{"id":149308,"date":"2022-12-15T08:23:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T13:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?p=149308"},"modified":"2024-10-04T10:12:05","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T15:12:05","slug":"diy-seo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/diy-seo\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY SEO: A Basic 5-Step Guide That Anyone Can Follow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"intro-txt\">Several years ago, I worked in a startup with no marketing budget.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>No one had any marketing experience either. Being the only person who had read a couple of marketing books, I was put in charge of the marketing strategy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without any know-how or marketing dollars, I read a couple of <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-blogs\/\">SEO blogs<\/a> and tried implementing their strategies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1954\" height=\"712\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/1-traffic-spike.png\" alt=\"The spike in search traffic after implementing some SEO strategies\" class=\"wp-image-149323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/1-traffic-spike.png 1954w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/1-traffic-spike-680x248.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/1-traffic-spike-768x280.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/1-traffic-spike-1536x560.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1954px) 100vw, 1954px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sidenote\"><div class=\"sidenote-title\">Sidenote.<\/div> Due to business challenges, the company no longer exists, which explains the sudden decline in traffic.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>With the proper guidance, anyone can do SEO by themselves. You just need to know how to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s what this guide is&nbsp;for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"intro-tok\" id=\"intro_tok\" style=\"display:none;\"><div class=\"intro-title\">Contents<\/div><a href=\"#\" class=\"expand-dots\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"1. Get your technical SEO in order\" data-section=\"get-your-technical-seo-in-order\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Get your technical SEO in&nbsp;order<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If Google cannot find, <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/glossary\/crawlability\">crawl<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/glossary\/indexability\">index<\/a> your pages, it doesn\u2019t matter what SEO tactics you pull out of the hat. Your pages just can\u2019t&nbsp;rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So the first step is to make sure Google can do all of the above for your&nbsp;site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The easiest way to see if any issues are hindering Google is to audit your website. You can do this by signing up for our free <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/webmaster-tools\">Ahrefs Webmaster Tools<\/a> (AWT) and using <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-audit\">Site Audit<\/a> to run a crawl of your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the crawl is done, you\u2019ll see all the top issues plaguing your site. Click on the number in the <strong>Crawled <\/strong>column to see which URLs these&nbsp;are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"934\" height=\"898\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2-top-issues.png\" alt=\"The top technical issues facing a site, via Ahrefs' Site Audit\" class=\"wp-image-149324\" style=\"width:467px;height:449px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2-top-issues.png 934w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2-top-issues-442x425.png 442w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2-top-issues-768x738.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 934px) 100vw, 934px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also click on the issue itself to see why it\u2019s a problem and how to fix&nbsp;it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1802\" height=\"920\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/3-issue-explanation-and-how-to-fix.png\" alt=\"An explanation of why an error is a technical SEO issue and how to fix it, via Ahrefs' Site Audit\" class=\"wp-image-150157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/3-issue-explanation-and-how-to-fix.png 1802w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/3-issue-explanation-and-how-to-fix-680x347.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/3-issue-explanation-and-how-to-fix-768x392.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/3-issue-explanation-and-how-to-fix-1536x784.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1802px) 100vw, 1802px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"further-reading\"><div class=\"reading-title\">Further reading<\/div><div class=\"reading-content\">\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/technical-seo\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/technical-seo\/\">The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Technical SEO<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-audit\/\">A Simple (But Effective) 14-Step SEO Audit &amp; Checklist<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/technical-seo-audit\/\">How to Complete a Technical SEO Audit in 8&nbsp;Steps<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"2. Do keyword research\" data-section=\"do-keyword-research\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Do keyword research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>To get search traffic, you need to target the words and phrases your potential customers are searching for. You can find what these are by doing keyword research.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the easiest way to get started. You&nbsp;can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter one or a few relevant keywords related to your website (e.g., if I were a massage therapist, I might enter <em>massage therapy<\/em>, <em>back pain<\/em>, <em>back pain relief<\/em>, <em>shoulder pain relief<\/em>, and&nbsp;more).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to the <strong>Matching terms <\/strong>report.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1002\" height=\"1038\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/4-matching-terms-1.png\" alt=\"The Matching terms report, via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer\" class=\"wp-image-149328\" style=\"width:501px;height:519px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/4-matching-terms-1.png 1002w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/4-matching-terms-1-410x425.png 410w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/4-matching-terms-1-768x796.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1002px) 100vw, 1002px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, you\u2019ll see over 400,000 potential topics. But that\u2019s too many. So you\u2019ll want to reduce the list to something manageable. Specifically, you\u2019ll want to target keywords that can potentially send you tons of traffic but are not competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We do this by using two filters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Traffic potential (TP)<\/strong> \u2013 TP is the estimated amount of search traffic you can potentially gain if you rank #1 for that topic. We can set it to a minimum of 100 to find topics that actually send traffic to your&nbsp;site.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keyword Difficulty (KD)<\/strong> \u2013 KD gives an estimation of how hard it is to rank in the top 10 search results for a keyword. The lower the number, the \u201ceasier\u201d it is. While it does depend on your <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-increase-website-authority\/\">site\u2019s \u201cauthority,\u201d<\/a> you can start with a reasonable number like&nbsp;20.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1262\" height=\"1072\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/5-matching-terms-with-filters.png\" alt=\"The Matching terms report, with Keyword Difficulty and Traffic Potential filtered, via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer\" class=\"wp-image-149330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/5-matching-terms-with-filters.png 1262w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/5-matching-terms-with-filters-500x425.png 500w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/5-matching-terms-with-filters-768x652.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1262px) 100vw, 1262px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This list is much more workable. Make sure you manually review each keyword to see if it\u2019s relevant to your business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/keyword-research\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/keyword-research\/\"><em>Keyword Research: The Beginner\u2019s Guide by Ahrefs<\/em><\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"3. Create pages that are optimized for search\" data-section=\"create-pages-that-are-optimized-for-search\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Create pages that are optimized for search<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Creating search-optimized pages is no longer about stuffing as many target keywords as possible. Keyword stuffing died over a decade ago. Today, Google can easily understand synonyms and semantically related words.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, how do you create pages optimized for search? Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Match search intent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Google wants its users to be happy. To it, that means figuring out why the searcher is searching \u2014i.e., search intent\u2014and then showing them the most relevant results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So if you want to rank high on Google, you\u2019ll have to match search intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, figuring out search intent is relatively simple. Since Google already works to serve the most relevant results, we can look at the current top-ranking pages to understand search intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Specifically, we want to analyze the three Cs of search intent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Content type<\/strong> \u2013 Is the primary type of content a blog post, product page, video, landing page, or something else?&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content format<\/strong> \u2013 Is the primary format a how-to guide, listicle, review, opinion piece, news, or something else?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content angle<\/strong> \u2013 Is there a primary angle, such as the current year or content aimed at beginners?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, let\u2019s suppose you want to cover the topic \u201chow to save&nbsp;money\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1362\" height=\"1052\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/6-serp-overview.png\" alt=\"SERP Overview for &quot;how to save money&quot;, via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer\" class=\"wp-image-149332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/6-serp-overview.png 1362w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/6-serp-overview-550x425.png 550w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/6-serp-overview-768x593.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1362px) 100vw, 1362px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what we\u2019ll learn when analyzing the&nbsp;SERPs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Content type<\/strong> \u2013 All of the top-ranking pages are blog&nbsp;posts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content format<\/strong> \u2013 Surprisingly, instead of a how-to guide, people are actually looking for&nbsp;tips.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content angle<\/strong> \u2013 Simple\/easy, proven, and fast are potential angles.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>So we could potentially create an article titled \u201cXX Proven Ways to Save&nbsp;Money.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/search-intent\/\"><em>What Is Search Intent? A Complete Guide for Beginners<\/em><\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cover the topic in&nbsp;full<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The best result for most queries usually covers everything searchers want to know about the&nbsp;topic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An easy way to find out what subtopics and important points searchers want to see is to run a <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/content-gap-analysis\/\">content gap analysis<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter the keyword you\u2019re targeting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scroll down to the <strong>SERP overview&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check a few of the top-ranking pages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click <strong>Open in <\/strong>and choose <strong>Content gap<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1270\" height=\"814\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/7-content-gap-selection.png\" alt=\"SERP Overview for &quot;inbound marketing&quot;, via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer\" class=\"wp-image-149334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/7-content-gap-selection.png 1270w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/7-content-gap-selection-663x425.png 663w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/7-content-gap-selection-260x166.png 260w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/7-content-gap-selection-768x492.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1270px) 100vw, 1270px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In this example, we\u2019re targeting the keyword <em>inbound marketing<\/em>. You can see that many of these keywords map to potential subtopics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1230\" height=\"1228\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/8-content-gap-results.png\" alt=\"Subtopics for &quot;inbound marketing&quot;, via Ahrefs' Content gap tool\" class=\"wp-image-149336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/8-content-gap-results.png 1230w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/8-content-gap-results-426x425.png 426w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/8-content-gap-results-768x767.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1230px) 100vw, 1230px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>These subtopics\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is inbound marketing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inbound marketing examples<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inbound marketing strategies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2026 could make perfect H2s for our blog&nbsp;post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make your content unique<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You should cover the topic in full. But that doesn\u2019t give you leeway to copy-paste what\u2019s already on the top-ranking pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After all, copycat content can neither stand out nor incentivize people to link to you (and links are an important ranking factor).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So you\u2019ll want to make sure your content is unique. Here are some ideas on how you can do&nbsp;that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Personal experience <\/strong>\u2013 If you\u2019ve successfully implemented something, write about&nbsp;it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expert interviews<\/strong> \u2013 Reach out and interview experts in your field or ask them to contribute an opinion to your&nbsp;piece.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Crowdsource<\/strong> \u2013 Get multiple people to contribute their opinions, expertise, and&nbsp;ideas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Original research<\/strong> \u2013 Add data to your post. You can do this by running a study, survey, or&nbsp;poll.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contrarian<\/strong> \u2013 Be the devil\u2019s advocate. Consider an opposing viewpoint.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make your content simple and easy to&nbsp;read<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Content that\u2019s hard to read is not only bad for SEO, but it\u2019s also bad for business. How can you convince someone to buy your product if your copy can\u2019t even be understood?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep your copy nice and simple. Use these&nbsp;tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Avoid big words.<\/strong> Don\u2019t say <em>erroneous<\/em> when you can say <em>wrong<\/em>. Always use simple language. If in doubt, use <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hemingwayapp.com\/\">Hemingway<\/a> to check your&nbsp;copy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use formatting<\/strong> like bolding<strong>,<\/strong> <em>italics,<\/em> and lists to break up chunks of&nbsp;copy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Include multimedia<\/strong> like images, videos, and GIFs to illustrate your points and break up walls of&nbsp;text.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sprinkle on your on-page SEO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the \u201cicing\u201d on the cake that makes it extra clear to Google and searchers that your page is relevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow these best practices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use the keyword in the title<\/strong> \u2013 This is usually already included in your headline. But if you haven\u2019t, see if you can work it in. A similar variation works&nbsp;too.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Write a compelling meta description<\/strong> \u2013 While not a Google ranking factor, it helps to sell your article in the search results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use short, descriptive URLs<\/strong> \u2013 Such URLs make it easy for searchers to understand what your post is about. The simplest way is to make the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/glossary\/url-slug\">slug<\/a> your&nbsp;topic.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add alt text to your images<\/strong> \u2013 Google uses alt text to understand images. Create a concise but accurate one for every image you&nbsp;use.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more:<\/strong><em> <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/on-page-seo\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/on-page-seo\/\"><em>On-Page SEO: The Beginner\u2019s Guide<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"further-reading\"><div class=\"reading-title\">Further reading<\/div><div class=\"reading-content\">\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/content-creation\/\">Content Creation: The Complete Guide for Beginners<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/seo-content\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-content\/\">SEO Content: The Beginner\u2019s Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-writing\/\">SEO Writing: 7 Steps to Create Search-Optimized Content<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-blog-post\/\">How to Write a Blog Post (That People Actually Want to Read) in 9 Steps<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"4. Build links\" data-section=\"build-links\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Build&nbsp;links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Links are an important <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/google-ranking-factors\/\">Google ranking factor<\/a>. You\u2019ll likely need them to rank higher.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Link internally<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to links, many people neglect internal links. But they\u2019re actually important\u2014not only because they pass authority between your pages, but they also help Google discover and understand pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The easiest way to find relevant internal link opportunities is to use the <strong>Link opportunities<\/strong> report in <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-audit\">Site Audit<\/a>. You\u2019ve already run a crawl in step #1, so all that\u2019s left to do is to see what internal links the report suggests you should add.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Site Audit suggests that we can potentially add an internal link <em>to<\/em> our <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/google-search-console-url-inspection-api\/\">post on Google\u2019s URL Inspection tool<\/a> <em>on<\/em> our <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/submit-website-to-search-engines\/\">post about submitting websites to search engines<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"635\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/9-link-opportunities.png\" alt=\"Internal link opportunities report, via Ahrefs' Site Audit\" class=\"wp-image-149337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/9-link-opportunities.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/9-link-opportunities-680x216.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/9-link-opportunities-768x244.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/9-link-opportunities-1536x488.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/internal-links-for-seo\/\"><em>Internal Links for SEO: An Actionable Guide<\/em><\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">HARO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpareporter.com\/\">HARO (Help a Reporter Out)<\/a> is a free service connecting journalists to sources and sources to journalists. If you\u2019re an expert in your niche, you can easily provide a quote and the journalists may link to your&nbsp;site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting started is easy\u2014you just have to sign up as a source on the website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1474\" height=\"634\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/10-haro.jpg\" alt=\"Homepage for Help A Reporter Out (HARO)\" class=\"wp-image-149339\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/10-haro.jpg 1474w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/10-haro-680x292.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/10-haro-768x330.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1474px) 100vw, 1474px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, you\u2019ll receive emails with queries from journalists working for various publications. However, most queries will likely be irrelevant to you, so we recommend setting up a Gmail filter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click the search options filter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set the \u201cFrom\u201d field to haro@helpareporter.com<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set the \u201cSubject\u201d to \u201c[HARO]\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set \u201cHas the words\u201d to keywords you want to monitor (use the OR operator to list multiple keywords here)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1466\" height=\"994\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/11-gmail-filter.png\" alt=\"Gmail filter for HARO emails\" class=\"wp-image-149341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/11-gmail-filter.png 1466w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/11-gmail-filter-627x425.png 627w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/11-gmail-filter-768x521.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1466px) 100vw, 1466px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For the best results, only respond to queries where you have relevant expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Replicate your competitors\u2019 backlinks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If someone is linking to your competitors, chances are they will link to you too. So you merely have to find out who\u2019s linking to them and not you and find a way to replicate those&nbsp;links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Enter your domain into Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/app.ahrefs.com\/site-explorer\">Site Explorer<\/a> (set it to <strong>Exact URL<\/strong>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/link-intersect\">Link Intersect tool<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add a few competing homepages in the empty fields (set them to <strong>Exact URL<\/strong>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1266\" height=\"792\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/12-link-intersect.png\" alt=\"Link Intersect\" class=\"wp-image-149342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/12-link-intersect.png 1266w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/12-link-intersect-680x425.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/12-link-intersect-768x480.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1266px) 100vw, 1266px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Go through the results to see if there are any links you can potentially replicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the website below links to both of our competitors. Looking closely at the links, we see they\u2019re both podcast interviews:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/13-link-intersect-results.png\" alt=\"Link Intersect results\" class=\"wp-image-149344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/13-link-intersect-results.png 1536w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/13-link-intersect-results-680x151.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/13-link-intersect-results-768x171.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"339\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/14-link-intersect-results.png\" alt=\"Link intersect results\" class=\"wp-image-149346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/14-link-intersect-results.png 1536w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/14-link-intersect-results-680x150.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/14-link-intersect-results-768x170.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Given that the host has already interviewed two of our competitors, they may also be interested in interviewing us.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"further-reading\"><div class=\"reading-title\">Further reading<\/div><div class=\"reading-content\">\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/link-building\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/link-building\/\">Link Building for SEO: The Beginner\u2019s Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-get-backlinks\/\">How to Get Backlinks: 15 Proven Tactics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/link-building-strategies\/\">9 Easy Link Building Strategies (That Anyone Can&nbsp;Use)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"5. Track and measure your success\" data-section=\"track-and-measure-your-success\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Track and measure your success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, you\u2019ll need to track some metrics to know if you\u2019re going down the right&nbsp;path.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The exact metrics you\u2019ll need to track depend on your goals, but some of the most common ones&nbsp;are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Organic traffic<\/strong> \u2013 All non-paid clicks from search engines. If it\u2019s trending upward, it may be a sign that your SEO efforts are paying off. Tools you can use: <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/google-search-console\/\">Google Search Console<\/a> and Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-explorer\">Site Explorer<\/a> (free in <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/webmaster-tools\">AWT<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keyword rankings <\/strong>\u2013 The organic ranking positions in the search results for the keywords you\u2019re targeting. You can track this using Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/rank-tracker\">Rank Tracker<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Referring domains<\/strong> \u2013 Number of websites linking to your site. We\u2019ve already established earlier that backlinks are an important Google ranking factor. So you\u2019ll want your site to get more of them over time. You can see how many referring domains your site has in Site Explorer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Search visibility<\/strong> \u2013 How visible your brand is on the market. You can track this by pasting the keywords that matter to you in Rank Tracker. Then go to the <strong>Competitors overview<\/strong> tab and check the <strong>Visibility<\/strong> column.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1012\" height=\"620\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/15-search-visibility.png\" alt=\"Search visibility, via Ahrefs' Rank Tracker\" class=\"wp-image-149348\" style=\"width:506px;height:310px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/15-search-visibility.png 1012w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/15-search-visibility-680x417.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/15-search-visibility-768x471.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1012px) 100vw, 1012px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"further-reading\"><div class=\"reading-title\">Further reading<\/div><div class=\"reading-content\">\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-metrics-to-track\/\">10 SEO Metrics That Actually Matter (And 4 That&nbsp;Don\u2019t)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-kpis\/\">12 SEO KPIs You Should (And Shouldn\u2019t) Track<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This simple DIY SEO guide covers the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/seo-basics\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-basics\/\">fundamentals of SEO<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can follow this guide over and over again to optimize your site and rank for meaningful and relevant keywords.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then as you experience more success, you may even consider hiring an agency to take things to the next level. Or if you prefer to continue the DIY route, you can learn more on our <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/\">blog<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/AhrefsCom\/featured\">YouTube channel<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/academy\/\">Academy<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any questions or comments? Let me know <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/siquanong\">on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>No one had any marketing experience either. Being the only person who had read a couple of marketing books, I was put in charge of the marketing strategy.&nbsp; Without any know-how or marketing dollars, I read a couple of SEO<span class=\"ellipsis\">\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more \u203a<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":146,"featured_media":150582,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[335],"tags":[],"coauthors":[339],"class_list":["post-149308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-seo","odd"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>DIY SEO: A Basic 5-Step Guide That Anyone Can Follow<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to do SEO yourself with this simple, jargon-free tutorial.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/diy-seo\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"DIY SEO: A Basic 5-Step Guide That Anyone Can Follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Do your own SEO.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/diy-seo\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SEO Blog by Ahrefs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Ahrefs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-12-15T13:23:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-04T15:12:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" 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