SEO or search engine optimization is often made out to be much more difficult than it actually is. This is most often the tactic of some “Consultant” trying to sell you and your agency high priced services you most likely DON’T need.

At the GROW Program we believe in Simple SEO. There was a time when quality SEO practices involved complicated coding and link building…

…but Google search engine algorithms updates (named Penguin and Panda) released over the last year and half have made these complicated SEO strategies obsolete.

SEO in 2013 is built for the local business.

Here is what Matt Cutts, who works for the Search Quality Team of Google, has to say about how Simple SEO can be:

Simple SEO is Possible

Listen to what Matt Cutts says:

“Include the right words on the page…” ~ Matt Cutts

SEO is as simple as using the words you want to found for. Use the right words and search engines will find you and put your content in front of the people that need it.

You don’t need to know how to code.

You don’t need buy thousands of banklinks to your site.

You don’t need to spend hours every day working on your website.

Just consistently create content on the topics you’d like to get found for in Google search results. 

What Does Simple SEO Look Like?

Great question… it’s easy for me to stand on my soapbox and tell you something is simple and it’s another completely for me to show you how to do it.

Here is how we practice Simple SEO at The Murray Group:

I build a page specifically addressing the root keyword we wish to attack, in this case Restaurant Insurance. The is goal is NOT to sell visitors a policy at this stage. The goal is capture them as a lead. I do this through our restaurant specific newsletter geared towards safety.

Then I create blog posts which address small details and topics about restaurants, running a restaurant, restaurant industry news, and restaurant safety. See the following two posts as examples:

• Removing Drunk Guests
• Common Restaurant Employee Injuries

I point internal links for the term Restaurant Insurance back at my root keyword page. I’m not trying to rank every page on my website for the term restaurant insurance, just one.

That is Simple SEO done right.

But don’t listen to me… listen to Matt Cutts, he works for Google. Use the right words, the words your consumers use, and Google will start putting your content in front of them.

Thank you and Good luck,

I am Ryan Hanley

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Share Your Thoughts

What doesn’t make sense about this Simple SEO strategy? Do you disagree with this strategy completely or in part?

Let’s discuss in the comments below…

image credit: http://society6.com/SandraHudsonKnapp/Simple-n3B_Print