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Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the practice of optimizing your website to generate more traffic from search engines. Learn how to improve your rankings, build links, run technical website audits, track performance, write content that’s fully optimized for Google, the difference between white hat and black hat SEO, and much, much more. The WordStream blog is your home for all things SEO this year.


Battle of the SERP: Combining SEO & PPC Forces to Win

Ever get your listing bumped from the coveted page-one spot on the SERP? Here's how you can use SEO and PPC together to maximize your marketing efforts and rescue those listing.

27 Google Search Statistics You Should Know (+ Insights!)

We compiled 27 Google search statistics to give you a better understanding of the search engine at the core of your PPC and SEO efforts. Check them out!

Conor Bond
February 7, 2019 | SEO

The 10 Best SEO Tools You Just Can’t Live Without

We polled marketers to see which SEO tools they wanted most this year and narrowed that list down to bring you the most in-demand tools for 2019. Here, we're sharing the list of tools, including SEMrush, Mailchimp, Majestic, and more.

Lisa Smith
January 14, 2019 | SEO

Page Speed: 3 Opportunities to Improve Rankings

After announcing the Speed Update, Google changed their approach to measuring page speed. Here, we share the top three ways you can now use page speed as an opportunity to improve your ranking.

Guest Author
October 24, 2018 | SEO

7 Steps to Making the Most out of the New Google Search Console

The new Google Search Console is officially out of beta! Check out our seven steps to making the absolute most out of the new interface and getting all the actionable insight you can out of Search Console.

Gordon Donnelly
September 25, 2018 | SEO

Expandable Featured Snippets Mark Continued Shift in Search

SEO news-philes rejoice—it’s time to freak out about another new search results feature. Expandable featured snippets have landed, and they're a symptom of a larger shift occurring in search.

Gordon Donnelly
August 20, 2018 | SEO

Conquer the World With This International SEO Guide

Ready to conquer the world? This guide to international SEO will teach you everything you need to know to optimize your website or multiple web properties for international audiences, from site structure options to international keyword research and link building.

Guest Author
July 26, 2018 | SEO

6 Things to Check for When Your Organic Traffic Suddenly Drops

Your organic traffic can drop for many reasons, and it's crucial to have a plan. In this article, we break down the first six things you must consider when your organic traffic falls.

Marc Schenker
July 13, 2018 | SEO

The 10-Step SEO Audit & Checklist

SEO audits are hard. WordStream makes them easy. We’ve nailed down 10 core steps to any successful SEO audit. Come check out our quick, effective, 10-step SEO audit to find and fix your mistakes so you can start seeing organic traffic go up.

Gordon Donnelly
June 20, 2018 | SEO

The Only Off-Page SEO Walkthrough You’ll Ever Need

Optimizing your site for off-page SEO means you’ll have to improve the way that both users and search engines see your site in terms of credibility, authority, popularity and relevance, just to name a few factors. Learn four key ways to improve your off-page SEO.

Marc Schenker
June 13, 2018 | SEO

SEO for Startups: How to Grow Your Organic Traffic Fast

Startups need to get their brand out there and start building organic traffic fast. But that doesn't mean you can afford to take risks that will hurt you in the long run. This guide to SEO for startups will get you on the right track to sustainable traffic.

Guest Author
May 23, 2018 | SEO

Report: Featured Snippets Losing Ground to Direct Answers?

A new report shows that Google has been swapping out featured snippets for direct answers. In this post, we give you the lowdown on the change, and explain how it might affect the future of organic search.

Gordon Donnelly
April 20, 2018 | SEO

The Rise & Fall of Google’s "Zero Search Results" Experiment

In an algorithm update that took effect March 13, Google undertook an experiment to deliver a single featured snippet for queries that didn’t demand full search results pages—i.e., “zero search results.” After just a week of live testing, the grand experiment has come to a close. In this post, we take a look at the rise and fall (for now) of Google’s “zero search results.”

Gordon Donnelly
March 23, 2018 | SEO

4 SEO Survival Tips for the Voice Search Revolution

ComScore has predicted that by 2020, 50% of all searches will be via voice and 30% of searches will take place without a screen. How can you optimize your site for the voice search revolution? Check out these four SEO survival tips.

Guest Author
February 14, 2018 | SEO

Here’s How the Google Speed Update Will Impact Your Site (& Google Ads Account)

Google just made a change to its mobile ranking factors. It's called the Speed Update, and it could impact your organic rankings and the amount you pay in AdWords. Learn what the Speed Update is and what you can do to determine its impact on your business.

7 Hard Truths About SEO in 2018

SEO is always changing, and you can bet the SEO landscape won't get any simpler in 2018. Here are seven hard truths you need to accept about SEO right now, including the importance of site speed, video, the mobile-first index, and more.

Guest Author
December 12, 2017 | SEO

Every Important Google Algorithm Update Since 2003

Google's search algorithm has evolved quite a bit over the years. Here's a to-date history of every important Google algorithm update since 2003.

The 8 Best Tools for Finding Competitor Keywords

Need to see what keywords your competitors are using? Check out these eight powerful tools you should incorporate into your competitive keyword research workflow.

6 SEO Tests You Need to Try

SEO best practices are just table stakes. To really grow traffic you need to run creative SEO tests and experiments and find out what really works for you. Here are six ideas to get you started.

Brad Smith
October 10, 2017 | SEO

The Beginner’s Guide to Duplicate Content

What is duplicate content and why does it matter for SEO? How can you find duplicate content issues on your site, and what should you do to fix the problem? Read on to get the full rundown.

Guest Author
October 6, 2017 | SEO

How I Achieved a 48% Success Rate Using Twitter for Link Building

Tired of low link building success rates? Find out how we leveraged Twitter for outreach to receive an insane 48% of the links we asked for.

Gordon Donnelly
August 25, 2017 | SEO

The Google Fred Update: Why It Matters and What to Do

What was the Google Fred algorithm update, and why should you care about it? Read on to find out which sites were affected by Fred and how to react as a site owner or SEO.

Dan Shewan
August 23, 2017 | SEO

10 Highly Effective B2B Link Building Tactics

Despite what some people say, links are still crucial for strong organic rankings. If you're in the B2B space, it can be tough to build links, but these 10 proven tactics really work.

Guest Author
June 21, 2017 | SEO

Video SEO: 9 Ways to Optimize Your Video for Search

Video SEO is a powerful way to ensure your videos reach potential customers. Find out how to optimize video for maximum visibility in today's post.

Margot Whitney
June 2, 2017 | SEO

This Is How to Build Links Now: 10 Data-Backed Tips

Link building has changed a lot over the years, as Google's algorithms have evolved, but links are still important for SEO. Here's how to get them, the right way.

Danny Goodwin
May 24, 2017 | SEO

Value of a #1 Google Ranking Down 37% in Two Years?

Wondering why even your top-ranking pages don't get as much traffic as they used to? Learn why in this post.

Elisa Gabbert
April 26, 2017 | SEO

OK, Google: How Do I Optimize My Site for Voice Search?

Want your site to rank for Google voice search queries? It's crucial to optimize your site for Google voice search. Learn everything you need to know about voice search in this comprehensive guide.

Dan Shewan
March 14, 2017 | SEO