KNOW THY PLATFORM, SEO 101: Attract More Visitors And Clicks Than A Subaru Boy With Them Hunnies.

They say if you have to fail, fail fast and fail cheaply. Easier said than done right?

Well.......

Not so much. Not in this digital era. 

Getting an idea and testing it out first before investing all your money,  time and resources is a thousand folds way easier and cheaper now than it has ever been before. Than the age of our folks, them wahenga na wahenguzis. 

That's a bold statement to make. I know I know, so lemme explain it.

Do you know this dude that goes by the name Elon Musk? He's sorta like a billionaire having founded Tesla (deals with electric cars and stuff), Space X (deals with that move to Mars - read space exploration -  and stuff) Starlink....Neurolink....aahh let's just say the guy is in everything innovation. Do you know he was also the co-founder of openAI. Him and Sam Altman, the current CEO. He later left with claims that it wasn't as open as it was meant to be. His intention was for it to become a non-profit counter source to google but they had turned it into a closed source profit company controlled by Microsoft. 

Yaani when you hear innovation, the first name that comes to mind is Musk. He is the same guy behind the purchase of twitter, which he renamed X. See, that dude is everywhere but let me not lose the point I was trying to put across.

So, before the guy fully embarked on his green energy electric car mission, he put out a waitlist. That's something like a sign up sheet that people sign promising to pay, contribute or buy something. Of course his came with some perks for those who'd sign on, maybe a discount, maybe free servicing, the likes....

And let me tell you Maina, that was a genius genius move from a genius genius mind. He had people already buying the cars before they were even made! Would you believe that!

Now, with that, how easy would it be to convince an investor to back you? 

Pretty easy no? 

What they want, after all, is the assurance that they will get their money back. 

So, on that note, before I had invested a lot on writing, on this blog, I did a little bit of AB testing of my own, test out my content see if there was actually an audience out there that would consume it. Guess what, they did, most loved it even, throwing around,

"Dee, sasa daddy issues part two inakuja lini, si we've been waiting bwana!" 

Others would be like...

"We need a book, a book a book a book!!! Give us a book Diana!!! Publish a book like now now!!!"

And a book you shall get. 

THE LIFE OF A BIRD

Broke to Boss: Uncaged & Unstoppable - My Journey to owning my story, chasing a dream that seemed so scarce, finding myself and building an empire that is both meaningful and sets my soul on fire!....

Join the waitlist to get early access and 20% discount on launch day, hurry while the offer still lasts. You'll get to learn from my failures and mistakes, my successes and what not. I've had to figure out a lot of things on my own, if I can make the journey a little less daunting for you, then I'd be a happy girl. The stories are pretty crazy and wild from my own personal experiences. From looking for investors to falling out with my friends and family....from living a like a bird, one day to the next when all you got is a deep sense of belief in yourself and your projects. Believe me, it will be worth your time and every penny you spend. 

This is a story of finding and owning your voice in a world where everyone expects the conventional!

Join the waitlist HERE

(You see what I did there dontcha😏😌)

Anywho...

I had like 10 articles up by then, and I had only forwarded them to my Whatsapp contacts. Those are the only people I had pushed it to. I put one two three on insta but that was just a hello and goodbye sort of thing, posted it and left the app never to return, till now....😉

(My IG is poppin y'all......check it out HERE)

So, seeing as I had a knack for writing and storytelling (nilianza kimchezochezo tu, didn’t know people actually cared for my one two three thinking out loud rants) seeing as I could actually turn my blog into a money generating gold mine, I fully embarked on a redesign. (yeah yeah, built this site myself,...the much this girl can do, my God😱😱😱😱!!!) 

After that, I went back to my older posts, with the intention of optimising them, and my pages for better reach and ranking on google — you know, the tactical stuff we gotta do to beat the system — we call it SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) in my world, the digital marketing world, ever heard of it? 

No?...

Ok, lemme take you slow. Imagine this.......

.....

You have a car. A new car. Your dream car. The car that you've always wanted. Always said; 

'Someday, someday I will work so hard so that I can afford that car. And when I do, that day will be the best day of my life! I am not even sure that I am looking forward to fatherhood as much as I am looking forward to that moment I get that car.' 

(Of course that last part you only whisper to yourself, feeling the shame of what you consider a selfish thought, 'Watu wakijua sasa watasema nini?! Si that is like criminal bwana!!!😑😑😑 

But just like love and all its nuances and ambiguity, you love who you love and you feel what you feel. So the 'watu watasema nini' thought slides.

This car, your dream car, the Xenon SX oozes power and prestige from every gleaming curve. That's what you mostly love. Its low, aggressive stance seems to crouch on the asphalt, a predator poised for the hunt. Forget four doors – this is a two-seater masterpiece sculpted from lightweight carbon fibre that whispers both performance and exclusivity. Something we might be tempted to say about El Presidente Mr Diamond Platinumz, with the type of elite babes he scores but who are we kidding, his performance, that's probably a check check check but exclusivity, we leave that at alama ya dukuduku........(read 99 baby mamas and counting)

Your dream car, The Xenon's heart is a twin-turbocharged V12 engine, a symphony of pistons and turbines that promises a spine-tingling roar. It's a power plant worthy of a legend, capable of launching the Xenon from 0 to 60 in a heart-stopping 3.2 seconds. But the Xenon SX isn't just about raw muscle. Its sleek lines are the result of countless hours in wind tunnels, ensuring it slices through the air with minimal resistance. The adaptive suspension anticipates every turn, keeping the car glued to the road like a second skin. Imagine carving through a mountain pass, the Xenon responding to your every command with telepathic precision. Every twist and turn becomes a ballet of man and machine, pushing the boundaries of physics and exhilaration.

The interior of the Xenon SX is a luxurious cocoon. Imagine stepping inside and being greeted by supple, handcrafted Italian leather that smells like success. Carbon fibre accents throughout the cabin complement the sleek exterior, while meticulously placed chrome details add a touch of sophisticated elegance. A panoramic glass roof provides a breathtaking view of the world blurring past as you unleash the Xenon's fury.

And then there's her. Sitting in the passenger seat, perfectly complementing the Xenon's allure, a lady, she embodies the car's spirit perfectly. She's got sunglasses perched atop her perfectly coiffed hair, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she experiences the exhilarating G-forces alongside you. She exudes confidence and a touch of mystery, mirroring the Xenon's captivating aura.

Owning a Xenon SX isn't just about driving a car; it's a statement. It's a declaration that you've arrived, that you appreciate the finer things in life, and that you crave the thrill of pushing yourself and the machine to the limit. It's a head-turner that commands respect and ignites envy. It's the ultimate symbol of success, a mechanical masterpiece that's as much a work of art as it is a high-performance beast. The Xenon SX isn't just a car; it's an experience.

You have that car right? Hey, stick with me, I swear I am going somewhere with this. 

With all its majesty and beast like performance, you keep it locked in your garage. Beats its purpose no? Like for whichever reason that you bought it, be it it's high performance or status symbol, if you don't drive it, if you don't take it out for people to see, is it doing its job really? Is it, you tell me.... 

That's the same thing with websites, social media platforms and at large, SEO. Most people would be like, 

'Yeah yeah Diana, I am in the digital space. I have a website you know. I am present in all social media platforms, cheki, this is my company's profile on Facebook. 

That is all well and good but that is like having that beautiful monster of a car. You have it sure, but what is it doing for you?....Is it driving more sales? Is it spreading your reach? Is it introducing you to new markets? 

These platforms are there to work for you, not you working for them. At the moment though, majority of us are working for them. Social media addiction is at its peak.

You have a website right? One which you had to pay a developer to make and an additional cost that goes for it being hosted on the internet right? Another for purchasing your domain name. Oh, pardon me, hosting is like renting space on the internet, it is far cheaper compared to owning a physical store, one month's rent there is the equal sum for a whole years rent on the net, that's some deal if you ask me. To add to that, with a live website, you have the potential of getting in front of billions and billions of eyes across oceans but lemme not digress, we will get to that on a later article, does that interest you?....

Anywho,

Fuel powers cars, or electricity in this age of Tesla cars. In the same light, SEO powers the digital space. From blog posts to social media channels, from E-commerce stores to your youtube channel, they all rely heavily on Search Engine Optimization.

So, How Do These Search Engines Work?

Search engines, unlike people, are a set of code, zeros and ones. A set of instructions given to a machine. A machine that doesn’t have mood swings during that time of the month. A machine that doesn’t answer back, it just does whatever it is told to do. Programmed to do rather, if you want us to get the jargons right. Once you give it what it wants, it’ll give you exactly what you want. Haiwezi kula fare that one. Loyal and faithful to the core. (let's not get into the nuances of AI and its impact on search engines, not at the moment, polepole ndo mwendo sindio?)

So, the billion dollar question, what does it want? What do all these platforms want? 

Before, I am sure you might have noticed, a platform like Instagram was hugely based on relationships. People you may know and the likes. These days, getting a friend you went to high school with back in 2014, who follows you I might as well add, to see your killer post on how your vacay to Coasto went, fine wining, dining all, bikini thirst traps to seal the deal, is an up hill battle. Ama namna gani watu wangu? You've noticed that right?

That's because the said platform is now hugely based on an algorithmic technology, more of personalization. They push things to you that you might have previously engaged with (this includes watch time and rewatches btw, even if you didn't necessarily like or comment on it) This has made the experience on such platforms so much better as you only watch what you find interesting, while not having to scroll down like 10 boring posts to get to it but it has also come with its own challenges, check out Cherop's frustrations when ordering her favourite cheat meal, Pizza here

So again, what do they really want? The answer is really simple if you ask me. They want to keep people logged on their platforms for longer and longer. At the core of it, that's what they have all been programmed to do.

Why? You wonder🤔

Because that is how they generate their cash flow. The longer you are scrolling through Tiktok, the more ads they can push your way. Joining these platforms is completely free right? Like 99% of them are. So, how do you think they make their money honey? 

They harvest the laughter and tears of their users and convert them into tiny, adorable hamsters that power their servers which in turn print out dollar bills that they can pocket. 

Yeap, that's how that works. Piece of cake no?....

Hahahaha look at you believing that you silly silly goose. Of course that's not how they work. The bulk of their money comes from brands paying them to market on their platforms. Those ads you see, companies have paid bucks to get them in front of you hoping to turn you into their fan or their client.

Look at it like this, let’s say you are on Youtube at 3am watching cute funny cat videos because for some reason you couldn’t fall asleep. You’ve been on them since 9 pm when you got to the house from your kalocal with the boys….And then there’s Chebet, who got home at 8pm from work. She put on “The best moments of friends season 7” which runs for two and a half hours by which time she’s eaten and already dozing off on the couch. Of the two, (neither of whom are on the premium version) who do you think got served more ads? 

.....

You are so right, It was Kibet. Coz he was on that platform longer. That’s how social media and search engines make money. Through those ads they push to you. Companies and brands pay them to show their ads to the audiences that are most likely to meet their campaign goals. 

Remember, joining a social channel is free. That’s cause they are using you, you are their product as well as their customer, don’t get deluded honey. All your followers, you think you own them?

Hahahahahahahaha (that's my evil laugh btw) 

Wait until your government bans Tiktok in your country, they, all the 10,000 of them, disappear like dat that! Reasons why an email list is very very important, that you have more control over. That - given has been collected in the right way - that you own. 

(To find out more on that, email marketing and what not, send us a text on our official email line info@beccadigital.com to book a consultation that will leave you saying, 

"Holy hell, where has Becca Digital been all this time😩😩😩😩😩 Where was she when all my emails were going unread, unopened and straight to the junk folder😩😩😩....)

Right then and there Rihanna's "Where have you been all my life" will come to mind and take shelter in your head rent free. 

Or better yet, the much much easier option, Whatsapp Business. There it'll get hella personal, but again, that's the kinda vibe I like. Miss 'I don't do small talk over here.' There you go, +254 7053 63447 that's the number. Shoot me a text and let's get to making you money honey.

The rules are the same as that of email marketing but I find Whatsapp Marketing a much more rewarding route because the open rate for messages on there beats any other form of marketing out there.

So, dear readers, once you give these algorithms what they want, (keep people logged in longer), they'll give you what you want — that's more reach….Tumeelewana hapo?

So, Let's Get To The Basics Of SEO, Just A Little Bit For You Mere Mortals With No Tech Background...

They come in three; 

1. On Page SEO, 
2. Off Page SEO and 
3. Technical SEO. 

On page is mostly on the value you offer with your content, is it something that people will read further on, engage with, relate to, are you solving a need? A problem, answering a pain point. 

Technical SEO is the technical stuff, like the meta tags and stuff. The stuff ensuring that your site actually appears on the search engines. You can have a website, one that you have already hosted but when someone searches for it, it doesn't appear anywhere. It's not being indexed. That means it also can't be ranked. If it can't be ranked means there is no traffic going to your website and thus, no sales. 

Off Page SEO is more on the marketing, email outreach and stuff. We call it link building, getting other highly reputable and high ranking sites to link back to your page. Getting those tells google that if known respected big names trust the content on your site, then it must be content that has high value, so it pushes it to more and more eyes.

So, like that car of yours, you need to oil, service and fuel your website and social media profiles to get the best results. You need the best SEO practices, to get your brands in front of more eyes.  You have no idea where to start, good thing you've got me. My company, Becca Digital deals with stuff like that...

You wanna know more, check out our catalog on whatsapp

And here's my business card too. 

I'm sure you know a friend or two or your little sister who's struggling to get into the digital marketing space, send her that. You don't even need to print it, tell her to give us a call, or just shoot as an email or better yet just a text on whatsapp, we will handle her and her business so well that she'll be like, 

"Sasa wewe....why did it take you all that while to introduce me to that Queen?! Mbona sasa?!!!"

Then she slaps you with your favourite brand of whisky, coz you did her a real solid!

And on that note, we have an amazing amazing deal for yah. Here at Becca Digital, we always root for the underdog. So

Don't Be Left Behind! ⏳ Becca Digital's Limited-Time Bundle:

Level up your business image instantly! Our exclusive package includes a stunning logo design, high-quality business cards(10), AND a FREE domain name check & registration. Limited quantities available. Secure yours before they're gone!

....

Now that you have gotten the gist of how this digital platforms work, let's get to the nity grities, the technical stuff. This part you can completely skip and just shoot us a text, 

'Yoh Dee, nimekupata na nimekuelewa vizuri, but a nigga has no time to embark on that SEO journey on my own, would your team mind handling it for me?'...

You know I got you my guy, I will personally text back.

When was the last time you were in contact with a CEO, if you have ever that is😏

......

Search Engines; What Are They?

Search engines are like libraries except instead of storing books, they store copies of websites and pages. They use a mechanism called crawling and indexation to discover web pages and create their search index. To obtain this information, it uses crawlers/spiders which gather all publicly available information from all over the web.

They start crawling from known URLs (seed) then follow known hyperlinks to other pages and it goes on and on allowing them to collect a ton of data. They then take all these data back to google servers to be added to their search index. This is what we are searching through when we key in a query.

GOOGLE’S RANKING ALGORITHM

Google, the most known and used search engine out there, has hundreds of ranking signals and they tweak them at least 500 - 600 times a year. No one knows exactly how their algorithm works but they have given us clues and some factors to better understand it.

This Is What Matters To Them;

1. Backlinks
2. Search intent
3. Content depth (doesn’t necessarily mean length)

So, What Is SEO And Why Is It Important?

Search Engine Optimization is the process of optimising content to be discovered through a search engine’s organic search results

Here are some of the key benefits of utilizing SEO for your website:

1. Increased Organic Traffic: This is the most obvious benefit. By optimizing your website for search engines, you'll rank higher in search results for relevant keywords. This means more people will see your website when they search for products, services, or information related to your business.
2. Improved Brand Awareness: Higher search rankings lead to increased visibility. This can help build brand awareness and make your business more recognizable to your target audience.
3. Cost-Effective Marketing: SEO is a form of organic marketing, meaning you don't have to pay directly for each website visitor. This makes it a cost-effective way to attract potential customers compared to paid advertising options.
4. Targeted Traffic: SEO allows you to target specific keywords that your ideal customers are likely to search for. This means you're attracting qualified leads who are already interested in what you offer.
5. Credibility Boost: A high search ranking can be seen as a mark of credibility and trustworthiness. This can give you a competitive edge and encourage visitors to engage with your website.
6. Long-Term Results: SEO is an ongoing process, but the results can be long-lasting. Once you've optimized your website for relevant keywords, it can continue to generate organic traffic for months or even years to come.
7. Measurable Results: With SEO tools and analytics, you can track your website's performance and see how your SEO efforts are impacting your traffic, leads, and conversions. This allows you to refine your strategy and optimize your results over time.
8. Improved User Experience: SEO best practices often overlap with good website design practices. By optimizing your website for search engines, you're also likely to be creating a more user-friendly experience for your visitors.

Here's a breakdown of the benefits of SEO compared to other marketing strategies:

SEO vs. Paid Advertising (PPC):

• Cost-Effectiveness: SEO is a long-term play with compounding benefits. Once you rank high organically, you don't pay per click. Paid advertising (PPC) requires ongoing investment to maintain visibility.
• Targeting: Both SEO and PPC allow targeting, but SEO targets users actively searching for your product/service, offering higher purchase intent. PPC can reach a broader audience, including those not actively looking.
• Control & Flexibility: With SEO, you have more control over your website content and user experience. PPC campaigns require adhering to platform guidelines and can be less flexible.
• Long-Term Value: Optimized content on your website can attract organic traffic for years. PPC ads stop displaying when the budget runs out.

SEO vs. Social Media Marketing:

• Sustainability: SEO builds organic, long-term traffic. Social media algorithms change frequently, requiring constant content creation and engagement to maintain reach.
• Measurability: SEO offers clear metrics like website traffic and conversions. Social media engagement metrics (likes, shares) may not translate directly to sales.
• Targeted Reach: SEO targets high-intent users searching for specific terms. Social media can reach broader audiences, but targeting might be less precise.
• Content Focus: SEO requires high-quality, informative content on your website. Social media thrives on diverse content formats (images, videos, stories).

SEO vs. Content Marketing:

• Synergy: Content marketing is a key component of SEO. However, not all great content ranks organically. SEO optimizes content for search engines, increasing its visibility.
• Distribution Channels: SEO focuses on attracting organic traffic through search engines. Content marketing involves promoting content across various channels like social media or email.
• Measurability: SEO results are clear (traffic, conversions). Measuring content marketing ROI can be trickier, requiring a broader view of audience engagement.
• Focus: SEO optimizes content for search engines, while content marketing prioritizes user engagement and brand storytelling.

In Conclusion:

SEO is a powerful marketing strategy that offers several advantages over other methods:

• Cost-effective: Attracts long-term, qualified traffic without ongoing ad spend.
• Targeted: Reaches users actively searching for your product/service, maximizing purchase intent.
• Sustainable: Organic traffic builds over time, providing a strong foundation for your online presence.
• Measurable: Tracks website traffic, leads, and conversions to optimize your strategy.

SEO can be combined with other marketing strategies like content marketing and social media to create a well-rounded online marketing strategy. However, its focus on organic traffic and long-term value makes it a unique and valuable tool for businesses.

....

SEO, as we've seen is quite nuanced. Understanding it is key as it is the first step to getting predictable results coz if you know what it will take to rank ahead of your competition, then it all comes down to execution.

(full disclosure, that whole analogy part about that beautiful mostrous car was hugely gemini generated. I don't know cars, I have never been into cars, I don't even have a driver's licence let alone just understanding the basics of driving. I gave it the right prompt and it gave me what I wanted, albeit, that description kinda sorta turned me on🙈 Ask me which type of car I want, the answer will be an orange car. Probably a Rolls Royce because it has like stars on the roof, I think. The plate will read MADAM CEO ama just DEE or DIANA FAMBA ... we go big or we go home😎)

The thing is, I've gone back on google to search for that car, to put an image up here for y'all to put a face to. For y'all to appreciate it's beauty and magnificence. Turns out that car doesn't exit. Apparently Xenon is a type/brand of headlights. That right there is an example of AI hallucination. 

Ever heard of that term?

I bet you have. If you are one prone to experiments with one two forms of medications, you have probably had some yourself. In the world of tech, the world of AI (Artificial Intelligence) we have a term like that too. 

A hallucination is when your brain creates a picture or sound that isn't actually there. It's like a little glitch in the system! It sounds scary no doubt, and the reality of it is that it can be, but most often it's not. Some people see scary things when they hallucinate, but it doesn't mean there's a monster in the room. It's just the brain playing a trick. Doctors can totally help.

Hallucination in AI on the other hand, happens when the AI system gives outputs that seem plausible but are demonstrably wrong. Like inputing a cat image and it tells you that's a dog. Like the case of my Xenon SX car right there.

Intrigued much?