Content. Content. Content. So much to do. So much to sift through. Today, Google receives over 4 million search queries per minute from the 2.4 billion strong global internet population. Knowing how to use the most basic SEO tools can save you from a monstrous headache. Your endless content production hours must result in page ranking results you deserve. Unfortunately, just because your site content is credibly valuable, doesn’t mean it ranks well.

DO Encase yourself in a laser-focused SEO Campaign Mindset

Don’t just write content. Think about it from various development points.

Purpose- What is the core of “why” you are here doing what you are doing? (Tool Tip: Why TedTalk) Is there a specific audience segment this serves? What keywords connect the two? Can you compete on these keywords? How can you construct an editorial calendar to deliver?

Creation- What does your audience need help with right now? Is there a natural tie in to your Purpose? How does this relate to your keywords? Where can you create simple engagement points within your content?

Distribution- What #hashtags are trending around your target market and topic? Which social media conversations can your blog add value in? (Tool Tip: Hshtags.com) How do you directly engage your key influencers to share to their audiences?

Follow up- What can you do to keep the conversation going? How can you encourage backlinks? In your next post, is there a notable way to reconnect to this content?

DON’T Stumble On Keywords and #Hashtags

Many who are trying to blog get a bit confused when it comes to using keywords and hashtags to promote their content properly. Digital marketing is hard, but without the proper foundation it is virtually impossible. Your keywords and hashtags provide concrete ingredients from which to launch. Here is a perspective to simplify these tools for you.

Keywords Established

You want your content to effectively live and breath adding value to your web presence and expanding audience for years to come. Think of keywords as part of your long-term strategy. They help explain what you are about at the core. You have to wait until the search engines crawl you before you get benefits from the go-go juice they provide. These are vital to organic search.

When you construct your keyword list start with what you do and what you want to be known for. For example, content marketing tools. Use a specific set of cyber tools to help you along. (Tool Tip: SEMrush)

Then don’t forget to consider who your audience is and how they will most naturally search for you. This is how you determine your long-tail keyword strategy. For example, how to content market successfully. Use cyber tools, but be sure to also adequately employ your human brain. (Tool Tip: SEOChat)

Keywords need to be consistently applied to your content in a relevant way. Even better, make sure they are presented in content that engages your specific target audience. Better yet, create specific micro-content using your keywords that can be used to promote a social conversation. Like this…

I just nailed SEO do’s and don’ts to make my content more successful. http://ctt.ec/35vx5 (Don’t be shy. Try it out.)

Hashtags Promoted

As you think about hashtags, put them in the same category as keywords but attach them to your short game. Hashtags should be attached to trending topics your audience is talking about and best be relevant to your post. These are tracked faster. Hashtags promote your content by people querying for specific information. They want immediate gratification with the most current information out there.

Start with your keyword list first and see how they rank in the hashtag world. (Tool Tip: Hashtagify)

Take it for a spin by querying them for yourself in Twitter and Google+.

Expand your mind on how these incorporated into a 140 character sound bite to engage your audience.

Create a few versions to test out in the real world. Make sure to understand which work best, so you can apply those learnings later. Put the winners into a social media management system like Hootsuite for on-going content push outs.

These SEO Do’s and Don’ts are only the tip of the iceberg, but one thing is for sure, if you don’t have these down your content’s future is dim. Share your favorite content tools with our community at large. That’s what all this is about anyway. Right?