In January, we spoke about advanced SEO in our blog post “Implementing Advanced SEO: A Practical Guide.” If you haven’t already, read this post to learn about Advanced SEO and actionable steps on how to implement it.
Today, we’re going to delve into the topic of SERPs, a key aspect of advanced SEO.
What are SERPs?
SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page. This is the web page of results that appears when you search for something on Google. SERPs can appear differently for each user, even when using the same keyword since search engines are customized to each individual user.
How are they an important part of SEO?
The different types of Google search results are known as SERP features, and they are constantly changing. Even if your website ranks #1 organically on a Google search for your keyword, your result can be pushed farther down the page (or pages) by these different SERP features that show up. In summary, ranking #1 no longer guarantees showing up as the #1 result in a Google search.
This is why learning about these SERP features and taking advantage of Google SERP tools is imperative as a marketer to ensure that your results are at “the top of the pile”, or page, to be exact.
What are the different SERP features?
The two main SERP features are paid and organic:
1. Paid
Paid results are bought by advertisers, who bid on different keywords through Google Ads. Usually, these ad placements are given to the highest bidder. These types of results are differentiated by Google with the word “Ad” placed before them.
Pro Tip: If a keyword search results in lots of ads, it may decrease your CTR, but seeing this many ad bids also shows there is a high value in that keyword (known as high commercial intent). So, although you may get fewer clicks, those clicks are more valuable. Depending on what you’re marketing, this may be something you want to leverage.
2. Organic
Organic results are not paid for and are determined by Google’s algorithm. These results are “earned”, as the algorithm chooses them based on a multitude of ranking factors, determining them to be the best overall result for a user’s search.
Key ranking factors include:
Experience & Expertise: Shows that you have real experience and expertise on the subject matter. Writing in first person about your experience and sharing original media such as images, screenshots and videos helps with this.
Trustworthiness & Brand Presence: “Trust signals” indicate you have a brand that is well known and trusted by users, such as consistent engagement and good reviews.
Site Performance: This is indicated by factors such as your site loading speed.
Off-page SEO signals: Known as “backlinks”, this is the number of websites linked to your specific page.
On-page SEO signals: This refers to the keywords you use on your page.
Implementing these signals increases the likelihood of an organic result being chosen by Google as an optimal result.
However, like we spoke about earlier, even if you are chosen by Google’s algorithm as the #1 organic result, now other types of SERP features (search results) can crowd you out and push your result further down or completely off of the page.
Other SERP features include:
Rich Snippets: Contains more data than a normal snippet, such as photos, reviews and customer ratings. Note: Every search result contains the title of the page, the URL and the meta description; a rich snippet has more than that.
Direct Answer Box: Gives a direct answer to a query. If you ask Google: “How old is Pedro Pascal?”, it displays the answer with no need to click a link.
Knowledge Panel: A summary on the right side of the screen. For example: if you are looking up a company, it gives the company title, quick description and some key details such as location, CEO and revenue.
Local Packs: A list of local results shown when looking up things like restaurants and stores. Includes the establishment name with details such as Google maps location, reviews, hours, and more.
People Also Ask: A drop-down menu feature that shows other questions people often ask in relation to your search query.
Pro Tip: The “People Also Ask” feature is a great place to look for content inspiration. For example, if you are writing a blog post on “how to create a website,” you can use this feature to see what main questions come up for people looking to create a website and then answer those questions on your blog.
How can I manage an advanced SEO strategy for my company with SERPs in mind?
We need to be even more strategic with our keywords amidst the flood of SERP features. In order to keep your organic results from drowning in that flood, you need to find keyword searches that result in mostly or all organic results and, therefore, give a chance for your organic results to stand out and get clicks.
Google has many SERP tools designed to help with this. They can track and analyze your overall SERP ranking and generate specific SERP ranking based on different keywords.
Four well-ranked SERP tools:
WhatsMySerp: A simplified tool using advanced SEO to analyze your website’s overall SERP ranking for up to 25 keywords at once.
Price: Free
SemRush: This tool analyzes the competition to help you compete for diversified SERP features such as rich snippets, knowledge panels, and top stories.
Price: $99.95 per month
SerpWatcher: With SerpWatcher, you can stay up-to-date with your SERP performance results and ensure your results never slip past page one.
Price: $29.90 per month
SerpBook: This organizational tool is ideal for SEO management professionals, designed to help you handle multiple client accounts with ease.
Price: $30 per month
If you need someone on your team who already has the right expertise and can manage advanced SEO for you and your business, then shoot us an email at support@kmc.digital or give us a call for a free consultation.
As the world’s second most-used search engine, YouTube features can turn your channel into a powerful promotional platform. Here, we introduce you to a few handy YouTube features and strategies to help optimize your channel’s performance.
Harness the Power of YouTube Studio’s Inspiration Tool
Developing compelling content is the first step in maximizing your channel’s engagement. When you type in potential video topics, the tool offers feedback about audience interest levels, topic suggestions, related topics, and even AI-generated outlines. Besides, it also provides comprehensive data about your niche’s top-performing videos, popular search terms, and tips to structure content for maximum engagement.
Repurpose Content for Maximum Impact
To make the most of your content, consider repurposing your best shorts into long-form videos for ‘content marathons’. This involves transforming a series of related short videos into a comprehensive extended presentation. This doesn’t merely involve compiling videos, but creating a seamless and engaging narrative that holds viewer attention.
Engage Your Viewers with the Communities Feature
The YouTube Communities feature is a tool that helps you engage with the most active viewers, track returning audience members, and manage comments more effectively. This feature provides detailed metrics about viewer engagement, helping you identify, nurture, and appreciate your most dedicated followers. It aids in creating a two-way dialogue with your viewers, thereby fostering strong relationships and a solid community around your brand.
Introduce Collaborative Playlists
YouTube’s collaborative playlists offer a path toward more interactive consumption. This feature lets multiple users, including your subscribers, contribute to a single playlist. Such shared experiences can significantly enhance viewer engagement and promote a sense of community.
Striking a balance between trending formats and sustainable practices is key to success on YouTube. It requires strategic planning and a deep understanding of your target audience, niche focus, and content production methods.
Remember, consistency is just as essential as quality. Regular video uploads foster an element of anticipation among your audience, increasing the likelihood of repeat visits and higher audience loyalty.
Lastly, don’t forget to do your homework. Market research plays a significant role in understanding where opportunities and challenges lie. Investing time in this initial phase can save you from years of wasted effort and guide you towards sustainable growth.
Search engine optimization (SEO) has come a long way in the past decade. Ranking high on Google is no longer about sprinkling keywords across web pages—it’s about creating a robust strategy that syncs with the complexities of modern search engines.
But where do you start with advanced SEO? This guide breaks it down with actionable steps, using proven strategies and techniques to elevate your SEO game.
What is Advanced SEO?
Advanced SEO goes beyond the basics. It involves implementing strategies that not only optimize a website for search engines but also enhance user experience, improve performance, and increase engagement. This means leveraging cutting-edge tools, data insights, and technical optimizations to stand out in an increasingly saturated digital landscape. If foundational SEO is the footbridge, advanced SEO is the superhighway to visibility and growth.
Key Differences Between Basic and Advanced SEO:
Basic SEO focuses on keyword research, optimizing metadata, and building backlinks.
Advanced SEO incorporates technical aspects like site architecture, schema markup, content clustering, and machine learning tools.
To stay ahead, digital marketers need an arsenal of refined strategies that drive intelligent results.
Why Advanced SEO is Critical
The digital landscape is perpetually shifting, and so are users’ expectations. Advanced SEO helps you:
Stay Ahead of Competitors – With everyone competing for higher rankings, going beyond the basics gives you a critical edge.
Optimize User Experience (UX) – Search engines like Google prioritize websites that deliver seamless, fast, and useful content to users.
Leverage Insights and Analytics – Advanced SEO allows marketers to analyze audience behavior more effectively, shaping campaigns and content strategies with precision.
Advanced SEO Tactics to Implement Today
Here is a breakdown of actionable, forward-thinking techniques to get started with advanced SEO:
1. Perform a Deep Technical Audit
Great SEO begins with a technically sound website. Ensure your site is optimized for crawling and indexing. Use tools like Screaming Frog, SEMrush, or Google Search Console to audit for:
Broken Links: Fix any 404 errors or redirects.
Duplicate Content: Identify and resolve duplicate content issues.
Crawlability: Ensure your website is easy for bots to explore.
Site Speed: Prioritize performance optimization for faster load times—Google rewards speedy sites with higher rankings.
Pro Tip:
Don’t overlook mobile-first indexing. With Google prioritizing mobile usability, ensure your website is responsive and optimized for smaller screens.
2. Master Content Clustering
Content is still king, but advanced SEO focuses on strategic clustering. Instead of creating isolated articles, structure your content into clusters centered around pillar topics. For instance:
Pillar Content = “Advanced SEO Strategies”
Cluster Content = Supporting blogs like “How to Optimize Technical SEO,” “Guide to Schema Markup,” and “Content Clustering Benefits.”
By interlinking supporting content, you boost your site’s authority, guiding search engines to see your website as a valuable resource.
Pro Tip:
Use keyword research tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to reveal long-tail keywords that can power your content clusters. Chat GPT can also assist you in determining additional keywords you may not have thought of before.
3. Leverage Schema Markup
Schema markup is a form of microdata that helps search engines understand your content better. It enables the creation of rich snippets, which enhance how your page appears on search results (think star ratings, FAQs, and event times).
For example:
A restaurant website can include markup for hours of operation and customer reviews.
An e-commerce site can add schema to show pricing and inventory availability directly in search results.
Pro Tip:
Use tools like Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to implement schema efficiently.
4. Optimize for Voice Search
With the rapid adoption of AI assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, voice search optimization is a non-negotiable for advanced SEO. Most voice searches are phrased as questions, so:
Incorporate natural question phrases in your content.
Focus on featured snippets, as they’re often the answer provided in voice search results. For example:
For a real estate agency: “What are the current property prices in [City/Neighborhood] for 2024?”
For a dental office: “What are the best treatments for sensitive teeth in [City/Neighborhood]?”
For a law firm: “What should I do immediately after a car accident in [City/State]?”
Pro Tip:
Create FAQ sections for your content, targeting queries starting with “how,” “what,” “why,” or “best.”
5. Build High-Quality Backlinks Strategically
While link-building is a staple of SEO, advanced link-building demands intentionality:
Focus on earning contextual backlinks from authoritative, relevant sites.
Use broken link-building tactics to find opportunities on high-value websites.
Build relationships with niche influencers who are willing to share your content.
Pro Tip:
Leverage tools like SEMrush’s Backlink Analytics to find link-building opportunities and monitor your competitors’ backlink profiles.
6. Understand and Use Advanced Analytics
Data is the driving force behind modern SEO strategies. Advanced analytics tools like Google Analytics 4, SEMrush, and Hotjar provide insights into:
User behavior.
Conversion paths.
Pages with the highest/lowest engagement.
Use these insights to continuously test and refine your strategies.
Pro Tip:
Set up custom goals in Google Analytics to measure conversions and ROI from your SEO campaigns.
Testing and Iteration: The Key to Success
Advanced SEO isn’t a “set it and forget it” strategy. Continuous testing and iteration are crucial to staying ahead. Establish a process for:
Monitoring rankings and organic traffic.
Running A/B tests on content and landing pages.
Testing new features like Core Web Vitals improvements or interactive elements.
Pro Tip:
Make SEO a team-wide effort. Collaborate with content creators, developers, and designers to ensure seamless alignment across functions.
With a robust SEO strategy in place, your potential for growth and brand recognition is limitless. Advanced SEO empowers digital marketers to move past the basics, lean into tech-driven opportunities, and position their websites as essential resources in their industries.
The steps may seem complex, but with consistency, ingenuity, and the right tools, achieving remarkable results is well within reach. Remember—every optimization effort inches your brand closer to stronger rankings, better user experiences, and measurable ROI.
Start Now
Whether you’re building content pillars or tweaking your site’s crawlability, consider this your call to action. Implement these advanced SEO tips today and become the trailblazer your brand needs in the digital marketing landscape!
If you need help with Advanced SEO, be sure to contact our team by emailing k@kmc.digital or calling us!
On December 13, Instagram updated its platform to remove the ability to follow hashtags. This decision comes as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to combat spam and refine user experience, shaking up how content is discovered and consumed.
While this move signals a shift away from hashtags as a primary content discovery tool, it opens new opportunities for creators and users to engage more authentically.
Why Instagram is Removing Hashtag Follows
Over the years, trending hashtags have been a goldmine for spammers seeking visibility with irrelevant content. Despite Instagram’s advanced filtering tools, users have continued to report unwanted posts cluttering their main feeds. The platform’s decision to cut the option to follow hashtags aims to declutter these feeds and encourage users to engage directly with creators.
Yet, while hashtags will no longer impact your main feed, expect to find them in Explore and search results—though with a more refined algorithm that better understands content context and relevance.
The Implications for Content Discovery and Community Building
This change represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with Instagram content. Hashtags have long been a defining feature of social media, connecting users through shared interests. However, with algorithmic advances, content relevance no longer relies primarily on these tags. Algorithms can now understand the intrinsic nature of content, highlighting relevant posts regardless of specific tags.
For creators, this means producing content that directly engages audiences may become more critical than optimizing posts for hashtag discoverability. It’s an opportunity to focus on quality and creativity, ensuring every post holds genuine value for followers.
For users, the focus shifts from following trends via hashtags to cultivating more personal connections by following creators directly. This fosters a deeper, more authentic engagement model, aligning well with the trend towards personal branding and unique content creation.
The Shift Towards Personalized Engagement
Instagram’s evolving algorithm pushes forward personalized content recommendations, integrating user likes, shares, and interactions into a refined tailormade feed. This shift rewards authentic engagement, ensuring users see more of what genuinely interests them, even without the reliance on traditional hashtag systems.
Creators and brands are encouraged to leverage this update, exploring new strategies to engage their audiences directly. This could mean collaborations, interactive posts, and innovative content formats that promote active viewer participation.
A Step Toward Hashtags’ Decline?
While Instagram emphasizes hashtags for discovery, their role may diminish as platforms get smarter at identifying content specifics. However, hashtags aren’t dead; they still play a role in expanding reach and connecting niche audiences.
Adapting to the New Normal
Creators and brands should adapt their strategies, focusing on building loyal communities rather than simply maximizing reach through hashtags. Here are a few steps to consider:
Enhance Content Quality: Prioritize creating engaging, high-quality content that resonates with your audience’s interests.
Focus on Direct Engagement: Build meaningful connections through direct interactions and collaborations with followers and other creators.
Leverage Data Insights: Utilize available analytics tools to understand what content performs best and adapt accordingly.
Experiment with Formats: Utilize diverse content formats, like Reels or Stories, to maintain a dynamic presence.
The Future of Content Discovery on Instagram
Instagram’s overhaul is an exciting step towards a more innovative and personalized platform. It positions the company and its users to focus on quality interactions and engagement—critical elements in today’s digital age. Barriers between creators and their audiences are breaking down, heralding a new phase of content interaction where personalized engagement takes center stage.
Businesses and marketers should welcome this change as an opportunity to streamline their Instagram strategies, focusing on creating deeper connections and more significant engagement. By leveraging direct creator interactions powered by modern AI algorithms, the Instagram community can look forward to a richer, more rewarding experience that emphasizes human connection over algorithmic mechanics.
If you need help in navigating digital marketing, don’t hesitate to book a consultation with us by clicking here, or call 1-855-799-8590.
Meta continues to be one of the most powerful platforms for digital marketing, offering unparalleled reach and engagement opportunities for businesses of all sizes — delivering ads to both Instagram and Meta with one click.
However, the ever-changing landscape of Meta’s advertising policies can be challenging to navigate. As Meta rolls out new advertising rules weekly, understanding why ads get rejected is crucial for digital marketers, small business owners, and social media managers alike.
Recent Changes in Meta’s Advertising Policies
Meta’s commitment to creating a safe and trustworthy environment for its users has led to frequent updates in its advertising policies. These changes, while aimed at improving the user experience, have significant implications ad buyers, for example:
Increased scrutiny on ad content: Advertisers must now adhere to stricter content guidelines to avoid misleading or harmful information. Claims that seem unreasonable (like a cure for a disease) could flag your ad for rejection.
Enhanced transparency requirements: Businesses must ensure their business address matches where a business was filed, and the name on the payment method matches both. If there is a mismatch the ad could be rejected and may require an appeal due to the business information in Meta’s Business Manager. Be sure all entries match exactly what you submitted when you formed your company.
Stricter enforcement of community standards: Ads that violate Meta’s community standards are more likely to be rejected.
Top Reasons Meta Ads Get Rejected in 2025
1. Misleading Claims
Meta has zero tolerance for misleading or false claims in advertisements. Ads that exaggerate the benefits of a product or make unsubstantiated claims are likely to be rejected.
Example: Claiming that a dietary supplement can cure illnesses without scientific proof will lead to ad disapproval.
2. Inappropriate Content
Ads containing inappropriate or offensive content, including explicit language, violence, or adult content, are strictly prohibited.
Example: An ad featuring graphic violence or nudity will be immediately rejected.
3. Violation of Community Standards
Meta’s community standards protect the platform’s integrity and user safety. Ads that promote hate speech, discrimination, or any form of harassment will not be tolerated.
Example: Ads promoting discriminatory practices based on race, gender, or religion are subject to rejection.
4. Non-compliance with Ad Format Guidelines
Each ad format on Meta has specific guidelines that must be followed. Non-compliance with these guidelines, such as incorrect image dimensions or excessive text in images, can result in ad rejection.
Example: The ad is poorly made. This could include having low-quality images or videos, using too much text, or having grammatical errors.
5. Prohibited Content
Meta has a list of prohibited content that cannot be advertised on its platform. This includes tobacco products, illegal products or services, and certain healthcare products.
Example: An ad promoting the sale of cannabis or related products where it is not legal will be rejected.
6. Targeting Restrictions
Meta imposes restrictions on how certain products and services can be targeted. Ads targeting sensitive demographics or using discriminatory targeting practices will be disapproved.
Example: An ad for housing that targets specific age groups or races is likely to be rejected under the Fair Housing Act.
7. Unclear or Insufficient Information
Ads that lack clear information about the product or service being promoted, or that use ambiguous language, may be rejected.
Example: An ad with vague descriptions and no clear call-to-action can be disapproved for lack of transparency.
Strategies to Overcome Common Reasons for Ad Rejection
1. Stay Updated with Meta’s Advertising Policies
Regularly review Meta’s advertising policies to stay informed about new updates and changes. This proactive approach will help you create compliant ads from the get-go.
2. Provide Clear and Accurate Information
Ensure that your ads provide transparent and accurate information about your products or services. Avoid making exaggerated or false claims.
3. Use Appropriate Content
Create ads that align with Meta’s community standards and avoid using inappropriate or offensive content.
4. Follow Ad Format Guidelines
Adhere to the specific guidelines for each ad format to avoid disapproval due to technical non-compliance. Utilize Meta’s Ad Manager tools to check ad specifications.
5. Avoid Prohibited Content
Familiarize yourself with Meta’s list of prohibited content and ensure that your ads do not promote products or services that fall into these categories.
6. Comply with Targeting Restrictions
Use targeting options responsibly and avoid discriminatory practices. Ensure that your targeting complies with all local laws and Meta’s policies.
7. Be Transparent
Clearly communicate the value proposition of your products or services and provide all necessary information in your ads.
Ready to adapt your Meta advertising strategy for success? Start by reviewing your current campaigns and making necessary adjustments to align with Meta’s new rules. With the right approach, you can leverage Meta’s powerful platform to achieve your marketing goals and grow your business.
