In this podcast episode, Rebecca reviews why WordPress developers and consultants need to learn SEO. She boils down this need into one simple statement: what developers don’t know can and will hurt their clients.
When the generic phrase WordPress developer is used, Rebecca is referring to:
- Freelancers
- WordPress theme shops
- WordPress developers who convert graphic design files into WordPress themes
- WordPress developers who build full websites
- Digital agencies
- WordPress implementers
- WordPress consultants
The Backstory of this Episode
How does Rebecca know it’s critical for developers to learn SEO? The WordPress developers and implementers have specifically asked her to create educational materials geared specifically towards them.
Here are just a few comments she has received from developers. These comments are the exact words used by the developer community:
- “I feel like I am lacking because I know there is so much more I should know to better serve my clients and boost my own SEO rankings.”
- “I would like to feel like I am setting my clients up to win, with the structure needed to gain a good ranking, and teach them a bit so they feel like they are continuing with a game plan.”
- “I would like to build some basic good practices into my new themes.”
- “I would like to have a solid knowledge of SEO for delivering more value.”
- “Making a commitment to really learn SEO this year has had a huge impact on my web agency.”
- “I have also found that when I talk with customers about how to make websites with your SEO process, I have almost always won the deal. No other competitors have had the same approach.”
Why Technical SEO Matters
- Learning about technical SEO helps developers think like a search engine and view websites through the eyes these search engines.
- More Important – clients depend on developers and expect them to advise them on best practices of search engine optimization.
- Even More Important – Clients assume developers are coding to SEO best practices. This is tru even if clients don’t actually articulate this in project requirements.
- Clients assume developers will tell them when they are making bad choices in design, coding, or content.
- An added bonus – SEO friendly websites mean greater project rates and increased revenue for freelancers and developers.
Technical SEO isn’t all about code. Technical SEO encompasses many things that are at the server level, website level, and even the user level. It’s also at various places within the development process.
Technical SEO should be considered at:
- Theme design and development
- Website build out of content, images, and links
- Testing prior to launch
- Testing at launch
- Testing after launch
- Annual health checks
SEO is a team effort!
Today’s Takeaways
Website Owners and Marketers
If you are a website owner and you rely on SEO traffic, pick your developer wisely. Make sure they understand the basics of SEO and how their efforts can help or hurt you.
Developers and Consultants
If you are a developer and you suspect you do not know enough about technical SEO, then take the time to get educated.
Join Rebecca at her upcoming three-day day summit.
She’ll be covering the lifecycle of SEO and how you can help your clients excel in search, while also separating yourself from the masses.