How to create cornerstone content for your website

Published on: 17 January 2019 Last Updated on: 08 August 2019

If you’ve been running your website for some time, accumulating lots of different pages, tackling different angles and creating a rich variety of resources, you probably have a good idea of what your most popular pages are. The problem is, someone else landing on your site for the first time doesn’t. Could they get from the homepage to your top-performing pages in just one or two clicks? Or are they only going to find them through luck, clicking around randomly through your menus (which is unlikely with today’s fondness for instant results) or a Google search that directs them straight to that page?

Letting your readers and Google know what the most important and valuable pages on your website are is what creating cornerstone content is all about. Here we take a look at what it is, why it’s so important for SEO, and how to implement a strategy to make the best possible use of it.

Putting your best foot forward

An excellent example of a high-value post that could get overlooked by a new visitor is a particularly informative blog post you wrote several years ago. If a new visitor lands on your homepage and clicks on your blog, they’d likely have to scroll down and click through to ‘older posts’ multiple times before they get anywhere near this page – and as the saying goes, ain’t nobody got time for that!

These top performers are your cornerstone or ‘evergreen’ content. Like the architectural term, the cornerstone is the foundation that all other parts are positioned against and aligned with.

The idea is to get all those top performers in one place where they can dazzle your readers and have them coming back again and again. By fleshing out your cornerstone content page into an unusually lengthy post, you’re creating a veritable treasure trove of useful information for your readers which they can use to easily access all the other content on your site that may interest them. In just one page, it gives them an overview of everything your site has to offer, with enough information to brief them on what each section is about while leaving them hungry for more – which you will supply with just one easy click.

A rose by any other name

Cornerstone content goes by quite a few monikers. Evergreen content, long-form content, massive value posts, pillar articles… whatever you call them, they’re the content that keeps on giving. It’s the kind of content that remains relevant (either because it covers unchanging facts, goes into exceptional detail, or because you regularly update it) no matter when the reader discovers it. And, of course, it’s the kind of content that gets you noticed and rewarded by Google because so many visitors find it useful and spend time reading it. Speaking of which…

Why Google loves cornerstone content

Google uses many metrics to measure the value of a particular page and decide where it deserves to rank in their search results. Which keywords are used, how often and where is just one of the factors their algorithms take into consideration. How much time a user spends on a page before clicking away is a good indication of whether that page answers their query or not. A page which consistently gets clicked away from in just seconds is clearly not answering the user’s question and will quickly see its ranking for that search term drop. Whether the page loads quickly and how it’s linked internally to the rest of your website are also considerations.

Great cornerstone content can also help you take on keywords that have a lot of competition and would normally be pretty hard to rank for.

Cornerstone content strategy

When you’re building a new website, structuring your site around a few major keywords (generally two to five, depending on the nature of your niche) is a good place to start. For each of those keywords, you want one fat, juicy cornerstone article that links out to smaller posts which discuss a certain aspect in more detail. If you’re relatively new to SEO and aren’t yet sure what keywords you should be aiming for, get a good SEO company on board at this point to help you identify them.

Whenever you write a new article, it should tie back to its corresponding cornerstone piece. Aside from making it easy for your readers to navigate to the topics they’re most interested in, it also lets Google know this page is important and will increase its chances of ranking in searches.

If you have an existing website, you can take the same approach and work backward. Pick the top three to five pages you’re the proudest of and want your visitors to see the most – those will become your cornerstone pieces. Going forward, make sure new posts tie back to their cornerstone piece and start updating older pages systematically to do the same.

One of the awesome things about cornerstone content is that although it’s one of the best ways to improve your site’s SEO, it’s not very technical – so anyone who can build their own website can take advantage and get the rankings they deserve.

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5 Tips For Creating Content To Help Move The SEO Needle

Using search engine optimization to increase the visibility of your online content isn’t new. But there are businesses out there that don’t do it effectively. They’re stuffing keywords in every nook and cranny of an article, hoping Google will be kind with its ranking. SEO involves much more than sticking a particular word or phrase in a blog post or landing page, though. It’s about connecting with potential customers using content that’s relevant to solving their problems. Your SEO efforts should be centered around what your buyers’ needs are and how to meet those needs as effectively as possible. Therefore your content creation criteria should go beyond simply writing something that addresses a problem. Your content should be accessible, informed by experts, and provide a positive experience to the reader. The opportunity to improve conversions is greater for marketers who keep the user at the center of their strategy. 1. Show Your Authority Marketers’ old habit of stuffing keywords in their content willy-nilly is no longer effective for achieving higher rankings. Search engines like Google give higher priority to sites that have authority on a given subject. Expert-driven articles are much more likely to lure readers to your site. Developing content pillars is a great way to show authority and build trust with potential buyers. A content pillar strategy involves creating a robust, long-form page centered around one topic. From there you can build out sub-topics related to the main one. A content pillar does contain numerous keywords that can boost SEO ranking, but it employs them in a natural, reader-friendly way. At the same time, because the material is so comprehensive around one main subject, it builds authority. Content pillar pages not only educate the reader, but they foster trust and keep users engaged. 2. Do Your Research You might be the authority on a given subject, but you’ll lose sales if you don’t judiciously use keywords that match your customers’ search intent. You don’t want to do keyword stuff, but you do want to research and use keywords related to your expertise. For example, if you run a coffee shop, naturally your content uses the word coffee. But you’ll want to consider long-tail keywords your customers might use such as “single estate coffee” or “fair trade coffee.” Think about what your customers would want related to all things coffee and what your business actually sells. There are numerous tools you can use to do keyword research, enabling you to find words and phrases related to your main topic. Discovering how certain words and phrases relate to your region and the season can help you develop more user-friendly content. Another tactic related to your research is digging into what keywords your competitors are using. Staying on top of the most recent trends is helpful for crafting up-to-the-minute content, like what you’d find on social media. 3. Create Accessible Content Crafting thought leadership articles is a great way to utilize high-intent keywords and show authority. When your content is difficult to read, however, potential buyers are likely to leave your site quickly. Bulky paragraphs without images can be a major turnoff to readers. Make sure to break up your content using lists, bullets, and relevant visuals. As a good rule of thumb, use one image for every 300 words in a blog. SEO rankings aren’t just about the words on the page. Your content needs to be accessible in terms of how your site loads. If it takes too long for your site to load, expect readers to abandon it. Google suggests your site should take less than a half-second to load for top SEO performance. It should load just as quickly on mobile as well. 4. Develop Visual Content As noted, a blog post that includes images relevant to the topic is much more appealing to the reader. What’s just as effective — maybe more so — is short-form video. With the boom of social sites like TikTok, short videos are proving to have strong ROI. Consider producing short videos of 60 or fewer seconds and sharing them on social media using keywords. Be sure your videos are informative and engaging. Videos aren’t the only form of visual content that can move the needle. Strong infographics that tell a story and keep readers engaged can make a big impact. The technical components of visual aids like images or videos are just as important for SEO. Make sure meta tags for all visuals include keywords. That image of a coffee cup should be tagged “dark roast coffee” instead of “file123.jpg.” 5. Optimize Current Content Making use of content that already exists is an underappreciated way to increase your SEO ranking. After all, you worked hard to write those blog posts. Why not optimize and repurpose them? Refreshing old content can save time and provide new opportunities to reach potential customers. For older blogs and articles, consider their continued relevance. If the messaging is still appropriate, update it with high–search intent keywords. Remove dates from both the content and URL to make them evergreen. Update meta tags on all images. Mix it up by turning blogs into a short-form video, if that’s more appealing to your buyers. Maintaining a Customer Focus Strong content is essential to any marketing strategy. As with any part of your business, keeping your customer as the core focus is important to improving SEO. Using the keywords readers are searching for is imperative, but it’s not the whole story. Prioritizing the user experience by producing content that’s accessible, builds authority, and creates trust is what will move the SEO needle. Read Also: How To Monitor The SEO Health Of Your Website The Art Of Creating Viral Content On TikTok For Marketing Apps 4 points to consider when creating a Great Content Marketing Strategy

Unveiling The Link Building Mystery: Answering Your Burning Questions

Link building stands as a fundamental pillar of search engine optimization (SEO), wielding immense power in bolstering website visibility, authority, and search engine rankings. Yet, the complexities surrounding link building often give rise to numerous questions. In this comprehensive article, we embark on a journey to demystify the enigma of link building. Our goal is to address the most pressing queries, equipping you with clarity and guidance to harness the full potential of effective link building strategies. How does link building help SEO? Link building significantly impacts SEO by enhancing a website's authority and visibility in search engine results. When reputable websites link to your content, search engines perceive it as a vote of confidence, indicating that your website is valuable and trustworthy. High-quality backlinks from authoritative sources can boost your website's credibility, leading to higher rankings and increased organic traffic. High-quality backlinks carry more weight and influence in search engine algorithms. They indicate to search engines that your content is relevant, credible, and worth promoting to users. As a result, your website is more likely to appear higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), increasing its visibility and driving organic traffic. To establish a strong link profile, focus on acquiring backlinks from reputable websites within your industry or niche. These websites should have a good reputation, a solid online presence, and content that aligns with your own. The more relevant and authoritative the linking websites are, the more beneficial the impact on your SEO efforts. In this context, a reputable link building service provider like Links-Stream links-stream.com can be a valuable resource. They offer professional link building services to help businesses enhance their online presence and improve their SEO rankings. With their expertise and knowledge, they can assist you in acquiring high-quality backlinks from authoritative sources, ensuring that your link building efforts align with best practices. What Do You Need To Know About Link Building? To embark on an effective link building journey, several key aspects should be considered. Firstly, understanding the importance of relevancy is paramount. Building links from websites within your industry or niche ensures that search engines associate your website with the relevant topics and keywords. Additionally, the quality of backlinks is crucial. Focus on acquiring links from reputable and authoritative websites rather than pursuing a high quantity of low-quality links. It's also important to note that link building is a continuous process. Building a strong backlink profile takes time and ongoing effort. Regularly monitor your backlinks, identify opportunities for improvement, and continue to pursue new link-building opportunities to stay ahead in the competitive SEO landscape. Does Link Building Still Work For SEO? Absolutely! Despite the constant evolution of search engine algorithms, link building remains a vital factor in SEO. However, it's worth noting that the quality and relevance of the links matter more than ever. Search engines have become smarter in assessing the authenticity and value of links. Focus on earning natural, high-quality backlinks by creating valuable content that others naturally want to link to. Engaging in legitimate outreach strategies and building relationships within your industry can also contribute to the success of your link building endeavors. What Should You Avoid In Link Building? While link building is essential for SEO, there are practices to avoid to ensure the long-term success of your website. First and foremost, avoid engaging in link schemes or purchasing links from low-quality sources. Search engines penalize websites that manipulate their algorithms by participating in such practices. Instead, prioritize organic link building through content creation, outreach, and relationship-building. Conclusion Link building is a critical component of SEO, contributing to a website's authority, visibility, and rankings. By understanding the significance of link building, focusing on relevance and quality, and avoiding questionable practices, you can develop an effective link building strategy that drives organic traffic and boosts your website's success. Remember to use the specific anchor text or keywords you provided for the hyperlinks within the text. Additionally, ensure to proofread and edit the content for clarity, accuracy, and flow. If you have any further questions or need assistance with anything else, feel free to ask! Read Also: Tips on Building Your Resume for a Website Design Company 5 Marketing Tips To Help Grow Your Business On Instagram 7 Startup Ideas For Young Entrepreneurs

Things to consider while doing SEO

SEO is a difficult job; however, if you follow proven techniques, you may achieve success in the long run. If you are a business owner, then you must muse at length your SEO techniques... In this post, we think about the most recent patterns and forecasts for the year, disclose how to survey your present methodology. Keyword research : You must begin someplace and what preferred place over toward the start. Before you go tweaking your on location or stirring up your substance methodology, you have to ensure the keywords are refreshed. Return to your keyword research and refresh the information on which you at first base your choices. Individuals change, propensities change innovation changes. The possibility that what individuals are hunting down has changed too is likewise really high. Contingent upon to what extent back you last evaluated your keywords, you may find that there are more instruments available to you this time around. Reinforce your keyword sheet with information from various sources (kindly don't simply depend on Keyword Planner). SEMRush : An undisputed top choice is SEMRush, especially the Keyword Magic Tool and Keyword Difficulty Score. All the more critically, when choosing which keywords to designate to which pages, recollect the amusement has changed. There's not anymore a need to make isolate pages for every keyword variety. There's a seemingly insignificant detail called Latent Semantic Indexing and it does a large portion of the diligent work for you! You could have the best substance and third-party referencing procedures on the planet, however in the event that the establishments of your site are not up to scratch, at that point, it will never achieve its maximum capacity. On location streamlining is the establishment of any SEO battle. Regardless of whether you completed a completely far-reaching, kick-ass review, to begin with, things unavoidably break and new issues happen. So do it once more. There are excessively numerous variables to cover here however just to specify a couple of the essentials. Google Page Insights : A decent place to begin is with the site speed, particularly during a time where vigorously picture drove destinations are well known. Guarantee you have made every effort to send that Google Page Insights score as high as could be expected under the circumstances. As an expansion of page speed, give careful consideration to the general client experience of the site. This is ending up always vital and it merits getting a specialist in UX/UI to audit your site. In the event that you haven't just changed your concentration to portable, don't hold up a minute longer. There are various variables to consider while advancing for portable and it is along these lines a smart thought to complete a different versatile SEO review of your site. Factor in the ascent of voice inquiry and how this will affect on catchphrase designs. Give careful consideration to portable particular slither blunders by means of Google Search Console. Guarantee your site breezes through Google's versatile amicable test and that portable load speeds are up to scratch. Make a stride once again from your substance procedure, audit what is and isn't working, and pick up a new point of view. It can be very simple to start producing content for it, with no extremely strong methodology. Indeed, even individuals who are not specifically included with the substance creation can give some accommodating understanding into the psyche of a normal web client. Eventually, you ought to be centered around composing content that gives so much esteem that individuals need to share it. Consider what influences somebody to share a bit of substance and actualize that reasoning into your posts. Make sure to likewise audit and refresh any old substance. Obsolete data can be hurtful to natural rankings, so set aside the opportunity to complete revive. SEMRush : Begin by discarding any unfortunate connecting propensities. Utilize an instrument like SEMRush to recognize any possibly destructive connections and deny them. Start the new year with a fresh start and spotlight on building high-esteem joins. Maybe it's an ideal opportunity to begin thinking past third-party referencing and focus on relationship building. Work on building a strong association with a portion of the best distributions in your industry. In case you're giving remarkable substance to them, at that point it's a win-win circumstance for both of you. Irrespective of the type and nature of your site, you can always contact YEAH! Local. Read Also : 8 Key SEO Strategies For E-Commerce Websites Local SEO Is A Vital Aspect Of Any SEO Tactic; Let’s Find Out Why? SEO For Dummies

How to create cornerstone content for your website

Putting your best foot forward

A rose by any other name

Why Google loves cornerstone content

Cornerstone content strategy

Why A2 Hosting Is One Of The Best Hosting

A Complete Online Guide to Boosting Your Website Traffic in 2020

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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5 Tips For Creating Content To Help Move The SEO Needle

Unveiling The Link Building Mystery: Answering Your Burning Questions

Things to consider while doing SEO

How to create cornerstone content for your website

Putting your best foot forward

A rose by any other name

Why Google loves cornerstone content

Cornerstone content strategy

Share this Article

Why A2 Hosting Is One Of The Best Hosting

A Complete Online Guide to Boosting Your Website Traffic in 2020

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related