27 Crucial SEO Lessons I Wish I Knew When I Started

Here are 27 lessons I wish I knew when I started my SEO journey...

Save years by avoiding mistakes and boosting your rankings.

1. E-E-A-T is King: Always aim for Experience, Expertise, Authority, & Trust. Google values it.

2. Consistency is Key: Publishing regularly builds momentum. No days off.

3. Quality > Quantity: Focus on creating high-quality content first. Then scale.

4. It’s a Long-Term (12+ months) Game: Be patient & keep learning.

5. 20/80 Rule: Spend 20% of your time creating content and 80% promoting it. Distribution is crucial.

6. Active Link Building is Essential: Make building and earning quality backlinks a monthly task.

7. Focus on Searcher Intent: Your content should be laser-focused on answering the user's query.

8. Always Put the Reader First: Focus on the reader's intent & meet their needs.

9. KD Doesn't Matter in Local SERPs: Don’t get hung up on keyword difficulty for local searches. It's less relevant.

10. SEO and Design Go Hand in Hand: Your site’s design, especially for mobile, is critical for SEO.

11. Web Crawlers Are Your Audience Too: Optimize for search engines, but never forget your readers.

12. Google Wants High-Value, Relevant Content: Analyze the first page for clues on what to produce.

13. Double-check the SERPs: Always review search results to understand the competition and search intent.

14. Leverage YouTube Videos: Embedding relevant YouTube videos can boost your page’s engagement and SEO.

15. Original Research & Visuals Get Links: Invest in original research, charts, and infographics—they attract backlinks.

16. Monitor with Google Search Console: Monitor clicks, impressions, and potential issues.

17. Traffic Isn't Everything: Converting that traffic into leads and subscribers is what counts.

18. Don’t Go It Alone: Perfect your SEO processes and delegate where you can.

19. Your Site Link Structure is Important: Create links with purpose.

20. Backlinks Come in Many Forms: Get them from partners, content, & more.

21. Target Keyword Clusters: Rank for multiple keywords with strategic clustering.

22. Write Directly to Your Ideal Customer: Know your audience and speak to them.

23. Steal Like an Artist: Find what’s working and put your spin on it.

24. Original Content Wins: Unique perspectives, research, and insights will always set you apart.

25. Measure Your Results Monthly: Track keywords, traffic, & new opportunities.

26. Turn Your Traffic into Subscribers: Use lead magnets to convert readers to fans.

27. Spreadsheets Are Your Best Friend: They help you stay organized and track your SEO efforts efficiently.

These 27 lessons are the key to fast-tracking your SEO success.

Which SEO lesson do you wish you’d known sooner?