In “Nathan Gotch’s Free Local SEO Strategy for Random Businesses,” Nathan Gotch provides a comprehensive SEO strategy for local businesses. The article covers various aspects such as keyword research, word count, content generation, site architecture, and backlink acquisition. Gotch emphasizes the importance of analyzing a website’s existing keyword profile, developing a keyword targeting strategy, optimizing title tags and URLs, visualizing site architecture, and creating informative content to build topic authority and relevance. Additionally, he recommends using Chat GPT for content ideas and Ahrefs’ Link Intersect feature to identify competitors’ backlinks that can be acquired. With this free local SEO strategy, businesses can enhance their online presence and improve their search engine rankings.

In the video, Nathan Gotch outlines the steps involved in his free local SEO strategy for a random business. First, he suggests starting with a Screaming Frog crawl and building a keyword database. Then, he addresses the importance of link building and content marketing, emphasizing the need to create new organic pages to rank for more keywords and build topic authority. Gotch highlights the significance of optimizing title tags and URLs, visualizing site architecture, and using Chat GPT for content ideas. He also discusses website design and homepage optimization, recommending targeting the broad service offering and increasing word count. Finally, he explains how to acquire backlinks using Ahrefs’ Link Intersect feature. By following this action plan, businesses can effectively improve their SEO performance and gain a competitive edge.

Addressing the Number One Mistake in Keyword Research

1.1 Importance of Proper Keyword Research

Proper keyword research is vital for the success of any SEO campaign, especially for local businesses. By identifying the right keywords, you can optimize your website and content to attract valuable organic traffic from search engines. This not only drives more potential customers to your website but also improves your online visibility and brand awareness.

1.2 Common Mistakes in Local Keyword Research

One of the most prevalent mistakes local businesses make in keyword research is focusing solely on broad and generic terms. While these keywords may have high search volumes, they are also highly competitive, making it difficult to rank for them. Instead, it is crucial to target long-tail keywords that are more specific to your business and location.

Another common mistake is neglecting to consider the intent behind keywords. Understanding user intent is essential for providing relevant and valuable content to your target audience. By aligning your keyword strategy with user intent, you can optimize your website for the specific needs and preferences of your customers.

1.3 Nathan Gotch’s Approach to Keyword Research

Nathan Gotch, an SEO expert, recommends a comprehensive approach to keyword research. He emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough research to gain insights into the search behavior and preferences of your target audience. This includes analyzing search volumes, competition levels, and keyword difficulty.

Gotch also advises incorporating location-specific keywords into your strategy. By targeting keywords that include your city or region, you can attract local customers who are more likely to convert into paying clients. This localization strategy allows you to compete against larger national brands and establish a strong online presence in your community.

In addition, Gotch advocates for regular keyword research and optimization to stay ahead of industry trends and changes in search engine algorithms. By continuously updating your keyword strategy, you can maintain a competitive edge in the ever-evolving world of SEO.

2. Word Count: A Crucial Aspect of SEO

2.1 Understanding the Significance of Word Count

While word count itself is not a direct ranking factor, it plays a crucial role in SEO. A comprehensive and informative piece of content that is well-written and well-structured tends to have a higher word count. Search engines recognize the value of in-depth content that provides valuable information to users.

Longer content often allows for a more thorough exploration of a topic, increasing its relevance and authority. It enables you to cover various aspects of a subject and answer potential questions that users may have. This comprehensive approach not only improves user experience but also increases the likelihood of your content being shared and linked to by other websites.

2.2 Word Count’s Relationship with SEO

From an SEO standpoint, longer content tends to attract more backlinks and social shares, both of which are crucial for improving your website’s domain authority and organic rankings. Additionally, longer content provides more opportunities for incorporating relevant keywords and optimizing on-page elements.

Moreover, longer content generally leads to increased dwell time, which refers to the amount of time users spend on a webpage. Search engines interpret longer dwell times as an indication that the content is valuable and engaging, leading to higher rankings in search results.

2.3 How to Optimize Word Count for Local SEO

In the context of local SEO, optimizing word count involves creating informative content that is specific to your target audience and location. By focusing on local topics and incorporating relevant keywords and phrases, you can attract local customers and enhance your online visibility within your community.

When optimizing word count, it is essential to strike a balance between providing valuable information and maintaining readability. Long, dense paragraphs can be overwhelming for readers, so it is important to break up the content with subheadings, bullet points, and images to enhance readability and user experience.

Additionally, consider incorporating multimedia elements such as videos or infographics to engage users and provide a more interactive experience. This not only adds value to your content but can also increase the likelihood of users sharing your content on social media platforms.

3. Utilizing Chat GPT for Content Ideation

3.1 Introduction to Chat GPT

Chat GPT is an artificial intelligence language model developed by OpenAI. It can generate human-like text based on prompts provided by users. This tool has proven to be valuable for content ideation, especially for generating unique and creative ideas for local SEO.

With Chat GPT, you can input a simple prompt related to your industry or target audience, and the model will generate a range of potential content ideas. This can save significant time and effort in brainstorming content topics, helping you create fresh and engaging content for your website.

3.2 Generating Content Ideas for Local SEO

When using Chat GPT for local SEO content ideation, it is advisable to focus on prompts that reflect your specific location and target audience. By inputting location-specific keywords and phrases, Chat GPT can provide you with content ideas that are highly relevant to your local market.

For example, if you are a local HVAC company in St. Louis, you can input prompts such as “HVAC tips for St. Louis residents” or “Best practices for HVAC maintenance in St. Louis.” Chat GPT will then generate a list of unique and tailored content ideas based on these prompts.

3.3 Nathan Gotch’s Recommended Approach with Chat GPT

Nathan Gotch recommends incorporating Chat GPT into your content ideation process to supplement your creativity and generate fresh ideas. By combining the power of AI with your expertise and knowledge of your target audience, you can create content that resonates with your local customers and establishes you as an authority in your industry.

Gotch suggests experimenting with different prompts and refining the generated ideas to align with your brand’s messaging and goals. It is important to review and edit the generated text to ensure it is accurate and relevant before incorporating it into your content strategy.

4. The Strategy Kickstarts with a Screaming Frog Crawl

4.1 Importance of a Screaming Frog Crawl

A Screaming Frog crawl is a valuable tool for conducting a comprehensive analysis of your website’s SEO performance. It provides insights into various aspects of your website, including metadata, URL structure, internal links, and more. This crawl allows you to identify potential issues or areas for improvement in your SEO strategy.

By utilizing a Screaming Frog crawl, you can uncover technical SEO issues such as broken links, duplicate content, or missing metadata. These issues, if left unresolved, can negatively impact your website’s visibility and rankings in search engine results.

4.2 Building a Keyword Database

During the Screaming Frog crawl, you can also gather valuable data for building a keyword database. By analyzing the keywords that are currently driving organic traffic to your website, you can gain insights into which keywords are performing well and which ones may need optimization.

Building a keyword database allows you to track changes in keyword rankings, monitor competition, and identify new keyword opportunities. This database becomes a valuable resource for informing your content strategy, optimizing on-page elements, and staying ahead of industry trends.

4.3 Analyzing the Crawl Data for Local SEO

Once you have conducted a Screaming Frog crawl and built a keyword database, it is crucial to analyze the data to inform your local SEO strategy. Pay close attention to keywords that are location-specific and relevant to your target audience.

Identify keywords that are currently driving traffic to your website and assess their performance. Are there any high-ranking keywords that could benefit from further optimization? Are there any untapped keyword opportunities that align with your local market and business goals?

By analyzing the crawl data and keyword database, you can make informed decisions about keyword targeting, content creation, and on-page optimization to improve your website’s visibility and attract more local customers.

5. Addressing the Low Domain Rating (DR) through Link Building

5.1 Understanding the Domain Rating (DR)

Domain Rating (DR) is a metric developed by Ahrefs that measures the authority and backlink profile of a website on a scale from 0 to 100. A higher DR indicates a stronger website with a more established online presence.

If your website has a low DR, it indicates that your website may struggle to rank well in search engine results. A low DR can be a significant hindrance to your local SEO efforts, as it affects your website’s overall authority and credibility.

5.2 The Significance of Link Building

Link building plays a crucial role in improving your website’s DR and overall SEO performance. By acquiring high-quality backlinks from reputable and relevant websites, you can enhance your website’s authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines.

Backlinks act as votes of confidence for your website, indicating to search engines that other websites consider your content valuable and worth referencing. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more likely your website will rank higher in search engine results.

5.3 Nathan Gotch’s Recommendation for a Link Building Campaign

Nathan Gotch recommends implementing a link building campaign to address a low DR and improve your website’s authority. He suggests using Ahrefs’ Link Intersect feature to identify your competitors’ backlinks that you can potentially acquire.

By analyzing your competitors’ backlinks, you can identify high-quality websites that are willing to link to similar businesses in your industry. Reach out to these websites and offer valuable content or collaborations that incentivize them to link back to your website.

Additionally, Gotch advises developing relationships with local influencers, bloggers, and industry experts who can provide backlinks to your website. By establishing partnerships and collaborations, you can leverage their audience and expertise to increase your website’s visibility and credibility.

Remember that link building is an ongoing process, and it requires consistent effort and outreach. Continuously monitor your backlink profile, track new backlink opportunities, and regularly update and optimize your link building strategy to improve your website’s DR and organic rankings.

6. Enhancing the Quantity of Organic Pages through Content Marketing

6.1 Importance of Publishing New Organic Pages

Publishing new organic pages is crucial for expanding the reach of your website and attracting a wider audience. Each new page provides an opportunity to rank for additional keywords, increase organic traffic, and demonstrate your expertise and authority in your industry.

By regularly adding new pages to your website, you can capture long-tail keywords, address specific customer pain points, and stay up-to-date with industry trends. This not only improves your website’s relevance but also provides a positive user experience, increasing the likelihood of users returning to your website and engaging with your content.

6.2 Lack of Content Marketing and SEO Campaign

In some cases, local businesses may struggle to publish new organic pages due to a lack of content marketing and an SEO campaign. Without a systematic approach to content creation and optimization, it can be challenging to consistently produce high-quality, valuable content that appeals to your target audience.

Without an SEO campaign, businesses may miss out on opportunities to optimize their content for search engines and attract organic traffic. Combining content marketing with SEO techniques ensures that your content is not only engaging but also optimized for relevant keywords and search intent.

6.3 Nathan Gotch’s Insights for Boosting Organic Page Quantity

To enhance the quantity of organic pages on your website, Nathan Gotch recommends implementing a content marketing and SEO campaign. This involves conducting keyword research to identify relevant topics and keywords that align with your business and target audience.

Gotch advises creating a content calendar that outlines a consistent publishing schedule for new organic pages. This calendar should consider the search intent of your target audience, providing valuable information and addressing their specific needs and pain points.

Additionally, Gotch suggests prioritizing evergreen content that remains relevant over time. By producing evergreen content, you can build a library of valuable resources that continue to attract organic traffic and provide value to your target audience.

Incorporate a variety of content formats such as blog posts, infographics, videos, and podcasts to cater to different preferences and provide a diverse range of information. By adopting a comprehensive content marketing and SEO strategy, you can consistently publish new organic pages and expand your website’s reach.

7. Analyzing the Existing Keyword Profile for Effective Targeting

7.1 Importance of Analyzing the Existing Keyword Profile

Analyzing your website’s existing keyword profile is essential for developing an effective keyword targeting strategy. By understanding which keywords are currently driving traffic to your website, you can identify areas for improvement and opportunities for optimization.

Analyzing your existing keyword profile allows you to uncover potential gaps in your keyword targeting. You may discover keywords that you are not currently ranking for, but that are relevant to your business and industry.

7.2 Developing an Effective Keyword Targeting Strategy

To develop an effective keyword targeting strategy, consider the following steps:

1. Analyze your existing keyword profile: Review your current keyword rankings, search volumes, and competition levels. Identify keywords that align with your business goals and target audience.

2. Identify keyword gaps: Determine which keywords are relevant to your business but not currently targeted in your content. These are opportunities to optimize existing pages or create new content to target these keywords.

3. Prioritize keywords: Evaluate the potential impact and feasibility of targeting each keyword. Focus on those keywords with high search volumes, low competition, and strong relevance to your business.

4. Incorporate long-tail keywords: Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that provide an opportunity to attract highly targeted traffic. Consider incorporating these keywords into your content strategy to capture niche audiences.

7.3 Nathan Gotch’s Approach to Analyzing and Targeting Keywords

Nathan Gotch suggests analyzing your existing keyword profile using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. These tools provide valuable data on keyword rankings, search volumes, and user behavior on your website.

Gotch emphasizes the importance of optimizing on-page elements such as title tags, meta descriptions, and headings to target specific keywords. By incorporating relevant keywords into these elements, you can increase your website’s visibility in search engine results and attract more organic traffic.

Additionally, Gotch recommends conducting competitor analysis to identify keywords that your competitors are targeting successfully. This analysis can provide insights into potential keyword opportunities and help you stay ahead of the competition.

By combining data analysis, keyword optimization, and competitor research, you can develop a targeted keyword strategy that improves your website’s visibility and attracts qualified organic traffic.

8. Identifying Intent-Driven Keywords and Creating Dedicated Pages

8.1 Understanding Intent-Driven Keywords

Intent-driven keywords refer to specific search terms that indicate the intent or purpose behind a user’s search. By understanding the intent behind keywords, you can create dedicated pages that directly address the user’s needs and provide relevant information.

Intent can be categorized into three main types: navigational intent, informational intent, and transactional intent. Navigational intent focuses on finding a specific website or brand, while informational intent seeks answers to specific questions or seeks in-depth information. Transactional intent indicates a user’s intention to make a purchase or take a specific action.

8.2 Creating Dedicated Pages to Support Each Keyword

Once you have identified intent-driven keywords, it is crucial to create dedicated pages that align with the intent behind those keywords. Each page should focus on providing valuable content and information that directly addresses the user’s search intent.

For example, if a user searches for “AC replacement in St. Louis,” the intent behind this search is likely transactional, indicating a desire to find a service provider for AC replacement in the St. Louis area. By creating a dedicated page specifically addressing AC replacement in St. Louis, you can provide relevant information, showcase your expertise, and increase the likelihood of converting that user into a customer.

Similarly, if a user searches for “hot water heater repair in St. Louis,” the intent behind the search is likely informational, indicating a need for guidance and information on hot water heater repair in the St. Louis area. By creating a separate dedicated page specifically focusing on hot water heater repair in St. Louis, you can provide detailed information, tips, and solutions to address the user’s needs.

8.3 Nathan Gotch’s Insights on Intent-Driven Keyword Implementation

Nathan Gotch emphasizes the importance of understanding user intent when targeting keywords. By aligning your content with the user’s search intent, you can provide a better user experience and increase the likelihood of converting visitors into customers.

Gotch recommends conducting thorough keyword research to identify intent-driven keywords relevant to your business and target audience. Once identified, develop a content strategy that includes dedicated pages addressing each unique intent to meet the needs of your audience effectively.

By creating dedicated pages that cater to specific intents, you can increase the relevance of your content, improve user satisfaction, and enhance your website’s visibility and rankings in search engine results.

9. Optimizing Title Tags, URLs, and Relevance

9.1 Significance of Optimizing Title Tags and URLs

Optimizing title tags and URLs is essential for on-page SEO and improving your website’s visibility in search engine results. Title tags and URLs provide vital information to both users and search engines, conveying the relevance and content of your webpages.

Title tags should accurately represent the content of the page while incorporating relevant keywords. A concise and descriptive title tag that accurately reflects the intent of the page can attract more clicks from search engine users and increase your website’s click-through rate (CTR).

URLs should also be optimized to include relevant keywords and provide a clear hierarchy of information. A well-structured URL not only helps search engines understand the content of your page but also enhances user experience and makes it easier for users to navigate your website.

9.2 Strategies to Increase Relevance through Title Tags and URLs

To optimize title tags and URLs for relevance, consider the following strategies:

1. Use target keywords: Include target keywords in your title tags and URLs to indicate the content’s relevance to specific search queries. Incorporate these keywords naturally and avoid keyword stuffing, as search engines may penalize excessive optimization efforts.

2. Keep it concise: Keep your title tags concise, typically between 50-60 characters, to ensure they are fully displayed in search engine result pages. Similarly, keep your URLs as short as possible to maintain readability and avoid unnecessary characters or numbers.

3. Use separators: Use separators such as hyphens or pipes to separate different elements within your title tags. This improves readability and helps both users and search engines understand the structure of your content.

4. Maintain consistency: Ensure that your title tags accurately reflect the content of each webpage. Avoid using misleading or clickbait titles, as this can negatively impact your website’s credibility and user experience.

5. Use descriptive URLs: Craft descriptive URLs that clearly identify the content of each webpage. Incorporate relevant keywords in the URL structure to improve search engine visibility and increase user comprehension.

9.3 Nathan Gotch’s Recommended Practices for Optimization

Nathan Gotch recommends a comprehensive approach to optimizing title tags, URLs, and relevance. He emphasizes aligning on-page optimization efforts with user intent and providing valuable and relevant content to your target audience.

Gotch suggests conducting keyword research to identify high-value target keywords and incorporating them naturally into title tags and URLs. However, he cautions against over-optimization, as search engines prioritize user experience and quality content.

Gotch also advises regularly reviewing and updating your title tags and URLs to ensure they remain accurate and relevant. As your website and content evolve, it is essential to adjust your optimization efforts accordingly to improve your website’s visibility and rankings.

By implementing Gotch’s recommended practices for title tag and URL optimization, you can enhance your website’s relevance, attract more organic traffic, and provide a better user experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, addressing the number one mistake in keyword research is crucial for the success of your local SEO strategy. By avoiding common mistakes, conducting thorough keyword research, and targeting intent-driven keywords, you can attract qualified leads, enhance your online visibility, and improve your website’s rankings in search engine results.

Additionally, optimizing word count, utilizing tools like Chat GPT for content ideation, analyzing crawl data, implementing link building campaigns, and focusing on content marketing can further strengthen your local SEO efforts. By adopting comprehensive strategies and recommendations from experts like Nathan Gotch, you can optimize your website, drive organic traffic, and achieve long-term success in the ever-evolving world of SEO.