Guide to Getting Started with SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of improving your website to increase its visibility in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. This guide walks you through the essential steps to establish a solid SEO foundation for your business, from technical auditing to strategic backlinking.

Phase 1: Technical SEO Audit

Website Structure Analysis

• Crawlability Assessment: Ensure search engines can discover and index your content
  • Check for crawler blocks in robots.txt
  • Verify XML sitemap exists and is properly submitted
  • Identify orphaned pages not linked from other pages
• URL Structure Evaluation:
  • Implement clean, descriptive URLs (example.com/services/web-design vs. example.com/p=123)
  • Maintain consistent URL patterns across the site
  • Check for broken links and redirect chains

Site Speed Optimization

• Page Load Time Analysis:
  • Measure current load times using Google PageSpeed Insights
  • Identify slow-loading pages and elements
• Speed Improvement Implementation:
  • Optimize image sizes and formats (WebP, responsive images)
  • Enable browser caching
  • Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML
  • Implement lazy loading for images and videos

Mobile Responsiveness

• Mobile Usability Testing:
  • Verify site renders properly across devices
  • Test navigation usability on small screens
  • Check for tap target sizing issues
• Mobile-First Optimization:
  • Ensure content parity between mobile and desktop versions
  • Optimize for mobile page speed
  • Implement responsive design principles

Technical Issues Resolution

• Security Implementation:
  • Ensure HTTPS is properly configured
  • Fix mixed content warnings
• Schema Markup Integration:
  • Implement relevant structured data (Organization, LocalBusiness, Product, etc.)
  • Test implementation with Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool
• Core Web Vitals Optimization:
  • Address Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) issues
  • Minimize Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
  • Optimize First Input Delay (FID)

Phase 2: Brand Establishment

Brand Identity Definition

• Unique Value Proposition Development:
  • Identify your key differentiators
  • Articulate what makes your business unique
  • Define your target audience and their needs
• Brand Voice Creation:
  • Establish tone and language guidelines
  • Create a consistent messaging framework
  • Develop a brand style guide

Online Presence Optimization

• Google Business Profile Setup:
  • Claim and verify your business listing
  • Complete all information fields (hours, services, photos)
  • Solicit and respond to reviews
• Social Media Alignment:
  • Create consistent profiles across platforms
  • Align messaging with website content
  • Establish regular posting schedule

Brand Authority Building

• About Page Optimization:
  • Tell your compelling brand story
  • Highlight team credentials and expertise
  • Include trust indicators (certifications, awards)
• Testimonials and Case Studies:
  • Feature client success stories
  • Include measurable results and outcomes
  • Incorporate relevant keywords naturally

Phase 3: Keyword Research and Strategy

Competitive Analysis

• Competitor Keyword Identification:
  • Analyze top-ranking competitors
  • Identify their primary and secondary keywords
  • Determine keyword gaps and opportunities
• Competitive Positioning Assessment:
  • Analyze content types that perform well in your niche
  • Identify underserved topics and angles
  • Determine ways to differentiate your content approach

Keyword Discovery

• Seed Keyword Identification:
  • Brainstorm core business terms and services
  • List products, services and common customer questions
  • Group keywords by topic and intent
• Keyword Expansion:
  • Use keyword research tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Keyword Planner)
  • Identify long-tail variations
  • Discover related questions using “People Also Ask” data

Keyword Prioritization

• Search Intent Analysis:
  • Categorize keywords by intent (informational, navigational, commercial, transactional)
  • Match keywords to appropriate stages of the buyer’s journey
  • Identify question-based queries for FAQ content
• Opportunity Scoring:
  • Evaluate keyword difficulty
  • Assess search volume and seasonal trends
  • Calculate potential business value
  • Create a prioritized keyword targeting plan

Phase 4: Content Creation

Content Audit

• Existing Content Evaluation:
  • Inventory all current website content
  • Identify performance gaps and opportunities
  • Determine content for updating, consolidation, or removal
• Content Gap Analysis:
  • Map existing content to target keywords
  • Identify missing content opportunities
  • Develop a content calendar to address gaps

Content Planning

• Topic Cluster Development:
  • Identify pillar content topics
  • Map supporting content pieces
  • Create internal linking structure plan
• Content Type Diversification:
  • Plan for various formats (blog posts, guides, videos, infographics)
  • Align content types with user preferences and search intent
  • Develop templates for consistent content creation

Quality Content Creation

• SEO-Optimized Writing:
  • Craft compelling, keyword-rich titles
  • Create valuable, comprehensive content
  • Structure content with proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)
  • Include relevant internal and external links
• Visual Content Enhancement:
  • Add relevant images, diagrams, and videos
  • Optimize all visual elements with alt text and descriptive filenames
  • Create custom graphics to illustrate key concepts

Content Optimization

• On-Page SEO Implementation:
  • Optimize meta titles and descriptions
  • Include target keywords in strategic locations
  • Implement proper semantic HTML structure
  • Add schema markup where appropriate
• User Experience Enhancement:
  • Format content for readability (short paragraphs, bullets, subheadings)
  • Include table of contents for long-form content
  • Add interactive elements where appropriate

Phase 5: Content Funneling

User Journey Mapping

• Buyer’s Journey Documentation:
  • Define awareness, consideration, and decision stages
  • Map existing content to each stage
  • Identify conversion paths through your site
• Funnel Optimization:
  • Create clear paths between related content
  • Implement strategic calls-to-action
  • Design content upgrades for lead capture

Internal Linking Strategy

• Hierarchical Linking Implementation:
  • Connect related content pieces
  • Link from high-authority pages to important conversion pages
  • Implement breadcrumb navigation
• Topic Cluster Activation:
  • Link supporting content to pillar pages
  • Create content hubs around core topics
  • Implement related content suggestions

Conversion Path Optimization

• Call-to-Action Placement:
  • Strategically position CTAs based on content length and topic
  • Create contextually relevant offers
  • A/B test CTA messaging and design
• Landing Page Optimization:
  • Align landing page messaging with search intent
  • Optimize forms and conversion elements
  • Create dedicated landing pages for high-value keywords

Phase 6: Basic Backlinking Strategy

Link Profile Analysis

• Current Backlink Evaluation:
  • Audit existing backlink profile
  • Identify toxic links for potential disavowal
  • Analyze competitor backlink profiles for opportunities
• Link Gap Analysis:
  • Compare your link profile to competitors
  • Identify high-value linking opportunities
  • Set realistic link building goals

Content-Based Link Building

• Linkable Asset Creation:
  • Develop high-value, shareable resources (industry studies, comprehensive guides)
  • Create original research and data visualizations
  • Build interactive tools and calculators
• Promotion Strategy:
  • Share content with industry influencers
  • Promote content on social media channels
  • Repurpose content for different platforms

Relationship-Based Link Building

• Industry Outreach:
  • Identify relevant industry publications and blogs
  • Develop personalized outreach templates
  • Build genuine relationships with content creators
• Guest Posting Strategy:
  • Find quality guest posting opportunities
  • Create valuable content for target sites
  • Focus on relevance over quantity

Local SEO Link Building

• Local Citation Building:
  • Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency
  • List business in relevant directories
  • Claim local business profiles
• Community Engagement:
  • Participate in local events and sponsorships
  • Join local business organizations
  • Create location-specific content to attract local links

Measuring SEO Success

KPI Identification

• Performance Metrics Selection:
  • Identify key metrics aligned with business goals
  • Set baseline measurements
  • Create realistic timeline for improvement
• Tracking Implementation:
  • Set up Google Analytics and Search Console
  • Configure conversion tracking
  • Implement keyword position monitoring

Regular Reporting

• Report Creation:
  • Develop clear, actionable reporting templates
  • Include trend analysis and insights
  • Connect SEO metrics to business outcomes
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Identify underperforming content for updates
  • Refine keyword targeting based on performance
  • Adjust strategy according to data insights

Our SEO History

Tired of overused buzzwords like ‘keyword clusters,’ ‘behavior diagnostics,’ and ‘search influencers,’ GreenBananaSEO saw an opportunity to rid the world of flashy sales presentations that made SEO look like black magic. We watched as pay for performance SEO agency prices to clients rose to new heights while performance and accountability kept sinking, fast.

Enter the GreenBananaSEO pay for performance search engine optimization agency.

We’re a scrappy, hard-working group of people passionate about connecting businesses with prospects. We’re a pay for performance SEO agency laser-focused on performance, and we strive to build trustworthy relationships with each and every client. We keep it simple by doing the work and communicating with our clients clearly and often. While ‘accountability’ and ‘strategy’ have become buzzwords to everyone else, we let our results do the talking. No more lip service. We’re happy to talk the talk, but we think it’s easier to be a pay for performance SEO agency that just provides the kind of undeniable performance and continual results that speak for themselves.

The GreenBanana SEO Partner Program

GreenBananaSEO is also a pay for performance SEO agency that can partner with another advertising agency that’s expanding its digital services.

All of our pay for performance SEO agency programs can be white-labeled to blend seamlessly with a partner pay for performance SEO agency, on either a local or national scale. Learn more about our partner program.