Backlinko

Just hit my 6-month mark on LinkedIn! [Steal my approach (costs included) to get growth like I did] PS. All the credit to Ivan Palii for inspiring me to create this post. So back in June this year, I decided to get serious about my LinkedIn to share my SEO and digital strategy expertise, plus everything I’m up to in my many endeavors. Never have I ever thought I would have this much growth in so little time. Here’s the simple math behind my growth at the 6-month mark: Where I’m at today: ↳ Current follower count: 13,667 ↳ Since June 18: Gained an average of 70 new followers/day ↳ Past 365 days: Got a total of 1,333,259 impressions Pro tip here: ↳ Tracking your stats is super important if you wanna see what’s working (and what’s not). How? ↳ Make sure to export/take SSs of your LinkedIn data regularly so you don’t lose access to those numbers—it’s a lifesaver for figuring out your long-term growth. Here’s a quick look at the time I’m putting in: ↳ On average, 30–60 minutes are spent per post to write, edit, and engage with people (Not counting the time my designer puts in). Let’s round it up to 2hrs per post to keep it simple. ↳ Since June, I’ve posted 106 times: 106 posts × 2 hours = 212 hours. That’s about 26.5 workdays, or over half a month of work, in 6 months. Let’s talk about the cost of time: ↳ If your time is worth at least $50–$100/hour, you’re looking at $10.6k–$21.2k spent over 6 months to get these results. Think about a full year and you’re talking $21.2k–$42.4k for consistent LinkedIn growth. That’d be about: + $8–$16 of your time investment for every 1k impressions. + $100–$200 per post approximately. So I totally agree with Ivan here: When you compare that to paid ads on LinkedIn or other channels, growing your LinkedIn organically is sure a huge time investment—but it’s totally worth it. What I’ve learned so far: ↳ Growth isn't always steady—it has its ups and downs. ↳ When growth slows down, don’t be afraid to mix it up. ↳ Planning is the best practice you can adopt: ideas >>> reality. ↳ Engaging with your community is just as important as sharing insightful content. - See that dip in the graph? That’s because I wasn’t prioritizing this. Here’s the goals I have in mind for 2025: ↳ Keep an average of 80+ new followers per day. ↳ Hit 1.8 million impressions and at least 100k impressions on one post. ↳ Continue posting 4+ times per week (that’d be about 208 posts for the year). ↳ Experiment with new content formats (thinking of incorporating more video clips). ↳ Stay on top of monthly tracking to keep improving. My journey proves that consistency and determination really pay off. I’m also so grateful for all the amazing people I’ve connected with here. Honestly, this wouldn’t have happened without your insights and support! What are your LinkedIn goals for the next quarter? What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started posting? Drop your thoughts in the comments 👇🏼

What a year it's been for me and Backlinko! Taking the reins of such an iconic brand has been a rewarding journey. I'm honored to build on the incredible foundation Brian created, staying true to its core while finding new ways to push for even greater heights. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved: ↳ Growing organic traffic by over 40% in a year. ↳ Nearly doubling revenue impact. ↳ Preserving and building on the Backlinko legacy. Here’s what helped us get there: ↳ Researching keywords to outpace the competition. ↳ Creating content that attracts and converts. ↳ Optimizing site performance with technical audits. ↳ Building high-quality links to grow authority. Seeing our efforts drive real growth-in both traffic and revenue-has been an amazing experience. Grateful for Brian's trust and support as we continue to evolve and innovate. Here's to keeping the momentum going. 🚀

Here’s how to optimize your e-commerce page like a pro. 👇🏽 … why does this matter? Simple: ✔️ Build trust with shoppers. ✔️ Turn visits into sales. ✔️ Keep customers coming back for more. Optimization is key because: ↳ It boosts your visibility Higher rankings on search engines mean more people can find you. ↳ It connects with your customers When your page matches what shoppers want, they’re more likely to click, buy, and come back. Here’s how to optimize your e-commerce like a pro: 1. 𝗦𝗘𝗢-𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗨𝗥𝗟𝘀 ↳ Use clean URLs with keywords for better Google rankings Example: ✅ yourecommerce[dot]com/shop/wd(http://yourecommerce[dot]com/shop/wd) ❌ yourecommerce[dot]com/10-12-17/category/articletitle 2. 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗴 ↳ The page's title, shown in search results and browser tabs - The closer the keyword is to the beginning of the title tag, the more weight it has with search engines - Add click-worthy phrases like "X% off" or "FREE Shipping" to boost CTR - Use modifiers like "cheap," "buy," or "deals" for long-tail traffic 3. 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 ↳ Summarizes the page below the title in search results - Include your keyword as the first or second word of your title - Include phrases like "great selection," "FREE Shipping," and "All Items on Sale" to maximize your page's CTR 4. 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗯𝘀 ↳ Help users understand where they are on your website 5. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 & 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 ↳ Include 1,000+ words of well-optimized content with 3–5 keyword mentions 6. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 ↳ Include multiple fast-loading, high-quality images ↳ Write alt texts ↳ Remove image backgrounds 7. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 ↳ Make web pages render well on all screen sizes and resolutions while ensuring good usability → Rank higher on search engines → Speak to what customers want. This is what makes the difference between GOOD and GREAT. ♻️ Found this helpful? Share it with your network!

You still have 19 days to master search intent in 2024. And outrank some competitors. 💪🏼 Search intent is the reason behind someone’s search on the internet. Your task? Figuring out what they’re really looking for. To give you a simple example, ↳ If someone types "buy running shoes," their intent is to shop. ↳ If they search "how to start running," they’re looking for advice or information. ↳ If they just put "best running shoes," they probably want recommendations or reviews. And why is this important? Understanding search intent helps YOU give people the exact answers or content they need = more rankings + better performance The good thing is that a quick intent audit could set you on the right track. Here’s 4 tips you can steal to see results again:

You’re about to see the 9 best link building tools... In fact, we’ve used these exact tools to get backlinks from sites like Entrepreneur[dot]com: Link building is the key to more online presence >< increased search rankings. Here you go 👇🏼 ☑ 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 The fastest backlink discovery platform ↳ Backlink discovery, keyword research, SEO tools ↳ Pricing: $139.95-$499.95/month ↳ Favorite Feature: Built-in outreach tool for campaigns ☑ 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗯𝗼𝘅 Streamline your outreach process ↳ Ideal for advanced outreach and team campaigns ↳ Pricing: $550-$1500/month ↳ Favorite Feature: Metrics Filters for prospect quality ☑ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗮 All-in-one link-building outreach ↳ Pre-built campaigns (e.g., Skyscraper, Guest Posts) ↳ Pricing: $99-$399/month ↳ Favorite Feature: Automated Contact Finder ☑ 𝗕𝘂𝘇𝘇𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 Stay organized with an outreach CRM ↳ Replaces spreadsheets, tracks campaign stages ↳ Pricing: $24-$999/month ↳ Favorite Feature: Custom Fields for relationships ☑ 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 Find emails instantly ↳ Instant, accurate email finder ↳ Pricing: Free-$399/month ↳ Favorite Feature: Email Verification for active inboxes ☑ 𝗕𝘂𝘇𝘇𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗼 Discover influencers & content opportunities ↳ Discover influencers and link-worthy content ↳ Pricing: $119-$999/month ↳ Favorite Feature: Brand Mentions alerts ☑ 𝗔𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘀 Backlink data + SEO tools ↳ SEO tools like rank tracking and site audits ↳ Pricing: $99-$999/month ↳ Favorite Feature: Content Explorer for linking ideas ☑ 𝗠𝗼𝘇 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗿 Analyze competitor backlinks ↳ Domain authority and anchor text analysis ↳ Pricing: $99-$599/month ↳ Favorite Feature: Black hat spotting ☑ 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 Budget-friendly link analysis ↳ Budget-friendly link analysis tools ↳ Pricing: $49-$399/month ↳ Favorite Feature: Topical Trust Flow 🎁 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀: 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲 Free link-building research ↳ Use search operators for free prospect research ↳ Pricing: Free ↳ Favorite Feature: Advanced Search Operators Turn your website into an authority magnet. The tools are here. The strategy is yours to build.

Managing SEO projects is not for the weak. It takes strategy, grit, and more than just a few tools. But the right approach will help you turn complexity into clarity. Here’s 8 tried-and-tested tips to make managing SEO projects easier while driving the results your business needs. (Spoiler alert: It’s all about analyzing, adapting, grading, and staying flexible) 1️⃣ Forecast the SEO results Consider factors like content distribution, backlinks, promotion and seasonality trends. If you have a seasonal business where you're selling winter items the traffic trend is going to change throughout the year. 2️⃣ Content lifecycle Plan for content performance peaks and declines. Never assume that you're gonna reach a result and then just hold to that forever. 3️⃣ Use project and content management tools Set up a project management system (Notion, Monday, and Asana are good options), and align it with the content production flow. 4️⃣ Create content production workflows Identify topics, create a brief, have feedback and let your writer choose and execute it based on their skills and the brief. 5️⃣ Recruit outstanding writers Having a rigorous selection process is key. You need to kind of say ‘no’ to a lot of people and reject them as quickly as possible. It can be for small things: If they're not able to follow basic directions, then it's just a red flag. 6️⃣ Use a grading system to assess quality We grade every single piece that a writer submits by using a 30-point scale. We want to see all of our writers be in the 25 to 30-point range. By assessing their performance, we’re able to see their trend over time, allowing us to make decisions over cost vs quality vs ROI. 7️⃣ Adapt to business complexity It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. Workflows and strategies are something we adapt based on the kind of clients we're working with. Niche industries require niche approaches and niche writers. 8️⃣ Leverage SEO communities Though they usually don’t cater to specific needs, I think they hold a lot of value. You can know about emerging trends and best practices, ask questions and get feedback, and even spark ideas for improving workflows or creating content that resonates with others in the field. EOD, the key to successful SEO management is asking yourself: “What makes the most sense for my business, industry, and competitors?” This question will help you stay focused on making smart moves. Smart moves = less time > results that truly matter. That’s how you navigate the rocky waters of SEO projects. If you wanna know more about this, I really recommend checking our 11-step post on “How to Scale Content Creation” in Backlinko for full detail. What’s your go-to for staying ahead in SEO? Drop your favorite communities, tools, or thought leaders in the comments below! 👇🏼

Most SEO strategies forget one thing: the reader. Steal an SEO expert's strategies to stand out, rank higher, and resonate with readers. In collab with Davor Bomeštar, we break down his QRIES method into an easy-to-follow checklist: 𝗤: 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗾𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀? ✔ Is your content backed by diverse viewpoints? Add credibility by including quotes from trusted experts. ✔ Is your content easy to read? Break up long sections into clear, easy-to-read parts for better engagement. ✔ Are you using input from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)? Connect with SMEs through these platforms: Leaps, Featured, Connectively (Formerly HARO). 𝗥: 𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱? ✔ Are you starting with broad research, then focusing on specifics? 80:20 rule: spend 80% of your time on research, 20% on writing for solid, accurate content. ✔ Are your sources reliable? Check each source for authority and relevance. • Quick Resources: Google Scholar, industry journals, reputable blogs. 𝗜: 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲? ✔ Do visuals reinforce your content? Ensure visuals add value and clarify complex points. ✔ Are visuals strategically placed? Position images or charts to break up text, illustrate steps, or support examples. • Quick Resources: Canva, Unsplash, screenshots for tutorials. 𝗘: 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴? ✔ Are examples relevant and engaging? Stories, case studies, and examples make your content relatable and memorable. ✔ Do stories illustrate the key points? Choose examples that clarify your key ideas. • Quick Tip: Look for “case studies” or “success stories” for good examples. 𝗦: 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲? ✔ Is data used to back up claims? Boost credibility with stats and reliable sources. ✔ Are data visualizations included? Charts and graphs make information easier to understand. • Quick Resources: Statista, Google Data Studio. Most SEO content fails to do this. ↳ The focus is on on-page optimizations while ignoring what actually keeps readers engaged. Are you making content that ranks, engages, and drives conversions? ♻️ Repost if this is useful —others can use it too.

Want results without blowing your budget? Achieve success with these 33 budget-friendly tools for Digital Marketing: [We’ve grouped them by strategy and purpose for easy reference] 1️⃣ 𝗦𝗘𝗢: ↳ Semrush SEO, ↳ Google Search Console, ↳ Google PageSpeed Insights 2️⃣ 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: ↳ Backlink Analytics, ↳ Help a B2B Writer, ↳ Hunter 3️⃣ 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ↳ Mailchimp, ↳ ActiveCampaign, ↳ ConvertKit 4️⃣ 𝗔𝗜 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ↳ ChatGPT, ↳ Jasper, ↳ ContentShake AI, ↳ SEO Writing Assistant, ↳ Wordtune 5️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: ↳ Canva, ↳ Remove[dot]bg, ↳ VEED[dot]IO 6️⃣ 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ↳ Semrush Social, ↳ Buffer, ↳ Sprout Social 7️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴: ↳ Meta Ad Library, ↳ LinkedIn Ad Library, ↳ Semrush Paid Advertising You can still deliver big results, with a small budget. Save this list for future reference —or share it with someone who might find it useful! 🚀

Here’s a 4-layer approach to starting a successful SEO project. Knowing what to tackle first can make or break a strategy. Deciding where to begin or where to focus is crucial. Breaking it down into 4 actionable layers simplifies the process: 1️⃣ 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝘆 What brought the business to this point? Is it pain points, growth goals, or a need for better ROI? 2️⃣ 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 SEO doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel. Study what competitors are doing to dominate and uncover opportunity gaps. 3️⃣ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 Is there a team in place, or are you starting solo? Assess your resources —team, tools, and budget— for a realistic plan. 4️⃣ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 Map out milestones: 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month goals. Define metrics for success and adjust strategies as the data rolls in. The best SEO strategies start with clarity and alignment. Master these layers, and you’ll set yourself —and your clients— up for long-term success. What’s your go-to approach for kicking off an SEO project?

Backlinko attracts over 451K+ unique visitors per month, with a results-driven content strategy. Learn how to play the content game 🎮 to achieve similar results. Here you go 👇🏼 Step 1: Identify Your Goals Why: Clear, time-bound goals keep you focused and aligned. How: Use the SMART framework Examples: ↳ Boost organic traffic by 20% in six months. ↳ Grow email subscribers by 15% this quarter. ✅ DO: Map goals in your content calendar with actionable steps. Step 2: Define Your Target Audience Why: Know your audience to create content they want. How: ↳ Use surveys (Google Forms, SurveyMonkey) to find challenges. ↳ Dive into Google Analytics for insights: ↳ Demographics: User Attributes > Demographics ↳ Browsers/Tech: Tech > Overview ✅ DO: Build audience personas to tailor your content. Step 3: Analyze Competitors Why: Don’t reinvent the wheel—improve it. How: Use tools like Semrush’s Keyword Gap to find opportunities: ↳ Add your URL and competitors’. ↳ Compare keywords: Missing: They rank, you don’t. Weak: They outrank you. ✅ DO: Spot content gaps to outsmart competitors. Step 4: Research Topic Ideas Why: Content aligned with user intent ranks better. How: ↳ Use Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool for high-value topics. ↳ Explore Google’s “People Also Ask” for related questions. 🔥 Pro Tip: Monitor social media trends for inspiration. Step 5: Decide on Content Formats Why: Engage audiences at every stage of the funnel. How: Mix formats: ↳ Blogs for SEO ↳ Ebooks for leads ↳ Videos for engagement ↳ Infographics for data ↳ Webinars and podcasts for depth ✅ DO: Keep it varied to meet audience preferences. Step 6: Create a Content Calendar Why: Stay consistent and organized. How: Use tools like Trello, Asana, or Notion to track stages: ↳ Research ➡️ Writing ➡️ Editing ➡️ Publishing ➡️ Promotion ✅ DO: Align content with goals in your calendar. Step 7: Create High-Quality Content Why: Google loves valuable, trustworthy content (E-E-A-T). How: ↳ Use firsthand knowledge for experience. ↳ Showcase expertise with author bios. ↳ Cite reputable sources for authority. ↳ Ensure engaging, trustworthy content. Step 8: Promote Your Content Why: Visibility drives traffic. How: ↳ Email campaigns ↳ Social media ↳ Paid ads ↳ PR and guest posts ↳ Syndication on platforms like Medium ✅ DO: Experiment with multiple channels and focus on ROI. Step 9: Track & Measure Performance Why: What gets measured, gets managed. How: Use Google Analytics and Search Console to track: ↳ Organic traffic ↳ Keyword rankings ↳ Engagement metrics ✅ DO: Regularly analyze and refine your strategy. Step 10: Create a Content Governance Policy Why: Scale with quality and consistency. How: ↳ Define an approval process. ↳ Maintain a style guide. ↳ Outline team roles. ↳ Schedule content audits ✅ DO: Set benchmarks to ensure quality content. For the detailed guide, check out our blog post. 🔍 “Backlinko Results Driven Content Marketing Strategy”