Episode 48- SEO, Blogging, and Web Design with Maggie Schneider of Hilltop Help
SEO and blogging. If you're a business owner, you probably have heard that these things are important for your marketing efforts but maybe you aren't sure where to start.
This week I sit down with my long-time assistant turned web designer and SEO expert Maggie Schneider of Hilltop Help, to talk through:
Why SEO is important for business owners
At what point business owners need to consider getting a website
What SEO is and what it isn't
The biggest trends in SEO and marketing
How to work smarter, not harder, by repurposing your long-form blog or podcast content across all of your social media channels
Maggie breaks SEO down into simple terms and empowers you to feel like you can take on your marketing efforts on your own.
She was even gracious enough to give us a code for her 2 courses. Use the code PODCAST50 for $50 off her RANK Method signature SEO course and RANK with Pinterest SEO course.
You can follow Maggie on Instagram where she shares quick, actionable marketing and web design tips as well as a little bit of the behind the scenes of running a business from home as a busy mom of 2 (almost 3!).
If you are interested in working with Maggie, you can visit her website: www.hilltophelp.com
-
The algorithm wants to help you find the answer to your problem. Um, so if you look at it that way, then it becomes a little bit less scary. Like, yes, there are some technical things and codes and all that kind of stuff. But the real overarching principle with SEO is that you want to be creating content that people want to find.
This is To The Nines Podcast. I am your host Tiffany Wicks, a mom of seven who doesn't subscribe to the idea that you have to choose between your family and a career. I am on a mission to show the stay at home mom who has lost herself in childcare and cocamelon and the overworked corporate holdout who isn't finding joy and purpose in their career that they can work for themselves making an impact and an income that serves your dream life.
After leaving my nursing career to raise our family I needed more mental stimulation but didn't want to give up the privilege of raising our legacy. I've been in network marketing now for five years. I know the strategy and mindset it takes to be successful and to live a life aligned with your values and your purpose.
Join me as I share my business tips, marketing mistakes, attitude shifts, you need to space out some time for you or get your nine to five completely and start working for yourself. You have the power to change your life. Let's get started. This is just the beginning.
Hey everybody. Welcome back to the podcast today. I am going to talk with Maggie Schneider. She is a. An SEO and website expert. In fact, she helped me with my beautiful website. If you haven't seen it, make sure you go to www. tiffanywix. com. And check it out. So, um, here's a little bit of honesty, Maggie. I don't even know what SEO is.
So, um, I want you to introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about you, and then that would be the first question we need to answer. Because although you talk about it all the time, I think I know, like, it's keywords of some variety, but you're the professional, so I want to hear about it. And you.
Yes. So I feel like people overcomplicate it and the marketing bros on the internet want to overcomplicate it so they can charge you thousands of dollars, but it's really not super complicated.
But I guess let me introduce myself first. As you said, I'm Maggie. I own my business, which is Hilltop Help. Um, started as like a virtual assistant business working with people like you. And then I just really started Kind of falling in love with like, how can I actually get a good ROI for my clients where like they're paying me money, but they're also getting their, their return on investment back in the form of sales, whether they're selling digital products or getting, you know, one on one coaching clients.
Um, so all that came through, I've really found a passion for SEO and building strategic websites. I think when people get into business, they want to. Build a website because it seems exciting and fun and fancy and it makes you feel legit. But really, my recommendation is that you shouldn't start a website until you absolutely know for sure what it is you want to sell, what it is you want to promote, who you are as a business owner, because all of that, it goes into effect with Getting found on Google.
So that brings us to SEO, which SEO stands for search engine optimization. Um, so most people think of Google when you hear about search engines, but it could be any search engine like a social media platform like Instagram or Tick Tock could be other platforms like Bing is coming back and getting big and Yahoo.
Um, so really, the goal is to Get you found by people who want what you're offering. So getting found on Google, getting found, getting your website found, getting your social media accounts found by the people in your ICA or your, your target audience.
Oh, geez. Well, that sounds like, okay, first off, you said like a lot of people want to build a website.
I'm like, girl, I have no desire to build a website. I heard that out. I mean, the thought of that, people ask me all the time. Oh, did you use one of the templates? I was like, no, I don't do things like that. That is not what I do. Alright, so, um, you did address, um, my next question was going to be why do business owners need to focus on it?
And it sounds like they need to focus on it because that's how people are going to find you, right? That's how you're going to make sales is they can't buy anything if they can't find you.
Exactly. I mean, especially like our world is becoming more and more and more online, especially since the pandemic really.
But the overall goal, yeah, is for to create a longer term marketing strategy that is going to get you the most bang for your buck. So, um, there's like a statistic out there for every dollar you spend on SEO, whether that's updating your website or creating good content in the form of like blog posts, or even this podcast is a great way to build your SEO.
For every dollar you spend on that, you're going to get Minimum 5 back in return. So it's a really great place for businesses to invest their money. Um, and it is a longer term marketing strategy. So unlike social media where your posts kind of live and die in 24 hours, your website is going to be there forever.
So the more time and energy that you spend focusing on it now, the better, um, results you can get in the future. So it really is a long term investment. Unlike social media where your posts live and die in 24 hours, your SEO takes a lot of time to build. But once it's there, if you're ranking in the number one spot on Google for, you know, fitness coach near me, for example, you're going to get the return on that for years and years to come.
So as long as your content stays good and you, um, you know, all you're following Google's Guidelines with your website. It really can pay off and you're going to get a really big return on your investment. It can take, you know, six months or so for your website to start ranking on Google. So it is something to focus on sooner rather than later.
Um, but as far as a return on investment goes, if you think of the amount of time that you're spending creating content for social media, I don't know about you, but for me, like one 30 minutes of my time, depending on how it's, how it's going. Um, And that post on Instagram lives and dies usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Whereas if you are focusing on long form content, such as this podcast or a blog post that you are then putting onto your website, um, you can control that platform a little bit better and that content can live on forever. I don't know about you, but if you've ever been on YouTube or, you know, looking for an answer to your question, you might find a blog post that is five or six years old, and that just shows you the power of SEO and that.
Building a quality website can pay off for years and years to come.
Oh, I totally agree. I do that all the time. So some, what are some common misconceptions about SEO other than people are over complicating it?
Yeah, people are definitely over complicating it. I think people think that SEO is this like technical jargon and Google's out to get me.
That's really not true. Google, as much as I hate those things. I hate it because it is so, like, involved in so many different parts of the internet and our lives and everything. It really, its overall goal is to put the right content in front of the right people. So it really does have your best interests in mind.
The algorithm wants to help you. You find the answer to your problem. Um, so if you look at it that way, then it becomes a little bit less scary. Like, yes, there are some technical things and codes and all that kind of stuff. But the real overarching principle with SEO is that you want to be creating content that people want to find.
So if you are just kind of. Babbling on in a blog post, like using it more as your diary versus using it as a strategy, like a strategic way to educate your audience and get them into your world and into your network. Um, then you're kind of missing out on a good opportunity there. And the other key thing is that you don't control those platforms like Instagram and Tik TOK.
So that content and those, that audience could be gone tomorrow. So. When you have people coming to your website, it's the best way to control the platform. You can have people join your email list, have people sign up for your newsletter, whatever that looks like, so that they can become more engaged with you.
Build that know, like, and trust factor. And then hopefully eventually you can sell something to them.
Right. And, and then sales is just solving, solving problems. That's how I view it. And people are like, how do you not make it icky? I'm like, well, if you're trying to solve somebody's problem, trying to help them, then it doesn't feel gross.
So you mentioned earlier about blogging, um, and that it shouldn't be a dear diary. Um, don't fit today. So why is blogging important in terms of SEO?
Any long form piece of content I think falls under this category. So like podcasting or like a YouTube video, this is the best way to, like I said, educate your audience.
And then you can really be strategic with the keywords that you're putting in there, the formatting. You know, and then, like I said, kind of controlling that customer journey once they get onto your website. So that's why there's a lot of pop ups where people use a lot of ads. There is like a sales and marketing strategy behind that, that you want people to come to your blog, get the information that they want, and then maybe click around your website even more to get to know you.
Like I said, join your world, um, but blogging is just definitely one of the best ways to do that. I've seen really, really great results with people who are blogging. And I think that's another misconception is that people think, Oh my gosh, I need to be putting out two blog posts a month, a week. And I just don't have the time for that.
It's very time consuming, just like making a podcast is, but really you can get results with one blog post a month, as long as it's really high quality that you're answering the right questions that people are asking. And. Getting found on Google.
That's amazing. It's definitely a part of my business and my website that I need to start optimizing a little bit better.
Okay. So when it comes to search engines, there is a place that I go to that I typically find answers and it's called Pinterest. So where does Pinterest fit in, um, about getting more traffic and stuff moved to your website? Cause I go to a lot of websites through there.
Yeah, I love Pinterest, and you're probably going to people's blogs, I'm guessing, more than anything, blogs, or, um, people post their affiliate links on there, um, even to links to their YouTube channel, but Pinterest is just another way to drive organic traffic, and it's, It is a search engine versus a social media platform, which a lot of people can kind of confuse that.
So Pinterest, the goal of Pinterest, similar to Google, is to get the right piece of content in front of the right person to help solve their problem or whatever they're looking for. So if you think about your own habits, if you go on Pinterest, you're looking for, you know, decor for a modern dining room or whatever you're looking for.
And then. If you see all this content that is like country chic or whatever, you're not going to click on that. So, um, just thinking of Pinterest as another way to get traffic to your website, you can get, you know, hundreds, thousands of leads that way that you wouldn't have gotten otherwise, because they're not following you on social media.
So it's just another way. And then Google sees that that traffic is coming from Pinterest. So they're more likely to rank your website higher. Okay. So I totally
bought your Pinterest course
and as you probably have websites for you, that gave you that legitimacy that you needed. And they also set up that e commerce side of things where it's quick.
You got to go to that site and order your products using your code or your link.
So,
um, so that's why you didn't need one. But now that you are kind of moving towards more of a personal brand, it's definitely necessary for you to have a website to again, establish that I've been in business for like five years.
Kind of show the breadth of your work and your experience, your expertise. So, and again, just to start building that SEO so that people can find you organically. You don't have to start paying for ads and you can really position yourself as an authority in your field. But once you have your business established, you know what you're going to sell, you know who your target audience is.
You got to get on there because people take you more seriously when you have a website, it's easier for people to find you organically, which means not, you don't have to pay for ads. You don't have to, you know, get burnout on social media, posting and posting and posting, hoping that the Instagram algorithm favors you that day and puts you in front of new eyes.
Um, Google will do that for you. And. It does take, like I said, some time for SEO to build. So starting your website sooner rather than later is a good thing. But yeah, as you've said, I mean,
Well, for sure. And part of my business platform is, yes, I've been in network marketing for many years, but I'm also in the coaching realm now, which is not network marketing. Um, and I'm also trying to break into the world of Um, and I'm writing a book. So I think, yes, I was way overdue for a website. So I'm glad I have that.
But other business owners, when they're first starting out, like, like, how do you prioritize SEO? And you said it takes like six months to start gaining some traction. So I'm still in the very early stages. Time period of mine. Um, so I can't say that I've seen results, like whatever that means. Um, I did get a new client through somebody listening in the podcast, but you know, where's the prioritize?
Like where should they start prioritizing the SEO like business owners?
Hmm. That's a good question. So I think pick some sort of long form piece of content and that will just make your life easier across all of your platforms. So the way that I teach it in my SEO course, which is called rank method, a little plug there, but it is, I teach you my strategy for what I do for my clients and what I do for my own business.
I start with that long form piece of content. So for me, that's blogging. But for someone like you, Tiffany, that would be it. Your podcast, and I show you how you can repurpose that into all these different ways. So you can make it into a carousel. You can make it into a few different reels. You can put it into your email list, then you can put it on Pinterest.
So it's just a way to, to streamline your process and just make your life easier. So you're not constantly trying to think of new ideas and new ways to promote your business. So that's what I would prioritize is just stick to prioritize using one long form piece of content. Um, and being able to strategically break that up into multiple pieces will just save you a lot of energy, especially in the beginning before you're hiring out your social media and hiring a virtual assistant and all that really, it's like, it makes it so much easier.
Instagram is like not such a burden to me anymore since I've started doing this for my own business. And it just feels like I can actually focus on things that are going to grow my business.
I would love to do that. I just want to Create content and then give it to somebody else and be like, go make this happen.
I just want to create it. Like if I could say that that would be my zone, that's it. So, all right. So what do you see being important trend for SEO in the future?
So the big trend right now is All of this talk about AI and AI this and AI that and we're simplifying and we're, you know, it's allowing business owners to put out even more content than they than they already were because you have this tool.
Um, but actually, just this past March, Google put out, you know, their, they update their algorithms every couple of months and they put out that they're really focusing, putting an even bigger focus on quality content. So they're removing content that looks like it's generated by a robot. So yeah, yeah. And they've always been doing that.
Right. But it's just, they're now with the big, like AI boom, they're really seeing it affects small, especially the smaller businesses who aren't maybe using those kind of tools and putting out as much content as the bigger companies. Um, but so I think we're kind of getting back to our roots a little bit where people can see, like, that is.
Not how this person normally talks or like that's not an emoji they would normally use or whatever it is. So, um, just kind of the trend is going back to more like natural, organic content, like being more like that happened
quickly.
Yeah. I mean,
I've always created my own content just out of a sense of integrity for me.
Um, I just, I don't know. And so many people like that's dumb. Just do what's quick and efficient. I'm like, I don't know, man. It feels like raw and nasty to do it that way. Like, I really just want to have my own thoughts and my own heart because I'm so emotionally invested in my clients and their success, I want them to know like, you're actually talking to me.
I'm a real person and I actually give lots of shits about your success. Um, and if you just got a computer saying, I care about you, I don't think it generates the same level of emotion and connection that humans can do right when they're creating their own stuff.
So you can use AI as a tool, like use it as a brainstorming tool.
Let it give you ideas. I, I definitely use it. Um, but you don't just copy and paste it and put it onto your website or put it into your social media because that's, that's icky. Like you said, people can tell. Oh, I
get it. I get it. All right. So last question here. Um, I know that you're on a time timeline today.
Um, what do entrepreneurs need to focus on in their social media Um, because that's so huge and on their websites to gain more traction, like we really want to turn more heads and get these viewers into actual customers. I mean, I call it conversion. So what do we need to do to start converting more people from being lookers to purchasers?
Yes. So, so many things. First of all, is Having that good keyword strategy, and I know that's one of the things that people get overwhelmed with the most, because they're like, what is the keyword? Is it one word? Is it 10 words? How do I know if I'm using the right keywords? The keyword volume changes every month.
Um, I feel like again, people overcomplicate it. So go into Google. Type in what you think people are searching for to get to your website and see what search, you know, suggestions come up in the Google search bar. And it'll also give you some questions that people, like people also ask that little section there, see what people are searching for.
Um, I do have like a free five day SEO challenge for people that want to learn about, um, how to find keywords for their business. But that's number one is just get it. Use. using the right keywords strategically so that you get in front of the right people. So the people that you are trying to get in front of, um, is step one.
And then once they get to your website, you do want to have some sort of plan in place of where you want them to go next. So you never want to leave people on a dead end. If they're going onto your blog post or your podcast link, um, give them other resources that are related. Give them, um, you know, Put a pop up, you know, as much as people hate pop ups, they do work, but put a pop up that lets people opt into your email list and give them something free that benefits them that they can get a quick win from.
Um, those are like the two biggest things I guess I would say. Um, there's so much involved in. Getting people to convert, but I think just being authentic and really taking the time to nurture them and feel like they are getting some value from being in your world. Okay, so you have multiple courses
available for people.
So I want you to list each one of them out. We're going to put all the links into the show notes and then, um, just give me one last piece of advice for our business owners out there on what they can do to most maximize their time while they're online.
Yeah. Um, so to work smarter, not harder, do my strategy that I talked about of creating that one long form piece of content first.
I know it feels overwhelming, but once you knock that out, it's gonna, you can repurpose that in so many different ways. Cycle through it every couple of months on your, on your Instagram page. People don't see every piece of content that you post. So if you can repurpose what you already have, you're going to save yourself a lot of time and headache.
Um, that's my one takeaway. And then, um, I do have two courses. So my, uh, signature course is called Rank Method, R A N K, and that is kind of everything you need to know about SEO to DIY it for yourself. So if you want to start implementing things on your website, start blogging for your business, there is a social media component on there.
Um, and, uh, if you want Um, right now it has the Pinterest course within that one too, but that's going to go away soon. So really everything you need to know in my exact process for what I do with my clients and myself, and then the Pinterest course is kind of, I took that out of the rank method course to give people the opportunity to learn Pinterest and how to use it as a, Um, SEO tool to drive traffic to your website.
So both of those courses are available anytime. We can link those. I do have a code for the listeners, which is podcast 50. That will give you 50 off either of those courses.
That's fantastic. All right. So your social media, where are we going to find you there?
Yeah, so you can find me on
my
website. Go there first.
That's the most juicy bit. Lots of resources on there. So Hilltop help is hilltophelp. com is the website. And then that's my Instagram handle as well. That's where I'm most active. Um, I like to share little tips and a little bit of mom life over there too.
Nice. All right. Awesome. Thank you so much for taking time to chat with us about SEO and, uh, I am definitely going to do the course very, very soon.
Let me know
how
it goes. Once my husband gets home and I can have some focus time and my laptop and I are going to disappear into the van for a few hours.
Maybe on your road trip.
Yes, that's right. Well, I'll be driving, so there will be Oh,
okay. Not on your road trip.
Um, but thank you, Maggie. I really appreciate that.
And I know a lot of people are going to get so much value out of what you just shared. So go visit the website, get yourself a course, get yourself right and tight for your business. Don't leave it hanging. All right. There's a strategy behind everything. All right, Maggie. Thank you. Thank
you.
Bye.