One of the queries I get asked the most often is, “If I’m seeking better visibility for my business, and higher conversion rates from site traffic, which one is better, either traditional SEO or content marketing (search optimization for engines)? The simple answer is both. However, they are distinct processes and technologies. SEO is the process that generates organic search web traffic (not paid) through search engines. To succeed, SEO should include: Technical SEO to ensure your website is safe and secure to search engines and On-Page Content that is relevant and is a hit with your customers; and Keyword Research so you are aware of keywords with high volume pertinent to your company. When these are in place, you can turn to content marketing, which generates highly relevant mentions and hyperlinks to your website to boost your brand’s visibility and boost your site’s visibility on search engines. You Are Who You Associate With Content is a significant factor for your search rankings as well as a significant factor in driving visitors to your website. Initially, I insisted on the importance of who is linking back to your website. In essence, Who do you consider to be the people you believe to be your “friends”? Are they well-known or respected? It is said that you are the sum of all the people you are associated with. Search engines consider that when they crawl your website. If search engines do not favor “your friends” (low domain authority), they won’t be a fan of your site either. To improve the strength of your domain and its search engine optimization (SEO) value, “your friends” need substantial discounts and power in the field. The more highly regarded sites such as HuffPo, Forbes, or CNET which link to your website, the higher your authority. How do you get those authoritative sites to link to your website by generating fantastic content? Although search strategists of the past used to focus on getting link traction with a large number of websites that were not of high quality, earning more high-quality mentions on domain authority websites is more efficient. To get high-quality hyperlinks, regular, link-worthy content must be produced. The more relevant, viral, and captivating material you publish, the higher authority websites will connect to your website. It comes down to some key points to remember while developing content: Know your target audience and the keywords you wish to improve. Tools such as Google Keyword Planner can provide an understanding of the search terms your prospective customers are looking for. Split content into audiences silos. Examine the use cases of those products as well as services. Customers have different requirements, and the content you provide should be targeted to meet the needs of these groups of people. Market your content effectively. The aim of well-crafted product content should be, in the first place, to educate your viewers. The goal isn’t to sell (although it’s a purpose) but to provide information on any issues that may arise in your customers’ decision-making process. Confident marketers make the error of constructing content solely to enhance its SEO impact, but good content is written for the user and not for the robot. To ensure that you are serving your readers, it is essential to define your ideal audience to ensure that you segment your content marketing strategy into groups, develop a calendar of content and then formulate plans for channel distribution. While SEO can significantly boost rankings for search engines, creating helpful content is an enormous benefit to long-term strategies. We’re witnessing a new level of sophistication among people who realize that SEO is only one aspect of getting the visibility and rankings they require to boost business performance. Good content that informs, educates, or even attracts users can help them be seen to search results pages, leading to more prospects and sales. Post navigation Twitter Roundup: August Voices in SEMOptimize Your YouTube Videos (Content and Keyword Research)