SEO FAQs
If you have questions about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) then check out the answers below:
Who the heck are you?
Where are you?
A: I work out of an office in Newtown Sydney but live in the sunny Central Coast of NSW.
What is SEO?
A: Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of enhancing your website to get the best possible results in the natural listings. But what the heck does that mean?
Well, put simply, every website is judged by search engines on thousands of variables. The algorithms that search engines use to decide your position are a bit of a mystery and change all the time. Just to make it even more difficult, every search engine uses a different method!
So how do you ensure that your site gets the Search results you’re after on the top engines like Google, Yahoo! and Bing? You contact someone like me.
What are organic, natural search results?
A: These are the results that most of your customers want to use. They occupy the centre space on the web page. The long list of links is decided by relevance.
Why should I care about Search Engines?
A: SEO is, of course, just one part of a marketing strategy, but its importance is increasing due the number of users who use Google to find websites (around 80% of all website traffic is driven by natural search). A strong SEO strategy can lead to:
- Increased visibility for your brand.
- Improvement in overall traffic figures.
- Better-quality leads.
- Improved conversion rates.
- Reduced cost of sales.
How do Search Engines decide on their rankings?
A: Search engines use lots of different factors to decide their rankings. They send out ‘bots’ or ‘spiders’ to ‘crawl’ your website and analyse it. Each search engine has it’s own complex algorithm and are constantly updated.
What is a keyword phrase?
A: A keyword or keyword phrase is what a user types in to find your site. For example you might have typed in ‘Sydney Copywriter’ to find this site.
How do I choose which keyword phrases to target?
A: A keyword or keyword phrase is what a user types in to find your site. For example you might have typed in ‘Sydney Copywriter’ to find this site.
For more information read ‘How to choose your SEO Keywords’
Why is it so hard to get a good ranking for my chosen keyword?
A: Search engines use lots of different factors to decide their rankings. They send out ‘bots’ or ‘spiders’ to ‘crawl’ your website and analyse it. Each Search Engine has it’s own complex algorithm and they are constantly updated.
What is keyword analysis?
A: The first thing you need to decide when building a new website is which keywords and keyword phrases you want to go for. To do this, someone like me can carry out a keyword analysis, which involves a bit of research and a good understanding of business and the benefits you offer to your customers.
For more information read How to choose your SEO Keywords.
Can I pay for a high ranking?
A: You can’t pay for a good natural ranking, but you can pay for advertising.
What are paid search results or SEM?
A: Paid advertising or Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is where advertisers pay search engines to display their ad whenever someone searches for a pre-chosen keyword. They are labelled ‘Sponsored Links’ and appear at the top and the side of the search results. Google Adwords is an example of paid advertising.
What is search engine optimisation (SEO)?
A: Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the art of creating a website which is search engine friendly. This includes:
- Designing and building an SEO-friendly website.
- Deciding on keywords that are achievable.
- Using the right keywords in your copy and code.
- Driving lots of back links to your website.
- Adding content regularly to your website.
- Creating link bait.
What is link bait?
A: For more on link bait, read this article: How to create link bait.
Are directories useful?
A: For more information on directory submission, read this article:
Do directory submissions help SEO?
What is Google Places and how can it help my ranking?
A: For more information on Google Places, read this article: How to boost business with Google Places
What is back door SEO?
A: For more information on Back Door SEO, read this article.
How do I know if I’ve found a good SEO consultant or agency?
A: To learn more about how to decide if your SEO agency is good or bad, read this article: 10 Silly things other SEO consultants tell you
I’m always happy to provide recommendations for GOOD SEO agencies, so if you need one contact me. But of course I recommend you learn to DIY your SEO with my ecourse: The Recipe for SEO Success.
What now?
A: Give me a call, or drop me an email via my contact form. I’m always happy to have a chat about your project, and even if we don’t end up working together, I’m willing to pass on a few useful tips!
Want to chat?
Hello!
I'm Kate Toon
I’m an award-winning SEO copywriter and SEO consultant with heaps of experience. I help big brands and small businesses to produce engaging, creative, clever content. Now I’m ready to help you.
Love and feedback
Barbara Fiter
05:17 04 Dec 18
Kate's course has been a GAME CHANGER for my business. Improved Google ranking, huge increase in organic traffic, speedy website. Kate is super knowledgeable and has the ability to teach about SEO so it's easy to understand. Highly recommended 👌read more
Hayley Robertson
06:26 30 Nov 18
The Recipe for SEO Success course has been a game-changer for my business. The content as well as the coaching and guidance from Kate along the way has not only helped me improve my website ranking, but I also now have a much clearer vision for my business and a better way to communicate this online. Thank you Kate for the reviews, feedback and challenges I needed to improve my website.read more
Melissa Van Kasteren
09:36 29 Nov 18
Doing Kate's course was one of the best decisions I have made for my business. Great content, relevant, easy to understand. Much better to work on the SEO for my own website than to pay someone else in my situation. Can not thank Kate enough and look forward to continuing my study with her in the futureread more
Kelly Exeter
09:34 29 Nov 18
I've just spent the last few weeks completely overhauling my business website using everything I've learned from Kate's SEO course. While I knew a lot of the stuff Kate has been teaching already (because I've been designing websites for 12 years), it's been nice to have a few blanks filled, myths dispelled, and knowledge confirmed.
So I just wanted to say thank you to Kate because, while I know the new website isn't perfect, it's at least a whoooole lot better structurally and content-wise than it was before and I'm looking forward to launching it and seeing what it can do for us!read more
Kerrie McDonald
03:31 28 Nov 18
I have done a lot of online courses over the years, and Kate's 7 week Recipe for SEO Success course is by far the most involved I have ever seen the presenter.
As well as the weekly videos, Kate is constantly active in the private course Facebook group and on coaching calls, answering questions and giving encouragement. It's not like many courses where you hand over your money and are left to flounder on your own.
There is also lifetime access to the course modules and any updates, making it exceptional value for money.
If you want to take control of your own SEO, this is the course.read more
Charlotte White
02:57 25 Sep 18
I'm so glad I took this course! As a small business owner, sometimes it's hard to know where to focus your limited time and energy. This course has totally demystified SEO for me and shown me which areas I can do myself and which areas I am better off outsourcing. SEO is a very large field, but Kate breaks it all down into easily digestible chunks and little tasks to keep you on track. I'm not scared of SEO anymore.read more
Jade Salpietro
02:37 18 Sep 18
We are in the process of relaunching a 20 year old website with 20,000 members and needed to ensure our SEO wasn't hurt in the process. So I signed up for Kate's Recipe for SEO Success digital course to ensure I was across everything I needed to know. The course is amazing value and I have been recommending it to everyone I know in the digital marketing sphere. You could invest in an SEO company, or you could invest in yourself by studying with Kate Toon...I definitely support the last option.read more
Mt Baimbridge Lavender
02:21 17 Sep 18
I am so glad I decided to do the course even though life got in the way just after it started. Kate Toon you are the best. A wealth of knowledge, passionate and patient. With the ongoing access I will be able to catch up. I've already noticed a difference in my rankings and I haven't even actioned everything yet! Thanks.read more
Natalie Battaglia
05:44 04 Sep 18
I have just finished The Recipe for SEO Success and would recommend it to anyone who needs to get their head around the ‘SEO Beast’.
Having had some prior experience with SEO I knew the basics, but our ranking was slipping and it was time to up the anti. Only working 2 days a week it was important for me to understand what the key priorities were to ensure our business increased and maintained our rank.
To begin with I just wanted to learn more about SEO copywriting, but soon I realised there was a whole lot more on offer. I started with SEO Nibbles, then the 10 Day SEO Challenge, the Good Karma SEO course and have just finished the ‘big course’.
I now have the skills and tools to complete the majority of my own SEO tasks, but even better, if I do choose to outsource the task I have the knowledge and confidence to check the work on completion to ensure I receive exactly what I pay for.
Thanks Kate!read more
Kerri B
11:01 03 Sep 18
Sometimes we make awesome, game-changing decisions and for us, signing up for Kate Toon’s Recipe for SEO Success Course was one of them. Kate’s depth of knowledge on SEO combined with her easy going, straight forward delivery made this course the best money we’ve ever spent on SEO.
We went from having scattered, confused knowledge about SEO and ended up with a comprehensive understanding and a clear plan of how to tackle future SEO queries. The course itself is worth every cent (probably more) however the bonus of having guarenteed forever-more access to the regularly updated content makes this an ongoing and invaluable SEO resource.
For small businesses trying to get their heads around SEO or just to inform themselves so they can confidently manage an outsourced resource, we urge you to jump, both feet in, to this course.read more
Angela Rodgers
08:22 31 Aug 18
TL;DR Kate is great. SEO works. Buy Kate's stuff.
I've bought nearly every Kate Toon product there is... no, really! I'm a member of her Clever Copywriting School and I've just graduated from her Recipe for SEO Success course.
Kate is kind, clever, and always offers 5 x more value than you expect. She's had a huge impact on my business and life for someone I've only hung out with online (in about a zillion Zoom calls!).
Specifically, her SEO course goes deep and detailed into what it takes to make Google happy. But she structures it in a way that's not overwhelming, gives you plenty of support, and gets you results.
Yep - even though I've only implemented about half of the learnings so far (it's a work in progress), I can already see results, and I'm confident that this will translate to more leads for my business in the near future.read more
Megan Crockford
05:22 30 Aug 18
Kate's Recipe for SEO Success course is a must for anyone who has a website or wants to learn about SEO. As a communications specialist, SEO writing is a service I offer. I've spent years studying text books and researching the subject but always wondered if I was missing something. Nothing brings together all the elements of SEO in one concise, user-friendly and reasonably priced course like Kate's does.
There isn't enough space here to tell you all the great things about this course - so to sum it up I'll just say "get on board!!" It's the best money you'll ever spend and you get life access to the materials.read more
Samara Parish
00:28 23 Aug 18
I was sick of poor service when working with digital marketing companies, so I completed the Recipe for SEO Success so that I could better understand what people were charging me for. Within a few weeks I could see that I was being taken for a complete ride by a number of digital marketing companies. Knowledge is power, and now I don't have to worry about whether I'm getting what I paid for. I can do it myself and know that I'm doing all the right things.read more
Mama Bear Communications
03:59 21 Aug 18
This is definitely one of the best courses I have done to date. It's perfect for marketers and small business owners wanting to learn more about SEO.
The best thing about the course is the way it's structured. You have access to Kate's coaching videos with notes and action steps each week.
In addition to this, Kate offers weekly coaching calls and a dedicated Facebook group.
No other course offers this much content. Kate brings a great energy to what can be a technical subject matter.
I'd highly recommend this course for those wanting to grow their business using SEO.read more
AMAC Showerscreens & Robes
11:39 20 Aug 18
I have just completed the big SEO 7 week course and have been very impressed with the amount of content in the course. I am a tradie and self taught myself SEO and really learned through trial and error. I wish I had found this course a year ago as I would have saved myself a lot of wasted time. Kate gives a no b.s. approach to teaching, which I really liked. There is a good structure to the course, but with a no pressure to get everything done, as we are all busy with businesses and life etc. I highly recommend this course for anybody wanting to upskill or even refresh their skills. Sometimes it's the small things you learn that can have a big impact on your rankings. Thanks Kate I really enjoyed this course.
Regards
Allan Mcleanread more
Nerissa Bentley
06:30 20 Aug 18
I have just completed Kate's SEO Recipe for Success course and it was worth every cent!
Prior to this course, I felt that SEO was a huge beast that I would never learn to tame. Having done the course, I've realised that SEO is a bigger beast than I first thought - BUT now I know how to wrangle it!
Each week was focused on a single SEO-focused module, with easy-to-follow video tutorials (that you can watch in your own time). Alongside these were actions to take - also laid out in step-by-step video format. Detailed notes and action sheets also accompanied each module.
Weekly coaching calls were invaluable, as they provided me with a forum to ask any questions that I had. These calls also provided an opportunity to learn from other members of the course.
The best part of this course is that once you've purchased it, you have life-time access to it - which means you can dip in and out of it, whenever you need to - eliminating the need for you to 'cram it all in' before the course expires.
I highly recommend this course to anyone who feels overwhelmed by SEO, or who needs to get a better handle on it. Kate is really committed to helping you learn, and you'll walk away from this course having learned a LOT!read more
Rebecca Hunt
02:23 15 Jul 18
When I did Kate’s course a few years ago I saw immediate results and success. Kate’s methods are fun, fresh and easy to follow. But I admit I got complacent and I left our SEO be for about 18 months – “if it ain’t broke…”. However, we work in a competitive market and like all good things for your business, SEO needs reviewing and refreshing periodically. When I needed it, Kate was there with great advice and her course content (which is regularly updated) is available for life time access. After a quick refresher we’re back in the game again!read more
Kylie Meller
07:42 24 May 18
Fantastic SEO course no matter what you level of knowledge is. Kate keeps it simply, makes it easy to digest and wow you with her knowledge. Worth every cent you spend on it. Your business will thank you!read more
Your Remedy
07:26 24 May 18
This course is a "must do" for anyone with small business website who wants to get their head around SEO. The course is outstanding value for money. The content is engaging, easy to understand and is combined with actions encouraging you to immediately implement the knowledge. The course is on-line, however the amount of support Kate provides in her coaching calls and Facebook group create a personal and friendly touch. Most importantly you get results! My website traffic has increased by 20% in 6 weeks and conversions are also up by 34%. Definitely the best marketing investment I've made! Thanks, Kate.read more
Vanessa Rose
23:04 17 May 18
Such an indepth SEO course that has helped me understand SEO and has given me the roadmap to implement good SEO tactics for long term traffic. Heaps of coaching calls and support. Would definitely recommend the course for small businesses who want to tackle their SEO head onread more
Angela Zegir
02:13 16 May 18
I was reluctant to sign up for the course as I was worried I would be in over my head. But I did sign up and yes at times I was in over my head. What saved me was the exceptional volume of support from Kate both in the weekly 1 hour calls and the Facebook group. I have learnt so much relevant information to put into action for my business. At the very least if I outsourced SEO in the future I would have so much deeper knowledge of what's being done and able to hold them accountable. But for now I am adding SEO to my skill set and seeing some huge improvements on my site.read more
Gary Cooper
07:10 01 May 18
I have just done the seven week "Big Course" – as Kate likes to call it.
When I started it, I had no idea of the depth and reach of SEO, and the impact that each tweak has throughout the trail that leads to your ultimate result on Google.
I can only compare it to going away on holiday to a city that you don't know - for the first few days you are completely lost – then as you familiarise yourself with your surroundings and become comfortable, the jigsaw comes together, and you can find your way around (even taking cheeky shortcuts here and there).
So thank you – thank you for putting this together – thank you for all your efforts in explaining, to idiots like me, how to find my way around.
I'd recommend anyone with the slightest need to get ranked on Google to jump at this chance – it's your very own SEO sat nav ...read more
Discreetly Fit Pelvic Floor Reform
01:41 30 Apr 18
“When I was pregnant I was overwhelmed by the amount of information in regards to what a Mum needs to know. When I finally found a book that generously offered reliable and practical information, I felt incredibly grateful and super lucky. This book indeed helped me in priceless ways. I feel very much the same about Kate’s SEO course. It is that very resource you need if you want your website to fulfil its purpose and serve your business. Terrific value for money!”read more
Elly Fischer
05:33 24 Apr 18
I''m just finishing the Recipe for SEO success ecourse. Wow. What a brilliant course. Packed to the brim with so much great information and learnings. It's excellent value for money. Kate really knows her stuff.read more
Matthew Tutty
04:51 20 Apr 18
Kate - Thank you, you are a Wonder Woman. I have just completed your SEO Nibbles and SEO 10 Day challenge. Both these courses have been on my to do list for over 12 months. I finally dived in and completed both and being super pumped I have now just signed up for your SEO good Karma course which I'm super excited about. your knowledge, advice and support is invaluable and super easy to get. The changes / updates I have done myself to my website already have helped me with some wins!!! Thank you. I feel confident to take back and lead my own SEO. I highly recommend Kate and her SEO courses - thank you so much Kate for everything that you do and offer.read more
Alice Bullivant
11:00 10 Apr 18
Kate's knowledge, advice and support is invaluable. Every single time I have followed her advice, things have improved for my business, and so much so that I invested in her full SEO course with the 1:1 option. This course is a must for small businesses that want to succeed - I should have done it much earlier. I cannot recommend Kate or her SEO course enough - thank you so much Kate for everything that you do and offer.read more
Casey Bryden
05:18 10 Apr 18
I'm currently working through the Degustation Recipe for SEO Success and so far my only regret is not having done it sooner. I can now clearly see the SEO opportunities for my business and I understand the actions that I need to take to get my business to the next level.
Kate gets straight to the point and, while she clearly has the technical expertise, she manages to speak in layman terms to us non-SEO experts. The course is easily digestible, with short learnings and actions in each module, making it easy to get through between family and work life.
If you do one thing for your business, sign up to one of Kate's courses. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm excited about SEO! Thanks Kate!read more
Third & Public
02:45 10 Apr 18
What a fantastic course - I'd been putting it off for so long - but I knew it would be worth it when I finally took the plunge. And it was. My knowledge has soared and my confidence also. It will be incredible to provide our clients with so much additional value moving forward. Thank you so much Kate. Your SEO course is without a doubt an absolute winner.read more
Nicole Cordony
02:05 05 Apr 18
I just had a one hour degustation chat with Kate. By far the most valuable hour I have ever spent on marketing in my 17 year marketing career (seriously). I was blown away by how much we covered in the hour session, and I have never felt clearer about the path to SEO success for my business. Thanks so much Kate, you really are the expert!"read more
Stevie Dillon
19:21 12 Feb 18
Thanks Kate for your Wordpress for SEO course, it was super helpful in building my Wordpress website and your extra assistance was appreciated.read more
Cathy Devlin
11:14 24 Jan 18
I recently started Kate's Recipe for Success course and cannot recommend it highly enough. Kate cuts straight to the point on how to improve your SEO in easy to follow, actionable steps and provides amazing support and guidance to all questions from members in the group. Her knowledge is up to date, relevant and she has a great sense o humour to make the course fun too. Thank-you Kate!!read more
Dierdre El
07:33 23 Jan 18
If the thought of your business staying the same makes you feel sick to your stomach - you need to do Kate's course. You owe it to yourself to learn from the very best in SEO.
I recently completed Kate Toon's Recipe for SEO Success Course, and it was without doubt, the best thing I've EVER done for my business! After a few short weeks of implementing Kate's teachings, I watched my rankings dramatically improve in Google search results for my chosen keywords, and also obtained a top spot in the local pack and knowledge graphs.
Previously, the majority of my new clients came from referrals but they're now coming from Google. Website traffic is also increasing daily, which is a direct result of what Kate teaches you to implement.
A non-jargony course that's easy to understand and thoroughly enjoyable to complete, Kate's incredible support and sense of humour is a winning combination for any business.
I cannot recommend Kate's courses highly enough! Thanks Kate, you're a bl**dy good egg!read more
Regis Gapaillard
01:30 05 Jan 18
I have done many online courses over the years and Kate's SEO course is one of the best ones. She has extensive knowledge about everything SEO and marketing, but the best part is that her courses are very practical and based on her own experience of what works. You can start implementing on day 1 and get quick results. I keep coming back to her videos to increase my knowledge and improve SEO results for myself and my clients. Thanks so much Kate.read more
Gavin Hodgins
03:46 19 Dec 17
This is an unbelievably good course. I've followed Kate for a while before decided to take the plunge into the SEO recipe for success course, and I now only wish I had of done this sooner! The course itself is really well structured, there is a lot of amazing content that you get, plus the weekly coaching calls are wickedly good - they really helped me stay focused week to week to ensure I got through and did everything (almost) on time.
I can now confidently run the SEO on my sites,, which is going to save me around $4k per annum - considering I paid less than this for the course in total, Im very happy with the return on my investment.
Seriously, just go and do this course, you will not regret it. Thanks Kate, your an SEO rockstar!read more
Info | Craig Parry Photography
00:17 18 Dec 17
I signed up for Kate Toon's SEO course so that I would feel more empowered when chatting to our web guys about our online presence and strategy, and to improve my own skills so that we could start implementing regular content myself.
With each week building on the next, I found Kate's course easy to understand and highly beneficial. Not only did I learn about creating content the 'right' way, I've also learnt how to ensure our site is 'healthy' and has a good, solid foundation.
There's loads of useful info and resources so the ability to dip back in and work through each step even after the course has ended is a bonus.
Highly recommend. Thanks Kate!read more
Claire Gamble
12:19 12 Dec 17
I can fully recommend Kate Toon’s Recipe for SEO Success course. I’ve spent loads of time in the past reading articles and speaking to SEO ‘experts’, but apart from picking up a few tips here and there, I still didn’t feel that confident navigating my way around the vast SEO universe – especially the technical side of things. Kate’s course has been the answer to all my problems! It is so thorough, easy to understand and brings together everything in one place – without any nonsense or smoke and mirrors. I was blown away with how much amazing content and resources are included in the course. There’s so much more than I was expecting and I know I'll be revisiting the materials over and over again.read more
Jasmine Andrews
04:23 12 Dec 17
Before I did Kate's course "The Recipe for SEO Success", I was offering half-assed SEO services to my web design clients. I sort of knew some of the steps to good SEO but didn't have a process to follow to ensure a consistently high quality outcome. Kate's course taught me a great process to follow, plus how to carry out each step thoroughly and for best results. She really knows her stuff and isn't stingy with sharing her years of experience with her students. I've enjoyed it so much that I somehow ended up registering for her Copywriting Conference because I trust Kate and her expertise so much.read more
Alicia Kacar
01:13 11 Dec 17
Kate Toon is the real deal. I've just completed the Recipe for SEO Success e-course, which is hands down the best course I've ever taken - and I've taken a few! Kate combines easy-to-follow lessons with loads of support, tools and resources. In a few short weeks, I've reduced the load time of my website by more than half, and made it to page 1 of Google for several of my keywords. I've even nabbed 2nd position for one particular phrase, which wasn't even on my radar before the course. Thanks Kate - you rock!read more
Stephanie Campanella
21:51 28 Nov 17
I've just done Kates course and she's spectacular. A real human teaching some awesome tech. Thank You Kate!!read more
Simon Mitchell
22:57 12 Nov 17
Kate Toon's Recipe for SEO Success course offers a detailed (but incredibly easy to understand) insight into the world of SEO.
I was a little unsure about making this investment, but considering the amount of information you get (plus lifetime access) it's actually extremely good value for money. I highly recommend the course for both SEO newbies and people who want to extend their skills in this area.read more
I'm ready and waiting
SEO FAQ was last modified: October 10th, 2017 by