optimizations on WordPress , keyword research, content creation and content strategy.

My campaign for them is not over yet since ranking the website is just the first phase of it there are more to be done for their campaign.
Which package did they get?
They chose the Custom package since they were only willing to work on a budget and had other goals than just SEO. Since this is the case, the implementation timeline was beyond 6 months and inclusions of the project varies.

For example, they did not include Offpage SEO, but eventually with the quality content produced they were able to get organic backlinks from relevant websites from their niche.
Home » SEO
Check out all the other SEO case studies and Audits here >>
Related Reads
Read more case studies or articles about on-page SEO and technical SEO. You can also check out my available services:
June 8, 2024
Configuring HSTS and Upgrade Insecure Requests in Magento 2 | How to Set Global Redirects for Magento
The first thing you need when creating a website aside from the choice of CMS and hosting is the SSL which can be simply explained as getting a certificate to show that your website is secured (or more technically, makes your website from http:// to https://).
This is important because unsecured websites may find it hard to rank and Google and other search engines may show notifications that your website is unsecured which may prevent users on actually going into your website even if they have clicked the link to your content.

But first you need to decide on whether you’ll use a www. version or a non-www. version because you’ll need it in the future when you set up your console and for this Global redirect setup.
When you’re done deciding, you can continue setting up your Magento website by following the steps below.
Click on STORES > Configuration
Click on Web (under General) > Base URLs (Secure)
Upgrade Insecure Requests is a security feature of Magento which means that users cannot access the HTTP version anytime (helps prevent hacking) and is also a great prevention so that Google won’t crawl and index the http:// content in case you have downtime when adding a new SSL.
Select Yes from Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS)
Now when you set this to YES you NEED to note down when the website’s SSL will expire.

When you set “Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS)” settings to Yes this means that you would always need an SSL for your website to be accessible to users.

If website loses SSL, then users cannot access it. This is good for SEO too since it basically signals that the Magento website prioritizes secure access, and can prevent http:// requests on your Google Search Console (which can lead to duplicate content when http version is indexed).
Select Yes from Upgrade Insecure Requests
When done, click on Save Config.
Global Redirects and configuring HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) and Upgrade Insecure Requests are crucial steps in setting up a Magento 2 ecommerce website for several reasons:
1. Enhanced Security: Configuring HSTS ensures that your website is accessed only through secure HTTPS connections. This prevents unauthorized access, data breaches, and interception of sensitive information exchanged between the user and the website.
2. SEO Benefits: Search engines like Google prioritize secure websites over unsecured ones. By implementing HSTS, you signal to search engines that your website prioritizes security, potentially improving your search rankings and visibility.
3. User Trust: With HSTS enabled, visitors to your website can trust that their data is encrypted and secure. This builds trust and credibility, leading to higher user engagement and conversions.
4. Prevention of Duplicate Content: Enabling HSTS and Upgrade Insecure Requests helps prevent the indexing of HTTP versions of your website’s pages. This prevents duplicate content issues, which can negatively impact SEO rankings.
5. Protection Against Hacking: Upgrade Insecure Requests ensures that users cannot access the insecure HTTP version of your website, reducing the risk of hacking and unauthorized access to sensitive data.
January 30, 2024
“Do I need a sitemap?” Yes don’t skip it.
Have you recently created a website and has set it live? Did you know that you need to create a sitemap and put it on Google Search Console to make it visible for searchers?
Having no sitemap/the wrong sitemap can have a great impact on your newly created website. A sitemap is needed for search engines to find you website and fully crawl your new pages, posts and images and have you a go at actually popping up as a result on Google searches.
Submitting a sitemap to search engines like Google is like giving them a map of your website. This map shows all the pages and what’s on them. It helps search engines find and list all your pages in their results. So, when someone searches for something related to your site, it’s more likely to show up.
Think of it as putting your website on the search engine’s radar, which can help bring more visitors to your site.
The Problem
The website first went live July of 2023, but when I checked on November of that year here’s the current state of their sitemap on Google Search Console:
It had the wrong sitemap since it went live (July 2023), which is one the most important steps post- publishing that is commonly missed by small businesses when a new website goes live.
Now the thing with new websites is that it has a “sandbox phase” which goes from 3-9 months (varies). This sandbox phase is the best time for a new website to put up a good SEO foundation as these months can serve as a baseline of how effective your SEO strategy is.
This means, that if your website was not able to improve in clicks and impressions after the sandbox period then there must be something that you’re not doing right yet.
Below is the website’s clicks and impressions from when it first went live up to the first week of October.
Now this would be our baseline and see if things will improve after the supposed sandbox period (February 2024). The best scenario that we’re looking at will be increased clicks and impressions.
When starting a new website; It’s more important to focus on getting noticed in search results rather than worrying about getting lots of traffic quickly and ranking for specific terms.
The main aim should be to publish content regularly to address what your audience wants to know. You should also keep an eye on whether Google is finding and listing your content, and how often it shows up in search results. Tracking clicks and impressions can help you see how well you’re doing.
The Solution
The website has 11-12k pages and this means that Google Search Console needs more than one sitemap to accommodate all the pages of the website. So this is what I did on the first day after a baseline audit last November.
What they asked from me was to create a strategy that they could implement on their own. It included mostly on-page optimizations (like which H1s should be on each page) and an internal linking strategy.

They were able to implement the H1s and internal linking as I have suggested, but the rest were not followed. But here’s what happened next after their implementation
The Result
While there are a lot of backend issues that needed a fix for this website, and they have only implemented 2 of my recommendations here’s how having the right sitemap and how a bit of application of my strategy has impacted the website, especially as it has helped their content be recognized.
You can see that even before the supposed end of their sandbox period (February 2024), the site was able veer away from 0 clicks in a day and continues to increase their total impressions in a day. While the website still has a lot to improve on its SEO, you can see how a simple submission of the right sitemap and a few tweaks can have a great impact on your website.
Below is their current progress this June 2024. I believe that if they only followed everything on the strategy I made for them, they could do better but this result is still impressive for a website that is not fully optimized.
Screenshot
“Do I need a sitemap?“
Of course! You need to submit your sitemap to search engines so your pages and content will be discovered and start showing up on the searches.
But this also goes to say that just having a sitemap is not enough to guarantee to have your website showing up on Google for the searches.
You still need a
- good keyword research foundation
- quality content
- solid technical SEO foundation
- on page implementations
…for you to guarantee getting out of the sandbox period because without those… you might become the example website below that was created last September 2022-January 2023 (different from our website sample above)
Imagine: You have a sitemap submitted correctly but you don’t have consistent quality publishing, no keyword research for articles, no technical and on page optimization… this is what it will look like in about a year…
Would you rather be never getting out of the sandbox?
Check out all the other SEO case studies and Audits here >>
Frequently Asked Questions

Can you do the same for my website?
I can help you set up your newly created website on Google Search Console, but it should also include keyword research, technical and on page optimizations.

You can set up a call/email exchange with me for a free consultation.
What did you actually do on this project?
I was responsible for the initial audit, strategic plan for 6 months, on page and technical optimization planning as they have a different team for execution.

They only wanted me to create a strategy for them.
Were you in charge of the setup of their Google Search Console account?
No, they already have set up their GSC account, I only added the right sitemaps. But I also do GSC setup for my clients if needed.
Related Reads
January 30, 2024