#SEJSummit 2016 Chicago Hits on Key Actions for Search Marketers
One of the best things about working in search marketing is having the opportunity to connect with other SEOs in person and share best practices, challenges faced, and lessons learned.
It’s a chance to hear, first-hand, how our peers are evolving with the industry and keep a pulse on all the latest changes and developments in search.
Last Thursday, in Chicago, IL, several members of the KoMarketing team attended the SEJ Summit, a unique conference experience tailored specifically for search marketers.
Featuring a single track of vetted, keynote-style presentations given by industry experts and several networking opportunities, the event left us excited about the future of search and eager to put all the expert tips we’d heard into practice at our organization.
Plus, we got to spend the entire day on historic Navy Pier with views overlooking Lake Michigan (a special treat for this native of the mitten state)!
Off to #SEJSummit next week with the @KoMarketing crew (@Wicked_Stacy @Justina_Logozzo @matthewdiehl) pic.twitter.com/S329flmV87
— Phoebe Fasulo (@Fassooo) June 19, 2016
Here’s a look at some of our key takeaways from the SEJ Summit in Chicago this past week:
Matt Diehl, Director of Online Marketing
Pay Attention to AMP
Search marketers need to “make mobile web great again” – and AMP is the way to do it. AMP pages are designed to create fast pages that are easy to implement and create a better experience for the end user.
Of the four building blocks of AMP – HTML 5 (AMP HTML), JavaScript, Custom Styling (CSS 3), and Global Proxy Cache – the AMP Cache network is the most important part of the AMP implementation. In the future, AMP is going to keep growing and will likely roll out to product pages.
With thanks to Gary Illyes
AMP Could Roll Out to Product Pages #SEJSummit https://t.co/JFk9n6Gs3U via @dantosz, @sejournal
— Rayliza Krikman (@raylizakrikman) June 27, 2016
Make Your Site Lean, Mean & Efficient
Streamline your code for speed! Cut the bloat by reviewing plugins, tracking codes, and customizations; are they really needed?
With thanks to Carolyn Shelby
Just checked what plugins on https://t.co/F9o2NLO1lu I could delete thanks to @cshel's advice at #SEJSummit & had EIGHT plugins to delete!
— Kelsey Jones (@wonderwall7) June 27, 2016
Bring Your Website’s SEO Visibility to New Heights
Breaking out of an SEO plateau takes innovation, creativity, and great targeted content.
With thanks to Jordan Koene
Phoebe Fasulo, Online Marketing Strategist
Make the Most of Reddit
In today’s digital landscape, social media increasingly has to prove ROI. Leveraging Reddit not only helps you find content ideas, but it also drives brand awareness, direct customer engagement, focus group feedback, articles/links, etc.
With thanks to Brent Csutoras
#SEJSummit great session about utilizing reddit for marketing. pic.twitter.com/KzzlMNOwda
— Justina Logozzo (@Justina_Logozzo) June 23, 2016
Remember: We’re in a Multichannel World
Today, multichannel rules the consumer landscape – there is no longer a linear sales cycle. Digital natives switch platforms every minute. However, it’s important to stop thinking in terms of channels/silos, and instead focus on searcher intent.
With thanks to Erin Everhart
Marketing "funnel" is now a crazy straw via @RyanJones #SEJSummit pic.twitter.com/TfGlhym9vT
— Erin Everhart (@erinever) June 23, 2016
Justina Logozzo, Search Engine Marketing Manager
Tune Up Your SEO
Site speed can make or break a site. When looking at a site (clients or your own) utilize the plug-ins and applications you only NEED, not the ones you want. Keep your site simple, as complexity can cost you visitors, sales, and revenue.
With thanks to Carolyn Shelby
Break the SEO Plateau
When faced with an SEO plateau, remixing your content strategy while recycling simple SEO tactics can help break the flatline. Remove or no index the “dead” content that isn’t driving traffic or conversions to your site; this will help give your good content a boost.
Go outside of the content norm and provide your visitors with something they will actually find useful. And of course, refresh your internal links every 6 months. It’s like giving your site an SEO caffeine shot.
With thanks to Jordan Koene
Stacy Thompson, Content Marketing Manager
Keep in Mind That Your Content Strategy Needs to Evolve
In the past, online articles were created by people who made the most number of requests – nowadays, they’re created based on what customers are searching on. This means that you need to continually evolve you content strategy and show how you can listen to your customers.
With thanks to Akin Tosyali
HowTo Integ SEO & Content w/ #SEJSummit Spr Akin Tosyali, @grainger https://t.co/NFfJZAo6nl UseCode KELSEY 4 $50 off pic.twitter.com/zWtYCd5CFb
— Kelsey Jones (@wonderwall7) June 20, 2016
Don’t React to Change – Leverage It
While the customer journey continues to evolve, so too does the way you search. The key is to focus on searcher intent – instead of asking “How do I?” instead ask “What do they?”
"If you've been doing #SEO right, machine learning doesn't change anything" @RyanJones #SEJSummit
— Phoebe Fasulo (@Fassooo) June 23, 2016
Don’t simply react to change – use it to your advantage. Give your customers a solution to what they’re asking for.
With thanks to Ryan Jones
Final Thoughts
Thanks goes out to all of the great speakers, organizers, and one pretty great emcee for the event! Here is to hoping the members of our KoMarketing team and yours get to catch this show when it arrives in another city near you sometime in the future.
With my lovely @komarketing ladies @Fassooo and @Wicked_Stacy at #SEJSummit pic.twitter.com/5EDwLZoESV
— Justina Logozzo (@Justina_Logozzo) June 23, 2016
For a complete look conference presentations, visit SlideShare and check out more of the tweets using hashtag #SEJSummit.