ImageWorks Creative Blog

2019 SEO: A Game of Poker with Google

Posted by Luke February 7, 2019
2019 SEO: Game of Poker with Google

As most would expect, SEO will be changing this year. As Google continues to downplay traditional SEO with the increase in no-click searches (searches answered without the need to click for more answers) and voice searches with Amazon Echo and Google Home, industry professionals must change their game plan to focus on their website’s strengths and prepare for the new additions in user search technology.

This week, Mike Murray from Content Marketing Institute explains how you can break down your strategy into a Poker Game with Google as your dealer. At this virtual table, you are playing against thousands who all looking to win Google Rewards. Each targeted keyword phrase is a hand and every time an new keyword is targeted, Google deals you a new set of cards. Instead of the cards being random as they are in Poker, your cards are associated with what your website brings to the table. In order to receive the best hand and ultimately rewards from Google, you have to recognize and double down on your SEO strengths.

In Mike’s article, he shows us how to structure your SEO strategy to put you in the best position to receive the most ideal hands by covering ranking factors starting with Domain and Page Authority. Competition for audience engagement is intense. Just posting and sharing content to your social profiles and email lists will not amplify your content to reach the next level. What you need to focus on are shares and backlinks. Are you augmenting your strategies to produce more shares and backlinks? Mike mentions another CMI article covering the best strategies to amplify your content and steadily grow your audience here.

Next, Mike goes on to mention Content and Website Size followed by On-Page Essentials. Quality is always paramount when creating content, but if you are able to produce a high quantity while making it helpful, insightful, and entertaining, you will be set up for success. The argument for quantity + quality is pushed again when Mike mentions that larger websites with more pages have a much better chance of ranking higher than smaller websites with only 5-10 pages. This is because Google can recognizes serious players by the size of their website. As Mike will point out in his case-studies, administrators must go the extra mile to make sure that their on-page structure is set up for Google to reward them. Adding H1 tags to headers, creating SEO Page Meta Titles and Descriptions, and customizing Page URLs to be concise will all be taken into account when your cards are dealt.

To further back his insight, Mike compares three websites and points out what they are doing right and where they can improve to position themselves to receive the best rewards from Google through 2019.

To conclude, Mike mentions one last point to help wrap our heads around what to focus on. It’s not about understanding Google, it’s about understanding users. To see the full article click here.

"With their copywriting capabilities, SEO expertise, and an eye for design, this firm has it all!"

"ImageWorks’ branding and marketing strategies have led to a tenfold increase in our organic website traffic."

"We have already seen a lot more user engagement than we ever have had in the past. Scott never said no. As a result, I am a hero at work for creating this great new site."

"Scott is the only person I've talked to who really took the time to understand my marketing needs and helped me make the changes to my website and marketing plan."

"Pssst! Did you know ImageWorks has won over 20 national and international awards for design and marketing from the best names in the industry? Imagine that talent working for your business! "

"ImageWorks knew exactly what I needed and provided it quickly and economically."

"Thanks to the IWC team for creating a brand for us which consistently receives rave reviews!"

"Thanks to you and the ImageWorks team for a successful launch yesterday. Everything turned out great and I really appreciate the effort everyone put in to meet the launch date. I am looking forward to continuing working with you. Best of all, in less than 12 hours of having our new site up, we generated our first lead for a trial."

"We have been extremely happy with their creativeness and are very proud of what they have done for us on our web presence."

"This [design] is phenomenal! Your team has blown me and my expectations away at every phase! I can hardly wait to start marketing."

"A big thank you for an amazing website! I absolutely love it! You and your team did a great job! Fabulous work ... I have been bragging about it to everyone!"

DC Metro Area (Headquarters)

3859 Centerview Drive, Suite 400
Chantilly, Virginia 20151

(703) 378 0000

Satellite

1776 I St NW
Washington, DC 20006

(202) 803 7980

Download our PDF Brochure Our "Pitch Deck”

Get It Now