What You Should Expect From An SEO Report

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When you hire an SEO service, reports are to expected. Each might contain different information depending on the provider. But the bottomline is that it should give you a clear idea of how it benefits your business.

Sadly, this isn’t usually the case. Most SEO reports contain either useless details or too much technical jargon. For clients who don’t know any better, this can be misleading. So you might continue working with a provider until it’s too late. By then, you’ll realize that deliverables weren’t met and there are no improvements whatsoever.

Knowing what to expect from an SEO report gives you the leverage of finding a competent SEO service that can truly help you meet goals. But before we get to the meaty part, let’s talk about the bare essentials of a good SEO report.

 

The Basic Elements of an SEO Report

At its core, an SEO report must hold valuable information from a business perspective. It should include data on these key elements:

  • Traffic
  • Conversions
  • Ranking

The main purpose of SEO is to elevate your business. Traffic, conversions, and rankings are important factors for determining whether there are actual improvements – which is why they should be present in any SEO report.

 

What To Look For In An SEO Report

Of course, there should be more to an SEO report than the basics. How it is presented also matters. It has to be straightforward and contain relevant information on how SEO is benefitting your business in nonplus terms.

 

1. SEO Metrics

Metrics are an excellent way to track the results of your provider’s efforts. It presents data visually through graphs and charts, giving you a bird’s eye view of how SEO is affecting your website.

SEO metrics should be aligned to your business objectives. For instance, if you have an online store and want more organic traffic, your report must include traffic data. Here are a few relevant SEO metrics based on client needs:

  • Conversion rates show how much of your traffic is making the desired action (i.e. sales, newsletter subscriptions).
  • Page traffic shows which pages have the highest and lowest amount of traffic.
  • SEO-friendliness pinpoints site problems which interfere with SEO efforts. Examples include slow page loading speeds, plagiarized content, and redirect errors.

 

2. Remarks

SEO metrics must be accompanied by a summary of results. These remarks should be concise – neither too long or too short. They should likewise be transparent. Any information on progress or setbacks have to be included.

Some providers use too many technical jargon in their summarized reports. But terms such as “keyword density,” “HTML issues,” and “outbound links” wouldn’t mean anything to you. Any SEO service worth a grain of salt will focus on your goals. As such, their SEO report will highlight the steps they took to help achieve these goals, as well as update you with the results.

 

3. SEO Solutions

Your SEO report will only be one of many. As a paying client, you deserve to know what an SEO service plans to do next. They must consider the results they have delivered so far and provide actionable steps on how they can further improve them. The plan of action should be clearly outlined and geared towards helping you reach for your business goals.

What You Need To Know About Website Accessibility

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It’s been 30 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was first signed into law. But its impact on website owners has not emerged until recently. In 2017, international law firm Seyfarth Shaw reported a 16 percent increase in lawsuits related to the disabilities act. Most cases were due to non-compliance, particularly around website accessibility.

ADA and Website Accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA is a civil rights law designed to protect citizens with disabilities against discrimination. It encompasses a wide scope, including:

  • Private and public spaces
  • State and local government institutions
  • Employment opportunities
  • Transportation and telecommunications
  • Building codes

 

A quick background on website accessibility

You might be wondering how website accessibility became part of ADA. It started in 2003 when the Department of Justice (DOJ) published guidelines for state and local governments on making their websites accessible to people with disabilities. This is so they’d have equal opportunity to access their services, activities, and programs.

By 2018, a revised version of Section 508 under Title II of ADA took into effect. It came to be known as Section 508 Refresh, and includes website accessibility standards based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

WCAG lists down conformance requirements for creating accessible websites which are ADA compliant. WCAG is in accordance with international standards on website accessibility since it was published by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) under the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

But if there are guidelines laid out, why are website owners vulnerable to ADA lawsuits?

Shouldn’t it help them make ADA compliant websites?

 

The Problem with ADA and Website Accessibility

Unfortunately, it’s not just a simple case of lack of awareness on the part of website owners.

Section 508 Refresh and consequently, Title II of ADA, only applies to state and local government entities. This can be confusing for business owners who manage websites and publicly available mobile apps. What does apply to them is Title III of ADA, which unlike Title II, is extremely vague.

Title III simply mandates businesses which are open to the public to remove “access barriers” that would prevent disabled individuals from accessing their goods or services. In some U.S. courts, it has been argued that any website which sells goods and services should fall under “places of public accommodation” even in the absence of a brick and mortar store. As a result, site owners are realizing just how vulnerable they are to ADA lawsuits.

 

How to Protect Yourself Against ADA Lawsuits

Back in 2010, the DOJ said they intend to update Title III of ADA to include website accessibility for businesses. But they have yet to make changes. Until then, the least you can do is read Section 508 and follow the same WCAG guidelines provided for the state and local government.

It also helps to look at the trend of ADA lawsuits in your area. States such as California and New York provide monetary compensation to aggrieved parties, and have the highest rates of website accessibility lawsuits. Being aware of these local trends allows you to assess your vulnerability and plan your next move.

For more information on website accessibility, get in touch with our website experts for a free consultation.

What You Need To Know About Google’s June 2019 Core Update

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Google released the June 2019 core update on June 3. While they say it isn’t a major update, site owners and SEOs think otherwise. Websites are experiencing massive changes as updates continue rolling out.

If you’ve been keeping track, it isn’t the first time this happened. Last March, SEOs saw sudden changes in how Google ranked domains. Industry leaders were hot on the trail of a so-called Florida 2 update even before Google announced it. There were winners and losers. But despite its noticeable impact, the search giant said March’s release was hardly an update.

The latest core update may seem like a walk down memory lane, though there is definitely much more to it. Here’s everything you need to know about Google’s June 2019 core update, according to SEO experts.

 

Moz: Big visibility gains for health sites, but no changes in SERP features

Pete Meyers of Moz, tweeted his earliest observations. The marketing scientist noted huge visibility gains for health websites, citing Healthline, Dr. Axe, and Verywell Health as examples.

He added they found no changes in SERP features like the Health Panel. Meaning, health-related domains that gained or lost search visibility and have pages that are (or are not) featured in Google’s Health Panel can expect them to stay as is… for now.

 

Sistrix: More domains affected by gains and losses in search visibility

SISTRIX used their Visibility Index Tool to track popular sites among UK’s Google search users. They compared data from May 29 with data from June 5 to 6, just when Google was releasing their update. Based on their findings, websites either gained 19-54% or lost 17-50% in online visibility. Winners included Mirror Online, HuffPost, and Tumblr. Mercola, The Daily Mail, and Wondershare fell into the losers list.

The European SEO solutions provider also noticed a tiny but important detail. The latest Google core update seems to affect a wider range of websites. When Google rolled out their update in March, it mostly affected YMYL or “Your Money Your Life” domains such as health sites. Google’s June 2019 core update has so far affected news sites, retail companies, and other industries who were left untouched in previous updates.

 

SearchMetrics: Google’s latest core update reverts previous changes

Marcus Tober, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of SearchMetrics, provides deeper insight. He believes that Google may have reverted some changes from their March update. Tober suspects it’s the algorithms on brand and authority. Why? Because medical websites such as WebMD and Verywell Health gained back their online visibility after losing in the March 2019 core update.

 

RankRanger: Gambling, health, and finance are most affected by the June 2019 core update

Using the top 10 search results in the US, RankRanger analyzed websites for rank fluctuations based on their niche. Rank fluctuations usually fall within a certain range to be considered normal. However, the SEO software provider saw an average shift in rankings for 159% of gambling-related websites, followed by health (78%) and finance (77%).

So there you have it! SEO experts have pitched in their initial thoughts on the June 2019 core update. It’s too early to tell what’s in store. For the meantime, all we can do is sit back and wait for more details on how Google can possibly make or break your online visibility with their new algorithms.

What Local Stores Need To Know About Google Local Inventory Ads

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There’s no denying that in-store shopping continues to lose its charm. Why would people bother going to a store when they can just shop online? According to Kibo’s 2017 Consumer Trend Report, 80 percent of consumers are less likely to visit a store if their website doesn’t have an inventory of their products.

Growing  online competition and increasing preference for virtual shopping are nothing short of nightmares for local store owners. What else can you do to compete against e-commerce and other physical stores?

Luckily, Google provides a possible solution for you through Local Inventory Ads.

 

What are Google Local Inventory Ads?

Local Inventory Ads let you show off your products and business information to nearby potential shoppers who are using Google to search for specific products. When people click on your ad, they will be directed to your Local Storefront.

Your Local Storefront is a Google-hosted page that serves as a digital version of your brick-and-mortar store. There, online visitors would be able to view the list of available products in-store. The Local Storefront also includes other pertinent information about your business such as directions and store hours, so customers can plan ahead when to drop by.

 

What are the Benefits of Local Inventory Ads?

Still not convinced? Here are three ways Google can help bring your store to the next level.

 

1. Take your physical store online

If you don’t have a website or social media for your shop, this is a way for you to bring it online. It allows you to leverage the power of the internet and let people know about your business.

 

2. Showcase your products

Local Inventory Ads enable brick-and-mortar shops to promote their inventory online. At the same time, it provides local shoppers an easy way to find products they want nearby. It’s a win-win for everyone.

If you happen to have what customers are looking for and they see it on your ad, they would be enticed to visit your store. Keep in mind that most online shoppers who are after an in-store experience, prefer to know whether the products they want are actually available at your shop. Make sure to always update your inventory and to keep your shop well-stocked!

 

3. Stand out against competition

Not many local store owners are aware of this feature. So taking advantage of it will surely give you an edge over competitors. Google displays Local Inventory Ads on the top searches for people who may be interested in buying locally. Thus, it can increase your online visibility and attract more customers in your area.

 

How Can I Set Up My Local Storefront on Google?

Local Inventory Ads are currently limited to select countries. Namely, these are United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, and Switzerland.

You also have to meet the following eligibility requirements to be able to create your own ads:

  • Owns a physical store which is open to the public
  • Sells physical products which shoppers can buy without having to pay for anything else (i.e. membership)
  • Physical store must be located in a country where ads will be targeted to
  • Store owner must take precautionary and active measures to secure their customers’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

What Local Businesses Need To Know About Bing

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Google may be the top contender in the world of search engines. But Bing can be just as useful for local businesses, especially when combined with Yahoo! Search. Of course, you’d have to master them since their algorithms work a bit differently to Google.

Today, you’ll learn a few interesting things including:

  • Why Bing is a powerful search engine
  • How it can help your local business
  • Tips on optimizing for Bing

 

The Secret Powerhouse That Is Bing

Bing is the third largest search engine worldwide. It is owned and operated by Microsoft and has been live since 2009. The not-so-giant search engine managed to rake in 4.58% of global searches in October 2018. It may not seem much, but there’s one more thing you probably didn’t know about.

Yahoo! Search, another well-known search engine, is actually powered by Bing. It holds the second largest market share in global searches, sitting comfortably next to Google. If you own a local business, optimizing it for Bing will essentially give you access to Yahoo! Users. So you get to hit two birds with one stone!

 

Expanding Your Reach With Bing

It’s fairly understandable why most businesses choose to focus their SEO efforts on Google. It holds the largest market share. Naturally, everyone would want to rank their websites in a platform with the most number of users.

However, the combined audiences of Bing and Yahoo! are considerably large, especially in Asia. If you happen to own a physical store in the region, or if you cater to customers from all over the globe, these two are additional platforms to market yourself.

 

How to Optimize Your Website for Bing

Earlier, we mentioned that Bing uses a different algorithm from Google. With that said, they do share similarities while having unique ranking factors for determining your ranking. Below are the steps you need to take in order to rank on Bing.

 

Step 1: Register your business

First, you need to claim your business. It allows Bing to include it in their list so they can display it on local search results.

By registering your business on Bing’s search engine, you can increase your visibility and extend your reach outside of Google’s users. Simply put, more people will be aware of your brand, products, and services – and you get to attract more customers as well.

To do this, simply go to Bing Places for Business and create or claim your business listing. Take note that getting listed on Bing will automatically list you on Yahoo! since the latter makes use of Bing’s listings rather than its own.

 

Step 2: Have your website indexed

Second, go to Bing’s Webmaster Tools and provide the details needed to index your site. You have to start by creating a Bing account. Or if you have an existing Outlook or Microsoft account, you can log in through them instead.

Once you’ve successfully logged in, go to the Bing Website Submission page and fill it out. Afterwards, submit the URL address of your website so Bing can begin crawling your XML sitemap and display your web pages on their search results.

 

Step 3: Perform SEO

Third and last, don’t stop with SEO. Search engine optimization is just as valuable to Bing as it is Google. Here are some basic tips on how you could optimize for Bing:

  • Do keyword research and use keywords appropriately
  • When creating content for your website, tag and categorize them
  • Connect your website to social networks
  • Steer clear from blackhat SEO practices

What Is E-A-T And Why You Should Care

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No, this isn’t an article about food. Not for human consumption at least. Rather, it’s the kind that makes Google decide just how appetizing a website is for users.

If you run a website, you’d want nothing more than for Google to serve it as a main course. That is, you’d want your pages to appear on the top searches. This is where E-A-T comes in.

Today, we’ll show you what E-A-T means and why it matters to site owners. (Make sure to grab a snack while you’re reading!)

 

What is E-A-T?

E-A-T is an acronym for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Google uses these 3 factors to determine the quality of a page.

Think of it this way… E-A-T are the key ingredients to include in your web pages, and Google is the food critic you’re desperately trying to please. E-A-T allows Google to get a taste of your website. It helps them guarantee that it is up to their standards, and thus, palatable enough for its users.

Let’s take a closer look at the trio of ingredients and how to incorporate them.

 

1. E for Expertise

Firstly, you want to give the impression that you’re an expert in your niche. As the main creator of a website, you’ll need the right credentials and experience in your field.

For example, a website that offers medical advice will require content written by medical professionals to be considered an expert. But if you run a medical support forum, even general information shared by members can be seen as expert content.

What classifies as ‘expert content’ will vary depending on the niche. For industries that require less formal expertise, Google will assess their content based on its usefulness. Websites that have received prizes, awards, and other recognitions from reputable organizations can also qualify as experts.

 

2. Authoritativeness

Next, you’d want to be seen as an authority in your chosen niche. Google measures authority based on several factors such as:

  • Customer reviews and ratings

  • Backlinks (the kinds of websites linking back to you)

  • Mentions and citations by other authors

  • Sites where you appear in (such as in guest posting)

Essentially, you want the content you put out, your website, and you as the content creator, to be recognized and accepted by both industry leaders and target consumers.

 

3. Trustworthiness

Finally, you and your website must be trustworthy for Google’s tastes. As the site author, your expertise and authority can help add to it. But you also have to produce reliable content for your readers.

On the more technical side, your website needs to be secured over https with an SSL certificate. Ecommerce sites or any website that conducts online transactions, requires log-ins, and asks for sensitive information must take precautionary steps to provide better security to their customers.

 

Why E-A-T Should Matter to You

Google officially recognizes E-A-T as part of their Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines. Earlier, we mentioned how Google uses these factors to assess whether a page meets their standards.

But why is this necessary?

 

Because it enables Google’s algorithm to rank web pages. When people use their search engine, they expect to see the most relevant results first.

How you incorporate E-A-T into your pages provides Google the means to compare them with similar content, and then rank them accordingly. If you want to outrank competitors on search results, E-A-T acts as a guideline – an ingredients list for creating a delicious website that’s worth serving to Google’s search users.

Just How Much Does Google Update Its Algorithm?

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Google has been quite the busy bee as of late. Within three months, they managed to roll out not one, but two core updates – March 2019 and June 2019. By July, Google will start ranking new websites using their mobile-first index by default. It kinda makes you wonder… how much does Google change its algorithm?

To satisfy your curiosity, we’re giving you the inside scoop on the answer, and more!

In this article, you’ll learn…

  • Fun facts about Google updates
  • How often Google updates its algorithm each day
  • Why Google updates are important

 

Fun Facts On Google Updates

To be honest, two core updates in three months is nothing compared to the actual number of times that Google releases updates annually. Based on confirmed reports, Google has been launching thousands of updates each year since 2016.

In 2018, the search giant officially reported 3,234 improvements to their search feature. The earliest data available is from about a decade ago when Matt Cutts, former head of Google’s search quality team, uploaded a YouTube video. In the 2-minute video, he reveals that Google made 350 to 400 search algorithm changes in 2009. Judging by these numbers, the frequency of updates have increased by 8-9 times from 2009 to 2018.

Below is a summary of confirmed Google updates performed over the years.

  • 2009. Cutts released a video stating that Google made 350 to 450 updates to their search algorithm.
  • 2010. Eric Shmidt, then Executive Chairman of Google, testified before the Congress that they made 516 algorithm changes that year.
  • 2012. In the archived page from “How Search Works,” Google published an infographic where it states that 665 launches were approved.
  • 2013. Amit Singhal, Google’s former Senior Vice President, announced in a Google+ post the 890 improvements were made to Search.
  • 2016. Google said they launched 1,653 improvements in a now-defunct page from “How Search Works”.
  • 2017. During an internal Google meeting, it was discussed they released 2,453 Google updates, according to CNBC.
  • 2018. In their latest update via “How Search Works,” Google said they performed 3,234 search improvements.

There is no confirmed data for 2011, 2014, and 2015. But the trend is pretty obvious here. Since 2009, Google has been updating its algorithms at an increasing rate.

 

How Often Does Google Update Its Algorithm Every Day?

There’s word going around that in a day, at least 9 Google updates are released. Back in 2009, Cutts said they held weekly meetings and discuss 6-12 updates. But only those that get approved are actually rolled out.

In a recent tweet, Google Search Liaison Danny Sullivan said “Google usually releases one or more changes designed to improve our results.” He adds that most of these updates don’t produce noticeable changes. Although they do help improve Google’s search feature.

So, which is which?

Truth is, nobody knows the exact number. SEO experts have tried establishing a daily average. But in reality, the rate at which Google updates its algorithm can vary day to day.

 

Why are Google updates important?

Google updates might involve new features, UI changes, or adjustments in how they rank websites. No matter how small or big these updates are, they help improve the experience of search users. Google updates can also benefit site owners who know how to play by the rules, and use SEO to provide a better experience for internet users.

How To Improve Your Page Speed

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Page speed is an important factor in SEO. If it isn’t fast enough, people won’t want to stay on your site. According to Google, mobile pages that takes more than 3 seconds to load lose half (53%) of their visitors.

You don’t want visitors bouncing off to competitors now, would you? If you want to keep them, you should start by improving your page speeds. In this article, we’ll give you actionable steps on how to do it from the front and backend.

 

Tips to Improve Your Page Speed On The Front-end

The front-end of a page involves web design and function. It’s what internet users see and interact with when they arrive on a page. Improving page speeds from the front-end with the following tips can provide visitors with better user experience.

 

1. Optimize fonts and images

In spite of their aesthetic value, font styles and images can slow down a page if not implemented correctly.

When it comes to fonts, try to use formats which can be embedded as inline SVG. It loads content faster so people don’t see an empty page. Alternatively, you can use web fonts or icon font generators. They enable you to limit glyphs to what you need, thus reducing their file size.

As for images, we recommend using the right size and compressing them losslessly. Images that are too big take longer to load. Lossless compression further keeps file size at a minimum without compromising image quality.

 

2. Minify your JavaScript and CSS

If you’re a web developer or simply have the knowhow, make sure that the CSS and JavaScript are written inline and minified. Also, never use codes that aren’t necessary for a page. Combine CSS and JavaScript files into bundles wherever possible.

 

3. Choose a content delivery network

A content delivery network (CDN) acts as a high-speed bridge. By caching your site’s content, it allows people to view your pages faster than usual.

 

Tips to Improve Your Page Speed From The Back-end

The backend of a page is more concerned with how data is stored. Optimizing page speeds from the backend can drastically improve your site’s performance and reliability.

 

1. Set up a reverse proxy and HTTP headers

A reverse proxy is the fastest way to cache pages and serve them to visitors. Some CDNs already have it by default. But you can also set it up on your own.

For the HTTP headers, you will first need an HTTP/2 compliant server. The next step is to enable HTTP/2 Server Push. It loads resources before they’re requested, greatly improving page speeds.

 

2. Prolong the TTL of your cache

Caches are only stored for a set amount of time before they’re flushed out and renewed. By prolonging their “time to live” or TTL, you can keep them accessible to visitors for much longer. It’s a useful strategy for websites with thousands of pages.

 

3. Get a slow queries report

Enable your database to provide you with a report of slow queries. It will give you an idea of what you need to improve on. Use the report to identify weak spots in the backend, and optimize when necessary to speed up your pages’ loading time.

All New Websites Will Be Indexed Using Google’s Mobile-First Index From July

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Everyone’s eyes are on the latest Google core update released early this month. But did you know that there’s something bigger coming in July?

Google started talking about moving towards a “mobile-first” index in 2016. In case you missed their official announcement, it will finally be enabled on July 1, starting with new websites.

 

What is mobile-first indexing?

Google ranks websites based on countless factors. Some of them are page speed, domain age, content, user-friendliness, security, and social interactions to name a few. For years, their web crawling software (called Googlebot) would look at the desktop version of a site to decide how its pages are ranked. Ranking affects the position of web pages on search results. Ideally, they should make it to the top 10 searches for increased visibility and traffic.

Mobile-first indexing changes the way Googlebot crawls and ranks websites. Rather than simply looking at a site’s desktop version, it also checks the mobile version. Furthermore, the new algorithm will primarily assess the mobile version of websites before checking their desktop version. Hence, mobile-first.

 

What can I expect from Google’s mobile-first index?

Mobile-first indexing will affect site owners in different ways. It depends on the readiness of their websites, and their adoption of the new algorithms.

 

New site owners

According to Google, all new websites will be indexed mobile-first beginning July 1. By this, they are referring to domains which are still unknown to their search bot. These include websites created before and after July which haven’t been indexed by Googlebot, and therefore not visible on search results.

Most new websites are ready for mobile-first indexing anyway. They show search engines and users similar content across mobile and desktop platforms. New site owners will not be notified of these changes on their Search Console, since it will be the default setting.

 

Early adopters

Sites owners who have already migrated to mobile-first indexing will continue to have their websites indexed using the new algorithm. Like new site owners, they won’t receive any notification.

 

Late adopters

Older websites which haven’t opted for mobile-first indexing will continue to be indexed desktop-first until they are ready. Google says they will continue tracking and assessing old sites for readiness.

The readiness of old sites for mobile-first indexing will be determined by:

  • Consistency of content. These include text, images, links, and videos.
  • Application of meta data. Some examples are titles, descriptions, and meta tags.
  • Use of structured data. It allows Google to easily understand what a website is about.

Once a website is ready, site owners will be notified through the Search Console.

 

Will Google stop indexing the desktop version of my site?

No. New websites and early adopters will continue to be indexed based on their mobile and desktop versions – at least, for those with separate mobile URLs. However, Google recommends having a responsive web design which uses the same URL for the desktop and mobile version of a site.

Old websites will be indexed desktop-first until they are ready for mobile-first indexing.

 

How do I know if my site is ready for mobile-first indexing?

If you have an older site, you can use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to see if you’re ready to adopt.

But if you want to learn whether Google is indexing your website mobile-first, check the URL Inspection Tool in your Search Console. It will show when it was last crawled and indexed. If it was crawled by “Google smartphone” then your site is being indexed with the new mobile-first algorithm.

For more information on mobile-first indexing or to get your website ready, get in touch with our search experts.

A Beginner’s Guide to TF-IDF

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Unless you’re some kind of SEO guru, you probably haven’t heard of TF-IDF until recently. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this. The term itself is more than enough to intimidate any beginner the first time they encounter it. And it certainly doesn’t help to know that it has something to do with statistical math.

But you don’t need to feel intimidated by this complex term or the math behind it. We’re here to give you an honest-to-goodness beginner’s guide to TF-IDF.

We’ll teach you:

  • What TF-IDF is
  • The difference between TF-IDF vs keyword density
  • How to cheat your way into calculating TF-IDF using a free tool

 

Our guide is useful for SEOs, content writers, and website owners alike.

  • SEOs can use it to find high-quality keywords with high search volume and low competition.
  • Content writers can use it to write valuable content, both for readers and search engines.
  • Website owners can gain a deeper understanding of SEO and use it to their advantage.

 

What is TF-IDF?

TF-IDF is a shorthand for Term Frequency – Inverse Document Frequency. It can mean one of many things, depending on who you’re asking.

Traditionally, it is a numerical statistic that helps identify the importance of a word in relation to a body of text, or a collection of texts (a.k.a. corpus). To illustrate, let’s say you have an article on SEO. You can use TF-IDF to find out how much value is placed in the word “SEO” based on the number of times it is mentioned in the article (the text body), and across the internet (the corpus).

For Google, TF-IDF is more than just a number. It is also a ranking factor which they use to understand and rank content. You’re probably wondering if TF-IDF is the same as keyword density, which is more commonly used term in SEO.

Technically, it’s a yes and a no.

 

TD-IDF vs Keyword Density

Keyword density is used to refer to the number of times a keyword is used in a web page or content. How it’s calculated is easier too. And it produces a percentage of the total word count.

TF-IDF does the same, and more. Apart from counting the number of keywords, it also weighs their importance in relation to the page’s content and the internet at large. This is why when you search for general terms like coke, Coca-Cola appears in the top searches even if you actually meant to search for Coke County. Based on their algorithm of the word coke, Coca-Cola has higher TF-IDF and thus, places more importance in it than it does for Coke County, which has a lower TF-IDF.

Google’s algorithm focuses on TF-IDF more than it does on keyword density. It allows the search engine to rank content, and by extension, web pages when displaying results to their users.

 

How to Calculate TF-IDF (Without Breaking a Sweat)

As promised, we’ll teach you an easy way to calculate TD-IDF without doing any math. But first, you need to sign up for Ryte. Don’t worry, the online tool has a freemium version. Once you finish registration and confirm your email address, you can proceed with the next steps.

  • Step 1. Log in to your free Ryte account and click on ‘Content Success’. You should find it on the left side of your screen.
  • Step 2. Under Content Success, click ‘Go to Analyze’ and input your keyword, the country, and the language you are targeting.
  • Step 3. Click on ‘Start Content Analysis’ and wait for a few seconds until the page displays keyword recommendations and competition.
  • Step 4. Next, click on the ‘Competition’ tab. You should see a list of your keyword recommendations alongside competition.
  • Step 5. To view the TD-IDF, refer to the circles under each competition. Their size and color indicate thea following:
    • Small-sized, pale blue – Low TF-IDF (Low Relevance)
    • Medium-sized, aqua blue – Medium TF-IDF (Medium Relevance)
    • Large-sized, dark blue – High TF-IDF (High Relevance)

The higher the relevance, the tougher it is to beat your competition.

When you hover over the circles, you’ll see the relevancy score of a keyword (that is, its TD-IDF) and number of times it is mentioned in a page.

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Apache Junction, Avondale, Buckeye, Carefree, Chandler, Chandler Heights, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Mesa, New River, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sun City, Sun City Grand, Sun City West, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson, Wickenburg

Top Digital Marketing Agency in Phoenix