If you provide a service—whether as a consultant, coach, designer, or developer—you’re probably wondering how to stand out when AI can do so much.

The key lies in focusing on what AI lacks: creativity, critical thinking, and a genuine connection with your craft.

If you want to differentiate yourself from AI, focus on what makes you human: expertise, emotional intelligence, creativity, ethics, and strategic thinking. 

Highlight Your Unique Expertise

AI is great at processing data, but it lacks real-world experience, context, and intuition.

To stand out, showcase case studies that highlight your problem-solving skills; share personal insights AI can’t replicate.

Staying ahead of trends is crucial, too. AI relies on past data, while you can interpret this morning’s developments and apply them in the afternoon.

Some ways to highlight your expertise include:

• Showcase case studies that prove your problem-solving skills.
• Share personal insights that AI-generated content lacks.
• Interpret trends with insights on emerging web design and development trends.
• Add human context to data, making it actionable and strategic.

Pro tip: Create an “AI-Free” portfolio that showcases your most innovative WordPress projects. Emphasize solutions that require human creativity and expertise. 

“Content chunking is your website’s secret weapon for SEO in the age of AI. Long articles are great for subscriber content, but not for grab-and-go visibility. Instead of layers, breaking your content into focused, digestible chunks can help you rank in search results.”

Rocket.net – Why Content Chunking For Ranking AI Overviews Makes Sense

Leverage Your Emotional Intelligence

AI can analyze emotions, but it doesn’t feel them. Your ability to understand clients’ emotions and needs helps build trust, which is an irreplaceable asset.

Unlike AI, you can offer personalized communication, recognize unspoken concerns, and adapt based on your intuition.

Offer strategic guidance and consultation. Clients value professionals who can read between the lines.

You provide a level of understanding AI simply cannot match. Help clients navigate the complexities around web development. 

Emphasize Human-Centric Design and UX

While AI can generate layouts, true user-centric design requires empathy and understanding. AI regurgitates existing knowledge; you create new ideas.

Emphasize human-centric UX:

• Publish original insights that offer fresh perspectives.
• Speak at industry events to showcase your team’s expertise.
• Engage in discussions requiring critical thinking beyond the “AI-generated.”
• Share behind-the-scenes stories about your work process and decision-making.

Offer Your Clients Bespoke, Creative Solutions

AI follows patterns; people break them. Your ability to think outside the box and provide customized solutions gives you an edge.

Unlike AI, you can tailor services to each client’s unique needs, apply creativity to solve non-linear problems, and offer hands-on collaboration.

While AI works with formulas, you bring fresh, adaptive thinking that makes a real difference.Key point: Position yourself as an AI-savvy professional who knows how to harness AI’s power while adding irreplaceable human insight.

Provide Ongoing Support and Relationship Building

Unlike AI, you can build lasting relationships with clients. Differentiate your services:

• Offer personalized support and quick problem resolution.
• Provide strategic advice as client needs evolve.
• Build trust through consistent communication and reliability. 

Emphasize Ethical and Responsible AI Integration

AI lacks a moral compass. As it becomes more prevalent, your judgment becomes even more crucial.

You can help clients navigate ethical decisions, balance data with intuition, and provide long-term strategic foresight.

Unlike AI, which relies purely on logic, you bring value-driven decision-making that aligns with ethical considerations and the integrity of your business.

Key advantages of human-led strategy:

• Advise on data privacy concerns related to AI-powered tools.
• Ensure transparency in AI usage on client websites.

Develop guidelines for responsible AI implementation in WordPress projects.

Use AI as a Tool, not a Replacement for Your Skills

You don’t compete against Photoshop, right? Rather than competing against AI, use it to enhance efficiency while emphasizing your strengths.

Automating repetitive tasks allows you to focus on strategy and higher-level thinking.

Instead of blindly relying on AI insights, interpret them with human expertise.

Positioning yourself as the expert who knows when to use and trust AI and when not to creates a clear value proposition.

Some smart ways to integrate AI include:

• Automating repetitive tasks so you can focus on strategy and customer service.
• Interpreting AI insights with human expertise and real-world application.
• Positioning yourself as the AI-savvy professional who understands its limits.

Using AI to streamline work without losing the human touch.

“While WordPress itself doesn’t come with built-in AI features, it does offer something even better — a variety of plugins that can bring AI capabilities to your site. Developers are constantly creating new plugins and updating existing ones to incorporate AI features.”

Duplicator.com

Wrapping Up

AI is a powerful tool, but it can’t replace your ingenuity, connection, and adaptability.

The best way to future-proof your services is to embrace AI where it makes sense—but differentiate yourself by doing what AI can’t do.

Identify your unique strengths as a WordPress professional and start integrating AI tools strategically into your workflow.

Remember, the goal is to enhance, not replace, your human expertise.

Want to stay ahead in the AI era? Focus on creativity, strategy, and emotional intelligence to provide value AI can’t replicate.

If you’re ready to elevate your services, start implementing these strategies today!

Fast & Secure Hosting? Yes, Please!

Grow your business with lightning-fast, secure, and optimized websites that are easy to set up & manage. Top-tier agencies and online businesses choose Rocket.net as their trusted managed WordPress hosting provider – why shouldn’t you, too?

If you’ve been wondering how to perform an audit for your WordPress site without drowning in technical jargon, you’re in the right place.

In this 11-step guide, we’ll break it down SEO auditing so you can identify issues, fix them, and set your site up for success in 2025.

Why 11 and not 10? Apollo 11 was the first rocket to land people on the moon. 11: it’s a rocket thing!

Think of Your Website as Your Car — It Needs Regular Maintenance

Imagine your website is your car. If you’ve got a clunker, imagine your website is a Ferrari. You wouldn’t drive for years without checking the engine or changing the oil, right?

Just like that Ferrari, your WordPress site needs periodic audits to ensure it’s running smoothly. A well-maintained site is faster, more secure, and better optimized for search engines. 

If your website doesn’t work, you can’t make any sales. A well-maintained website doesn’t break down. A well-maintained website is better.

The most successful SEO strategies aren’t about chasing algorithms. They’re about building a strong technical foundation and creating content that serves your audience’s needs.

Tools You’ll Need for Your WordPress Site Audit

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, let’s gather some essential tools. Many are free and beginner-friendly. Here are some of our faves:

Google Search Console and Microsoft Webmaster Tools: These are your go-to tools for understanding how search engines view your site. They highlight indexing issues, performance metrics, and more. Both tools are free. Google only has 85% of the market in the US, so use both of them.

WordPress Plugins: Plugins like Yoast and Rank Math are invaluable for spotting SEO and performance issues. WP-Optimize can help you with core web vitals. Antispam Bee helps keep the paparazzi away from that Ferrari you’re driving.

Screaming Frog SEO Spider: This is a powerful tool for crawling your website and uncovering technical issues from missing H1s to misplaced canonical tags. The free version does a lot!

PageSpeed Insights: Google’s free tool to analyze your site’s speed and suggest optimizations.

Semrush: Both paid and free versions are perfect for keyword research, site audits, and competitive analysis. The free version allows you one project so it’s a good place to start.

While paid tools can offer deeper insights, the fundamental health of your website can be assessed using free tools. Start there.

Step 1: Check Your Website’s Speed

No one likes being stuck in the slow lane. A slow website can frustrate visitors and hurt your search rankings. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights to assess your loading times. Focus on three things to start:

• Enabling Caching: Plugins can speed up your site by caching pages. We include WP-Rocket for free!
• Minimizing Code: Compress and clean up your CSS, JavaScript, and HTML.

Speed matters. A delay of even a few seconds can significantly impact user experience and conversions.

“Rocket.net handles the speed of the server. Caching plugins handle the experience, and how the browser is instructed to handle loading as your page is rendered.”

Rocket.net – Rocket Still Recommends Caching Plugins – Though It’s Really About Optimization

Step 2: Test Your Website’s Core Web Vitals

Google’s Core Web Vitals are about more than speed. They focus on the user experience. Once your page has loaded, make sure people stay for a while.

“Core Web Vitals are about more than just fast-loading websites – they are about websites that deliver. It all comes down to UX — having your websites load quickly so people can do what they need to.”

Rocket.net – Significance Of TTFB – The Most Important Metric That Nobody Thinks Of For Core Web Vitals

Step 3: Secure Your WordPress Site

Website security isn’t an option — it’s essential. Think of security as locking your car’s doors and taking the keys before leaving it in the parking lot. Here’s what to check:

Update Everything: Regularly. Keep your WordPress version, themes, and plugins up to date. Out-of-date software is a security risk.

Install a Security Plugin: Use plugins to scan for vulnerabilities and block threats. Ensure your hosting provider prioritizes security, too.

Use Strong Passwords: Ensure all users have secure, unique passwords that are regularly changed. Enable HTTPS: If you haven’t (really?) already, install an SSL certificate to encrypt data.

“Choose a website host who prioritizes security and protects your clients out of the box without any special configurations needed.”

Rocket.net – How To Ensure Security With Your Agency’s WordPress Hosting

Step 4: Review Your Website’s Structure

A well-organized website is easier for people to use. A well-structured website is at the heart of good SEO. It’s a win-win. Start with these basics:

Permalink Settings: Ensure your URLs are clean and descriptive (e.g., “/blog/seo-tips” instead of “/?p=123”).

Sitemaps: Use plugins like Yoast or Rank Math to generate an XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools. Indexing changes daily. Don’t submit and forget. Check-in once a week to see if pages need to be manually submitted.

Breadcrumbs: Enable breadcrumbs for better navigation and SEO benefits.

Orphans in the Storm: Are all your pages (except for Landing Pages) connected to another page?

Step 5: Evaluate (Mobile) Usability

With most users browsing on mobile devices, ensuring your site is mobile-friendly is non-negotiable. It’s 2025. The “mobile moment” happened a decade ago.

• Responsive Design: Your site should look good and function properly on all screens.
• Tap Targets: Buttons and links should be easy to click with a finger.
• Readability: Ensure fonts are large enough, content is spaced well, and contrast is user-friendly.
• Overall Accessibility and Sustainability: How does your site measure up?

“Web accessibility means ensuring everyone can access and use your website. It’s a legal requirement in many places. The ADA requires many websites to be accessible. An accessible website benefits everyone.”

Rocket.net – Comprehensive Accessibility for WordPress Agencies

Step 6: Audit Your Plugins and Themes

While plugins and themes add functionality, they can also slow down your site or introduce vulnerabilities. Review:

• Inactive Plugins: Delete plugins you’re not using.
• Quality Over Quantity: Avoid bloating your site with unnecessary plugins.
• Theme Updates: Use a reliable, well-supported theme and keep it updated.
• Page Builders: Are you using a page builder where blocks would do the same job? Why?

“WordPress is a platform for various websites, including niche blogs, online shops, portfolios, and lifestyle magazines. Each theme is tailored to cater to specific markets, and your selected theme should enhance your website’s content – not compete with it.”

Rocket.net – Top 5 Considerations For Picking The Best WordPress Theme

Step 7: Check for Broken Links

Broken links frustrate users and harm your SEO. Use tools like Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog to identify where you’re bleeding traffic.

Internal Links: Fix or redirect broken links within your site. Internal links are SEO gold.

External Links: Replace or update outdated links to other websites.

“A quarter of all webpages that existed at one point between 2013 and 2023 are no longer accessible, as of October 2023.”

Pew Research

Step 8: Monitor Analytics

Data is your best friend when auditing a website. Use tools like Google Analytics or Matomo to understand who visits your website and what they do.

• Traffic Sources: Where are your visitors coming from?
• Behavior: Which pages are they visiting and how long do they stay?
• Conversions: Are users taking desired actions, like filling out a form or making a purchase?

Step 9: Assess Your Content

Content is the heart of your website. But is it working for you? Here’s how to find out:

• Check for Duplicate Content: Tools like Screaming Frog can identify duplicates that might confuse search engines. That said, duplicate content is better than no content.
• Review Metadata: Ensure each page has a unique title tag and meta description that includes relevant keywords. Hot tip: Bing still uses the meta keywords tag. You should, too.
• Update Old Posts: Refresh outdated content to keep it relevant.

Content isn’t just about keywords. It’s about creating value for your audience.

“Google is prioritising high-quality, original content over low-quality, unoriginal content. Websites that produce informative, in-depth, and trustworthy content are being rewarded, while those relying on thin, keyword-stuffed, or AI-generated content are being penalised.”

Rocket.net – What the Google March 2024 Core Update Taught Everyone

Step 10: Optimise Your Website for Keywords

Your keywords guide search engines to understand your content. They are kind of a big deal for your SEO, but they’re not the A&O of SEO. Don’t panic. Here’s how to incorporate keywords into your audit:

• Keyword Placement: Use keywords naturally in titles, headers, and content.
• Focus on Intent: Prioritise terms that align with what your audience is searching for.
• Track Performance: Monitor keyword rankings to see what’s working and where you can improve.

The best keywords aren’t always the most obvious ones. Think about how your customers actually talk about their problems.

Step 11: Checking Your Site’s Visibility

Now that your website is ready, check to see if search engines can see it. For that, your sitemaps can help. Step 11 is the longest, because, well, visibility is kind of a big deal, right?

Create both XML and HTML sitemaps. The XML sitemap is like a blueprint for search engines, while the HTML sitemap helps human visitors find their way around. Make sure to:

• Submit your XML sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing.
• Keep your sitemaps updated as your site grows.
• Include all important pages but exclude unnecessary ones.

The robots.txt File: Your Digital Welcome Mat

Think of robots.txt as instructions for search engine visitors. It tells them which rooms (pages) they can enter and which ones are off-limits. Place it in your root directory and keep it simple:

• Block access to private areas.
• Guide crawlers to your important content.
• Point to your sitemap location.

Finding those Pesky Indexing Issues

Just because you published a page doesn’t mean it’s in Google’s or Bing’s index. Check your coverage and look for:

• Pages marked as “not indexed”
• Redirect chains that need cleaning up
• Duplicate content issues
• Mobile usability problems

Don’t panic if you see indexing issues — they’re normal. Focus on fixing the most important pages first and work your way down the list.

Wrapping Up Your WordPress Website Audit

Conducting an audit might seem daunting but breaking it into manageable steps makes it straightforward. Spend ten minutes daily, and you’ve done a weekly hour-long audit before you know it.

By addressing speed, security, structure, content, and usability, you’ll create a WordPress site that’s both user-friendly and search-engine ready. Now, that’s what we call SEO Auditing.

An SEO audit isn’t a one-time task. Regular checkups are key to maintaining a healthy, high-performing website.

Fast & Secure Hosting? Yes, Please!

Grow your business with lightning-fast, secure, and optimized websites that are easy to set up & manage. Top-tier agencies and online businesses choose Rocket.net as their trusted managed WordPress hosting provider – why shouldn’t you, too?

Your homepage is an overview of what you have to offer. It’s a billboard with teasers leading to other pages. On the whole, it’s not very interesting; your homepage is one page of many on your site. 

A landing page, on the other hand, is uniquely interesting. If your website is your love life, landing pages are your first date, marriage, and your kids. 

Landing pages focus on a specific promotion or offer. Landing pages get you leads and make your sales. Landing pages are where you send your ad traffic. Use your homepage to increase traffic and visibility, but use your landing pages to create leads and make sales. 

Sound good? Okay, let’s see how you can make a landing page that converts!

“Landing page copywriting that communicates benefits helps visitors understand why your offering matters to them and is more likely to drive conversions than merely listing features.”

Semrush

TL;DR: The Landing Page Creation Process

1. Identify Niches: Select specific industries with unique needs.
2. Create Dedicated Pages: Develop separate landing pages for each niche within your website. Reminder: these aren’t your Content Hub Pages. They shouldn’t be navigable in your main menu. (Especially for PPC).
3. Address Niche-Specific Problems
4. Offer Valuable Presale Freebies: Lead generation works!
5. Optimize for SEO — only IF your landing page is not connected to a paid marketing campaign.*
6. Connect with Google Ads, Social Media Ads, or Email Marketing Campaigns.

*You don’t want your landing page found in the SERPs if your conversion tracking is running over Google Ads, or Facebook Ads.

“Landing Pages exist to convert a problem into a solution. From donations to sales; from workshop registrations to memberships; a landing page has a very specific task.”

Rocket.net – How Client-Focused Landing Pages Can Supercharge Your WordPress Agency

Why Your Homepage Is Not a Landing Page

Your homepage is one page of your website. Take a look at the SERPs though — most of those are content pages. Google and Bing are interested in ranking content pages — not homepages. 

Your homepage serves as a hub for exploration. That’s pretty much it. Unless your website is a one-pager, the homepage isn’t where the money changes hands. Think if it as a lobby to your business. It isn’t the place you stay. You choose a room: dining room for dinner, living room for football, bedroom for sleeping.

Okay, so landing pages are essential for all those marketing efforts – you get that. How, specifically, can you use landing pages in your marketing? Here are some examples:

Create Landing Pages for Leads

Landing pages are designed to collect data from potential customers. You offer something valuable (like an ebook, webinar, or discount) in exchange for contact details.

• Example: You’re offering a free guide to social media marketing. Instead of sending people to your homepage, you direct them to a landing page. There is a summary of the guide, and a simple form to collect their name and email. 

Create Landing Pages for Sales

Landing pages are built to drive conversions, which often means sales. You present a specific product or service, highlight its benefits, and include a clear call to action (e.g., “Buy Now,” “Get a Quote”).

• Example: You’re running a promotion on a new WordPress plugin. You create a landing page showcasing the features and benefits and offer a limited-time discount. This is more effective than sending people to the main page of your online shop.

Create Landing Pages for Email Marketing

Landing pages allow you to segment your audience and tailor your email campaigns. You can create different landing pages for each unique offer, or target specific audiences. Without stating the obvious, it’s important that leads from each landing page are directed in different automations. 

• Example: Create one landing page for people interested in your beginner’s guide and another for advanced users. This allows you to send more relevant emails to each group, increasing engagement, and the likelihood of a sale.

Create Landing Pages for Social Media Marketing:

When running social media ads, promotions, or PPC campaigns, landing pages provide a dedicated destination. This ensures visitors see the most relevant information and are more likely to take action.

• Example: You’re running a Facebook ad for a free trial of your software, directing clicks to a landing page specifically designed for that offer. This increases the chance of a conversion.

Effective Landing Pages Bring Leads

Effective landing pages bring leads. You have to make sure they work, though. So stay focused. Your landing page must be dedicated. It should make it easier for customers to find what they need and complete a task, as well as for you to track conversions.

• Increase conversion rates: By focusing on one (1) specific offer and audience.
• Improve lead generation: By capturing contact information effectively.
• Measure campaign performance: By tracking the results of each landing page.
• Enhance brand consistency: By creating a cohesive experience across different marketing channels.

Crafting the Perfect Landing Page

How do you create landing pages that actually convert? Let’s break it down.

First, know your audience.

• What are their pain points? 
• What are they hoping to achieve? 
• Tailor your message to resonate with their needs. 
• Don’t just shout about your features; explain the benefits they’ll receive.

Keep it concise and focused.

• Landing pages aren’t the place to find more than one CTA. 
• Highlight your core offering and make the call to action crystal clear. 
• “Sign Up Free,” “Get Your Discount,” “Download Now.” 
• No ambiguity allowed!

Social proof is powerful.

• Include testimonials, reviews, or case studies to build trust and credibility. 
• Seeing that others have benefited from your offer makes potential customers more confident in their decision.

A/B test everything.

• Don’t assume you’ve nailed it on the first try. 
• Remember, change one thing. That’s an A/B test.
• Experiment with different headlines, images, and call-to-action buttons. 
• Data will tell you what works best.

Structure and design matters

• A clean, uncluttered layout is crucial. 
• Use visuals strategically to draw attention to key elements rather than distract from them.
• Ensure your page is mobile-friendly. 60% of your traffic comes from smartphones.  

Not everyone is an artist – we get it – but your landing page needs basic design elements that anyone can put together with the block editor. Landing pages are a case in point for “less is more.” Think of how many people will come to it because of an ad on mobile.

The 8 Critical Elements of a Landing Page

Above the fold:

• Logo
• Headline & Subline
• Hero Shot
• Presentation of the UVPs
• Price
• Call-to-Action Element

Immediately below the fold:

• Reason Why
• Testimonials and Trust Elements
• Call-to-Action Element

Reminder: As people scroll down your page, the chance of losing them increases. Do not just have a CTA button above the fold. Place them within view at the top, the middle, and most importantly at the bottom of your landing page.

“Unlike most web pages, a landing page typically has no navigation features. It is a place to stop, … it’s a bit like an air terminal. (Before and after a flight) passengers have to walk by the shops. That’s kind of the idea.”

Mailchimp

Creating great landing pages is an ongoing process. Focus on your audience, keep things clear, and constantly test –  then you can transform those clicks into customers.

If you need some more help, hop on over to canva.com; they offer thousands of landing page ideas like this one:

Test. Test. Test. And Test Again.

Make sure your CTAs work. Try the landing page on your mobile device. Try it in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. Fill out the form and make sure it works. Ask your friend to do it. Ask another friend. There’s nothing worse than doing all of this work (and dropping $$ on ads) when you didn’t thoroughly test your system.

Need a Landing Page Plugin?

Are you looking for a simple, free solution or a comprehensive plugin with advanced features? There’s probably a landing page plugin that fits your needs. Seedpod has a list of landing page plugins you might like. But again, they need to be simple and clean.

Fast & Secure Hosting? Yes, Please!

Grow your business with lightning-fast, secure, and optimized websites that are easy to set up & manage. Top-tier agencies and online businesses choose Rocket.net as their trusted managed WordPress hosting provider – why shouldn’t you, too?

To add to the good news, this isn’t a problem with your entire website; rather, content decay is a page-by-page problem. (You can breathe a sigh of relief now.) Remember, Google and Bing don’t index websites; they index pages.

Content decay can happen for many reasons: changing search intent, a change in your content focus, increased competitor content, and generally evolving user needs. It needn’t be your fault but becomes your fault if you don’t fix the problem. And, like neglected tooth decay, fixing it becomes more expensive.

Think of content like your backyard deck that you post on Instagram. It will fall apart if you don’t maintain the wood, paint, and joints every year. That’s not climate change destroying your deck; that’s the result of you ignoring your property. 

Fighting content decay isn’t rocket science; it’s just work. The good thing is that WordPress makes content updates easier and faster, so you can concentrate on the writing.

WordPress 6.7 was a game changer for content creation which helps tremendously with content decay. We’d like to point out that updating content isn’t just about the main article. Updating content includes changing your featured image, rewriting the meta description, adding captions and alt text for images, and checking for broken links.

If you’re not doing all of the following to fix content decay and maintain your ranking and traffic, then you should read on. We’ve got you covered!

TL;DR: 6 SEO Fixes for Content Decay

1. Updating existing content
2. Adding new, relevant information
3. Optimizing for current SEO standards
4. Improving user engagement
5. Staying on top of current search intent
6. Using a great CMS, like WordPress

“The ability to add, rearrange, and edit patterns more efficiently enables you to update your content more frequently, keeping it fresh and relevant. (WordPress) lets you focus on broader content updates without getting bogged down in individual block edits.”

Rocket.net – WordPress 6.7 – A New Era of Content Creation and Design

What is Content Decay and How Does it Happen?

The content lifecycle typically follows a predictable pattern, beginning with an initial period of attention. 

• Initial indexing and algorithm analysis
• Sporadic traffic spikes in the first weeks
• Possible short-term boost from social media and newsletters

As your content gains backlinks and rankings improve, it enters a growth phase. 

• Steady increase in organic traffic
• Accumulation of backlinks (hopefully!)
• Improved rankings for more search queries

Eventually, your content reaches its peak performance, depending on varying factors. 

• Growth plateaus due to reaching a ranking ceiling
• Duration varies from days to months
• This can occur from maxing out rankings or facing new competition

Finally, your content enters a period of decay. This is what we want to help you fix.

• Performance decline begins
• Usually happens faster for competitive topics
• Caused by decreased relevance or freshness
• Can affect relatively new content in competitive spaces

When Does Your Content Begin to Decay?

Despite what fancy salespeople like to pitch, there is no magic shelf life for content. It’s not yogurt. Search for a topic in Google or Bing and you still find articles from top brands stretching back to the early 2000s. When does your content expire? As they say in SEO, “It depends.” 

Check your sitemap.xml quarterly to see how old articles and pages are. As a rule, you should take another look at any content that hasn’t been updated in the last six months.

• News: Hours. Days to weeks.
• Tech/Trends: Months.
• SEO Content: 6-12 months.
• Technical: Months to years for links, years for code.
• Engagement: Months for popular, years for niche.
• Accuracy: 1 year (or less in fast-evolving fields).

“What people mean when they talk about Content Decay is a slow drop in search traffic. But a slow drop in traffic is not a definition, it’s just a symptom of the problem of declining user interest.”

searchenginejournal.com

How to Find Content Decay on Your Website

To find content decay on your website, monitor drops in organic traffic and keyword rankings. Use your analytics tool and SEO plugin in combination with Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools performance reports. 

Other tools like Semrush, Sistrix, and Ahrefs provide you with similar reporting. If you can’t measure it, you can’t use it. Find a tool that fits your needs. 

If you still aren’t using an SEO plugin, WPMarmite has you covered with a review of the best ones. 

Regardless of your tool of choice, you should be looking at two things: a report of your content performance and a report of your keyword rankings.

Analyze engagement metrics such as bounce rates and time on page to help you identify underperforming content. You want time on page to be 2 minutes or more on average. Check for outdated information, ensure relevance to current trends, and address technical issues like broken links or slow load times. Most important of all is to watch out for content people are looking for.

Regular audits help keep your content fresh, accurate, and aligned with user intent. That gets you visits.

Tip 1: Updating Your Content to Get Google and Bing’s Attention

Freshen those stats, swap out old examples, and add the latest industry buzz. Are you still optimizing for 2023 keywords in 2025? 

Google and Bing love to see that you’re keeping things current. And, if you’re focused on AI citations, your content needs to be better than even the big two search engines. When you edit and refresh articles on your website, don’t forget to request reindexing on Google Search Console. This is an important step that many people forget.

If Google and Bing are still important to your game plan, then here’s a good old basic SEO reminder:

• Create comprehensive, original content – that means first-hand (think Reddit).

• Add new insights and current data and remove outdated information.
• Are you using schema markup? Really? To the max?

• Improving page loading speed is often the same thing as updating your content.
• Credibility Boosters: case studies are fine, but short podcasts with guests are better. 

• Use Google Search Console. Use Bing Webmaster Tools.
• Continuously refine your content strategy. That alone can help stop decaying content.

Tip 2: Adding Search-Friendly Content

What does that even mean? It’s 2025, and people are asking Alexa and Siri for recommendations. We’re using AI for informational search queries. That’s 90% of SEO outside of the big two search engines. We haven’t even mentioned Amazon, Etsy, or YouTube. Want to talk about TikTok search for a moment?

Search-friendly doesn’t mean just Google or Bing. Not anymore. Search-friendly means wherever your customers are searching. It could be the local paper. Yes, it could be X, Google Maps, and Yelp.

Don’t just stick to surface updates of your content. Think out of the box. Look at your customer insights from support tickets, emails, and even replies on social. Watch the conversations on X. Weave in new research and emerging trends. Updating content is like adding new ingredients to keep your recipe exciting and relevant. 

While you’re at it, don’t be afraid to prune away anything that’s past its prime. Saying goodbye to your number one post can be hard, but if people love it, they will return.

Tip 3: Absolutely Nothing New to Write or Optimize in Your Content? Try Chunking.

We wrote about content chunking in a recent post. Think of chunking as revamping your kitchen. Everything is perfect, but you could find your favorite spices a little easier, right? (And get rid of the expired ones, gross!)

Chunking out your content for AI and search engines is like rearranging your spice rack. Not a hobby chef? Then, think of it as rearranging the tools in your workshop.

Content chunking breaks long-form content into focused, digestible sections to improve SEO performance and user experience. You can enhance visibility and engagement in AI citations and search engines by simply restructuring your content for specific search intents. No new content is required!

Let’s say we have an article about recovering organic website traffic that is six months old. We’re losing visibility but don’t have time to write a new article. You can go in and chunk out two pieces in the same article. It’s like a new layer of paint on your deck. Don’t work harder; work smarter

Example: AI Search Citation Chunk

SEO fundamentals remain unchanged: create high-quality, user-focused content that answers audience questions. Focus on semantic HTML for better structure and accessibility, benefiting users and search engines. Craft compelling headlines and opening paragraphs to increase engagement. Use keywords to guide content creation, prioritizing user intent over keyword density. Effective SEO is about making valuable content easily discoverable by people who need it, not outsmarting search algorithms.

Example: Featured Snippet Chunk

How to rediscover SEO and recover organic traffic:

• Create high-quality, user-focused content.
• Implement semantic HTML for better structure.
• Craft compelling headlines and opening paragraphs.
• Use keywords to guide content, focusing on user intent.
• Prioritize simple, well-structured content over complex SEO strategies.

Effective SEO focuses on making valuable content easily discoverable by people who need it, rather than trying to outsmart search algorithms.

See what we did there? We optimized the content in a much quicker and more useful way than a complete rewrite would have accomplished. Content decay avoided!

“Featured Snippets benefit from smaller chunks of content. AI Search Citations benefit from bigger chunks of content.”

Rocket.net – Why Content Chunking For Ranking AI Overviews Makes Sense

Tip 4: Quick Wins to Improve Use Engagement

To keep readers engaged, you have to keep their attention. A video here, an interactive poll there. Learn from social media. Watch your analytics, too. Where are readers dropping off? 

Holding onto your rankings and page traffic is more than adding attention-grabbing content. Your website isn’t a circus. People need to trust your website in order to trust you with their business. Add relevance and value to your content with videos, infographics, and downloadable content.

Here is an out-of-the-box idea:

Create a “living” content hub. This goes beyond a static blog by transforming yours into a dynamic, continuously evolving resource. Integrate regularly updated sections like “What’s New in Digital Marketing for 2025.” Embed live Q&A sessions and utilize webhooks to display real-time industry trends. 

You’ll keep your content fresh and search-engine friendly while building an interactive experience that encourages users to return. Your content goes from a one-time read into an ongoing conversation.

The Ultimate Guide to Digital Marketing Trends (2025 Edition)

Dynamic Features:

1. Regularly Updated Trends Section:
   • A dedicated area at the top titled “What’s New in Digital Marketing” updates weekly with the latest insights (e.g., “AI-Powered SEO Tools Are Redefining Search Strategies”).
   • Use APIs to pull real-time data, such as trending keywords, analytics, or case studies.
2. Live Q&A Widget:
   • Embed a chat or forum where users can ask questions (e.g., “How do I adapt my strategy to algorithm changes?”) and receive answers from experts or AI.
   • Archive the Q&A responses as mini-blog entries to build an evergreen FAQ section.
3. Industry Updates Feed:
   • A sidebar showing live stats (e.g., “Today’s Most Googled Marketing Buzzwords”).
   • Use a service like Zapier to pull data from relevant industries or even a service like UpContent to enhance content on your site.
4. Community-Driven Spotlight:
   • Showcase top comments from users, like “Top Marketing Hacks from Our Readers.”
   • Add support ticket queries or chatbot chats; this spotlights your expertise!
   • Allow users to upvote or share their favorite ideas.

Why It Works:

• Regular updates signal freshness to search engines, improving ranking.
• User interaction increases dwell time and pages per session.
• Real-time relevance builds authority and encourages backlinks.

Tip 5: Is Search Intent Obvious or Are You Missing Something?

Search intent is often not as obvious as we would like it to be. Search intent is simply understanding exactly what someone is trying to find. Do they want to purchase, learn something, find a specific website, or solve a problem?

However, as search habits change, there is a lot we could be missing. That is a good chance to update content and win some clicks.

The Intent You Might Be Missing

Search intent can sometimes seem obvious, but some nuances can be missed. Can your content be optimized for any of the following?

Explicit vs. Implicit Intent:

• Explicit Intent: The user clearly states what they are looking for. For example, “Best Smartphones 2025” shows a clear intent to find information on the best smartphones of that year.
• Implicit Intent: The user might not directly state their need; for instance, “how to make a smartphone last longer” could relate to battery life, durability, or software maintenance.

Contextual Clues:

• Keywords: The choice of words can reveal intent. “Buy” or “purchase” suggests transactional intent, while “how to” indicates informational.
• User Behavior: Previous interactions, click patterns, and session history can also provide insight into what the user might be looking for.

User Demographics and Location:

• Even if you know the user is from Canada, don’t assume their current location without confirmation. Ask for more details if the search intent seems location-specific.

Ambiguity and Multi-Intent Queries:

• Some queries can have multiple intents. “Apple” could refer to the fruit, the company, or even a record label. Recognizing this requires understanding the broader context of the search.

Feedback and Iteration:

• If you’re in a position to interact with users, feedback can be invaluable. Adjust your interpretation based on user reactions or further queries. Build a FAQ from all those emails and phone calls you receive.

Tip 6: Use the Tools You Have. AKA Build Better.

WordPress. Your trusty Swiss Army knife. Your CMS has all the tools you need to keep your content sharp and performing well. When was the last time you used 100% of your CMS?

Don’t forget those SEO plugins and scheduling features to maintain your content; they make your website much less work than maintaining your deck!

“Your purpose is to create content that educates and helps people – content that showcases your expertise. That’s what clients are looking for. No one is looking to buy a thousand words – they’re looking to buy a message.”

Rocket.net – Still Thinking About Using AI Content on Your Website?

Fast & Secure Hosting? Yes, Please!

Grow your business with lightning-fast, secure, and optimized websites that are easy to set up & manage. Top-tier agencies and online businesses choose Rocket.net as their trusted managed WordPress hosting provider – why shouldn’t you, too?

Whether you’re a pro content creator or a rookie, understanding content chunking could be a game-changer in 2025 – so read on!

What Exactly Is Content Chunking (And Why Should You Care)?

Content chunking is your website’s secret weapon for SEO in the age of AI. Long articles are great for subscriber content, but not for grab-and-go visibility. Instead of layers, breaking your content into focused, digestible chunks can help you rank in search results.

Think about it. When was the last time you read an entire article from start to finish? Most people scan for specific information that solves a particular need. 

Content chunking isn’t just about SEO; it’s about giving your readers exactly what they want – when and how they want it.

Here’s why content chunking works:

• It aligns perfectly with AI search
• It’s ideal for voice search and featured snippets
• People find information faster and stay engaged longer
• Your content becomes more discoverable for queries across multiple channels

Who’s Crushing It with Content Chunking?

“Content chunking?” We’re not making this up. Platforms with the best social and search visibility have been chunking their content for years – and getting eyes!

Here are some examples of content chunking done right:

The New York Times has mastered breaking down complex stories into scannable sections. Each section answers specific questions while maintaining narrative flow. This is exactly what readers (and search engines) love. But hey, they’re a newspaper and that’s how journalists write.

Closer to how most of us write is HubSpot. Their blog posts are master works in content chunking. They use clear headings, FAQ sections, infographics, and structured data to maximise visibility for multiple search queries.

If we’re talking about SEO, then we need to talk about Ahrefs. Their comprehensive guides are perfectly chunked with anchor links, accessible sections, and optimised subheadings. It’s no wonder they dominate SEO-related searches.

Finally, eCommerce plays a huge part in SEO, so Amazon must be mentioned. They chunk product descriptions, FAQs, and reviews to capture attention for specific search intents.

“‘Chunk SEO’ is here to stay! Think smaller to rank bigger! SEO in 2025 will be all about optimising bite-sized content chunks, not whole pages — because that’s how AI-powered search works!”

Pam Aungst Cronin

Content Chunking for Featured Snippets vs AI Search Citations

Let’s face it — content creators face two challenges. First, you need content to resonate with human readers, and second, you need to gain visibility through those pesky algorithms. How do you accomplish both?

If you plan to chunk your content for SEO, you need a two-pronged approach. Your content structure must be similar for featured snippets and AI search citations, but it will differ based on goals and presentation.

What? That was a mouthful; but here is what we mean:

• Featured Snippets on search engines benefit from small, concise chunks designed for clarity and immediate user needs. Content comes from one website. Think about how you used to write to be “tweetable.” We’re talking about the AI version of soundbites.
• AI Search Citations require detailed, authoritative chunks that give context and value over a broader narrative. Content is derived from various websites. This is where your authority and expertise come to play.

What to remember: Featured Snippets benefit from smaller chunks of content. AI Search Citations benefit from bigger chunks of content.

“Use AI as a collaborative tool to assist with research, analysis, and idea generation, but maintain your oversight and finalization. Don’t forget to maintain your brand voice.”

Rocket.net – Still Thinking About Using AI Content on Your Website?

Let’s Compare Search Engine Chunks with AI Chunks

Chunking for Featured Snippets

Your Goal: Break content into easily digestible, search-engine-friendly snippets.

Key Features of Your Chunk:

• Small paragraphs (2-3 sentences), bullet points, or numbered lists.
• Start each chunk with the most relevant information. Solution first.
• Each chunk aligns with a specific query or subtopic.
• Examples: FAQs, step-by-step guides, and definitions.

Example: Content Chunk Optimized for Featured Snippets

How to Improve Website Speed for SEO

• Compress images using tools like TinyPNG to reduce file size.
• Cache static files locally to reduce load times.
• Minimize your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Distribute content across multiple servers for faster delivery via a CDN.
• Choose a host with faster server response times.

Chunking for AI Search Citations

Your Goal: Create detailed, authoritative sections for AI systems to extract context-rich citations.

Key Features of Your Chunk:

• Paragraphs with comprehensive explanations (5-7 sentences).
• Each chunk expands on a subtopic with supporting details.
• Connect chunks with transitions to ensure readability and flow.
• Examples: In-depth guides, case studies, and research-backed articles.

Example: Content Chunk Optimized for AI Search Citations

Strategies to Improve Website Speed for SEO

Website speed is still a critical factor for SEO. It can affect both user experience and search engine rankings. Here are some ways you can push the pedal to the metal:

• Optimize Images: Large image files slow down page loading. Use tools like TinyPNG  to compress images without losing quality. You can also serve images in next-gen formats like webp for better performance.

• Enable Browser Caching: Browser caching stores static assets (e.g., images, CSS) locally on users’ devices, reducing load times for returning visitors. Implement caching via your server settings or WordPress plugin.

• Minify Code: Streamline HTML, CSS, and JavaScript by removing whitespace and redundant comments. Tools like Page Speed Insights recommend specific files to optimize.

• Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): CDNs store and deliver content from servers closest to the user. Platforms like Cloudflare improve load times, especially for global audiences.
  
• Upgrade Hosting: Slow servers cause bottlenecks in website performance. Choose hosting providers known for speed like rocket.net, or switch to a dedicated server or VPS for better scalability.

“A satisfied search engine and happy visitors are not achieved with fly-by-night content. You can either invest time learning SEO copywriting or get your website copy written by a professional.”

Rocket.net – Why Good Content Is Still King For SEO. What Is E-A-T?

How to Implement Content Chunking on Your Site in 3 EZ Steps

Ready to start chunking your content? Here are the elements to remember:

Step 1: Plan Your Structure

• Start by outlining your main topics and breaking them into subtopics.
• Use tools like Google’s People Also Ask or keyword research tools like SISTRIX and Semrush to identify user queries.

Step 2: Optimize Each Section

• Focus each chunk on one query. Keep it concise and actionable.
• Use structured data to help search engines understand your content hierarchy.

Step 3: Add Navigation Features

• Use anchor links and tables of content for enhanced user experience.
• Test navigation elements to ensure they’re intuitive and functional.

Ready to Transform Your Content?

Remember, content chunking isn’t just another SEO tactic – it’s a fundamental shift in creating and organizing content for people and algorithms. The best part? You can start implementing these changes right away.

What creative ways are you planning to chunk your content? Jump on over to X (Twitter) and let us know what you’re doing!

Choose The Future of WordPress Hosting!

By investing in WordPress hosting, you’re equipping yourself with the tools and resources necessary to build a robust, secure, and high-performing online presence. Spend your time captivating and engaging with your audience. Let your hosting take care of the rest!

Gratitude focuses on what you have, using your soft skill of empathy to change your mindset. And let’s be frank, mindset is a key component to success: personally, professionally, and of course, financially.

• Gratitude makes you happy
• Happy people beget happy people
• Generous people build loyalty 

This mindset forms a powerful virtuous cycle: creating happiness, spreading it to others, resulting in strong, loyal relationships that give you even more to be grateful for.

At Rocket.net, gratitude is a key factor in our rapid growth and success. Since our launch in 2020, we’ve scaled from $0 to well over $6 million in annual revenue, while maintaining a 97%+ customer satisfaction rating.

How did we do this? By being grateful for our customers, our team, and our partners.

Cultivating Client Relationships Through Appreciation

We know that our success is directly tied to the success of our clients. By approaching each WordPress project with appreciation, we’ve transformed client interactions. You can, too.

• Support tickets become opportunities to demonstrate your values and expertise.
• Client feedback is acknowledged and used to improve your services.
• Regular maintenance shows ongoing care for your clients’ digital presence.

This gratitude-focused approach leads to stronger client relationships and high-quality referrals. It has contributed to our rapid growth; it can do the same for you.

“When you demonstrate that you know your people well enough to know how to thank them, they won’t just feel appreciated; they’ll feel seen.”

Leadership Circle

Building Confidence Through Transparency and Gratitude

At Rocket.net, we believe in being transparent about our growth. We’re big on expressing gratitude to our clients for their trust in us too. The result? Mutual confidence, which benefits everyone. What you can do in your business:

• Regularly share growth metrics and milestones with your community
• Leadership, including your CEO (or you), getting directly involved in customer support
• Proactively share improvements and new features with your clients

Transparency and gratitude foster a strong sense of trust in your brand. That encourages clients to rely on your recommendations for upgrades and additional services.

“People don’t just buy products or services – they buy solutions. Whose solutions do you listen to? Right – people you know, like, and trust.”

Rocket.net – The Value of Building a Personal Brand to Build Your Business

Generosity as a Business Strategy

When it comes to thankfulness, talk is cheap. But when gratitude is at your business’ core, the results will be tangible to customers. Our gratitude-focused business strategy manifests itself in our service offerings:

• We provide an all-in-one product with no hidden fees.
• Our platform includes enterprise-level CDN and WAF at no additional cost.
• We offer free Redis integration for WooCommerce stores.
• Our support team is available 24/7 to assist clients.

This strategy has helped us build long-term relationships with our clients. It helped create stable recurring revenue through our hosting plans. How can you show generosity in your business?

“When a website is having problems, there is no time – or frankly patience – to deal with assistive tech or AI. You want to talk to a person, like now.”

Rocket.net – No AI Bots Here: Why Agencies Need WordPress Hosting With 24/7 Human Support

Continuous Improvement Driven by Feedback

When gratitude is at your core, you not only value customer feedback but actively pursue it. We’re thankful for all feedback. Why? Feedback means the customers care. This is what drives our continuous improvement. How can you incorporate customer feedback in your business?

• We’ve developed a powerful API that manages thousands of requests per second.
• Our user-friendly control panel is constantly being enhanced based on user input.
• We’ve built our own private cloud infrastructure to ensure superior performance.

By appreciating and acting on feedback, you make better decisions about expanding your own services and features.

“Feedback actually helps you improve your products and business operations, especially if you use it to make changes.”

HubSpot

The Impact on Our Bottom Line

Gratitude isn’t just about being nice. It isn’t about posting five things you’re grateful for on Facebook, either. Genuine gratitude is a mindset that is translated into values. At Rocket.net gratitude is a core business strategy that has directly impacted our bottom line:

• Rapid revenue growth from $0 to $6+ million
• High client retention rates
• Strong referrals leading to organic growth
• Ability to scale without significant marketing expenditure

As we aim for our next milestone of $10 million in annual recurring revenue, we remain committed to our gratitude-driven approach.

Appreciate your clients, team, and the opportunities you have; you’ll not only reach your goals but also set new standards in your industry!

Hot Tip: Rocket.net can make an impact on your bottom line too. We offer both our Affiliate Program, and Agency Partner Program. Increase your MRR today!

Wrapping Up: Fostering a Culture of Mutual Support

No business is an island in any industry; it takes a village. Businesses must help each other. At Rocket.net, we believe that businesses can thrive by supporting each other and their customers. Here’s how we approach this:

Prioritize Customer Success

Put clients first. A 97% customer satisfaction rate across over 45,000 interactions can’t be wrong!

Build Strong Partnerships

Collaborate with other businesses in your industry. We work closely with WordPress developers, agencies, and plugin creators to create a stronger ecosystem.

Share Knowledge Freely

Regularly publish blog posts, podcasts, free tutorials and other resources to help your customers your community. Be generous!

Whatever your business, you can create a supportive ecosystem that benefits everyone – customers, partners, and your community.

Continuous improvement and mutual support are key to long-term success in any industry. Like we always say, “We’re never done … We’re just getting started!”

Say what? That’s right. Google is offering up your web content in rich search results for everyone to see without a click while AI delivers your content, free of charge, as if your content were its own. The challenge is real.

“Google is testing placing a ‘quick view’ button overlayed on the images on recipes within Google Search. The crazy part is that clicking on “Quick view” keeps you on Google while giving you a snapshot of the content from the publisher, without sending that traffic to the publisher.”

seroundtable.com

Your Content Has Left the Building

Your content contributes to your profits. And you need those profits. Can we get an amen?! Thank you. Generative Search is a problem.

For the little people, and we are all little people, profits are more than a Lambo you can splash on X; profits enable you. 

Profits allow you to grow, hire more people, and donate more time to your community. Profits are good. AI doesn’t need profits. Algorithms don’t need profits. People need profits.

We called it back in January: social search, the importance of UX, and the rise of the machines.

“Here Are Our Four SEO Predictions for 2024: 1. The Growing Importance of AI in SEO. From voice search to personalized search results, you can bet that AI and machine learning will play an even greater role in SEO than it already has.”

Rocket.net – Our Top 2024 SEO Predictions. Is SEO Really Doomed?

Let’s look at how you can rein in your free-floating content and take back some of your profits. Let’s make a new prediction for 2025: “The Growing Importance of Niche Content in SEO.”

What Are Zero-Click Searches?

Zero-click searches occur when users get their answers directly from the SERPs  without clicking through to any website. While Google displays our content, AI integrates our content into its results. 

SEO means getting seen, so in many ways, zero-click is not so bad. Your cheesecake recipe is getting exposure. Visibility is a very good thing. That is one way of looking at it.

On the other hand, zero-click means your recipe can be seen and used and you get no click. You get no ad revenue from display ads on your website. You receive no comments and there is a little-to-no chance of a social share.

Zero-click answers appear in various SERP features, including:

• Featured snippets (Position 0)
• Knowledge panels and Google Business Profile
• People Also Ask boxes
• Local packs
• Direct answers
• AI Overview (SERPs) and AI Citations

SparkToro brought zero-click to our attention back in 2019 and since then the only thing that has changed is AI. 65% and ⅔ are near enough to one another, but the tendency is growing. When you add AI results, then it’s growing a lot.

“64.82% of searches on Google (desktop and mobile combined) ended in the search results without clicking to another web property.” (2020)

sparktoro.com

The Zero-Click Challenge for Organic Search

The key to SEO success hasn’t changed. It still lies in optimizing your content for SERP features. In short, Master SERP features. 

• Create content that targets featured snippets. Snippets are teasers. In other words, give people reasons to click.
• Structure content with clear headings and concise answers to common questions in your industry. 
• Implement schema markup to give search engines more context about your content.

The best tip we can offer remains: don’t forget your long-tail keywords. LTKs require detailed explanations and are often calls to action. They present opportunities for in-depth content that can’t be fully answered in a simple snippet. Result: people want to click through to your site for more information.

Content Marketing: Go Beyond the Basics

Content Marketing isn’t just about the swag; it’s about using your content as a marketing tool. So ask yourself: Is my content just helpful for my visitors, or does it also help my business?

• Embrace Local SEO to get those Local Pack clicks
• (Really) understand the User Intent behind the search terms
• Enhance UX with first-hand content
• Revisit E-E-A-T

E-E-A-T isn’t about bite-size content people can consume on the go. Your content should provide value. It should be something people stop and want to savor. Go beyond the SERP. 

Develop comprehensive resources that include unique insights, case studies, and expert opinions. Be a hero and offer trademark content. E-E-A-T establishes your authority and gives users a reason to visit your site for the full picture.

Niche Blogger Tip: Add infographics and other free downloads to your content These elements can’t be easily replicated in SERP features and offer a reason for people to click.

The Zero-Click Challenge for Niche Bloggers: Get Social

Do you have a blog? Then zero-click searches present several challenges for you. However, as a blogger, social media plays a more important role in your ecosystem than search. 

When you’re facing challenges from zero-click results and AI-generated content, look to your community. 

Let’s look at what you can do to recapture some of that lost traffic and revenue using your social channels:

Reduced Organic Traffic: When readers find answers without visiting your site, you lose potential visitors.

Social media is a great channel for distributing content and driving traffic back to your blog. That can potentially offset the losses you have from reduced search visibility.

Lower Ad Revenue and Diminished Affiliate Opportunities: Fewer pageviews mean decreased advertising income. Less traffic results in fewer chances to convert visitors into affiliate sales.

Some bloggers are shifting focus to social media-based monetization strategies, like sponsored posts or affiliate marketing through platforms like Instagram or TikTok.

Brand Recognition Issues: Users may get information without knowing its source.

A strong social media presence helps your content stand out amidst the noise of AI-generated content.

As website traffic decreases due to zero-click results, social media becomes an increasingly important way to engage with your audience. A click from Google is just a click; a conversation on social media is a potential sale.

Mastering the Art of AI-Friendly Content

You’re probably wondering, “How do I make my content stand out in AI results?” Enter Generative Engine Optimization or GEO.

SEO focuses on pleasing traditional search engines. GEO is all about making your content irresistible to AI. It’s about creating content that AI can easily understand, reference, and even cite. It’s like a Featured Snippet – but you are cited in a document. Pretty sweet.

Key GEO Content Strategies

How do you make your content AI-friendly? At its core, GEO content is all about three things: clarity, structure, and authority.

• Clarity:  Use clear, descriptive headings to guide people and AI through your content. Write as you would when you’re aiming to land a Featured Snippet.
• Structure: Revisit your semantic SEO structure and create a logical flow of information. Create headlines that lead readers from one connecting point to another.
• Authority: Everyone is an expert. Don’t be shy about your credentials. Back up your claims with data and links to reputable sources. But ask yourself – is your content worth referencing?

Mastering GEO doesn’t happen overnight. Neither does SEO. AI is evolving, and so should your strategies. Stay curious, keep experimenting, and don’t be afraid to adapt. 

Search machines have evolved into answering machines. AI is that out of the box.

“Google Search will continue to evolve in the direction of Search Generative Experience.”

searchengineland.com

Get Your Profit On!

Zero-click searches present challenges, but they also create opportunities. The search game hasn’t really changed: your content should provide value beyond basic information. 

Like core Google updates, zero-click and AI results are a wake-up call; you need to remain agile. 

Diversify your revenue streams, become an expert, grow your community, and keep up the good work of building a strong brand. You’ve got this!

Choose The Future of WordPress Hosting!

By investing in WordPress hosting, you’re equipping yourself with the tools and resources necessary to build a robust, secure, and high-performing online presence. Spend your time captivating and engaging with your audience. Let your hosting take care of the rest!

The bedrock of great SEO hasn’t changed much: get yourself in front of people who don’t know your name. So, save the bulk of your energy for closing sales after people find you.

It’s easy to follow slick salespeople and trends, but the truth is that we don’t need to reinvent search engine optimization but to rediscover the timeless principles that have always worked.

Rediscover SEO: Keep It Simple

The most effective strategies are often the simplest ones. SEO is no different. Search engines, at their core are answering machines. You ask a question, they answer. Remember Ask Jeeves? Even ChatGPT is just really answering questions. Answering machines aim to connect people with the most relevant, useful content that solves their problems.

While technical optimization of your website matters, nothing beats high-quality, well-structured content that these answering machines can queue up and display as the answer.

So the real gem of SEO is how to create the best answer. What makes a complete and trustworthy answer to a user’s query? Content from firsthand experience. Content that genuinely answers users’ questions. Stop trying to outsmart search algorithms. In fact, stop thinking about Google’s latest updates altogether.

Focus on creating content that serves your audience’s needs.

Complex SEO strategies fall apart when algorithms update, but clear, informative content maintains its value. Think of your content as a conversation with your readers rather than a puzzle to solve for search engines.

“There is no fixed framework for developing an SEO strategy – too many variables exist … (but) You would be surprised how many ideas present themselves if you just carefully review everything that ranks high on the SERPs for your dream keywords.”

searchengineland.com

Semantic HTML for the Win

At its very core the word semantic means, well, meaning. And you may be familiar with the term “semantic” in the SEO context – i.e. Google loves semantic SEO. Bringing meaning and context to search is the general idea of “semantic SEO.” Here’s how it works:

Without semantic search, “vegan diet and health” would just deliver all results containing any of those terms. You’d get results that include “health” but not “diet” or “vegan.” You’d see results promoting beef for heart health. How irrelevant, and possibly offensive, might that be? Semantic search, on the other hand, includes all of those terms, “vegan diet and health,” and delivers better results for the user.

Semantic HTML goes along the same vein with context and meaning. While Google is a black box (no one really knows how it works), semantic HTML is uncomplicated. Semantic HTML basically refers to the best practices of heading structure and context to links and buttons. Semantic HTML (or some people would just say “good HTML”) increases the accessibility of your website; and actually, helps make your site more sustainable.

Semantic HTML elements like <article>, <section>, <nav>, and <header> provide context that search engines use to determine the relevance and importance of your content. Just like we scan articles to find those highlights and subheadings, so do crawlers.

Using proper heading hierarchy (<h1> through <h6>), meaningful alt text for images, and appropriate meta descriptions help SEO, too. They aren’t just good practice — they’re essential for accessibility. It turns out that any good accessibility moves are also good for SEO. Why? The internet is all about words. So giving meaning to those words is key.

Semantic HTML elements create a clear content hierarchy that both search engines and users can easily navigate and understand.

HTML isn’t just about making your website look good—it’s about helping search engines understand your content’s structure and meaning. In short, HTML is good for SEO.

“Ensure your website is not only mobile-responsive but also accessible to users with special needs. Use semantic HTML, provide alt text for images, and ensure proper colour contrast. Test your site using tools like Lighthouse to identify accessibility issues. That helps your visitors and your SEO!”

Rocket.net – Top 5 Ways to Improve the CTR on Your Website

Your Page Headline is 80% of the Article

If you think about the headline in the context of semantic search, you’ll be nodding your head thinking “oh! That’s why Google dings clickbait.” A headline should do more than catch attention. It’s not just the hook that matters, but what it’s attached to. That said, your page title (SEO Title) is one of the most important factors in whether someone clicks on your content in the SERPs.

The headline of a blog article is not the same as that of a social media post. It’s different from an advertisement, too. The headline matches the intent of the content. It’s a shortened, thesis if you will. 

A well-crafted headline should do three things:

• clearly communicate the content and value proposition
• naturally incorporate keywords and intent
• spark curiosity to encourage a click

It’s worth spending as much time on your headline as you do on the rest of your content. Write your headline first but go back after you have written your article. Can you improve on your original headline? Probably!

How does your headline stand up? You can score your headlines for free with Sharethough. The headline for this article is 85%.

“Great titles are clear and compelling. They reveal what the content is about but also entice the searcher to click for more.”

semrush.com

The First Paragraph is Your Elevator Speech

A headline may be what gets people clicking on your website, but your opening paragraph is what will decide if they stay there. Think about those first ten seconds of an interview. It’s all decided then. Treat your opening paragraph with the same preparation and respect.

Your opening paragraph is also prime real estate for SERPs, your meta description, your pay-per-click ad – and much more.

If you can’t sell me your product in ten seconds, you won’t sell me your product.

• Seconds 1-3 Explain my problem (aha you “get me”)
• Seconds 4-7 Tell me how it can be solved (aha, you DO “get me”)
• Seconds 8-10 Show me how you did this for someone else (where do I sign?)

Your opening paragraph cuts through the noise. If people aren’t convinced, they won’t read the rest of your content. You need to deliver on your headline’s promise and convince readers they’ve found what they’re looking for.

If readers can’t understand your main point from the first paragraph, you’re likely losing both engagement and search visibility.

“By relying solely on Google for website traffic, you’re vulnerable to algorithm changes, ranking fluctuations, and increased competition for dwindling space in the SERPs. You’re competing against AI now, too.”

Rocket.net – Why You Can’t Rely Just on Google for Website Traffic Anymore

Keywords Keep Your Article Focused

Keywords remain fundamental to SEO, but their role has evolved. Google looks at topic clusters around search terms. AI doesn’t interest itself with keywords at all. This is a game changer because more and more people are using AI for informational searches.

Informational searches (why is the sky blue?) account for 80% of all searches. How many more years will we use Google as an answering machine? Not many.

Rather than stuffing content with repeated phrases, use keywords as a compass to keep your content focused and relevant. Keywords should guide your writing, not define it.

Here is an exercise: “Organic fish, couscous cooking time, vegan tofu, best Italian white wines.” Write a paragraph around these keywords. 

What did you come up with? 

Keywords are about intent. You probably didn’t write a story about the keywords on the list; you probably wrote a paragraph around the intent behind them.

Intent is everything. Keywords are fine for a shopping list, but not very helpful for helping your readers cook a meal.

Keeping your content focused makes it faster and more accessible. Faster wins and accessibility means you’re reaching more people — and machines. That’s the post.

“While keywords are essential for SEO, prioritize high-quality, informative content above all else. Don’t make your content read unnatural or too long by cramming in keywords. This won’t help you rank and will decrease content quality.”

ahrefs.com

Let’s Wrap This Up and Get Back to Basics

The most successful SEO strategies aren’t the most complicated ones. Get back to the basics: simple, well-structured content, strong headlines, focused topics, and clear organization. 

Content that best serves your audience’s needs, performs well in search results.

SEO isn’t about search engines; it’s about making your valuable content easily discoverable by the people who need it. Core SEO practices naturally align with good content creation practices.

The next time you’re tempted to chase the latest SEO trend, don’t. Take a step back and consider whether you’re making things more complicated than they need to be. The best approach is to rediscover what has always worked: creating valuable, well-structured content that serves your audience’s needs.

Choose The Future of WordPress Hosting!

By investing in WordPress hosting, you’re equipping yourself with the tools and resources necessary to build a robust, secure, and high-performing online presence. Spend your time captivating and engaging with your audience. Let your hosting take care of the rest!

Is WordPress Still Relevant?

It’s 2024. AI can build websites. Is it still important to be able to make a website yourself? Absolutely! Twenty years after launching, WordPress now powers almost half of all live websites. That’s over 835 million sites. WordPress is so good that we built a company around hosting it!

Why should you use WordPress for your website instead of using another system – or having AI build it? There are a lot of reasons. Here are just six of them:

• User-friendly interface
• Extensive customization options
• Flexibility for various website types
• Strong community support
• SEO-friendliness
• Cost-effectiveness

With a library of 60,000 plugins, 11,000 themes, and a global community of open-source developers, WordPress can power anything you build.

Whether you need a blog or an eCommerce platform, WordPress is cheap, easy, and good. When was the last time you got all three?

“WordPress is used by 43.4% of all the websites, which is a content management system market share of 62.7%.”

W3Techs

The internet is a busy place, and a website is your prime storefront. If you’re a newcomer, the idea of creating an online shop, or even a niche blog, might feel overwhelming. We get that! But, WordPress, the world’s most popular website builder, makes the process simple.

5 Important Steps When Building Your New WordPress Website

We have five essential steps that will take you from concept to a functional website, ready to impress and engage your audience. So, get ready to establish your brand’s unique space in the world’s busiest and most accessible marketplace!

Step 1. Choose the Right Hosting Provider

We don’t like to blow our own horn, but we’ve made a business around helping people launch professional websites. We have years of experience, a crew of trusted specialists, and 24/7 human WordPress support.

• Select a hosting provider specializing in WordPress
• Ensure the host offers features such as:
  • High-performance servers
  •  Built-in security measures
  • Automatic backups
  • 24/7 expert support

Did You Know? Rocket.net is the easiest way to host WordPress. We offer a user-friendly, yet performant WordPress hosting platform with fast and responsive customer support, seamless migrations, and a focus on simplicity and productivity.

Security is ultra-important: Here are ten ways to increase your WordPress website security. Implementing a handful of security measures for your WordPress site isn’t sufficient. Security isn’t a one-time setup; it’s an ongoing process that requires constant attention and updates.We’ve got you covered.

We also explain why Rocket.net will never be commodity hosting. Good web hosting is at the heart of any good, successful website. You need reliable, secure web space to make your site accessible online. Hosting isn’t where you should try and count pennies.

Step 2. Set Up Your WordPress Installation

You can set up WordPress easily enough. You can also have our team of experts move your WordPress sites from your existing host at no charge! Whether you have 1 or 1,000 websites, we provide unlimited free WordPress migrations with every package. With free migrations and WordPress set up already on our platform, you can skip steps 1-3.

Reminder: The best time to set up your website’s SEO is right after installing WordPress.

1. Copy all installation files into the public folder of your local/live server.
2. Create a new MySQL database.
3. Navigate to the installation URL, enter your database details when prompted, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
4. Configure basic settings:
   1. Site title and tagline
   2. Time zone and date format
   3. Permalink structure (SEO-friendly URLs)

Did you know the role WordPress hosting plays in WooCommerce and SEO? Worried that AI-powered snippets are leaving you behind in their dust? From speed to performance to conversions, WordPress hosting impacts SEO – and your online shop. Find out more!

Focus: 16 common WordPress mistakes that can hinder your SEO. There are some common WordPress mistakes you may be making with your website that can hinder your SEO efforts if left unchecked. So, grab your spacesuit because we’re about to blast off and explore them one by one!

Step 3. Select and Customize Your Theme

• Choose a responsive, mobile-friendly, and accessible theme
• Customize the theme to match your brand:
  • Upload your logo
  • Set brand colours
  • Adjust layout and typography

Did you know? Rocket.net prohibits nulled WordPress themes and plugins. Nulled plugins and themes are exact copies of existing ones and present security and ethical issues just like any other pirated software. Because of this, they are not allowed to be listed on the official WordPress Directory.

Cool New Thing! Introducing Site Templates. Rather than creating a new site every time and manually installing these plugins and/or themes you work with, you can now do it once with Site Templates and can reuse it over and over again on new installs going forward.

Step 4. Install Essential Plugins

• Security plugin (e.g., Wordfence or Sucuri)
• SEO plugin (e.g., Yoast SEO or Rank Math)
• Caching plugin for improved performance
• Backup plugin (if not provided by your host)
• Contact form plugin

Question of the Day: How many WordPress plugins are too much? WordPress plugins make life easier for the user in both the front and the back end, but how many are a good thing, and when does plugin bloat start to show? The answer depends on your website’s needs. But even here, like in many things, quality is more important than quantity.

Focus: WordPress optimization 101 – how Rocket eliminates the need for additional plugins. That’s right – fewer plugins. Every technical dependency in the form of a WordPress plugin is a potential point of failure for your website. Every potential point of failure is your responsibility as the agency of record (you). The real cost of plugin bloat is human resources, not technical debt.

Step 5. Create and Optimize Core Pages

• Design your homepage
• Add an “About Us” page
• Create a “Contact” page
• Set up your main service or product pages
• Implement a blog or news section
• Optimize all pages for SEO:
  • Use relevant keywords
  • Write compelling meta-descriptions
  • Add alt text to images

Did You Know? Rocket still recommends caching plugins – though it’s really about optimization. Why? Rocket.net handles everything speed. Caching plugins handle the experience, how the browser is instructed to handle everything loading on your site as the page is fully rendered.

Hot Tip: 8 effective SEO strategies for new websites. The most important SEO strategy for new websites is keyword research and content optimization. That’s only two strategies – we’re giving you six more. Read on!

Bonus: 5 Things Not to Do When Building a Brand-New WordPress Website

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when launching a new WordPress website. Mistakes happen, don’t worry – failure is the only way you learn –  but some mistakes should be avoided.

Security and Data Protection

• Don’t implement an automated backup system from the start to protect your site’s data and content.
• Don’t install a security plugin, use strong passwords, keep WordPress and plugins updated, or follow other security measures.

Site Performance and Optimization

• Don’t install well-maintained plugins and themes from reputable sources. Don’t remove them from your site if they are inactive.
• Don’t optimize images, enable caching, and minimize plugins to ensure fast page load times.

SEO and Visibility

• Don’t install an SEO plugin or implement basic on-page SEO practices like optimizing titles, meta descriptions, and content.

User Experience and Accessibility

• Don’t ensure your theme and design are fully responsive for mobile devices or follow accessibility best practices.
• Leave default WordPress content like sample pages and posts before launch, “to help SEO.”

Quality assurance

• Don’t check all functionality, links, forms, or displays across devices and browsers before you launch.

Don’t do these things! Instead, launch a professional, secure, and effective WordPress website together with a trusted hosting company. Remember to take your time with the setup process and double-check all critical elements before taking the site live.

Choose The Future of WordPress Hosting!

By following our checklist, you’ll ensure a solid foundation for your WordPress site, and be ready to take off. It’s not rocket science – and you can do it!

See related post on how to setup new Rocket.net Site Templates – Introducing: Site Templates

What is a Template?

A template is a pre-designed model or pattern that serves as a starting point for creating something new. Possibly even, something amazing. A template provides a consistent structure and format; it allows you to save time and effort by avoiding the need to start from nothing. How great is that? 

Templates rock and many Rocket.net customers have already started using this new feature to build out new websites.

Is Using a Template Cheating?

Absolutely not! Templates are a smart and efficient way to work. In today’s time-crunched, on-demand world of web development, online sales, and digital marketing, you need all the help you can get. 

Templates are there to help you.

The Truth is We All Use Templates

Think about it. You use templates all the time. Every day, in various aspects of your life and in your business, you use templates without even realizing it.

Think of templates as simplified schedules. 

Templates list contexts (like “write a blog post”) to flow through, but not specific times. 

You may even have a template for a typical workday. Other days might use a different template – for planning, admin, or creative projects.

Does this look familiar to you?

• Fitness center.
• Learn new course material.
• Write & publish a blog post.
• Check emails.
• Eat lunch.
• Manage Twitter calendar.
• Check on clients.

In our business workflow, we use a variety of specific templates to help us save time, too. 

For example:

Invoices and Letters

Most invoicing and writing software provides pre-designed templates you can customize with your company’s branding and specific details used in every communication.

Proposals

When pitching a project to a client, you probably have a proposal template that outlines the scope of work, pricing, and terms and conditions. Simply exchanging the specifics of each client’s project within the template makes this part of your work much easier than writing proposals from scratch.

Designs

You only have to think of Canva or Figma, right?

HTML, CSS, and Other Code

Website templates are pre-designed layouts that help you quickly create a well-designed site. Templates could include boilerplate CSS, responsive menus – anything you extensively use for your site. They simplify web design so you can spend more time with your client – or working on specific issues elsewhere.

WordPress Plugins

From contact forms to newsletters to gallery layouts to product layouts, most content-based plugins are templates. For example, WooCommerce contains template files. They are responsible for rendering the HTML markup that shapes the front end of your online store.

From the product listings and individual product pages to the shopping cart and checkout process, each content type uses a template. Templates dictate the layout, styling, and functionality of your storefront.

Even WordPress Itself

WordPress template files govern the visual representation and functionality of your website. They allow you to create various content types and use-case requirements.

Here are a few examples of the WordPress templates you probably use without thinking about them:

• Post Template Files: display the “Post” post type, crafting the layout and styling for your blog posts.
• Page Template Files: manage the “Page” post type, including built-in specific page templates for static content like homepages and about pages.
• Attachment Template Files: ensure visually appealing and user-friendly presentation of media assets like images and videos.
• Custom Post Type Templates: integrate and display content created by third-party plugins or custom-built solutions.
• Partial and Miscellaneous Template Files: support the overall user experience by handling reusable components such as headers, footers, and sidebars.

Themes establish the overall design parameters of your website. Templates play a crucial role in shaping the structure of individual pages or posts across your site.

Is a WordPress Theme a Template?

Yes. Essentially, WordPress themes are templates. They provide a pre-designed layout and styling for your website. Most WordPress users install a theme to reduce the need for extensive customization and coding.

Themes provide the foundational structure for your website, including the layout, typography, color scheme, and other design elements. Themes can be further customized and extended with plugins and custom code to meet your specific needs.

Oh and if you’re using patterns or blocks (Gutenberg), those are templates.

Patterns are Templates

Within WordPress themes, you will often find pre-designed patterns or blocks that serve as templates. Specific sections of your website, such as headers, footers, or content layouts depend on templates. Need a pricing chart? Use a pattern. You don’t need to hand-code the CSS for this anymore.

But patterns and blocks are templates and can be easily inserted and customized, saving you time and effort.

Can I Use Content Templates?

Absolutely! Many WordPress plugins offer content templates. This allows you to create pre-designed pages, posts, or custom post types with a consistent structure and formatting. 

Templates are useful for creating landing pages, sales pages, or other types of content that follow a specific, reusable layout.

If I Use the Same 6 Plugins, Can I Make That a WordPress Template?

Yes! You can create a Site Template that includes your preferred set of plugins. This helps agencies, developers, designers, and even bloggers, who work on multiple client projects with similar requirements.

By creating a template with the necessary plugins pre-installed and configured, you streamline the setup process and ensure consistency across projects – and not just with the same six plugins either. You can use the same theme, page content, and more. 

Now You Can Use Site Templates with Your Rocket.net Hosting

Want to save time in configuring themes and plugins? We have your back.

You have a specific deployment strategy when it comes to the plugins and/or themes you use for your website projects, right? With our new Site Templates, you can reuse your setup repeatedly on any new installs.

The best part? Site Templates are free! This is even more powerful when you’re building websites for a particular niche. 

Site Templates are immediately available to all Rocket.net customers. Create as many templates as you like and use them as many times as needed, all with no additional cost.

We’d Love to Show You What the Fastest WordPress Hosting Means for Your Productivity!

Want white glove service? No problem. Regardless of the plan you choose, we help you migrate your website and start building your own personal brand. Need to migrate several? We got you. 

Streamline your workflow by choosing a reliable, performant platform for websites of all sizes. The only question is when you’d like to get going.