In this article, you will learn about the expertise and insights of Steve Toth, an experienced SEO expert and the founder of SEO Notebook and SEO That Ranks. With his impressive background in increasing organic traffic for companies like Fresh Books, Steve now runs his own SEO business and shares weekly actionable tips through his newsletter, SEO Notebook. He tackles topics such as keyword cannibalization, keyword grouping, long-tail phrases, link building strategies, and AI automation in SEO processes. Steve’s consultancy-based approach focuses on content and link building recommendations, specifically for B2B SaaS clients. He prioritizes work-life balance and offers monthly retainers with a range of 5K to 25K, delivering valuable content outlines, technical audits, and link building campaigns. Don’t miss out on gaining valuable insights from Steve Toth!
In an engaging interview with Nathan Gotch on the SEO Entrepreneurs show, Steve Toth shares his journey in the SEO industry. From his success at Fresh Books, where he increased organic traffic and blog clicks exponentially, to starting the popular SEO Notebook newsletter with over 16,000 subscribers, Steve embodies the role of an SEO entrepreneur. He discusses strategies for preventing keyword cannibalization, grouping keywords for effective SEO, attacking long-tail phrases, leveraging AI technology, and maintaining work-life balance. Steve primarily generates income through client work, referrals, and affiliate partnerships, offering comprehensive SEO services with a focus on B2B SaaS clients. Stay connected with Steve on platforms like LinkedIn, SEO Notebook, and through the SEO IRL conference website. Additionally, the article mentions an upcoming event on October 27th featuring influential speakers, Christina Azarenko, Mahir Nck, and Jason Dolan, with sign-ups available on the website SEOirl.com. Don’t miss out on diving deeper into the world of SEO with Steve Toth!
Utilizing tools like SEO Notebook for keyword grouping and analysis
Introduction to SEO Notebook
SEO Notebook is a powerful tool that aids in keyword grouping and analysis, making it easier for SEO experts and businesses to optimize their websites for search engines. This tool was developed by Steve Toth, a seasoned SEO expert and the founder of SEO That Ranks.
Benefits of keyword grouping
Keyword grouping is an essential component of effective SEO strategy. By categorizing related keywords into groups, businesses can ensure that their website pages are targeting the right keywords and reaching the intended audience. This helps in increasing the relevance and visibility of the website in search engine results.
Importance of keyword analysis
Keyword analysis helps businesses understand their target audience’s search intent and behavior. It allows them to identify the most relevant and profitable keywords to target in their SEO efforts. Analyzing keywords also helps in uncovering new keyword opportunities and optimizing existing content for better search engine rankings.
How SEO Notebook aids in keyword grouping and analysis
SEO Notebook simplifies the process of keyword grouping and analysis by providing powerful features and functionalities. With this tool, users can easily import their keyword lists, segment them into groups, and analyze their performance. SEO Notebook also offers advanced insights and recommendations to optimize keyword targeting and improve search engine rankings.
Keyword Cannibalization and Prevention
Understanding keyword cannibalization
Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple pages on a website target the same keyword or variation, resulting in competition between these pages. This can lead to a decrease in search engine rankings and confusion for users.
Challenges faced in 2018
Keyword cannibalization was a significant challenge faced by SEO experts in 2018. Without advanced clustering tools like Keyword Insights available at the time, professionals had to rely on manual methods such as creating massive spreadsheets to prevent this issue. However, these methods were time-consuming and less efficient.
Prevention through tools like Keyword Insights
Tools like Keyword Insights have revolutionized the prevention of keyword cannibalization. By comparing search engine result pages (SERPs) for common pages and grouping similar keywords together, SEO professionals can easily identify and rectify instances of keyword cannibalization. This leads to better search engine rankings and improved user experience.
Optimizing SERPs with Grouped Keywords
Comparing SERPs for common pages
When optimizing websites for search engines, it is essential to assess how different pages perform in search engine result pages (SERPs). By comparing SERPs for common pages, businesses can gain insights into the most effective strategies for improving their rankings and visibility.
Advantages of grouping keywords
Grouping keywords allows businesses to streamline their optimization efforts. By targeting a specific group of keywords on a single page, they can optimize that page more effectively and increase its relevancy in SERPs. This helps in driving targeted organic traffic to the website.
Effective strategies for attacking long-tail phrases
Long-tail phrases are highly specific keyword phrases that typically have lower search volumes but higher conversion rates. When targeting long-tail phrases, businesses can either optimize on the same page or create dedicated assets specifically designed to rank for those phrases. This strategy ensures that each keyword is targeted effectively, leading to better search engine rankings and increased organic traffic.
Keyword Organization Strategies
Previous reliance on massive spreadsheets
Before tools like SEO Notebook, keyword organization often involved manual methods such as creating massive spreadsheets. While this approach allowed for some level of organization, it was time-consuming and prone to errors.
Benefits of using SEO Notebook for keyword organization
SEO Notebook streamlines the keyword organization process by providing a user-friendly interface and advanced functionalities. With this tool, users can easily import and segment their keyword lists, making it easier to track and optimize keyword performance.
Tips for efficient keyword organization
To ensure efficient keyword organization, businesses should follow a few best practices. These include grouping keywords based on relevance and search intent, regularly reviewing and updating keyword lists, and leveraging tools like SEO Notebook for advanced insights and recommendations.
Optimization Approach for SEO
Focus on three to four keywords per page
To enhance search engine optimization efforts, businesses should focus on targeting three to four primary keywords per page. This allows for better keyword targeting and avoids keyword cannibalization.
Recommended word count per page
While there is no set word count for SEO-optimized pages, it is generally recommended to have around 1200 words per page. This provides enough content to cover the targeted keywords comprehensively and improves the overall quality and relevance of the page.
Importance of FAQ sections for long-tail keyword capture
Including FAQ sections on website pages, even without FAQ schema, can still capture long-tail keywords effectively. By answering common user questions and providing valuable information, businesses can optimize their pages for a wide range of long-tail keywords and improve search engine rankings.
Income Sources in the SEO Industry
Referrals, affiliates, and client work as main income sources
In the SEO industry, income primarily comes from three sources: referrals, affiliates, and client work. SEO professionals can leverage their expertise to attract referrals and generate income through affiliate partnerships. Client work, including consultancy and SEO services, remains a significant source of income.
Consultancy-based SEO approach
Many SEO professionals adopt a consultancy-based approach, providing expert advice and recommendations to businesses. This allows them to offer their services on a consultative basis, helping businesses optimize their websites for search engines and drive organic traffic effectively.
Specializing in B2B SaaS clients
SEO professionals often specialize in serving specific industries to leverage their experience and understanding. Steve Toth, for example, specializes in serving B2B SaaS clients, allowing him to provide tailored SEO services that address the unique challenges and requirements of this niche.
Lead Generation and Pricing
Email marketing and LinkedIn outreach for lead generation
Lead generation in the SEO industry can be achieved through various channels, including email marketing and LinkedIn outreach. By reaching out to potential clients through personalized messaging and demonstrating their expertise, SEO professionals can generate leads and secure new business opportunities.
Monthly retainer pricing based on project scope
When it comes to pricing SEO services, SEO professionals often offer monthly retainers based on the project scope. This allows businesses to have a clear understanding of the cost involved and ensures that the SEO professional has sufficient resources to deliver the desired results.
Deliverables offered by SEO entrepreneur
As an SEO entrepreneur, Steve Toth offers a range of deliverables to his clients. These include content outlines, content briefs, technical audits, and link building campaigns. These deliverables provide businesses with a comprehensive SEO strategy and roadmap to optimize their websites effectively.
Embracing AI and Automation in SEO
Benefits of AI and automation in saving time
AI and automation play a crucial role in streamlining SEO processes and saving time for SEO professionals. Tools like chat GPT and AI technology help in automating content creation and audits, allowing professionals to focus on more strategic aspects of SEO.
Focus on SAS keyword research
Incorporating AI technology, SEO professionals can focus on SAS (Software as a Service) keyword research. This includes targeting bottom-of-the-funnel landing pages and comparison queries, helping businesses optimize their websites for high-value keywords that align with their offerings.
Utilizing AI technology for content creation and audits
AI technology, such as chat GPT, can be leveraged for content creation and audits. These tools assist SEO professionals in generating high-quality content, optimizing it for search engines, and conducting comprehensive audits to identify areas for improvement.
Link Building Strategies
Utilizing niche edits and guest posts
Link building remains a critical aspect of SEO strategy. To improve website authority and search engine rankings, SEO professionals often utilize niche edits and guest posts. These strategies involve obtaining backlinks from relevant and authoritative websites within their niche.
Alternative pages for link building
In addition to guest posts and niche edits, SEO professionals can explore alternative pages for link building. This includes resource pages, round-up posts, and testimonials, which provide opportunities to acquire valuable backlinks and enhance a website’s authority.
Balancing automation with human input
While automation tools can streamline the link building process, it is essential to balance automation with human input. Human intervention ensures the quality and relevance of the backlinks obtained and helps maintain ethical link building practices.
Contact Information and Event Mention
Contact details and social media presence
To connect with Steve Toth or learn more about his SEO services, individuals can reach out to him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/stevetothjr) or visit the SEO Notebook website (seonotebook.io). Steve actively engages with his audience on social media and regularly shares valuable SEO insights.
Event sponsorship and mentioned speakers
Steve Toth has been actively involved in the SEO community and is known for his contributions to the industry. He has sponsored speakers like Christina Azarenko, Mahir Nck, and Jason Dolan at the SEO IRL conference. These speakers bring valuable insights and expertise to the event.
Event date and website information
The SEO IRL conference, featuring Steve Toth and other industry experts, is scheduled for October 27th. Individuals interested in attending the event or staying updated can sign up for updates and purchase tickets on the SEO IRL website (seoirl.com).
Appreciation to the speaker and future plans
Steve expresses his gratitude to the speaker, Nathan Gotch, for inviting him to the SEO Entrepreneurs show and giving him the opportunity to share his SEO expertise. It is evident that Steve values the knowledge-sharing aspect of the industry and plans to continue contributing and participating in similar events in the future.