5 Essential Elements of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

by Posted in SEO Tagged , , , , , ,

Before launching an SEO campaign, your team needs to set SMART goals. These goals include measurable metrics and clear deadlines, helping your team focus on what matters most and quickly achieve success. Click here to learn more.

Although keywords aren’t the only factor in search engine optimization, they are still at the heart of it. To understand why, let’s take a closer look at how search engines work:

When it comes to optimizing a website, on-page optimization (OPO) is an essential part of the process. This involves optimizing the content and structure of individual web pages to improve search engine rankings and user experience. OPO includes a variety of elements, including keyword usage, meta tags, internal links, and image size. Getting these factors right can have a significant impact on your SEO success.

One of the most important aspects of on-page SEO is conducting keyword research. This identifies the keywords and phrases that your target audience is using to find products or services like yours. This data can then be used to create relevant and targeted content. Keyword research also enables you to discover what your competition is doing, which can help you identify opportunities for improvement.

Other on-page SEO factors include the use of headings and titles. Having structured headers makes it easier for Google to understand your content and determine whether it matches a user’s search intent. It also helps your readers navigate the page and find the information they’re looking for.

Title tags are the first thing a search engine sees when it processes a query, and they have a major impact on how your page ranks in SERPs. You can find your page’s title tag in the source code by right-clicking on the web page and selecting “view page source.” The title tag should contain relevant keywords without sounding spammy or unnatural.

Another on-page SEO factor is the number and type of internal links in a page. These can increase a page’s credibility and authority by signaling to Google that other pages on your site are linking to it. Moreover, these links can help you rank in local search results by helping Google establish your location and authority as an authoritative resource for that search term.

Finally, on-page optimization includes optimizing the URL, image size and alt text, and mobile friendliness. This is important because Google is increasingly focusing on providing a positive user experience. This means that it will prioritize websites that provide a good user experience, such as sites that load quickly and are optimized for mobile devices.

Link building

Link building is a key element of search engine optimization (SEO). It involves getting other websites to link to your website. This will help boost your page’s ranking in Google. There are many different link building techniques, but some are more effective than others. Some methods may even be harmful to your SEO. For example, buying links is a violation of Google’s guidelines and can lead to your site being penalized. Fortunately, there are ways to build quality links without violating the rules.

The best way to do this is to create content that is informative and engaging. This will encourage other webmasters and bloggers to link back to your pages. Creating in-depth, comprehensive content will also position you as an expert in your field. For instance, if a competitor writes about a new industry development but leaves out major details, you can write an in-depth piece that will explain how it works.

This will help you get in front of a larger audience, which can ultimately result in more traffic and sales for your business. Moreover, this strategy is a great way to promote your brand and establish yourself as a leader in your industry. It can take time to develop a high-quality content marketing strategy, but the results are worth it.

In addition to creating in-depth content, you can also use competitive research as a form of link building. Identify the topics your competitors write about online and then produce content that is more comprehensive. For example, if a competitor discusses a new technology but does not provide any details on how it works, you can write an in-depth article that will describe the process and its benefits.

Another popular technique is to find broken links on other websites and then offer your content as a replacement. This method is useful because it will not only improve your SEO, but it will also help other webmasters fix their broken links. You can also share your content on social media to increase its visibility and attract more linkers. Lastly, you can also reach out to other webmasters and bloggers in your niche to ask them to link to your content.

Content creation

The goal of SEO content creation is to create high-quality, relevant, and user-friendly content that will improve a website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). This can help boost organic traffic and drive leads and sales for businesses. It also increases brand awareness and establishes a business as an authority in its industry or niche.

Creating effective content requires a deep understanding of the audience’s interests, needs, and pain points. This can be accomplished through research, analyzing competitors’ websites, and performing keyword searches on Google to see what searchers are looking for. Having this insight can make it easier to develop an SEO content strategy that will attract targeted traffic and lead to conversions.

Although the specifics of SEO content creation vary from one website to another, many best practices are common. These include using keywords, optimizing metadata, and incorporating links to other relevant pages and sources. These best practices will increase the visibility of your content and improve its search engine ranking.

Great SEO content begins with the right research. This can be done by using tools such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs. During the research phase, it’s important to note what your audience is searching for, how often they search, and what type of content they prefer to read. This information will help you better understand the audience and the search engines’ expectations.

Once you have your research in hand, it’s time to start creating your content. Whether you’re creating written content, video, or graphics, all types of content follow some basic rules. Regardless of your content medium, the key is to write in your audience’s voice and style. This means avoiding overly-technical language and using euphemisms to make your writing more relatable.

As you produce your content, be sure to monitor its performance. You can use metrics such as page views, unique visitors, and click-through rates to determine how effective your content is. It’s also important to regularly re-examine your content and make improvements as needed. This will ensure that your content is fresh and relevant to your audience and will continue to perform well over time.

Keyword research

Keyword research is an essential part of SEO, as it helps you understand what terms your audience uses to find your products and services. It’s also an important step in creating content that is relevant to those search queries. Using keywords that match your target audience’s search intent will increase the likelihood of your content being found and converting.

Keywords are a key component of search engine optimization, and understanding how to use them is an essential skill for any marketer. However, it’s not enough to know what keywords to use – you also need to understand why they’re important. This will help you create content that is both relevant and useful to your audience, which will increase the chances of your content being discovered by potential customers.

While many people think of keywords as a list of popular search terms, they are much more than that. They are a way of telling search engines what the purpose of a page is, which they then use to rank it. As such, it’s important to do keyword research on a regular basis to ensure that your site is optimized for the most popular searches.

It can reveal new opportunities for your business. For example, if you see that a certain query is trending, you can optimize your content and publish it in a timely manner to capture the attention of searchers. Keyword research can also provide insights into what your competitors are doing, allowing you to identify opportunities for differentiating yourself in the marketplace.

It can also help you understand the search intent behind specific search terms. For instance, a user who searches “how to start a blog” may be looking for information about starting a blog or they might be trying to buy a blogging platform. The keyword research process can surface these nuances, which will allow you to map your content to likely search intent and deliver a better user experience aligned with your business objectives. This will ultimately lead to more traffic and conversions for your business. For example, we often encounter businesses that have a mismatch between the words they use to describe their products and services and the words used by their target audience. By doing proper keyword research, you can avoid this issue and make sure that your content is attracting the right audience.

Natalie Wood and the Golden Age of Hollywood

by Posted in Publication Tagged , , , , ,

Natalie Wood was a one-of-a-kind screen presence from the Golden Age of Hollywood. From glamorous musicals at the beginning of the decade to counterculture touchstones at its end (like West Side Story and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice), she never seemed to run out of material.

Natalie Wood

She died, mysteriously, of a drowning accident off the coast of California’s Catalina Island.

This 1947 film tugged at audience hearts with the story of a young girl’s doubts about Santa Claus. It was Wood’s first starring role. Director Irving Pichel had spotted her in the small role of a girl who drops an ice cream cone in his movie Happy Land at age four, but she had only 15 seconds of screen time. He kept in contact with her family and helped her land a bigger role in the film Tomorrow Is Forever with Claudette Colbert and Orson Welles.

The film marked the feature debut of character actor Thelma Ritter as the mother and Jack Albertson in a bit role as the mail room worker who communicates with Kris in one of the movie’s signature scenes. Thelma Ritter and Wood shared a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for their performances.

After Miracle on 34th Street, Wood starred in West Side Story as an emotionally troubled teenager torn by desire and social convention. She made only four more theatrical films before her death, including the thriller Pepper and the science fiction Meteor (1979), which was released posthumously. Author Finstad does a fine job of describing Wood’s career and life, and gives readers a better understanding of what was driving this talented and complicated woman.

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Wood’s breakthrough role as Judy, the troubled girlfriend of Jim Stark (James Dean) in 1955’s Rebel Without a Cause remains a landmark film depicting teenage rebellion and angst. The movie was controversial at the time, but today the movie plays like a satire of our culture’s misguided views on adolescent sexual freedom and the difficulty of blending parental guidance with individuality.

Wood was just 16 at the time of the film’s release. Her chemistry with Dean and her ability to communicate the confusion of being an outsider were key factors in this film’s success. The movie also served as a springboard for the careers of both stars.

Like many films that spotlight the compulsive cruelty of youth, such as Blackboard Jungle and The Wild One, Rebel Without a Cause has a tragically bleak real-life undercurrent. It wasn’t long after the film’s premiere that Hedda Hopper, who played Natalie Wood’s mother in the movie, died from pneumonia at age 58; actor Edward Platt who played Wood’s father died of an overdose at 55; and Nick Adams who played Chick, a gang member, killed himself at 36. Several other people involved in the production of the movie also met untimely ends.

The Searchers (1956)

The Searchers —which ranks number one on the American Film Institute’s list of best films and has been listed as a “must-see” by critics, fans, and other film historians—is a film that demands multiple viewings to appreciate fully. It is a sprawling, complicated western, and it takes some time for its themes to germinate and stew.

It was a flop at the box office, but it is now considered a classic and an important work. Its controversial subject matter and the performances of Wood and John Wayne make it a benchmark in the history of American cinema.

Unlike many other films from the era, The Searchers did not shy away from portraying the racism and dehumanization of Native Americans. However, the movie has some odd flaws and does not hold up well to modern viewing. The blending of unregenerate violence with doltish comic set pieces, all set against Ford’s signature landscapes and sets, feels off-putting to the contemporary sensibility.

After this success, Wood continued to receive offers for roles, though most of them were family films. She also appeared in television movies and the televised version of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She married screenwriter Richard Gregson Wagner in 1972, and they had a daughter before her death. She made four more theatrical films before retiring from acting, including the mystery comedy Peeper (1975), the science fiction Meteor (1979), and the drama The Last Married Couple in America (1980).

Peeper (1975)

Sometimes a film that isn’t great upon its initial release can benefit from the passage of time and become an overlooked gem. Such is the case with Peeper, a fun little spoof of film noir that wears its influences on its sleeve.

This picture boasts a good cast and a competent director in Peter Hyams, and it contains a few decent (if unspectacular) moments. Its major problem, however, is that it never rises above the level of a silly comedy. The film spoofs noir clichés without really capturing any of the essence of the genre.

Michael Caine, who starred in another homage to the noir genre – Pulp – is miscast as Tucker, the English private eye here. He sounds too chipper delivering the pseudo-hard-boiled dialogue, and his delivery lacks the beats that define so many noir voices.

The one bright spot is Wood, who looks stunning in a series of gorgeous soft focus shots and delivers her lines with aplomb. She also is backed by Kitty Winn and Thayer David, both of whom are solid. Dorothy Adams plays the Prendergast matriarch, her last on-screen role.

Meteor (1979)

Long before Deep Impact or Armageddon there was this schlocky disaster flick. Unlike many of its ilk, it has the courage to focus less on soap operas centred around the supporting cast and more on the global political situation of US-Soviet distrust and antipathy. The script is actually quite decent and far more interesting than the usual claptrap in this genre.

Sadly the effects aren’t as good as those in later films but they do stand up pretty well given that they were made in 1979. Wood’s performance is one of her best and she is supported by a stellar cast including Henry Fonda, Brian Keith and Karl Malden. The late John Derek also makes an appearance as the President. He was so moved by the final scene that he delivered a 2 1/2 minute speech to the crew and 200 extras which was sadly cut from the film.

Meteor was made the old fashioned way – sign big stars (with big salaries); spend a lot of money on special effects; and then hope that it pays off at the box office. Unfortunately it didn’t and AIP folded and sold the rights to Filmways. Wood would go on to make a number of other films but her acting was never the same again.

The Last Married Couple in America (1980)

An A-list Hollywood actress vanishes off a yacht, and her leading man husband, a legendary actor who accompanied her on the cruise, insists she fell overboard. But LA homicide detectives have some very troubling questions about the coroner’s ruling, bruises on her body, and an argument between the pair that was heard by a ship’s skipper.

After West Side Story, Wood grew into a mature actress, showing greater depth in her roles and witty dialogue in films such as Gypsy (1962), The Great Race (1965), and Inside Daisy Clover (1965). She also made some notable television appearances, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and the miniseries From Here to Eternity.

In 1969, she married British producer Richard Gregson and had a daughter, Natasha. She then went into semi-retirement as a wife and mother, but returned to acting with the comedy film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) and the science fiction movie Meteor (1979). The last theatrical films she appeared in were Peeper (1975), Pepper (1975), and the posthumously released Brainstorm in 1983. During this time, Wood was a favorite subject of fan magazines and was the object of much media attention.

Brainstorm (1983)

One of the more esoteric high-concept science fiction flicks from the ’80s, Douglas Trumbull’s Brainstorm has the seeds of greatness. The film centers around a scientist (Christopher Walken) who invents a device that can record a person’s perceptual experience and transfer it to another person. Walken’s character is convinced that this technology can lead to life after death, and he struggles to keep his invention out of the hands of the U.S. military, who plan to use it for unsavory applications.

While the premise is intriguing, the film is not without its flaws. The plot is often disjointed and a bit incoherent, especially as the film progresses towards its climax. Moreover, the effects are sometimes disappointingly cheap and dull, particularly during a sequence that seems to predict virtual porn.

Despite these issues, Wood’s performance remains strong and convincing. Her chemistry with Walken is also enjoyable to watch, and the actress’s character feels fully realized. Ultimately, Brainstorm is a compelling if somewhat flawed film that serves as an appropriate final chapter for Natalie Wood’s career. She would only appear in four more theatrical films before her death. This book examines those films, as well as her illustrious career.