SEO is quite often misunderstood, so this week we're going to take a deep dive into how to use SEO and content marketing to power your business growth. You don't need to be a wizard to figure it out, and we'll explain why.

What's New?
Some interesting updates this week surrounding vaccines and the global pandemic; check out the articles below!

Canadian companies offer freebies, discounts to vaccinated customers - Canadian companies are trying to move the needle on COVID-19 vaccinations with deals and giveaways for customers who show proof they've received their first dose.

As UGC gets a pandemic bump, brands need to leverage customer content now - Luggage maker Calego says the playbook it developed before COVID-19 has paid off as the importance of UGC grows.

According to a news release, McDonald's deploys marketing muscle for vaccine awareness in a tie-in with Biden admin - McDonald's partnered with the Joe Biden administration to help raise awareness for COVID-19 vaccines.
What's Working?
SEO doesn't exist. Drama, right? We hear stuff like this a lot, and SEO is dead. Perhaps this is because SEO isn't a thing. It's more of a conduit.

Applying SEO more broadly is to channel its specific technical endeavors into content marketing.

To ensure the success of content marketing is to apply SEO techniques in its implementation.

SEO and content marketing work together to elevate your content, making it more refined and accessible.

Let's break down what we'll be talking about:

 
What is SEO?
SEO is strategized around content marketing since every website needs words, articles, substance, keywords, etc.

Think of a search engine as the path or pipeline that leads you to the type of content people are looking for.

Your SEO research will help define the type of content your audience wants, and in turn, help you develop content that is aligned with what your audience is actively searching for.

There are 3 fundamental optimizations (SEO) pillars that apply to a website for users who discover solutions or solve problems via Search Engines.

Where Does SEO Fit In?
SEO is not magic. You don’t have to be a wizard to do this.

It’s a spectrum, touching on a variety of elements, including, but not limited to:

* Website optimization
* Keywords
* Images
* Tags & meta descriptions
* Content structure
* Backlinks

 
Why You Don't Create Content for Search Engines
The goal is not to try to woo Google into ranking your content higher. Remember why you're creating content and who you're creating it for.

The goal is to create compelling content. You do this by conducting research, finding out what people are searching for, and then making your content align with those searches.