How to do Content Marketing Research?

Content Marketing is a key marketing driver for many businesses to grow their income and to engage a wider audience

When it comes to improving SEO, most businesses focus heavily on publishing fresh content. While that’s certainly important, many overlook a valuable and often quicker win, refreshing existing content. Updating old content can not only save time and effort compared to writing new articles, but it can also give your rankings a significant boost. If your site has been live for a while, chances are you’re already sitting on content that, with a few strategic updates, could deliver excellent SEO results. Let’s explore why updating old content is so effective and how to do it right. Why Content Goes Stale (and Why It Matters) The digital landscape moves fast. In just a few months, trends shift, search intent evolves, and statistics become outdated. What once was a strong-performing page can quietly slip down the rankings if it’s no longer considered relevant or accurate. Worse still, old content may contain broken links or outdated messaging, which can harm both your brand credibility and your SEO performance. When Googlebot crawls your site and detects broken links or stale information, it may lower the trust signals associated with your domain. You canrun regular SEO audits to identify outdated or underperforming pages. Why Google (and Users) Love Updated Content Google wants to show users the most relevant and up-to-date information. This means it naturally favours sites that refresh their content regularly. Even small updates, if meaningful, can trigger Google to re-crawl and re-rank a page. From a user perspective, it also makes sense. You’re more likely to trust content that’s been reviewed recently versus something that hasn’t been touched in years. And it’s not just blog posts. Refreshing product pages, landing pages, and evergreen articles can have a measurable impact on visibility and engagement. What About Evergreen Content? Evergreen content, such as “how-to” guides or foundational industry articles, tends to stay relevant over time. But even these gems can benefit from occasional updates. For example: Are the external links still working? Could you improve the formatting or visuals? Have new services launched that should be linked internally? The goal is to keep the page fresh and useful without completely rewriting it. Your Content Refresh Checklist It doesn’t take a major rewrite to make a difference. Here's what to look for when refreshing older pages: Update outdated stats or facts: Replace old data with the latest figures or research. Optimise for new keywords: Your SEO strategy likely evolves over time, make sure your older content reflects your current keyword goals. Add internal links: Point readers to newly published blogs, services, or relevant pages across your site. Refresh meta titles & descriptions: Make sure they accurately reflect the content and entice clicks from searchers. Fix broken links: Ensure every link works and adds value, this includes both internal and external links. Want to make this even easier? Use tools like Ahrefs Site Audit, Semrush On Page SEO Checker, or Screaming Frog to quickly spot outdated or underperforming content. Which Content Should You Refresh First? If your website has a large archive, it can feel overwhelming deciding where to begin. Here’s where we recommend starting: 1. Pages with Declining Traffic If a blog or service page was once performing well but has seen a dip in traffic, it’s a prime candidate for a refresh. Check Google Analytics or Search Console to identify these pages. 2. Pages Ranking on Page 2 of Google As Semrush reports, less than 1% of searchers ever click on results on the second page. Moving a page from position #12 to #9 can result in a significant visibility boost. 3. Evergreen Content with Old Links or Mentions Even if the core content remains relevant, refresh the links, update any references to time-sensitive material, and ensure the format still aligns with your current brand tone. Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Create, Curate An effective content strategy balances creation with curation. While new content is essential for growth, updating your existing pages can be one of the most cost-effective SEO wins available to you. At Bubble SEO, we support businesses with both content creation and optimisation. If you’d like help writing SEO-friendly content get in touch with our team.

Google is known for its constant algorithm updates, with the goal of improving the quality of search results and enhancing the user experience. In 2024, several significant updates have rolled out, impacting how websites are ranked and how marketers approach their SEO strategies. Below, we explore the key changes and what they mean for businesses and digital marketers. 1. Focus on Helpful Content: The "Helpful Content" Update One of Google's core focuses this year has been on promoting "helpful content". The Helpful Content Update prioritises pages that provide real value to users over those stuffed with keywords or created solely for ranking purposes. Google’s AI now does a better job of determining the true intent behind content, rewarding pages that genuinely address user needs. How to Adapt: Audience-Centric Content: Ensure your content addresses user queries comprehensively and prioritises providing answers or solutions rather than just boosting rankings. Remove Fluff: Thin, repetitive, or overly-optimised content can hurt your rankings. Focus on improving the depth and originality of your articles. User Satisfaction Signals: Pay attention to user engagement metrics, such as time on page and bounce rate, as these can indicate how "helpful" users find your content. 2. Enhanced E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness Google has added an extra "E" to E-A-T, now called "E-E-A-T"—"Experience." This addition means Google now considers whether content creators have first-hand experience on the topics they discuss. This change is particularly impactful in areas like health, finance, and other “Your Money, Your Life” (YMYL) niches. How to Adapt: Author Expertise: Ensure content is created or reviewed by individuals with direct experience or expertise in the field. Author Bios and Credibility: Include detailed author bios, qualifications, and links to credible sources that verify the author's expertise. First-Hand Accounts: Incorporate personal experiences, case studies, and testimonials into your content to demonstrate true experience. 3. Page Experience Update: Mobile-First and Core Web Vitals Google continues to push the importance of user experience with updates to its Page Experience metrics, especially emphasising mobile usability and Core Web Vitals. The Core Web Vitals include metrics such as Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), all of which measure the quality of a user’s interaction with your website. How to Adapt: Speed Optimisation: Optimise your website's loading speed, with particular focus on mobile devices. Stability and Responsiveness: Minimise layout shifts that might frustrate users, and ensure that interactive elements are highly responsive. Mobile-Friendly Design: Test your website across various devices and screen sizes to ensure a seamless mobile experience. 4. AI and Conversational Search: Integration of Generative AI Results Google has rolled out more integrations of generative AI and conversational search features into their search engine results. Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE) aims to provide more interactive, AI-driven results that summarise complex queries in a conversational way. This impacts the traditional search result layout and the visibility of featured snippets. How to Adapt: Structured Data Usage: Ensure your website uses structured data to help Google understand your content better and make it more likely to be included in AI-generated responses. Conversational Content: Incorporate a natural, conversational tone into your content, anticipating longer, more complex queries that users might ask AI. Focus on Rich Answers: Create content that answers questions in a concise, authoritative manner to increase chances of being included in AI summaries or rich answers. 5. Spam and Link Quality Updates Recent updates have also focused on cracking down on spammy practices and low-quality link building. Google's SpamBrain AI is better at detecting manipulative link schemes and penalising websites involved in unnatural link practices. It’s clear that Google’s push for higher quality extends to off-page SEO as well. How to Adapt: High-Quality Backlinks: Focus on acquiring backlinks from reputable, relevant sources rather than quantity. Check out Ahrefs’ Guide to Quality Backlinks for strategies. Disavow Low-Quality Links: Regularly audit your backlink profile and disavow any links from spammy or irrelevant sites using the Google Disavow Tool. Avoid Link Manipulation: Avoid engaging in link exchanges, PBNs, or other tactics that could be flagged as manipulative. Conclusion: Staying Ahead of Google Updates Google’s recent updates underscore its commitment to improving user experience, content quality, and combatting spam. SEO professionals and content creators must adapt by prioritising helpful, experience-driven content, optimising user experience metrics, and focusing on high-quality, ethical link-building practices. Staying informed about these changes and continuously refining your SEO strategy are key to maintaining strong visibility in search results. Remember, Google's updates are ultimately aimed at rewarding websites that provide real value to users—so focus on creating the best possible experience for your audience, and you'll stay on the right side of these changes.

Across the internet, there are countless websites all heading in different directions, but the crucial element that holds them together in this digital realm, is the anchor text.

Link building remains an integral aspect of any successful SEO strategy. In the vast digital landscape, securing quality backlinks can significantly boost your website's authority, traffic, and search engine rankings.

Building high-quality backlinks remains one of the most effective ways to improve your website’s search engine rankings and drive organic traffic. But with ever-evolving algorithms, it’s crucial to adopt strategies that are not only effective but also align with Google’s link-building guidelines. This complete guide breaks down proven link-building strategies that can help your business achieve sustainable growth online. Why Is Link Building Important? Links act as "votes of confidence" for your website. Search engines like Google evaluate these links to determine the authority, relevance, and trustworthiness of your content. A well-executed link-building strategy can: Improve SEO rankings: High-quality backlinks signal credibility to search engines. Increase referral traffic: Links on relevant sites can bring in targeted visitors. Enhance brand visibility: Backlinks expose your brand to wider audiences. 1. Create High-Quality Content Exceptional content is the foundation of any successful link-building campaign. Content that provides value—whether it’s in-depth guides, videos, or infographics—naturally attracts links.Consider investing in data-driven studies, industry reports, or step-by-step tutorials that solve your audience's pain points. Actionable Tip: Use tools like Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner to identify trending topics relevant to your niche. 2. Guest Posting Guest posting remains a staple for link building. By contributing articles to reputable websites within your industry, you not only earn backlinks but also establish yourself as a thought leader.At Bubble SEO, we specialize in crafting engaging guest posts that align with the host site’s audience and guidelines. How to Get Started: Research blogs in your niche using platforms like BuzzSumo or Ahrefs Content Explorer. Pitch topics that add value to their readers while subtly promoting your expertise. 3. Broken Link Building This strategy involves finding broken links on other websites and suggesting your content as a replacement. Not only do you help the site owner fix their links, but you also gain a valuable backlink. Steps: Identify broken links using tools like Check My Links or Ahrefs Broken Link Checker. Reach out to the website owner with a polite email, offering your content as an alternative. 4. Leverage Social Media and Influencers Social media platforms and influencer partnerships can amplify your link-building efforts. While links from platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn are usually no-follow, they drive traffic and encourage natural link generation.Collaborating with influencers can also boost your content’s visibility to a wider, engaged audience. Example: Work with influencers to share your high-value resources, increasing the likelihood of backlinks from their followers' websites. 5. Local Citations and Directories For local businesses, getting listed on relevant directories is an easy win. Ensure your business is added to: Google My Business Yell Trustpilot These citations often come with backlinks and improve your local SEO rankings. 6. Competitor Backlink Analysis Understanding where your competitors get their backlinks can uncover new opportunities. Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs allow you to analyze their backlink profiles and replicate successful strategies. 7. Participate in Community Forums and Q&A Platforms Contributing to platforms like Quora, Reddit, and niche-specific forums can help you gain backlinks. Focus on providing genuine value rather than spamming links. Conclusion Effective link-building requires a combination of creativity, persistence, and strategy. By focusing on quality over quantity and adopting a diverse range of tactics, you can build a robust backlink profile that drives real results. To learn more about professional link-building services or to discuss a bespoke SEO strategy for your business, visit BubbleSEO. Let’s build better links for a brighter online future!

With the changing landscape of online content, one of the most crucial aspects of boosting your visibility is mastering the art of keyword selection.

Content marketing is the creation of information and content and how this can be shared across different formats

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, staying ahead in search engine rankings is a critical goal for businesses and outreach

In the ever-evolving landscape of SEO, guest posting remains a key strategy for building backlinks, driving traffic, and enhancing brand visibility.

Having a well-crafted website is essential for any business, big or small. For small businesses, particularly your website acts as your digital storefront, helping you attract and engage potential customers. But creating content that speaks to your audience while also supporting your business goals? That’s where many business owners struggle. To make things easier, we’ve put together 10 practical tips to help you write website content that’s engaging, clear, and optimised to drive results. 1. Understand Your Audience Before you start writing, take a step back and think about who you’re speaking to. Your website content should be tailored to your ideal customer—what they need, what challenges they face, and how your business can help. Consider asking yourself: Who is my ideal customer? What problems are they looking to solve? What kind of language or tone resonates with them? Once you have these insights, your content will feel more natural, relatable, and persuasive. 2. Keep It Clear & Simple People visit websites for quick, useful information—not lengthy, complicated text. Use straightforward language and break up content into easily digestible sections. Some best practices include: Writing short, easy-to-read sentences Using clear headings and subheadings Incorporating bullet points or numbered lists to highlight key points If someone lands on your site, they should understand what you offer and how it benefits them within seconds. 3. Use a Conversational Tone Small businesses thrive on personal connections, so your website content should reflect that. Instead of formal, robotic language, aim for a warm, engaging tone that makes visitors feel welcome. For example, instead of: “Our services aim to improve business operations.” Try: “We’re here to help you run your business more efficiently so you can focus on what you do best.” A friendly, approachable tone makes your brand feel more human. 4. Focus on Benefits, Not Just Features Customers don’t just want to know what you offer—they want to know why it matters to them. Instead of simply listing features, highlight the benefits. Example: Feature: “We offer next-day delivery.” Benefit: “Get your order delivered fast, so you can start using it right away!” By shifting the focus to how your product or service solves a problem, you’ll create more compelling content. 5. Optimise for SEO Without Overdoing It Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) helps your website rank higher on Google, making it easier for potential customers to find you. However, stuffing your content with keywords can make it sound unnatural. Instead, focus on: Naturally incorporating relevant keywords into your titles, headings, and first 100 words Writing compelling meta descriptions Using alt text for images Adding internal and external links where appropriate A well-planned SEO content strategy ensures your website reaches the right audience while maintaining readability. Many businesses also invest in SEO content services to improve their rankings and attract organic traffic. For expert guidance, check out Moz’s SEO Beginner’s Guide. 6. Include Strong Calls to Action (CTAs) Your website should guide visitors toward a specific action—whether it’s making a purchase, booking a consultation, or signing up for a newsletter. Examples of strong CTAs: “Get your free quote today!” “Sign up now for exclusive offers!” “Book a call with us—we’d love to chat!” Make sure your CTAs are clear, compelling, and easy to find. For more guidance on effective CTAs, visit HubSpot’s CTA Best Practices. 7. Share Your Brand Story People love stories, and sharing yours helps build trust with your audience. Whether it’s how your business started, what you stand for, or the passion behind what you do—your brand story can make you more relatable and memorable. For example, instead of just saying, “We sell handmade candles,” you could share: “We started our candle-making journey in a small kitchen, inspired by a love for natural scents and eco-friendly products. Today, we hand-pour each candle with care, ensuring a toxin-free experience for our customers.” This personal touch can make all the difference in building customer loyalty. 8. Craft Compelling Headlines Your headlines should immediately capture attention and encourage visitors to keep reading. To make your headlines stand out: Keep them clear and concise Highlight the benefit to the reader Use engaging words like “easy,” “ultimate,” “best,” or “proven” For example: “The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Small Business” “Get Fast, Reliable Shipping—Order Today & Save 20%!” A strong headline can make the difference between a visitor staying or clicking away. Need help crafting attention-grabbing headlines? Check out Copyblogger’s Guide to Writing Headlines. 9. Leverage Social Proof People trust recommendations more than advertisements. Incorporating social proof—like customer testimonials, reviews, or case studies—can help build credibility. Ways to showcase social proof: Highlight positive customer testimonials Share success stories and case studies Display logos of trusted partners or media mentions When potential customers see that others have had a great experience with your business, they’ll feel more confident in choosing you. For more on how social proof influences conversions, read Neil Patel’s Guide to Social Proof. 10. Keep Your Content Fresh & Updated A website with outdated information can hurt your credibility. Regularly updating your content ensures that visitors always find relevant, up-to-date information. Make it a habit to: Refresh old blog posts with new insights Update product descriptions and service offerings Remove outdated information Not only does this keep visitors engaged, but it also signals to search engines that your site is active, which can boost your rankings. A well-maintained content marketing strategy includes regular updates, ensuring your site remains competitive in search results. Many small businesses turn to content marketing services for expert guidance on keeping their website relevant and engaging. For additional insights, check out Content Marketing Institute’s Strategy Guide. Final Thoughts Great website content isn’t just about filling up pages with words—it’s about crafting a message that resonates with your audience, builds trust, and drives action. By keeping things clear, conversational, and customer-focused, you can turn your website into a powerful tool for business growth. Keep refining your content, test what works best, and always prioritise providing value. If you're looking for expert support, investing in SEO content and content marketing services can help you develop a strong SEO content strategy that boosts traffic and conversions. Now it’s time to put these tips into action—happy writing!

Included in article marketing should be useful, informative content