What is this SEO thing anyway? (Plus GOLDEN RETRIEVERS)

SEO + Content marketing

Thank goodness we know what Content Marketing is and why it’s so important. We also know we can design a Content Marketing strategy to generate multiple wins for your design, hospitality, or real estate brand business. Now we want to know what is SEO and why do digital marketers and google ads want to charge us for it?

SEO is Search Engine Optimization. Here’s a couple definitions:

“The process of maximizing the number of visitors to a particular website by ensuring that the site appears high on the list of results returned by a search engine.”    
-Google

“It is the process of getting traffic from the “free,” “organic,” “editorial” or “natural” search results on search engines.”
-Search Engine Land

Let's Break SEO Down

So far, so good. I mean, we want our site to appear high up on google’s and other search engine results. Essentially, there are two ways to increase SEO. 

1. Keywords.

Keywords are just what they sound like - key words and phrases that potential visitors to your site are using to find you in search engines. The goal is to match the communication style of those visitors. There are all sorts of ways to utilize key words. Consider the following example:

It’s pretty clear this is an article catering to searches for pictures of Golden Retrievers - so this article has strong SEO. In fact it has laser-like .. single-minded .. Star Trek: The Next Generation borg-like SEO. There also might be room for improvement in narrative structure. The goal is to generate content that contains SEO and is also more than SEO. Your content tells a story. It delivers something of value to your audience. It makes them want to come back to your website or social media page for your next blog or photo or video, or share it with friends or with their own audience. 

2. Backlinks.

The second method of generating SEO is backlinks, which are links from other websites to yours. You can do this organically by generating valuable content that other sites want to link to. You can also find partners that are a good fit for your unique brand and provide content for them to feature on their sites. 

A great Content Marketing strategy includes these two SEO ingredients and a lot more. It delivers content that is valuable and meaningful to your audience. Your blog posts, photos, and videos should contain this structure:

Beginning + Middle + End + Keywords + Backlinks + Great Visuals + Brand Ethos

Now, let’s look at a picture of Golden Retriever puppies:

via Pinterest

- Laine Mervis

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WANT AN SEO STRATEGY THAT ACTUALLY ATTRACTS AND MAINTAINS AN ENGAGED AUDIENCE ?

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We're Loving These Hottest Design Trends of 2017

New year. New design trends. From Elle Decor to The Wall Street Journal, and House Beautiful, everyone is taking an early stance on the interior design trends that we will soon be seeing everywhere in 2017. Eames lounge chairs begone. Rustic woods, see ya! Cheery pastels - wouldn’t want to be ya. Whether your company will be blogging about design, sending out newsletters sharing design tips, or plans to have custom content crafted for their Instagram, make sure your content marketing plan for 2017 reflects the year’s hottest trends.

We’re diving into 2017's hottest trends so get a ahead of the curve with your content creation -and weigh in with your thoughts on the trends, below.

New Trend: Mixing and Layering

Minimal Scandinavian-inspired design aesthetics are giving way to layered looks and mixing patterns. That means layering southwestern fringe with deep, indigo dyed fabrics of Japanese influence is a-ok. The WSJ notes that, New York designer Starrett Ringbom is seeing more ‘tassels and trims as rich, louche interiors make a comeback.’" Another major trend when it comes to layering, is layering cultures in your design aesthetic. No doubt you will be seeing rich, well-worn Chesterfield sofas set against modern, floral motifs.

see how STRUKTR Studio's Marni Epstein-Mervis and husband, Laine, layer cultures in
their 'Atomic Safaro' California home tour from Apartment Therapy.

photo via Casa Joshua Tree

New Trend: Marble...Everywhere

We talked about this white hot trend during summer - the affair with white marble will carry on through to 2017 as well, suggests House Beautiful. Sure there's the usual marble countertops in your kitchen or bathroom, but 2017 will also bing with it marble in unexpected places - like wallpapers, housewares, and more!

photo via Style Caster

New Trend: Terrazzo Flooring

While Mid-Century's influence might be waning when it comes to furniture, its influence is a live and well in flooring trends. Terrazzo - the slab material with its chips of marble, quartz, granite, and glass -  once loomed large in the homes and office buildings of post-war America. Now, in 2017, the WSJ, notes that this cool, fresh, nearly-indestructible material will surge in popularity, noting that terrazzo will oust dark wood floors taking the top spot on everyone's flooring wish list.

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photo via Nomos.archi

New Trend: Greens

Green is good. This pick for 2017 makes sense when you consider Pantone’s nature-inspired choice for 2017 color of the year. From forest greens to lighter hues, like Pantone's, incorporating nature's vibes via paint color is huge. After spending 2016 going gaga over perfectly pleasant pale pinks, this year design tastes will swing to the opposite end of the spectrum by giving way to the vibrant or moody embrace of these greens.

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photo via Apartment Therapy

Does your content marketing or social media content incorporate these 2017's hottest trends? Boost your SEO and keep your audience engaged with relevant and current content.