68: Building Healthy SEO Habits - Part 7: Avoiding SEOverwhelm

Summary: In this episode, Meredith’s husband summarizes the key SEO habits discussed in previous episodes and offers a simplified cadence to manage SEO tasks without overwhelm. He emphasizes scheduling regular checks for website measurement, quality improvement, and link-building efforts to keep the process manageable and effective for long-term SEO success.

Blog Post: Simplifying SEO with a Manageable Schedule

SEO can feel overwhelming with so many tasks to juggle—keyword tracking, maintaining a healthy website, creating fresh content, and building links. However, the key to success lies in establishing a simple, manageable cadence for handling these tasks. By breaking them down into regular habits, you can make consistent progress without feeling overloaded.

In this post, we’ll review the core SEO habits and how often you should focus on each one to streamline your SEO efforts.

1. Measure Your Rankings and Analytics Once a Month

It’s tempting to check your rankings or Google Analytics every day, but this can lead to frustration. SEO rankings fluctuate naturally, and daily changes don’t necessarily reflect long-term success. Instead, set aside time once a month to review your rankings and analytics. Focus on overall trends, rather than obsessing over individual keyword movements.

• Tip: Compare data month-to-month, or even better, compare the same month year over year to account for seasonal trends.

2. Maintain a Healthy Website by Monitoring SEO Scores

Keeping your website technically healthy is crucial for long-term success. Tools like SEMrush send automatic notifications when your website's health score drops. Pay attention to these alerts and set aside time to fix any issues as they arise. The good news is that you only need to act when your score changes, which could save you time and energy.

• Tip: Address issues within a couple of weeks of receiving alerts to keep your site in good standing.

3. Improve Website Quality Regularly

Don’t let years pass without enhancing your website. Set a consistent routine for checking and improving your site’s quality. Depending on your website's size and activity, you can dedicate as little as an hour per month or as much as an hour per week to make improvements.

• Tip: Spend 15 minutes daily reviewing your site as a user or allocate an afternoon once a month to make small, incremental changes that will prevent the need for major overhauls later.

4. Make Blogging a Daily Thought Process

Blogging doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Instead of viewing it as a large project, think about it as a byproduct of your daily activities. Spend just 60 seconds a day reflecting on how your work can be turned into content. Did you discover something useful during a client session? Share that insight in a blog post. The goal is to make blogging feel like a natural part of your workflow, not an overwhelming chore.

• Tip: Keep a running list of ideas, no matter how small, that can later be expanded into full blog posts.

5. Engage in Link Building After Every Shoot

For photographers, especially those in the wedding or event industry, link building opportunities are everywhere. After each shoot, think about the vendors or partners you worked with—venues, caterers, florists, or DJs. Can you provide them with photos that showcase their work? This simple gesture can often result in valuable backlinks to your site.

• Tip: Offer something valuable first, like high-quality images, before asking for a link. This builds goodwill and increases your chances of success.

By establishing a simple, repeatable cadence for SEO tasks, you can manage your SEO strategy effectively without feeling overwhelmed. Follow these steps to keep your website healthy, relevant, and visible in search results.

Resources: For more detailed information on managing SEO tasks, check out Meredith’s husband’s SEO roadmap, where he outlines the process in order and provides a step-by-step plan.