- Building an SEO baseline early on helps improve all your digital marketing initiatives (content, website architecture, site speed, conversion optimization) and develop a starting point of repeatable “free” traffic to your site.
- SEO thrives on education and content, which are key for early-stage growth (you need to introduce yourself to people, after all, and start-ups often need to educate users on why they need an innovative new product or service.
- SEO has compounding benefits that grow with time. When you start ranking on one keyword or building expertise for a certain category, it makes it easier to rank for the next keyword, so getting started early is better.
Here is the plan we are working on for this site:
Here’s a detailed SEO plan for carbonatedthoughts.store based on your $100 weekly marketing budget, emphasizing early-stage growth and leveraging SEO principles:
Phase 1: SEO Foundation and Baseline Setup (Weeks 1-4)
1. Website Architecture and Technical SEO (Initial setup)
- Budget Allocation: Allocate ~$40 in the first week for technical SEO audits using tools like Ahrefs or SEMRush (they often have affordable plans or trials).
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Actions:
- Ensure indexability by verifying that search engines can crawl all necessary pages. Use Google Search Console for initial diagnostics.
- Optimize site speed with free tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTMetrix. Compress images, minify CSS/JavaScript, and use lazy-loading for images.
- Improve mobile optimization. Most users will access your site via mobile, so make sure the website is responsive.
- Create an XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console. Set up a robots.txt file to manage crawling.
2. Keyword Research (Ongoing)
- Budget Allocation: Dedicate $20 for a keyword research tool (consider using free options like Ubersuggest or low-cost ones like KWFinder).
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Actions:
- Identify long-tail keywords related to your products, which are easier to rank for early on. For example, if your store sells unique or artistic carbonated drink products, target specific queries like “artisanal carbonated drinks” or “best craft soda gifts”.
- Analyze competitors’ keyword strategies and find gaps that you can fill, especially where they haven’t focused on specific niche terms.
3. On-Page SEO Optimization (Initial Setup, Ongoing)
- Budget Allocation: Minimal cost, use free plugins like Yoast SEO (if on WordPress) or manual optimization.
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Actions:
- Optimize meta titles and descriptions to be keyword-rich but engaging. Example: “Unique Craft Soda – Shop Artistic, Carbonated Beverages at Carbonated Thoughts”.
- Incorporate primary keywords and related terms naturally in product descriptions, headers, and body text. Focus on high-quality content.
- Use alt text for images, which helps with image SEO. For example, use alt tags like “Artisanal carbonated beverage with unique packaging”.
Phase 2: Content Creation and Education (Weeks 5-12)
4. Content Marketing via Blog (Ongoing)
- Budget Allocation: ~$30 weekly for content creation (consider outsourcing blog writing using platforms like Upwork or Fiverr if needed).
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Actions:
- Create educational blog content that aligns with user interests and queries. For example, topics like “The Benefits of Artisanal Sodas Over Commercial Brands” or “Creative Gift Ideas for Soda Enthusiasts”.
- Focus on content clusters—one main piece (pillar content) and smaller, related articles. For example, a pillar piece on “The History of Carbonated Drinks” with smaller articles linking back to it, like “Why Craft Sodas Are Making a Comeback”.
- Post consistently (once a week at a minimum) and share the content on social media platforms for additional traffic.
5. Product Page Optimization (Ongoing)
- Budget Allocation: Use in-house resources.
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Actions:
- Enhance product pages with detailed descriptions, using long-tail keywords. E.g., “This artisanal carbonated drink is made with organic ingredients and perfect for craft soda lovers”.
- Add user reviews and ratings, as they improve SEO and conversions. Encourage customers to leave reviews in exchange for discounts or coupons.
- Optimize internal linking. Link from your blog posts to your product pages (e.g., “Check out our artisan soda collection.”).
Phase 3: Link Building and Authority (Weeks 13-24)
6. Backlink Strategy (Ongoing)
- Budget Allocation: Allocate $40 for outreach tools or guest posting services.
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Actions:
- Guest post on relevant blogs or websites within the food & beverage, lifestyle, or artisan goods niches. Focus on providing valuable insights or guides (e.g., “How to Throw a Carbonated Beverage Tasting Party”).
- Outreach to influencers or micro-influencers for product reviews or features. These backlinks from trusted sources will help build domain authority.
- Submit your products to directories like niche gift guides or artisan product lists, which often provide backlinks and increase visibility.
7. Social Signals & Engagement (Ongoing)
- Budget Allocation: $30 for paid social media posts to drive traffic and create organic buzz.
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Actions:
- Share your blog posts and new product launches on social platforms like Instagram and Facebook. This increases brand awareness and can create social signals that indirectly support SEO.
- Use small paid promotions ($10 per post) to boost visibility for key content and drive traffic to your blog or product pages.
- Encourage social sharing of blog posts or content related to your products to increase visibility and potential backlinks from other users.
Phase 4: Analytics and Optimization (Weeks 25-52)
8. Monitor Performance & Adapt (Ongoing)
- Budget Allocation: Free tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console will help track performance.
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Actions:
- Regularly monitor keyword rankings, site traffic, and conversion rates using Google Analytics. Adjust strategy if certain keywords or pages are underperforming.
- Analyze bounce rates and time-on-page to determine whether users are engaging with your content and make necessary improvements to page speed, user experience, and design.
- Run A/B testing on landing pages and product pages to optimize for conversions (e.g., tweaking CTA buttons or adjusting layouts).
9. Content Repurposing (Ongoing)
- Budget Allocation: Use in-house resources.
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Actions:
- Repurpose high-performing blog content into videos, infographics, or social media posts to maximize its reach.
- Refresh older blog posts by adding updated information and optimizing for new keywords, keeping the content relevant and competitive.
Summary of Budget Breakdown:
- Week 1-4: Focus on technical SEO, keyword research, and foundational website optimization (~$60 in week 1, $40 following weeks).
- Week 5-12: Content marketing and on-page SEO (~$30 weekly for blog creation, $20 for ongoing SEO monitoring tools).
- Week 13-24: Backlink building, influencer outreach, and social promotion (~$40 for outreach, $30 for social media engagement).
- Week 25-52: Ongoing analysis, content refresh, and adaptation (free tools, in-house updates).
This plan maximizes your $100 weekly budget while creating a strong SEO foundation that will build sustainable traffic over time.