EP 401 | Micro Conversions and the ROI of SEO with Kevin Indig
Mar 11, 2021
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Kevin Indig, Director of SEO at Shopify, discusses the ROI of SEO and the concept of micro conversions. They explore the responsibilities of a Director of SEO, the challenges of predicting ROI in SEO, and the need for CEOs to be adaptable in 2021. They also discuss setting up measuring the true SEO ROI and the modern understanding of SEO.
Measuring SEO success should go beyond keyword rankings and focus on micro conversions that reflect user behavior and intent on the website.
To calculate the true ROI of SEO, it is essential to build comprehensive models that relate SEO investments to business goals, revenue, and specific metrics like leads and sales.
Deep dives
The Importance of SEO ROI and C-Suite Buy-In
In this podcast episode, Kevin Indig, Director of SEO at Shopify, discusses the importance of SEO ROI and the obligations of C-suite buy-in. He emphasizes that SEO requires investment in various resources and highlights the challenge of making promises due to the unpredictable nature of SEO outcomes. He suggests building trust by starting small, showcasing the potential of SEO, and educating stakeholders. Kevin also emphasizes the need for SEOs to take responsibility for educating executives and making SEO more relatable to the bottom line.
Delving Beyond Keyword Rankings
The podcast explores the misconception of focusing solely on keyword rankings to measure SEO success. Kevin emphasizes the importance of considering the entire customer journey and leveraging micro conversions as metrics to gauge progress. He encourages SEOs to analyze behavior and optimize paths on the website, allowing for a better understanding of user intent and improving conversions. Kevin also highlights the need for adopting a modern understanding of SEO that prioritizes fulfilling user needs and integrating various non-traditional signals such as design, layout, and readability.
Overcoming the Challenges of Predicting SEO ROI
Kevin discusses the challenges of predicting SEO ROI and urges SEOs to go beyond simple keyword volume and cost-per-click metrics. He suggests building comprehensive models that relate SEO investments to the business model, revenue, and specific goals like leads, signups, and sales. Kevin also emphasizes the importance of starting with small-scale experiments, showcasing potential returns, and establishing trust with stakeholders by demonstrating the impact of SEO actions.
Evolution of SEO and the Need for Adaptability
Kevin highlights how SEO has evolved and requires adaptability from professionals. He stresses the shift towards understanding user behavior, mapping behavior patterns, and aligning the website experience with user intent. Kevin advises SEOs to let go of preconceived notions of SEO success and embrace a more user-centric approach. He also emphasizes the importance of continuous education, staying updated with industry changes, and advocating for the value of SEO within organizations.
Kevin Indig, Director of SEO at Shopify, shares some truly radical concepts towards how SEOs and business stakeholders should understand the ROI of SEO. Moving away from linear models and departing from transaction-based success goals leads us to understand behavioral modeling. Micro Conversions map our trail of understanding of how valuable SEO really is now and into the future.
[00:04:27] Kevin Indig’s history
[00:07:24] What are the Director Of SEO responsibilities?
[00:13:14] Did Shopify get flooded with help requests from new businesses during COVID?
[00:15:50] Calculating the ROI on SEO
[00:20:32] How are CEOs needing to be adaptable in 2021 towards SEO?
[00:24:18] How to set up measuring the true SEO ROI, the Total Addressable Market (TAM)
[00:32:58] What needs to be the modern understanding of SEO?
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