Basic SEO Questions, Answered by Craig Campbell SEO

TL;DR

Craig Campbell answers SEO and digital marketing questions.

Transcript

um welcome to today's question and answers i'm doing it on my own today no guests um a whole bunch of people have signed up to the free training course that i've given out and as i said you just want to do questions and answers for those guys um in particular anyone who's struggling with anything at all um or in general if you're on linkedin or wha... Read More

Key Insights

• Craig Campbell emphasizes the importance of waiting a few weeks after an update before making changes, as things tend to settle down naturally.
• He suggests that local citations still work well for local SEO but also highlights the importance of click-through rate manipulation using mobile devices.
• Campbell advises against buying links from public networks like Legit, as they often provide low-quality links.
• He recommends outsourcing certain SEO tasks but stresses the importance of due diligence to avoid low-quality service providers.
• Using a .com domain is generally preferable for global reach, as country-specific domains may limit international visibility.
• Campbell highlights the resurgence of exact match domains, noting they are becoming more effective again for SEO.
• For affiliate sites, he suggests building a tiered link structure with generic and guest post links, powered up by tools like SEO Autopilot.
• He cautions against disavowing links solely based on SEMrush's toxic label, recommending a common-sense approach to link evaluation.

Questions & Answers

Q: What should you do when your website is hit by a Google update?

Craig Campbell advises waiting three to four weeks before making any changes, as things often settle down naturally. He recommends not rushing into changes that could undo good work, emphasizing patience and observation before acting.

Q: Are local citations still effective for local SEO?

According to Campbell, local citations are still effective for local SEO. He also mentions that click-through rate manipulation using mobile devices can enhance local SEO efforts, as demonstrated by experts like Holly Starks.

Q: Should you buy links from public networks like Legit?

Campbell advises against buying links from public networks such as Legit, as they often result in low-quality links. He suggests seeking out private and high-quality link sources to avoid potential penalties and ensure better SEO results.

Q: How can you effectively outsource SEO tasks?

Campbell suggests outsourcing specific SEO tasks like content creation and link building. However, he stresses the importance of due diligence to ensure the service provider is reliable and capable. He warns against outsourcing entire projects without proper oversight.

Q: Is it better to use a .com domain for global SEO?

Campbell recommends using a .com domain for global SEO reach, as country-specific domains like .co.uk or .ie may limit visibility in other countries. He shares his own experience of improved international rankings after switching to a .com domain.

Q: What is the current effectiveness of exact match domains?

Campbell notes that exact match domains are becoming more effective again for SEO. They can provide a small advantage, especially when combined with other SEO strategies, although they should not be relied upon solely.

Q: How should you handle disavowing links marked as toxic by SEMrush?

Campbell advises against blindly disavowing links labeled as toxic by SEMrush, as the tool can sometimes misidentify legitimate links. He recommends a common-sense approach, evaluating each link's quality and relevance before deciding to disavow.

Q: What is a good strategy for link building on affiliate websites?

For affiliate sites, Campbell suggests building a tiered link structure with a mix of generic and guest post links. He recommends using tools like SEO Autopilot to power up these links, focusing on creating a strong foundation before scaling up.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Craig Campbell hosted a Q&A session, addressing various SEO and digital marketing questions. He provided insights on handling Google updates, the efficacy of local citations, and the risks of public PBNs.

• Campbell discussed the importance of choosing the right domain type for global SEO and shared strategies for link building, particularly for affiliate websites. He also touched on the value of exact match domains.

• He advised caution in disavowing links and emphasized the need for a balanced approach to technical, on-page, and off-page SEO. Outsourcing was also discussed, with a focus on finding reliable service providers.