In the battle of short form vs. long form video content, only one can win…right? Well, not exactly. Creating videos for your business is a tried-and-true way to boost engagement with your audience. In fact, it can increase conversion rates, email click-through rates (CTR), brand association, and audience engagement. But the question isn’t if you should use either short-form or long-form video for your brand. It’s how you should incorporate both into your video marketing strategy.
1. Understand the Purpose of an SEO Audit
An SEO audit serves to identify:
•Technical issues that hinder website performance.
•Opportunities to improve on-page SEO, content, and user experience.
•Backlink strategies and off-page SEO gaps.
It’s the roadmap for creating an optimized, search-engine-friendly website.
2. Technical SEO Analysis
Ensure Your Site is Crawlable and Indexable
Use tools like Google Search Console to identify crawl errors or issues with indexing.
•Check Robots.txt: Ensure it doesn’t block important pages.
•XML Sitemap: Submit an updated sitemap to search engines.
Analyze Core Web Vitals
Core Web Vitals measure loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. Use Google PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse to evaluate:
•Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Should be under 2.5 seconds.
•First Input Delay (FID): Less than 100ms.
•Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Under 0.1 for a stable page layout.
Mobile-Friendliness
With Google’s mobile-first indexing, responsive design is critical. Tools like Mobile-Friendly Test ensure your site is optimized for all devices.
Now, YouTube creators and businesses alike benefit from sharing a mix of long and short content—all on one platform. The wide array of video marketing channels means that your strategy needs to be flexible. Each platform—whether it’s YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or your website—has its own best practices for video. Choosing to create either short-form videos or long-form videos isn’t really an option if you want your content strategy to be successful in 2023 and beyond. Both long-form and short-form videos have their place in your content plan. Keep reading to learn more about each type of video content and when you should use them for your business.
3. On-Page SEO Optimization
Evaluate Keyword Usage
•Conduct keyword research to align with user intent.
•Place primary keywords in title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and content naturally.
Optimize Meta Tags
•Title Tags: Keep under 60 characters with a clear focus on keywords.
•Meta Descriptions: Entice users with 150–160 characters summarizing the page.
Content Structure
•Use a hierarchy of H1, H2, and H3 tags for better readability.
•Add structured data markup (Schema) to improve SERP features like rich snippets.
Internal Linking
Internal links enhance navigation, distribute link equity, and improve crawlability. Link related content strategically to keep users engaged.
“Just remember that you can test different video lengths until you find what works best –– the sweet spot. Pay attention to your video performance and adjust until you see success.”
4. Content Audit
Content quality is a significant ranking factor. Assess:
•Relevance: Does your content solve users’ problems?
•Engagement: Use tools like Hotjar to track user behavior.
•Depth: Longer, comprehensive posts often perform better, provided they are valuable.
Update Old Content
Revise outdated articles with fresh data and insights to maintain relevance.
5. Backlink Analysis
A strong backlink profile boosts authority. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to:
•Analyze Backlinks: Look for high-quality links from reputable sources.
•Disavow Toxic Links: Remove harmful backlinks that can hurt your rankings.
6. User Experience (UX) Analysis
Navigation and Design
•Make your site intuitive and easy to navigate.
•Ensure CTAs (Call to Actions) are clear and accessible.
Accessibility
Optimize for users with disabilities using ALT text for images and ARIA tags for navigation.
7. Off-Page SEO
Social Signals
Engage with your audience on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
•Share content that drives traffic back to your site.
•Monitor brand mentions and link opportunities.
8. Performance Monitoring and Reporting
Set benchmarks and track key metrics using tools like Google Analytics:
•Organic traffic and bounce rate.
•Conversion rates and goal completions.
•Page views and session duration.
Create detailed reports to measure the impact of your SEO strategies over time.
Best Tools for SEO Audits
•SEMrush: Comprehensive SEO audit and keyword analysis.
•Ahrefs: Backlink tracking and competitor analysis.
•Google Search Console: Essential for identifying crawl and indexation issues.
Why Regular SEO Audits Matter
Search engine algorithms are constantly changing, and so are user expectations. A regular SEO audit ensures:
•Consistent traffic growth.
•Improved user engagement.
•Higher ROI from your marketing efforts.
Take Action Today
Performing an SEO audit might seem daunting, but the rewards are worth it. If you’re looking for expert support to audit and optimize your website, visit The Digital Oracle. Explore our tools and resources to drive your business to new heights.
Ready to grow your revenue with The Digital Oracle? Get a Free Consultation to Boost Your Business.
