How to Find an Affordable SEO Company Without Compromising Quality

How to Find an Affordable SEO Company Without Compromising Quality
SEO

Anyone else here tired of the cost of good SEO going up and up?

These days, it feels like life gets more and more expensive.

College tuition. Groceries. And don’t even get me started on the topic of home mortgages.

But what do you do when an essential tool for your business (i.e., your search engine optimization) becomes so expensive that it eats away at your profit?

The balance of quality and affordability is getting trickier for everyone.

As Google algorithms evolve, the job of formulating and implementing a good SEO campaign becomes more challenging, requiring more time, more expertise, and (you guessed it)…more money.

So if we’re all stuck in the same leaky SEO boat, what are people doing about it?

In this article, we’ll look at some strategies for finding an affordable SEO service that delivers quality as well. (Yes, this is possible).

How Much Does Quality SEO Cost?

Some companies have opted to do their own SEO, since, as with most things, the DIY route can save money.

But, just like your haircut or your living room renovation project, the result of a DIY effort may be fine, but unless you’re already an expert, it won’t be up to the standards of a professional.

Another solution is the time-honored “cheap SEO” route. But it’s not a route we’d recommend.

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What’s The Problem With Cheap SEO?

Cheap SEO firms are not hard to find. They’re everywhere.

Simply typing the words “cheap SEO service” into Google yields a wealth of results. These all make similar claims: for a minimal one-time payment, they promise that your website will land on the first page of the Google organic search results.

If you’re serious about saving money, you can even take a look at a site like Fiverr to find a freelancer to do your SEO for you. Some offer their services for as little as $5.

But what do you get when you contract with one of these low-cost SEO firms?

You may be better off not knowing.

What many have found is that cheap often translates to poor quality. In the long run, this can cost you more money than it saves.

Most freelancers have a limited skill set. That’s because it’s rare for one person to have the money or the time to acquire the full range of skills involved in good local SEO.

And the frequent changes to Google’s algorithms exacerbate this problem.

According to Moz, Google changed its search algorithms over 3000 times in 2018 alone.

And they’re still going strong, as you can see from this chart from SEMRush, one of the top traffic analysis tools, showing SERP volatility changes for just a few days in March.

Because of these changes, there is no guarantee that a site can stay on the first page of the results once it lands there. Not without keeping it up-to-date.

This is why good local SEO is an ongoing investment of time and money, rather than a one-time project.

It’s kind of like grocery shopping or cleaning the house that way.

Another problem with cheap SEO is that since they’re lacking the right skill set, many cheap SEO services resort to black-hat tactics like keyword stuffing, cloaking, and poor-quality or duplicate content.

These sneaky, time-saving techniques can come back to bite you.

The Google Webmaster Guidelines explicitly state that the search engine penalizes websites for things like automatically generated content, unoriginal content, and cloaking: all the hallmarks of cheap SEO.

To sum up? The cheaper it seems, the more it can cost you.

What Does a Reasonable (Yet Still Affordable) SEO Company Cost?

Quality SEO shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. But in general, paying a bit more for a quality but affordable SEO package delivers the biggest bang for your buck.

A 2019 survey by Backlinko found that those respondents who spent more than $500 per month on an SEO campaign were 53.3% more likely to report themselves “extremely satisfied” than those who spent less than that.

If we take a closer look at what goes into a quality but affordable SEO package, these numbers make total sense.

According to the US Department of Labor, the median pay for skilled copywriters in 2019 was $63,200 per year or $30.39 per hour. Web developers typically earn $73,760 per year and an hourly wage of $35.46.

What this means is that if you want to hire someone who has the true skill set to do the work, you have to compensate them at a rate that is comparable to what they could earn elsewhere.

If you find a professional SEO service or freelancer whose rates are less than this, it is a red flag that they may not have the skills or practices that you need for quality SEO techniques over the long term.

MOST Websites STRUGGLE WITH GENERATING NEW Leads & sales…WE FIX THAT!

Since 2009, we have helped many businesses grow strategically through SEO. Let us do it for you!

 

What Does Quality SEO Look Like?

For an example of quality and affordable SEO techniques in action, take a look at this case study.

An unnamed company had worked with some mediocre SEO services which failed to deliver long-term results. This left them with a hefty investment in pay-per-click to increase their traffic.

In the hands of HigherVisibility, the quality of content dramatically improved.

SEO specialists performed strategic keyword research, removed duplicate content and broken links and replaced them with relevant backlinks and quality content.

As a result, they experienced a 1321% increase in organic traffic.

How To Find an Affordable SEO Company

So as a business owner, how can you too experience this kind of dramatic, long-term improvement in your SEO without breaking the bank?

First, be clear about your goals.

Yes, we know it sounds like generic advice from the business class you took in college but good goals get good results.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Multiply organic traffic by x%. This is truly a win-win, because not only does it bring more potential customers, but it also signals your value to Google.
  • Increase eCommerce sales. Did you know that online sales account for almost 10% of all retail sales in the US? Focusing on your eCommerce sales is a great way to make sure you get a piece of that pie.
  • Improve your link profile. Regarding backlinks, it’s all about value. You want to link to credible, authoritative sites.
  • Increase your featured snippets. What kind of snippets are likely to earn high rankings? Effective use of snippets is a good way to grab more organic traffic if you do it the right way.

Align SEO goals with your company goals, and make sure they reflect what you need from your website.

Most companies use their website primarily as a digital marketing tool. So it’s a good idea to align your goals with your marketing efforts.

And realistically, this is the area where you’re likely to see the biggest results. According to Hubspot, you’re 13 times more likely to improve your ROI by prioritizing marketing efforts.

Take a look at this visual from Equinet Academy outlining the formation of SEO and marketing strategies.

(Image Source)

If you are a construction company, for example, you might want to set a goal of more qualified traffic, those who are more likely to contract for your services.

If you’re a realtor, you may consider optimizing your site for real estate searches.

Once you’re clear on goals, you can communicate them more clearly to an SEO service, resulting in a more satisfactory outcome.

Safari Digital found that 82% of those who implemented an SEO strategy were successful: a testament to the power of clear planning and goal-setting.

It also helps you match those goals more precisely with the right SEO service… one that has proven results in meeting your end goals.

Once you have an affordable SEO service that is on board with your goals, it leads to more trust and transparency.

After numerous bad experiences with low-quality SEO, Allied Van Lines was able to build such a relationship of trust and transparency with HigherVisibility. A technical and competitor audit along with weekly status calls kept them on the same page as we dove into more strategic deliverables.

The result was a 30% increase in organic visibility and an 11.97% increase in organic leads.

So when you look for an affordable SEO agency, it’s worth asking whether they’ll maintain ongoing communication and alignment (or realignment) with your company’s SEO goals.

What Do Affordable SEO Packages Include?

With such an array of services on offer, it can be tricky to hone in what you need in an SEO package.

To some degree, this will vary depending on your industry and your company/digital marketing goals.

But no matter what, there are three essential elements that you should look for.

1. Quality Content Creation

No matter the industry, content creation is the surest path to increased engagement and conversions. Content creation is 3 times more effective in generating leads than outbound marketing.

Good content is substantive, authoritative, and relevant. It establishes you as an expert and aligns neatly with the needs of your audience.

Of course, as with everything else in digital marketing, the definition of quality is kind of a moving target.

It changes to adapt to the changing needs of a digital audience, as reflected by evolving search algorithms.

An expert will be able to deliver content that is consistently high quality and to tweak it as necessary to meet algorithm changes and evolving reader demands.

2. Technical SEO Strategies

Do users enjoy visiting your website? Does your keyword strategy guarantee that people can find you easily through voice search? Does your site load quickly via mobile? Do you have click optimized Title Tags?

All of these technical elements are critical for your site to rank.

In February 2019, Google announced that even a one-second delay in loading your page can reduce conversions by 20%.

Here’s a graphic that shows the casualties of page loading time in more detail.

(Image Source)

In today’s digital world, voice search and mobile experience are key technical elements of any good website. So it’s important to find an affordable SEO agency who can deliver these.

But, keep in mind that while voice search and mobile experience are crucial right now, this again could change, and a new set of technical strategies may be necessary for the future.

Take a look at this graphic illustrating the changes in good SEO consulting from the early 2000s until today.

Just in the last ten years, we’ve seen an evolution as content became more important, and black hat strategies like keyword stuffing gradually lost their effectiveness.

So of course, there is no telling what technical strategies may be important a few years from now.

A quality but affordable SEO consultant will be nimble in adjusting to these evolving technology needs.

3. Quality Backlinking

High-quality backlinks to authoritative sites are a clear signal of your trustworthiness.

Quality backlinks are such a clear signal of value that they are one of Google’s top three ranking factors.

You absolutely can’t afford to ignore them, and neither can your SEO consultant.

The Importance of Customized SEO Packages

Varco Pruden Buildings (VP) experienced firsthand the importance of choosing the right SEO package.

After performing a full analysis of their website, Higher Visibility created and implemented a digital marketing strategy just for them.

Far from the one-size-fits-all approach employed by less reputable SEO consulting services, they tailored their approach to VP’s needs.

Ultimately, the package that worked for them included internal linking, content development, and quality link building.

The result was dramatic.

VP increased their organic traffic by 700% and rose to page 1 of the search rankings.

As you can see from this example, the money spent on quality SEO consulting can directly impact the amount of money you make.

Conversely, any amount you pay to a cheap, low-quality SEO consulting service can end up counting as a loss, because it won’t bring in results, and may even harm your bottom line.

Remember the time that you paid a cheap, freelance surgeon to perform your knee surgery?

Neither do we. Not only would it be painful, but ultimately, very costly.

In Conclusion

So is the price of professional SEO services still going up?

The short answer is yes.

But in the long run, professional SEO services are still more affordable than cheap SEO.

Why?

Because only an SEO expert can deliver high-quality content, technical expertise, and trustworthy backlinks. And these are the elements that have consistently proven to drive organic traffic and, ultimately, conversions.

Just like a good surgeon, a qualified SEO expert will spend time talking to you about what you need and helping you set realistic goals.

Because in the long term, there is nothing more affordable than a good investment.

MOST Websites STRUGGLE WITH GENERATING NEW Leads & sales…WE FIX THAT!

Since 2009, we have helped many businesses grow strategically through SEO. Let us do it for you!

 

The post How to Find an Affordable SEO Company Without Compromising Quality appeared first on HigherVisibility.

Catnip Ban In The United Kingdom

Catnip Ban In The United Kingdom

Why does my cat come in the bathroom with me?

He does so because you fascinate him and he tries to understand you! your cat loves the routine, and nothing pleases him more than to share yours.

To stay well refreshed, he likes the bathroom because it is the coolest room in your home and the toilet bowl and fresh bathroom tiles help to lower his body temperature.

At present our information about this plant is limited to a list of the nurseries that supply it. You can plant burdock in your garden, it grows easily from seeds planted in spring and then thin seedlings to 6 inches apart. In its second year burdock grows a tall flower stem with leaves attached. Sow burdock seeds and cultivate the root for its sweet, mildly pungent flavor; high nutritional value; and curative medicinal properties. You have entered an incorrect email address! as for growing burdock in pots, it must be avoided, because of its deep roots. Irrigate in order to keep the soil slightly moist but avoid keeping the soil waterlogged. The burdock is found all over the uk and likes grassland, woodland, hedgerows and wastelands that are relatively untouched by human hand so that it can complete its two year lifecycle.

catnip uk ban picture

Can you eat catmint leaves?

Catnip is grayish-green and can grow up to three feet tall. Catnip sprays or bubbles. The smell is distinctive. If your plant doesn’t have squarish or blocky stems, it’s probably not lemon balm, either. To lighten things up a bit around here by talking about something other than cat illnesses keep in mind that catnip is invasive, so plant responsibly and enjoy! it likes light, sandy soil and grows best in full sun.
Be prepared to contain it, since catnip like other mints, will spread rapidly. You might also want to note that cat thyme isn’t actually a thyme, it just looks like thyme plants.

Should I give my cat catnip?

Like other mints, catnip likes to grow in full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade. The catnip plants are drought resistant, which makes the plants low maintenance, and do best in well-drained soil. Planting catnip in clumps makes a nice effect in the landscape. You’ll need to space your catnip plants 18-20” apart to give the plants enough room to grow to full size. You can mix catnip in with other perennials like echinacea, make it part of an herb garden, or add it to a pollinator-friendly garden space. If you know your cat loves it, plan a little area of catnip somewhere accessible for your feline to enjoy.

The discussion on whether giving catnip is ethical has been an ongoing one on social media and other websites. On reddit, for example, one person commented, think of it as your cat going out for a few beers after work. to that, another reader from an alcoholics anonymous family responded, asked whether it was ethical to give someone a drug in an otherwise substance-free home. I asked the nonprofit people for the ethical treatment of animals where they stand on this issue.

Catnip is a bizarre phenomenon for a few reasons. It’s the only recreational drug we routinely give to animals, and though it basically makes them freak out — rolling on the ground, drooling, and mashing their face into wherever the catnip was sprinkled — it has essentially no effect on us.

Catnip to be banned in legal high crackdown

Catnip soon to be made illegal to sell in the uk. The uk government have confirmed catnip will be banned under new landmark legislation that will prohibit the production, distribution, sale and supply of legal highs or new psychoactive substances (nps). Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, catswort, or catmint, is a species of the genus nepeta in the lamiaceae family, native to southern and eastern europe, the middle east, central asia, and parts of china.

Cut catnip

Food is exempted, but what about catnip and flowers?

It has a square stem which is sort of hollow, and circles of tight flower buds at the top. Why does a cat rub itself on catnip?  catnip is grayish-green and can grow up to three feet tall.  However, it is advisable not to give your cat too much catnip as it can cause your cat to be sick. The name comes from the name of the city in germany, where the plant originated. The plant has triangle-like leaves that feel fuzzy and at this time of year are prolly beginning to have pinkish buds. It is a plant that is easy to grow in north america and has feather like, light green foliage with lavender flowers.

The UK Government to make Catnip illegal under the new Psychoactive Substances bill

The psychoactive substances bill will ban anything that has psychoactive effects on the human brain, with only a few exemptions from the act such as dangerous, government approved legal highs like alcohol and tobacco. A home office spokesman confirmed that once the legislation is passed, catnip would have to be removed from pet shops and the pet department aisles of supermarkets throughout the uk or vendors risked prosecution and up to seven years in prison.

Tories to ban Catnip.

A letter sent to Government, politicians have been trying for years to ban Catnip.

Dear david cameron,
There are many reasons why the psychoactive substance bill is flawed, but the fact that it would defacto ban the selling of catnip, bought by many cat owners for recreational use by cats, is the last straw. As catnip can be smoked by humans and is reported as having a calming effect, it would fall under this legislation and be banned from being sold on the high street. Does this mean it would be regulated and our cats would need vet prescriptions for it? if so will government cover the cost so catnip is available to all cat owners? would people be still be allowed to grow catnip in their gardens or will they now face police raids if they do? has the world gone mad?.

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ETH Fees Surge to All Time High After the Crypto Passed the $1,000 Mark

ETH Fees Surge to All Time High After the Crypto Passed the ,000 Mark

ETH Fees Surge to All Time High After the Crypto Passed the $1,000 Mark

After the ether token surged past the $1,000 mark on January 3, the average transaction fee on the network similarly soared to a new all-time high (ATH) of $17.41, some 24 hours later. Although the average fee has since retreated, data on January 8 shows that the latest average fee at $9.79. This figure still well above the $3.56 seen on the first day of the new year.

Resurgent ETH fees

Before the new ATH, the Ethereum network’s previous highest average fee of $12.54 was recorded on September 1, 2020. At that time, some crypto enthusiasts attributed this surge to the decentralized finance (defi) hype. However, as the defi mania began to dissipate, ETH transaction fees gradually dropped.

ETH Fees Surge to All Time High After the Crypto Passed the $1,000 Mark

However, as recent data shows, the network’s transaction fees, which averaged less than $5 for much of Q4 of 2020, have now stayed above $9 for all but two days of January 2021. This return of high fees on the network comes more than a month after ETH’s migration to a proof of stake (POS) consensus mechanism.

Meanwhile, the latest data shows that at the current fee levels, it now costs the same or even less to transact on the BTC network than on the ETH network. To illustrate, in the period during which ETH fees surged to the new ATH, transaction fees on the BTC have remained within the same range. For instance, during the entire Q4 period, fees on the BTC network have only peaked at $13.41 on October 31.

ETH Fees Surge to All Time High After the Crypto Passed the $1,000 Mark

For much of Q4 of 2020, the fees on the Bitcoin network have fluctuated between the October 31 high of $13.41 and $1.44 the lowest average in that period. Similarly, on the BCH network, whose crypto is up by more than 100% since October 1, fees remain less than $0.01 per transaction.

Upgrade to Fix Problem of High Fees

Meanwhile, Kamil Brejcha, Founder at Dexfin offers the possible reason why ETH fees have spiked and how ongoing updates will fix this. Brejcha explains:

“We face high ETH fees because the Ethereum network still relies on miners to be block producers. The current update is called the Beacon chain, which allows depositing Ethereum for staking nodes. These nodes run on their own blockchain, which is not yet part of the mainnet.”

The Dexfin founder also details the upgrading process which starts with the Beacon chain. In 2021, the next Shard chain will follow before the merging of the two in the year 2022 or later. After that, the “transaction speed should improve more, also cutting the gas fee.”

What do you think is causing the fees on the ETH network to go up? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.

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The SEO Vault: Episode 70

The SEO Vault: Episode 70

The SEO Vault: Episode 70

 

 

Episode 70 Table of Contents 

– Google confirms that passage rankings will look just like riche snippets
– Passage ranking and page experience are separate algos
– Google ad settings allow seeing less alcohol and gambling ads
– John Muller SEO suggestions for 2021
And so much more!

 

 

Don’t Miss it Live every Thursday at 4 pm EST on the Web 20 Ranker Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/web20ranker/

Or listen to the podcast here

https://pod.co/theseovault

Are Cats Playing Or Fighting

Are Cats Playing Or Fighting

How to Know if Cats Are Playing or Fighting

Do you have two cats that aren’t getting along? there could be a multitude of reasons why your cats are fighting, and you need to find out why it’s happening before you can solve the problem.

I will explain the various reasons why some cats don’t get along with each other and offer solutions to help you bring peace to your household. Note
all cat fights are not the same. Sometimes what looks like a cat fight may actually be normal playing. This is more common with younger cats, but it can happen at any age. Cats will chase each other around the house, tackle each other, and fight like little wrestlers on the floor. It can sometimes get pretty intense, but, as long as they’re not crying out in pain, there’s no need to break them up.

Aggression: some cats can be aggressive by nature. Male cats are especially aggressive and these cats keep fighting. Sometimes, they also dominate female cats. Your cat may need to act out their aggression by picking fights with their brothers and sisters or by causing a fight with a strange cat. Rough play: sometimes cats can be playing and it can get rough. Cats are rough when they play – this may look like aggression and fighting, but it is not. Still, such play could escalate into a fight or cause harm to both or one of the cats. In such cases, it is best to separate your cats if you can do so safely.

What does it mean if my cat is staying up late at night?
have you ever wondered if your cat was secretly fighting crime at night? most cats walk, play, and eat during the night. This is normal, as cats are inherently nocturnal. But if you’re a light sleeper, this can become a problem. To encourage your cat to sleep throughout the night, you can try to tire them out as much as possible during the day. Enrich your cat’s life by playing with them and keep them stimulated with scratching posts, cat trees, and food puzzles filled with low-calorie cat treats !.

cats playing or fighting

How to Stop Cats Fighting

Sometimes, when your cat is wandering outside, they could be attacked by another cat. These attacks can be systematic: owners have stories of a single cat that keeps fighting their cat every time they go outside.

This is especially worrying if your cat is mild-mannered and gentle, and is unlikely to fight back. The injuries from these fights can require several trips to the vet and can be worrying. The best solution for how to stop cats from fighting in this situation is to keep your cat indoors. Letting them out after dark can be especially dangerous.

Cats screaming while playing
You need to show your feminine yet playful side.  A dream of cats is a link to your feminine side and is associated with females. 4 years ago. It’s something that benefits cats, starting in kittenhood and extending all the way through the geriatric years. 3. Heather started walking dogs in 2006 while completing her master’s degree in education. These are very audible indications that your cat may be unhappy. Newport your cat’s lack of eating can also be a symptom of a disease or problem that’s causing pain or discomfort. There are about 100 different cat noises, which our feline friends mix and match to talk to us.

Cats fight over territory more than anything else. Even if you moved into a new, bigger house, the pair would still fight; so what can you do?
as it turns out, you have a few options. One is to provide both cats with their own small space. That means giving each cat its own bed in its own part of the house. The more each cat sleeps in its own bed, the more its pheromonal scent congregates there, giving it its own distinct part of the home. This may not work since cats don’t always use the beds we buy for them, but if they do, then this may be enough to stop the pair fighting.

Why do cats fight?

Playing with your cat provides numerous benefits; it fights obesity , limits boredom , and solves cat behavior problems. Besides, many cat owners claim that playing with their cats is fun if the cat plays along, that is. Unfortunately, not all cats are equally enthusiastic about playing. Some cats love to follow toys with their gaze but never jump on them. Some do play, but only on tuesdays, while others do not really seem to care at all. In this article, you will learn how to get a lazy cat to play with toys.

Watching your cats fighting can be heart-breaking; here are two animals that you adore and they are hurting each other! while your first instinct might be to jump in and separate them, do be careful. Cats can be aggressive they are worked up like this, and you may get a lot of scratches for your efforts. We suggest trying to gently separate them, as long as you are sure you are not in harms way.

Cat vocalizations have been categorized according to a range of characteristics. Originally suggested by mildred moelk, cat sounds are often still divided into the three main classes
Sounds produced with the mouth closed, the murmurs (purring, trilling)
Sounds produced when the mouth is first opened and then gradually closed (meowing, howling, yowling)
Sounds produced with the mouth held tensely open in the same position (growls, snarls, hisses, spits, chattering, and chirping). In 1944, moelk published the first phonetic study of cat sounds. She listened very carefully to her own cats and organized their sounds into 16 phonetic patterns divided into three main categories. She also used a phonetic alphabet to transcribe or write down the different sounds. She claimed cats had six different forms of meows, to represent friendliness, confidence, dissatisfaction, anger, fear and pain.

two cats in a play fight

What do you do if your cats are fighting?

If your cats are still in the getting-to-know-each-other phase (the first few months after a new cat has been brought into the home) and are doing the kind of play fighting described above, don’t worry. They’re probably battling for the alpha cat position in the household. This happened with my two cats after they met. The play fighting went on for about two or three months. They had a good fight almost every day. Gradually, that tapered off, and they began getting along much better.

There are also other ways as to how to stop cats from fighting:
if distraction doesn’t work, another gentle but effective way to stop a fight is to use a water spray bottle to emit a fine mist of water. This will help them to pause for thought without being too scary. The most important thing to remember when stepping in to halt the fighting is: don’t get hurt and don’t make you cat(s) more stressed/scared with the techniques used. So don’t be aggressive towards your cat, and don’t use heavy-handed techniques.

In 1944, moelk published the first phonetic study of cat sounds. She listened very carefully to her own cats and organized their sounds into 16 phonetic patterns divided into three main categories. She also used a phonetic alphabet to transcribe or write down the different sounds. She claimed cats had six different forms of meows, to represent friendliness, confidence, dissatisfaction, anger, fear and pain. Moelk classified eight other sounds involved in mating and fighting by listening to the animals in her yard and on the street.

What do you do if another cat is fighting yours?

Although cat biting will often just be a warning nip or over-excited play, it can sometimes become an expression of aggression. Biting during play is fairly easy to distinguish from aggressive behaviour these little nips won’t cause much damage, and are over quickly. Aggressive cat biting is accompanied by other signs that your cat is in a fighting mode, whether this is directed towards a person or another animal.

If your cat keeps fighting, whether with other cats in your house or with strange cats from the neighbourhood, you may need a more permanent solution. A cat that always gets into fights may be suffering from excess aggression or they may simply have poor socialisation skills. Here are some leads on how to help your cat for the long term.  Cats often fight because they have excess aggression. This aggression can be a symptom of an illness that you are not aware of. Take them to the vet and get them checked out. Your vet will be able to advise you on how to proceed.

Redirected aggression occurs when a human attempts to handle a cat that is aroused by something unrelated to the person, e. g. The dog has been chasing the cat or the cat is fighting with another cat. Typically, redirected aggression starts when a cat sees another cat outside or smells another cat and becomes aggressive (territorial aggression), but can’t directly interact with the outside cat. She will then redirect the aggression to another cat in the household or a person.

Fighting or Playing? How can you tell?

Make sure each cat has plenty of his or her own space. This means putting their food and water bowls, litter boxes, and beds in separate areas. Have plenty of their favorite cat toys around to distract them from fighting. Make the time they spend together as pleasant as possible. Encourage fun activities, such as playing or giving each one a treat.

The following post was originally written by fellow cat veterinarian dr. Colleen currigan of cat hospital of chicago. How about in your household? are your cats fighting or playing?
Even when it is not necessarily perceived as problematic, it is quite common to hear cat owners casually comment that my cats fight all the time. But are they really fighting or are they simply just playing?.

You need to show your feminine yet playful side.  A dream of cats is a link to your feminine side and is associated with females.  It’s something that benefits cats, starting in kittenhood and extending all the way through the geriatric years.  Heather started walking dogs in 2006 while completing her master’s degree in education. These are very audible indications that your cat may be unhappy. Newport your cat’s lack of eating can also be a symptom of a disease or problem that’s causing pain or discomfort. There are about 100 different cat noises, which our feline friends mix and match to talk to us. Just some random video that wasn’t on youtube during the time.

Signs That Show If My Cat Is Playing or Fighting

Watching a pair of cats playing with each other and wrestling can be truly adorable. However, if you’re not used to cat behavior, it’s possible to miss the signs that this play fighting may be less than friendly and you need to intervene.

One of the biggest mistakes a pet owner can make is to assume that when one animal is ready to play, the other is too. Playing is an important way for alliances and socialization to take place for cats and dogs, but both animals have to be willing to take part. For example, you might have a kitten who just wants to play with an older dog, a great sign from your cat, but if your dog shows any signs of frustration or tries to get away and cannot, this can lead to some problem confrontations. The reverse is equally as true.

The same types of behavior cues for two cats or kittens fighting or playing can also be used when it’s a human and a cat in the equation. If your cat has loose, relaxed body language with fur laying normally against his body and he is not hissing or growling, he is likely having a good time playing with you. On the other hand, if his body language is stiff, he is showing teeth and claws and growling and his fur is standing up along his back, this is a cat that is not happy with you and may become more aggressive if the situation is not addressed.

cats with bandages as a cartoon

Signs Your Cats Are Playing or Fighting

Associated applied animal behaviorist katenna jones says that sound is a good way to tell if cats are playing or fighting. if it’s quiet, it’s most likely play. If there’s growling, it’s most likely not.  if there is nothing other than the occasional meow or chirp, this means your cats are probably having fun. If you hear more stressed or aggressive sounds like yowls, hissing or screaming, you definitely have a fight on your hands.

The tired old saying, fighting like cats and dogs tends to be rooted in fact. After all, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right? yet, we have also seen examples of a dog cat kinship that is as tender and loving as any friendship. The most recent statistics from the american veterinary medical association report that 44 per cent of U.S. Pet owners have multiple-pet households, and the most common combinations include dogs and cats in the mix. Since this combination is the most likely, it’s important to know how to handle the situation if the family pets aren’t playing well together.

Another clear sign cats are playing is that they will take turns being the lead in wrestling or chasing games. They may also separate for a few seconds and then start up again. If you notice during play that one cat is always the chaser and wrestler, this may be a sign of concern, but if the other cat seems willing to engage then just keep an eye on them to make sure both cats are having fun. You know when cats are fighting because a cat that is involved in a fight will either continue fighting to defend itself or attempt to run away and hide to get free of the more aggressive cat.

Cats Playing or Fighting With Humans

Finally, it is very unlikely that two cats that do not know each other will play with each other. It’s normal for cats within the same social group to enjoy playing but a cat is more likely to treat a cat new to them as a threat and at the very least get away from it, if not engage in fighting. Even a cat brand new to the household will be treated this way.

Especially if you have just adopted your cat, they may need time to settle in before they start playing. If the cat has not socialized well as a kitten, they may be fearful of the home, other pets, or humans. If this is the case, your cat may need extra time to warm up to their new environment. Cats may stop playing if there is a change in their environment. This includes moving to a new home, new pet, new child, or even moving furniture around. Cats are very sensitive to their environment and will need to acclimate after any major changes.

The kids scream all day long while playing in their blow up pool and their cats are using my flower beds as their personal litter box. If your cat is accidentally locked in a closet or other area that he can’t find his way out of, he may scream.

Understanding Cat Play and Fighting Behavior

It’s perfectly normal to see cats tussling around your floor or chasing each other along the furniture and up a cat tree. Playtime is a healthy behavior for kittens and adult cats. Normal play behavior can include cats wrestling with each other, chasing each other and appearing to jump and attack each other, all of which are natural hunting behaviors expressed for sheer enjoyment. However sometimes play can escalate if one or both cats become over stimulated, or startled or you may see two cats fighting where it’s clear they were aggressive with each other from the start.

Now that you’ve gained a better understanding of what a fighting cat looks like, let’s look at what a playing cat looks like. As you’ll see, there are many overlaps between the two, but there are also distinct differences. As with a fighting cat, it’s a combination of these that indicate when a cat is playing.

Playful Biting and Scratching

The junior stage ranges from 6 months to 2 years. At this stage, behavior often shifts from playful exploration to aggressive boundary testing. This age is where your cat begins to reach sexual maturity. It is important to engage your cat in mental and physical enrichment and play. Invest in toys that stimulate and help their primal instincts of hunting and stalking. Although you will want to use your hands or feet as a ‘toy’ it is important not to encourage scratching and biting. As your cat grows, it will assume this is appropriate play behavior.

When kittens are still in their litter, they love a rough and tumble with their siblings it is their way of socialising, playing and testing boundaries, but it can involve playful biting and scratching, as they learn not to hurt each other. If they play with us this way though it can be painful on human hands and fingers!
for this reason, although this play behaviour is natural between kittens, it should be discouraged before your cute kitty gets older and their bite gets stronger and more painful!.

A biting and scratching bengal can seem quite aggressive at first, even if they’re playing. When a muscular, wild-looking cat comes running at you, it’s naturally very intimidating. However, bengal cats are not as aggressive as they may seem. They’re not any more aggressive than your average house cat. Bengals are known to be sweet, loving creatures. As a breed, bengal cats need vigorous exercise and frequent human interaction. As they are usually friendly, social, and playful, they will want to play with you how they play with other cats claws and all.

If you have been using your hands to play with your cat, you may want to switch to another style, as cats can become overstimulated by our actions. When cats become overstimulated, they typically act in a defensive manner by swatting or biting. Try a string teaser type of toy, instead of your hands. If you are playing with a string toy, try to mimic how the cat’s prey would move. Create scurrying and stop behaviors of a mouse or simulate flying and landing like a bird. Play around with the speed and how long the “hunt” is before they catch it.

If your cat is biting you during play, avoid punishing the cat as this will only make your cat fearful of you and possibly aggressive. Calmly move the cat off by distracting them with a toy or a treat. Wand toys that move the cat further away from your hands are perfect for this task. Reward the cat for moving away from your hands with whatever he enjoys most such as treats, play or a brushing. Never pull your hands away from a cat that is play biting as this may overstimulate him and cause him to either bite and scratch more or bite down harder. Remember that your cat hasn’t learned to play properly and it’s your job to teach him gently what will give him rewards and which behaviors will not.

One of the most common types of aggression is play aggression. Vigorous play in cats is part of normal cat behaviour. These cats are usually young, energetic cats living as single cats in a household and sometimes have a history of being taken early from their mother and siblings. Often, owners contribute to the problem by playing roughly with the cat when it is a little kitten, rewarding it for biting and clawing by continuing the play.

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Cat Litter Training

Cat Litter Training

Training Your Kitten to Use the Litter Box

In fact, this is not a step in litter training a feral kitten. It is more of an act on how to train a stray cat to be a house cat. In this step, what you need to do is to keep your home cosy for your cat to freely play around. You can spray cat pheromones or place toys to make him or her feel comfortable inside your house.

This page may contain affiliate links, for which we earn a commission for qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you, but it helps fund the free education that we have on our website. Read more here. If you’ve already read through 101 essential tips for kittens and new cats: health & safety, then you’ll know I’m not a fan of toilet training cats. Don’t confuse this with litter box (a. K. A. Potty) training, which is where I am a huge fan. What I’m saying is that training your cat to use an actual toilet is typically not a good idea.

cat litter training

How to Litter Train a Kitten

Just like their big cat cousins, your little kitten prefers to go to the toilet in privacy. That’s why it’s important to keep their litter tray in a quiet, safe, place where they can get to it easily and use it without anybody watching. Noticing when they want to go
you’ll need to train your kitten in how to use their tray. This is simple: just lift them into the tray as soon as you see that they want to go. You can also help by placing them in the tray early in the morning, the last thing at night and after every meal. Keep doing this until your kitten can find the litter tray for themselves by smell and location.

Cats are delicate creatures. Litter training is an important part of a cat’s life. Litter training is a straight forward process and most cats go through this easily. If you are a proud cat parent, then you should not worry about the litter training. Kittens are almost trained by their mothers on how to use a litter box. However, if you need any guidance this article can help you. How can you train a kitten to use the litter box?.

Before starting the litter training there is some equipment that you need. Litter boxes if you are thinking of buying a litter box then buy according to the size of your kitten. Your kitten will not use the litter box if it is too small. The best practice is to introduce a large litter box from a young age because kitten will get an adult and her size will increase also. Moreover, they will continue to use the same litter box as they grow old without any disruption.

Litter Training Older Cats

Sure, there are a few toilet training kits for cats out there, and no shortage of cute and/or funny videos of cats using a toilet. So it might be tempting, or seem “natural” to teach your cat how to “go” in the toilet. Especially if you don’t want to clean a litter box, you live in a tiny apartment, or just because the thought of a cat perched above the bowl seems oddly entertaining to you.

Equally important is the placement. Kittens tend to be drawn to corners or other areas away from their main home base, so start by placing the litter box in a corner that is clean from clutter. A puppy pad placed under the box will make clean-up easier, as they can be messy learners. When litter training kittens, you want to make it extremely easy for them to find a litter box at all times. Kittens have a natural drive to cover their waste and will look for the most convenient space to do so. This means you’ll want to keep them near a box throughout the duration of their transition and avoid providing any messy areas such as piles of laundry where the kitten might develop bad habits.

When litter training kittens, you want to make it extremely easy for them to find a litter box at all times. Kittens have a natural drive to cover their waste and will look for the most convenient space to do so. This means you’ll want to keep them near a box throughout the duration of their transition and avoid providing any messy areas such as piles of laundry where the kitten might develop bad habits. Ideally, a 3-8 week old kitten learning to use a box should be confined to one room so that they can easily find the litter box at all times. For older kittens acclimating to a larger space, it’s best to offer multiple options so that the kitten is always within 10 feet of a litter box.

cat cartoon

Using Positive Reinforcement when Training Your Kitten

Kittens do well with positive reinforcement–not punishment. Provide praise when kittens use the box correctly!
if the kitten uses an area outside of the box, immediately clean and disinfect the area to avoid scent soaking or scent associations. If the kitten is using bedding or laundry, keep these items off the floor. If a kitten is frequently using the same location, place a litter box in the location. In some cases, switching to a new litter or using a product like a kitten attract can help kittens who are truly struggling to understand the box.

Once your cat actually goes in the litter box, you may want to consider rewarding with a feline-friendly treat. Positive reinforcement is always encouraging. Note that after you’ve coaxed her to potty in the litter, you want to make sure she’s burying it (you’ll appreciate it, and so will she). If she doesn’t do it automatically, you’ll need to show her how by burying it for her with a few fingers. Always remember to wash thoroughly after your training sessions.

After all your hard
work and efforts litter training your cat, it can be frustrating and disheartening if they have an accident. But remember, even fully-trained adult cats may have an accident from time to time. And punishing them will not stop it from happening again. In fact, they may not even understand what they are being punished for. Be sure to continue
rewarding your kitty for positive behaviour to keep their training consistent for an example of some catnip. There are a number of reasons that your kitten may start to have accidents.

Techniques for Obedience Training Your Kitten

Establishing good litter box behaviours early on in your cat’s life is essential to the long-term health and happiness of your home. Teaching kittens to use the litter box is one of the first training exercises for new kitten parents. Luckily, using the litter box comes naturally to most kittens, and with a few tips and techniques, your young feline will establish proper litter box behaviours in no time. “cats are typically happy to use a litter box because they like privacy for bathroom habits and are accustomed to a sandy surface (or similar) to go to the bathroom,” says Dr Stephanie Liff, veterinarian and owner of pure paws veterinary care in new york city.

cats laughing

Steps to Start Behavior Training Your Kitten

To learn how to litter train a kitten, follow these steps:
1. Pick the right litter box.
Choosing the best litter box for your cat is the first step to successful litter behaviours. Kittens are tiny, so pet parents can start with a small litter box that will accommodate their new feline companion and gradually work up to a larger box as their pet grows. Cats should be able to stand up, turn around and squat comfortably without touching the sides of the box. Look for a litter box that is easy for cats to enter so that there are no barriers to getting into the box.

Kittens are extremely intelligent animals so as long as you get them started with toilet training right away, you should have them fully trained in no time. Here are five important steps to follow if you want to make sure your kitten’s toilet training goes smoothly.

Steps for Command Training Your Kitten

If you’ve recently got a new kitten or are trying to teach an older cat how to use the tray, follow these 3 simple steps for litter training.

Litter training your kitten is great because it means you don’t have to worry about cleaning up any cat mess in your house. The other plus side is that you don’t come across it when weeding your beautiful flower beds. In this section we will go through the steps you can take if your kitten or cat isn’t using their litter tray properly. A lot of kittens will be litter trained when you get them because they have learnt how to use a litter tray by watching their mother and siblings. If you haven’t already read our page on litter, litter trays and litter tray positioning then find it here.

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Why Cats love Catnip

Why Cats love Catnip

On This Page

  1. Why Cats Love Catnip?
  2. Fertilizing The Catnip Plant
  3. Pests and Plant Diseases
  4. Uses For The Catnip Herb
  5. How can I grow catnip at home?
  6. Buying catnip for cats
  7. Growing catnip from seed
  8. What are catnip’s growing needs?
  9. Harvesting and storing catnip
  10. Plants like catnip and cat mint should be the first choice for gardeners with cats – and you can grow catnip yourself at home!
  11. Catnip Plant, Nepeta cataria – How to Grow and Care
  12. Aster Plant Care – How to Grow and Care for this Flower

Why Cats Love Catnip?

Cats love catnip. This fact is well-known across the globe and throughout time, suspected of even reaching as far back as ancient Egyptian culture.

While cats and catnip have a long history together, how much do cat lovers really know about this perennial plant?
we know cats go crazy for the fragrant herb and the resulting euphoria provides hilarious entertainment but did you know not all cats react to catnip? or the reactions can vary from cat to cat?.

Plant catnip in spring, once all chances of frost have passed. You’ll want to plant it in an area where your cats can roll in it without damaging neighbouring plants. Space catnip plants 18 to 24 inches apart in a very sunny area with fertile, well-drained soil. Give your native soil some nutrient love by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. Check the soil often and water when the top inch of soil becomes dry.

Catnip can enhance a cat’s hunger. As an appetite stimulant that also encourages cats to get frisky and exercise, catnip will probably send your cat in search of snacks after the high wears off. After curing his case of the munchies, your kitty man will most likely crash for a nap too.why cats love catnip

Fertilizing The Catnip Plant

Feed catnip with a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks. Begin fertilizing the soil two weeks after planting and continue until the first week of the summer season. Suspend fertilizing during fall and winter as the plants will not use the nutrients.

Follow instructions on the label for proper application.

Heaping mulch around plants too early in the winter or not removing the extra layers at the end of winter can do more harm than good. A heavy layer of mulch keeps the sun from warming the soil during the periods when the ground isn’t frozen. On the other end of the spectrum, putting glass or plastic over the crown can cause heat stress in warm weather. Finally, avoid fertilizing catnip in late fall or in winter. Feeding plants — especially with nitrogen-rich fertilizer — encourages new stem growth, which makes the entire plant more vulnerable to winterkill.

Pests and Plant Diseases

Catnip has a tendency to be susceptible to
whiteflies and spider mites, but cases of infestation are rare, and there are
no other common pest issues or diseases involving catnip. The main bugs that catnip is known to attract to your garden area are insects that benefit your garden, such as bees and butterflies, which will help to pollinate your plants, as well as predatory insects that will make a meal of any other pests in the vicinity.

Pests: catnip rarely suffers from insect pests, but cats may nibble its leaves and can crush young plants. A spray of catnip and water will deter Colorado potato beetles. Diseases: catnip can be attacked by fungal diseases including anthracnose and rust. Avoid overhead watering; space plants so that there is plenty of air circulation. Catnip can suffer root rot in wet soil; let the soil dry out between waterings.

Uses For The Catnip Herb

Catnip is a herb native to Eurasia. It’s a member of the mint family, closely related to spearmint and peppermint, and it has a long medicinal history for humans. It’s also known as catnip, catmint, catrup and catswort. All felines, including mountain lions, are attracted to catnip. They’ll roll around in catnip plants, rub against them and sometimes chew on them. Cats are more likely to eat fresh catnip leaves, although dried catnip consumption is also common.

Catnip propagates easily from both leaf-tip cuttings and seeds. To take a cutting, simply remove a small piece of new growth early in the growing season and pot it up a new pot of sterile potting soil. give it plenty of moisture and filtered light until new growth emerges. Catnip is also a common herb sold in garden centres, so you can always buy new seedlings and put them in larger pots until it’s time to discard the plant.

A fluffy green plant with heart-shaped leaves and scalloped edges native to the Eurasian continents but now grown worldwide, catnip (nepeta cataria) is in great demand for cat parents who want to please their kitties. As the plant is part of the mint (Lamiaceae) family, its related to other savoury herbs such as rosemary, sage, oregano, and basil. Catnip leaves and stems contain a fragrant oil responsible for getting cats ‘high’.

How can I grow catnip at home?

Catnip is well known for the euphoric effect that it can have on cats. You’ve probably bought dried catnip from the store to amuse your cat, but did you know that it’s easy to grow organic catnip at home?
catnip is a hardy herb that can withstand dry spells and varied temperatures. Catnip can grow in full sun or partial shade. Growing it at home adds beauty to your yard and provides a constant source of fun for your cat.

Check out this video for a tutorial on how to grow catnip in your home garden, both for the benefit of your own health and the wellbeing of your cats:
watch this video to learn how to plant and germinate catnip by seed:
this video dives into the science behind catnip, a favourite herb of many cats, and it also answers the question, “what does catnip do to cats?”.

Let’s learn more about why growing your own catnip is a great option and how you can get started growing catnip at home. Quick navigation
disclaimer: some of the products recommended in this post have affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we’ll receive a small commission, but it won’t cost you any extra. Thank you!.

Cut catnip

Buying catnip for cats

Wondering how to grow catnip? for the past several years, we’ve grown catnip for our cats, drying the leaves for use in toys. It’s easy and fun; the plant takes very little work. I always grow our catnip from seeds but you can also buy small catnip plants. I like buying the seeds since I know the plant hasn’t been treated with any kind of chemicals.

Cats seem to love catnip. Why? catnip produces nepetalactone oil which is like an aphrodisiac for cats. Catnip is a tall herb, resembling mint, with greyish-green leaves and white flowers. Catnip can grow to be 50-100 centimetres tall which makes it the perfect feline companion. Cats love fresh catnip is most loved by cats and it is so easy to grow
first, take a trip to your local pet or garden store. You can either buy catnip seeds or buy baby plants. Buying a plant makes life easier because it is already strong.

Growing catnip from seed

Growing a meadow of catnip for your kitty is pretty simple!
when choosing what to plant for your cat, be sure you select seeds or plants of the right nepeta. Garden & happy explains, “catnip (nepeta cataria) usually refers to the herb, whereas catmint (nepeta mussinii) is more ornamental and less attractive to cats. ”@toomanyfuzzylumpkins/Instagram
in the springtime, plant seeds or plant starts in a sunny location after all danger of frost has passed. And be warned, catnip plants can spread easily. Standing up to 3 or 4 feet tall, the plant takes up some room, so be sure you place seeds and starts around two feet apart when planting.

Catnip is a perennial that generally grows to 2 to 3 feet when planted outdoors. Indoors, providing you give it enough light and water, it’s conceivable you’ll get a 2-foot plant, but in reality, indoor catnip doesn’t have the potency of outdoor catnip and it seems more reasonable to grow plants for a single growing season, then replace them either through sowing new seeds or cuttings. If you do want to re-pot a smaller catnip, go up one pot size and use fresh soil, being careful not to damage the roots.

Do you worry a lot about where your cat’s food came from? if sourcing is important to you, then growing your own catnip is an obvious choice. A lot of commercially available catnip is grown organically, meaning it was grown without chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Sometimes that isn’t enough—you’d rather know exactly how your catnip was grown from seed to plant. If you grow your own catnip, you’ll know exactly how it was grown and won’t have to worry.

What are catnip’s growing needs?

Select a container that is a minimum of 8 inches deep and wide. This will provide enough room for the plant to grow and thrive. Once the plant outgrows the current pot, repot it to one or two sizes bigger pot (10 to 12 inches). During repotting, divide its rootball into two sections and plant them into separate pots to have more catnips. Quick tips
if you’re growing this herb for your furry friend, select a wider pot, and grow several plants together.

Introduction to growing catnip in pots
the catnip plant is grown for its leaves that are used for making medicinal preparations like herbal tea. The catnip plant is also called the nepeta plant. The catnip plant is a hardy, low-maintenance plant. It grows up to 4-feet tall. Catnips are used for creating contrasting landscaping due to their compact, perennial green foliage. The seasonal bloom consists of bright and purple flowers. Growing catnips indoors is very easy. It can be grown in containers and requires little maintenance. In this article, we also discuss below topics.

Harvesting and storing catnip

Growing: catnip does very well in containers, raised beds, or borders in full sun to partial shade. Cutting just above a joint, or where a leaf or leaves spring from the stalk, will promote more rapid new growth. Growing catnip plants: catnip can be grown in garden beds or pots. Any average, well-drained soil. When you’re ready to harvest, choose a dry day and remove only flowering catnip. Known for its ability to trigger a “high” in cats, catnip has been attracting cats for more than two documented centuries. Dry catnip by trimming the leaves off of stems and laying them on a paper towel beneath a sunlit window for 2-3 days. Your email address will not be published.

Plants like catnip and catmint should be the first choice for gardeners with cats – and you can grow catnip yourself at home!

It grew, it flowered. It thrives on sunny ledges, with ample and regular water, and good drainage. Proper transplanting keeps your catnip from becoming root-bound. Once while many people report that they like the fragrant, herbal smell of catnip, some people find that it has a vaguely skunky odour to it that is off-putting. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. Lux for plants: everything you need to know! place young plants away from kitty until they are large enough to withstand some serious loving. Catnip is a plant—known scientifically as nepeta cataria—that is a member of the mint family. Catnip seeds are very small and so are difficult to handle.

Catnip Plant, Nepeta cataria – How to Grow and Care

Posted in cook, garden, herbs
I have a good-sized patch of catnip growing in my garden that’s threatening to overtake one of my pepper plants. So I decided that it was time to dry some catnip for tea. Catnip (nepeta cataria) is a member of the mint family and is apparently quite entrancing to cats. I don’t have cats so I can’t speak to that. Catnip acts as a sedative in human and is thought to calm the stomach and the nerves ( source ). I drink it in the afternoon or evening, as a caffeine-free alternative to green tea. It does have it’s own flavour and is similar to mint. When I make my tea I like to mix catnip with a little bit of dried stevia for sweetness.

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catnip is a common herb that thrives in much of North America and is very easy to grow. While you’ve probably heard that catnip makes cats tipsy, you might not know that this effect is an inherited trait and it does not affect all cats. Catnip grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and has featherlike, light green foliage and small clusters of lavender flowers that grow on spikes. A member of the mint family, catnip is also used in the food and herbal remedies. For example, tea made from the leaves and flowers of nepeta cataria is said to relieve coughs. The oil extracted from catnip plants is even used in natural mosquito repellents.

Also called catmint, catnip (nepeta cataria) is a hardy perennial herb that is a member of the mint family. It is native to the area known as Eurasia: southern and eastern Europe, the middle east, central Asia, and parts of China. Fairly easy to grow, it is now widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. Catnip grows outdoors in USDA growing hardiness zones 3 to 9 and makes great container plants for growing indoors, allowing you to extend its growing season to year-round.

Aster Plant Care – How to Grow and Care for this Flower

Catnip is not an especially difficult plant to grow indoors. It thrives on sunny ledges, with ample and regular water, and good drainage. If your plant goes into flower, snip off the flower buds to encourage stronger and better leaf growth. Indoor catnip will not have the same potency as outdoor catnip, but your cats will still like it plenty. Be careful not to mist your plant too much to discourage mould growth. Catnip is vulnerable to pests including aphids, mealybugs, scale, and whitefly. If possible, identify the infestation as early as possible and treat it with the least toxic option.

With proper growing and catnip plant care, you will easily grow catnip and help it produce more flowers. While planting catnip, till the soil to a depth of 3″ to 4″ inches, and add 1″ inch of compost. Work the compost into the topsoil. Catnip does well in many soils but prefer a moderately rich loam and good drainage soil. Plant catnip seedlings 15″ to 18″ inches apart with the seeds slightly covered. Water the seeds lightly after planting, try to keep the soil moist during the growing season.

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Caring For House Cats

Caring For House Cats

Caring for house cats

Keeping cats indoors. Pets can be a wonderful addition to anyone’s life and are particularly nice for those who live alone.

However, some people selfishly keep large pets in small apartments for their own reasons without considering how such a life affects the pet. In many cases, smaller pets are better suited to apartment living. Caring for pets can be one of life’s greatest joys, particularly for those who live alone or don’t have children. It is commonly thought that having a pet such as a cat around the house can help reduce stress and improve emotional well-being. According to some sources, keeping pets can even reduce serious health risks, like the risk of heart attack or stroke, by helping to keep stress levels low.

Tango’s place
tango’s place is the RSPCA act’s five-star cat boarding facility. Located at the RSPCA in Weston creek, tango’s place provides a safe, temperature-controlled, welcoming environment for your feline friend. We provide very large rooms which are able to house up to three of your cats and there is plenty of space to play, relax, and exercise with high perching shelves and steps for less able cats. Best of all your cats have company for all working hours with our caring, cat-loving staff who will socialise, play, and give cuddles.

Indoor cats are actually busier than we may think. They’ll typically cover the entire area of a house or apartment each day (or often at night). You can make this daily routine even more fun by hiding food and treats around the house. You can also use a variety of toys to help your cat practice hunting and get the exercise they need. Providing enrichment is an important part of caring for most pets. Experiment with different types of cat toys like wands, balls, and scratching posts to give your pet variety in their day. Playtime is quality time, and it can go a long way in the health of your cat!.

Keeping Cats Indoors

Choose a specially-formulated indoor cat food

If you are buying a pedigree cat then there will be associated costs and these may be quite large. Pedigree kittens usually come vaccinated and in some cases already neutered. If you are getting a cat from a rescue organisation then they may ask for a donation or a fee and again it will probably come already neutered and vaccinated. Kittens or cats from friends or neighbours don’t usually come neutered or vaccinated, wormed, treated for fleas or anything else and it will be up to you to register with a vet and get these things done.

Neutering is obviously a one-off cost, but several vaccinations will be required to make sure that a kitten is protected from infectious diseases; thereafter a regular booster vaccination will help to protect it during its life (requirements depend on the cat’s lifestyle and risks associated with that – your vet can advise you).

Most cats love to spend time outdoors. They experience a great deal of mental and physical stimulation. Cats in the wild experience weather changes, move around to find food and water, interact with other animals, and mark their territory. Their lives are enriched by complexity, unpredictability, and choice; and they exert a degree of control over their lives. However, the big wide world is a dangerous place for domestic cats. Here at Gungahlin veterinary hospital, we see numerous cases of cats who have been in fights and suffered injuries and infections, who get hit by cars or get bitten by snakes. Cats outdoors also hunt and may annoy other people, for example by stalking aviary birds or toileting in their yard.

Fine cut catnip newest harvest

How do Cats catch Ticks and Fleas?

Very similar to the ragdoll cat is the ragamuffin; a large, long-haired cat. Their hair doesn’t tangle, which makes it easy to check if they have fleas or ticks. However, this very sweet cat does not like to venture outside, so it is unlikely to catch diseases this way.

Michelle* in Adelaide says her family give their two cats supervised outdoor time in their yard. “we let them outside several times a day,” she says. “we will stay out for about 20 minutes and then we just shake the bowl of cat biscuits and they come running back. “dr malik says it’s important if you’re letting the cat have access to outdoors to think about what dangers are out there — could a dog get in? will they be exposed to fleas and paralysis ticks? do other cats go through your yard, potentially exposing them to diseases?.

Lower chance of catching diseases from other cats such as the untreatable and fatal feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv) – the cat equivalent of aids. Lower chance of catching fleas or worms from vermin. They will be less anxious because they will be confident in their surroundings without fear of being attacked by another cat. No chance of being killed by a car. No chance of any unplanned pregnancy in cats that aren’t neutered. No chance of being attacked/killed by another animal.

Exercise for your cats

If your cat lives indoors, they are likely to get less exercise than their outdoor counterparts. This is because outdoor cats will spend much of the day climbing and hunting, whereas indoors cats have less opportunity to do so. If your cat doesn’t get an adequate amount of exercise, they are more at risk of putting on unwanted weight. An overweight cat is more likely to have weight-related health conditions. To help your house cat stay active, make sure you play with them regularly, and encourage games that involve running, pouncing and chasing. Additionally, ensure that their food portions are suitable for their activity levels.

Cats usually keep their claws in good shape by scratching tree trunks or fence posts. As well as ensuring their claws are trim, cats naturally scratch to exercise the muscles in their paws and to leave their scent, so it’s a basic and natural need. The indoor cat will scratch your furniture and carpets if a scratching post or area is not provided. Most cat trees have numerous scratch posts within their design and there are trees of every shape and size that can fit discretely into any décor.

Please don’t fall for the “fresh air and sunshine” fallacy. Hundreds of thousands of cats live out long and perfectly happy lives as indoors-only cats, as long as they get the exercise they need through interactive play with a human parent. There are safe alternatives, depending on your apartment arrangement. You can screen off a balcony (with the landlord’s permission), or you can train your cat to walk on a leash for outdoor excursions.

10 tips to keep your cat happy indoors

More cat parents are choosing to keep their feline friends indoors, so how can you ensure they are getting the physical and mental stimulation they need to be happy and healthy? our resident cat behaviourist Anita Kelsey explains. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden for their cat to play in, or easy access to the great outdoors from a window or ledge, especially in large cities. It’s also a well-known fact that most people with pedigree cats keep them exclusively indoors, which many cats can find frustrating.

The bottom line is most cats can be totally happy living indoors – but owners need to put in the effort to provide for their environmental and behavioural needs. But a 2019 survey with more than 12,000 respondents found many Australian cat owners are not adequately providing for their indoor cats, especially when it comes to toileting and feeding. This may lead to a range of health and welfare issues, such as obesity and related diseases, behavioural problems and urinary tract disorders.

My first cat was a housecat in a flat for the first 18 months of her life. I moved house successive times and she became a happy indoor/outdoor cat, then turned herself back into an indoor cat as an old lady. She was perfectly happy. I say it depends on the cat itself. The indoor/outdoor debate is rather contentious. But if you want to adopt a rescue, you could explain your circumstances – many rescue cats are rehomed on an indoor-only basis. A lot of cats are quite happy to potter about indoors – we have three indoor/outdoor cats at the moment, and one of them is a real wuss about going outside! if you do have indoor cats, you do need to play with them to keep them exercised, and a cat tree is brilliant: great deals on cat trees and scratching posts at zooplus: cat tree Athena.

cat playing on cat post platform

How to keep your indoor cat happy and healthy

These are the indoor cat litter products we swear by to keep our cat happy, our home clean and our workload minimal.

Having access to the outside world is the best way to allow a cat to do all of these things, but when it’s not possible for cats to exercise these natural behaviours outside, they will need an alternative way of doing so inside. Cats who aren’t given the opportunity to act in their natural way will not only become unhappy, but it is likely they will develop behavioural problems too. For these reasons, the blue cross does not recommend keeping cats as indoor-only house pets, unless there is a really good reason why the particular cat should be confined inside.

When your cat is at home snoozing on the sofa, eating contentedly or cosying up for a snuggle, it’s hard to imagine they are anything but blissfully happy. All of their animal welfare needs are being covered, as far as you are aware. You also love them dearly and would be very upset if you thought there was anything causing upset in their lives. On the other hand, you may see your cat seeming agitated. Even if they do show you affection, there may be other times where they hide in a dark place or run from your attention without any discernible reason why they should do so. The reasons for this are myriad, but one which can be tricky is that they are a cat with a personality not well suited to indoor living.

Could you let your cat outside?

The Siamese cat is a sophisticated breed that originated in Thailand, hence the name (siam being the old name for Thailand). They are perhaps one of the most recognisable breeds thanks to their colouring which is typically a light coloured coat with dark ‘points’, points being ears, feet, tails and faces. They’re also known for their love of talking. They are incredibly vocal and will talk to you throughout the day whether you want to listen or not.

Many cats live outside as well as inside, but in some circumstances, an owner may need to keep their cat inside. This could be due to illness, individual differences, or even lifestyle constraints – such as living on the third floor, without any outside access. Cats can live indoors very happily, particularly if they’ve been inside since they were kittens, but they do have some particular requirements. As they don’t have access to the outdoors, owners should ensure their indoor cats are stimulated and still lead an active lifestyle.

On the other hand, you may see your cat seeming agitated. Even if they do show you affection, there may be other times where they hide in a dark place or run from your attention without any discernible reason why they should do so. The reasons for this are myriad, but one which can be tricky is that they are a cat with a personality not well suited to indoor living. Cats have a range of personalities which are generally put into five categories, according to cat behaviour researcher Lauren finka.

Common problems of indoor cats

Cystitis is another painful cause of cats urinating outside the box. It is caused by crystals forming in the bladder, which make urinating extremely painful. Immediate treatment is necessary for cats that get cystitis. It isn’t surprising that urinary tract problems are a very common cause of cats being taken to the veterinarian. Cats need acidic urine for urinary tract health. The ph of cat food has a direct relationship here. Although the higher range may vary under certain circumstances, the expert consensus seems to be from 6. 0 to 6. 5. (the lower the ph, the more acidic the urine. ) a ph above this range can lead to the growth of struvites (magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals). A ph is lower than 6.

Munchkin cats are by far the UK’s most expensive breed, with average costs of just over £900. Because this type of cat can develop health problems if bred incorrectly, there are a wide variety of expenses throughout the breeding process, which increases the amount that you can expect to pay. According to stickee data, correct as of March 2020
shorthair white is the UK’s most affordable cat. Since they’re mixed breeds, they’re much more common and therefore far less expensive than pedigree breeds.

Adding another indoor cat to a household where you already have one or more indoor cats is likely to cause problems. Cats like to have their own territory in which to live their daily lives of both exploring and relaxing, and they tend to want to do these activities on their own. Where multiple cats live in the small area of a house or flat, the space available to each cat is limited, and that’s when conflict can occur. Cats become easily stressed when they don’t have their own space, and you are likely to see problem behaviour such as spraying and scratching, and aggression towards each other becomes more likely.

cat playing on cat post platform

Stop your cat spraying and soiling in the house

A beautiful and playful cat, the Maine coon is the official cat of Maine, where they are well-loved for their mousing abilities. In your home, they will prove to be energetic and engaging each and every day. Before breed recognition, the Maine coon cat resulted from nature’s own selection methods. It was “survival of the fittest,” and that’s what built this lovable breed. Similar to Persians, the Maine coon breed may also have health issues. “certain Maine coon cats experience a predisposition to heart problems,” says shojai. That’s why it’s important to work with a reputable breeder who checks pedigrees and runs tests to ensure that every litter is as healthy as possible.

If your feline is healthy and you can ensure a safe environment, leaving a cat alone overnight should not cause big problems. Food, freshwater, and at least a couple of litter boxes are a must. But, if your cat has health issues or separation anxiety, try to find other options. Petcube play 2 will give you an opportunity to watch your cat and see how they are faring while you are away.

Cats who are always kept indoors rarely, if ever, suffer physical injuries/wounds, get fleas or develop associated flea-bite allergies. These health issues can be costly in terms of a cat’s quality of life and the cat owner’s time and money. Insurance claims for medical treatment for wounds have been identified as the most common type of illness in ….

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SEO Updates January 01, 2021

SEO Updates January 01, 2021

Here’s to 2021

 

It’s time for your info-packed SEO newsletter to kick off the weekend and keep you up to date on the latest news, SEO tactics, tests, and so much more.

We had an exciting week and you won’t want to miss a thing!

What Happened on the SEO Vault this Week

Deal of the week: Surprise! Year-End Holiday SEO Sale Extended

SEO Mad Scientist: GMB Description Removal Update (Something We Missed)

To your success,

Chaz and the Entire Team

 

 

 

 


FROM THE VAULT – Episode 69

Don’t forget The SEO Vault airs live on the Web 20 Ranker Facebook every Thursday at 4 pm EST.


? Google confirms that passage rankings will look just like riche snippets
? Passage ranking and page experience are separate algos
? Google ad settings allow seeing less alcohol and gambling ads
? John Muller SEO suggestions for 2021
And so much more!

Watch the Latest SEO Vault Episode here
Missed last week’s episode? Catch up with all the previous Vault Episodes here
You Can Even Listen here: https://pod.co/theseovault

 

 

 

 

Surprise! We’ve Extended The Year-End Holiday SEO Sale

 

Here at Web 2.0 Ranker, we are all about providing value, savings, training, and quality services to our customers. That’s why as a special Thank You to start the new year off right we’ve extended our sale for the next two days only!

Now through January 3rd 11:59pm EST you can still save 25% sitewide when you use coupon code: HoHoHo

The Daily Deals Don’t Stop Either
Secret Sale Day Saturday: Extra 10% off store credits – save 35% total
Secret Sale Day Sunday: 10% Cash Back via store credit!

 

Plus, you still have time to level up on the bonuses and unlock more prizes

  • Bonus Tiers – Bigger Prizes for Bigger Spenders
  • Unlock Exclusive TrainingFree Services, SEO Swag, and Much, MUCH More
  • Platinum VIP Bonuses – Spend Over $30k This Week & Unlock Premier Bonuses
  • Like Personal Trainings and Meetups!

https://web20ranker.com/year-end-seo-sale/

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEO Mad Scientist

 

Hey Scientists, Happy 2021!

We want to start off the year right by saying we screwed up…

If you read last week’s update then you know we said that we didn’t have any keyword recovery or movement on our GMB test where we took a GMB that was ranking for various keywords and removed the listing description.

Very shortly after removing the description, we saw rankings drop across the board and thought things hadn’t changed, but…

Turns out we missed some of the ranking changes following the initial drops

Some keywords were already fluctuating in and out so we couldn’t say the drops correlated with the description removal. However, our branded keyword terms that were consistently ranking (title loans) saw an obvious drop. We thought they hadn’t changed since the drop last week but we were wrong. Here is an updated snapshot.

 

 

 

This, combined with the fact that we still see no real movement on our previous tests reinforces the fact that most of these signals are not measured as a relevant signal.

And remember that GMB that was ranking for SEO terms that we completely changed the name and niche?

Well, it’s still going strong even after changing the name, category, adding a description, custom url, and GMB site…

 

 

So what is REALLY ranking your GMB? Well aside from the brand name itself, most of the onsite GMB signals don’t seem to hold a lot of weight. We plan to find out the strongest GMB signal in 2021 and it looks like our off-site GMB tests begin here

We have a huge lineup of tests for 2021 but as usual, we want to hear what you think! What signals do you think we can test first? Local Citations? Unstructured Citations? Social Media?

We will prioritize what you want to see first, so leave a comment and tells us your thoughts

Until Next Time,
Happy Testing

 

 

 

 

 

Get Your Free Campaign Recommendations Today!

Not sure what would be the best route for your SEO campaign? No worries, we’ve got you covered!

Find Out Exactly What You Need to Rank

Quick and easy, yet powerful in results!

https://web20ranker.com/meet-the-team/

 

Want to earn a $50 store credit?

 

In order to receive a $50 store credit, the only thing we need from you is a short video (at least 30 seconds) explaining:

1) Who you are and what you do
2) What you bought and why you bought it
3) How the product worked for you and the pros of it!

That’s it! 3 simple topics and you could be on your way to $50 towards your next purchase!

You can send your videos to: [email protected]

 

 

B2B SEO Strategy Guide 2021: 7 Lessons from Companies that Drive 2M+ Visits/Month

How to Find an Affordable SEO Company Without Compromising Quality
SEO

You’ve read through all of the ultimate guides and the 200+ best practices for B2B SEO, and still the question lingers: what does a winning B2B SEO strategy look like in practice?

Without a north star to guide you, it’s easy to lose your way as you navigate the complex world of B2B SEO and content marketing.

We’re going to examine seven ready-to-use B2B SEO tactics that can drive millions of website visitors and thousands of paying customers. Then, we’ll unpack what makes them successful and how you can apply those lessons to improve the SEO strategy for your B2B company.

But first, let’s answer another question that’s probably on your mind….

What is B2B SEO and why does it matter in 2021?

B2B SEO is the art of meeting a potential customer when they’re looking for your product, service, or simply researching your company or others like it. When done well, it forms the backbone of your content marketing strategy.

The process of B2B SEO begins with keyword research and identifying your

customer’s pain points.

Let’s briefly examine the three moving parts of B2B SEO:

  1. On-page SEO refers to optimizing your page with helpful content that sufficiently answers queries. It also includes adding relevant title tags, headings, URLs, and alt text for images.
  2. Off-page search engine optimization is the practice of boosting your website’s authority with quality link building.
  3. Technical SEO is sprucing up your website’s architecture to make it easy to find, crawl, and index.

Why invest in SEO in 2021?

Because it’s the only B2B marketing channel for which traffic compounds over time.

Consider this: the average age of a page ranking among the top 10 Google search results is 2+ years. Those pages that rank first in the SERP are almost three years old.

Which other distribution channel brings traffic for years to come?

Unsurprisingly, organic search contributes to 53.3% of website traffic across various industries. What’s more, B2B companies generate twice as much revenue from organic traffic than channels like social media and email.

MOST B2B COMPANIES STRUGGLE WITH GENERATING CONSISTENT ONLINE LEADS & SALES…WE FIX THAT!

Since 2009, we have helped hundreds of businesses grow strategically. Let us do it for you!

7 evergreen lessons to create a winning B2B SEO strategy in 2021

Take a look at how the pros approach B2B SEO strategy:

1. Think bottom-of-the-funnel keywords first

Zapier’s website gets 7 million visitors per month, over half of which is search engine traffic.

To find early customers, CEO Wade Foster looked to product support forums to find users looking for integrations.

He shares, “People would post things like ‘I love Evernote, it would be great if it worked nicely with Dropbox…’”

Once they figured out how people were searching for their product, they harvested that demand by creating three types of landing pages:

  • One main landing page for each app in their ecosystem
  • One for app to app integrations
  • One page explaining all possible workflows with a specific app.

(Image source)

Zapier has over 25K such landing pages. They’re a classic example of using bottom of funnel keywords to fuel a content strategy.

Bottom of funnel content covers highly specific, long tail keywords with low search volume, but high chances of conversion.

Apply this to your B2B SEO strategy:

Zapier’s landing pages are one type of bottom of the funnel content, but it exists in other forms too:

The best way to find ideas for bottom of the funnel content is to speak to your customers and identify their pain points.

Specifically, pay attention to the terms they use when describing their problem. This is what they’ll search for when they’re ready to buy your product or service.

Other ways to gauge the pain points of your target audience include jumping on sales calls and hanging out in communities, such as Quora and Reddit.

2. Create long form content for middle and top-of-funnel keywords

While bottom of funnel content helps capture prospects ready to buy, Zapier drives demand for its product with a blog.

Its long form articles contribute to one-third of it’s search traffic.

Primarily, the Zapier blog targets top of funnel and middle of funnel keywords. Along the way, it introduces the product.

Take a look at some of the topics covered:

(Image source

Zapier’s blog isn’t just a vehicle to drive awareness, it drops readers right into relevant workflows they can set up with the app.

For example, this piece with Trello tips has several CTAs on using Zapier to automate tasks with Trello:

(Image source)

Apply this to your B2B SEO strategy:

Identify middle and top of funnel keywords for your blog using keyword research, customer feedback, and by looking at the People Also Ask boxes in the search results.

Once you have a list of potential topics, think about how relevant each keyword is to your business. This will help you tie content back to your product.

Finally, look at topics you’re in a unique position to cover through a unique perspective, data, or experience.

This approach will help you craft top of funnel content that’s unique, relevant to your brand, and brings qualified traffic.

3. Use standalone topic clusters for competitive keywords

Most top of funnel keywords are highly competitive. How do you rank for such broad terms?

Enter topic clusters, a group of interlinked pages, with one main pillar or resource page that links to all others.

The purpose of a cluster is to show Google that you’re an authority on a given topic.

The meditation app, Headspace, gets more than 2M visitors to it’s website, as of July 2020. 30% of that traffic comes from organic search.

But what is their biggest draw of traffic?

It’s a 99-page topic cluster for the keyword, “meditation.”

This single topic cluster drives 88,781 visits per month for Headspace.

Standalone topic clusters are more powerful than clustering articles on a blog. Why? They help you curate a focused path for readers, who may get distracted by links. Standalone clusters also allow for better placement of CTAs and interlinking.

Lastly, they help boost your organic search rankings, since your root domain enjoys more authority than your blog.

See how Buffer experienced a bump in search engine rankings when they used standalone clusters on their website:

 

(Image source)

Apply this to your B2B SEO strategy:

Think of the most obvious ways to describe your B2B business. These are your most valuable keywords.

The more competitive a keyword, the better it is for creating a topic cluster.

Another factor to consider is how broad a topic is, so there’s enough meat for a cluster.

Finally, the key to succeeding with a topic cluster is smart navigation and interlinking. Take a look at how Headspace does this:

(Image source)

You’ll also want to place strategic CTAs for your app throughout the piece, like this:

(Image source)

MOST B2B COMPANIES STRUGGLE WITH GENERATING CONSISTENT ONLINE LEADS & SALES…WE FIX THAT!

Since 2009, we have helped hundreds of businesses grow strategically. Let us do it for you!

4. Tap into the business potential of each keyword

We’ve covered a fair bit of ground on keyword research, but let’s address a problem most marketers face with B2B SEO: their content doesn’t convert into paying subscribers.

This example from the SEO tool Ahrefs shows how to drive real business with your content.

CMO Tim Suolo explains their strategy, “We don’t care about TOFU/MOFU/BOFU. All we care about is business potential.”

What signals high business potential? Topics where their product is almost an irreplaceable solution to a problem.

Sample some of their posts:

(Image source)

The blog has a good mix of top, middle, and bottom of funnel posts.

But each of them has something in common: While answering the reader’s query, they also cleverly introduce Ahrefs to the reader, and demonstrate how to solve their problem using the tool.

(Image source)

It’s not pushy or salesy, but strategic and subtle.

Apply this to your B2B SEO strategy:

When evaluating potential keywords, look for topics where you can talk about your product without appearing pushy.

Don’t be afraid to discuss your features and benefits, albeit in a non-salesy way.

If your product is a direct solution to the reader’s problem, be sure to explain how and add relevant calls to action for them to try or subscribe to your product.

5. Capitalize on competitor SEO

Competitor SEO is a great place to kickstart your B2B SEO efforts.

As Kevin Indig explains, competitor SEO helps you get in front of customers of your competitors as well as those who are actively evaluating your product and those of others.

Helpdesk software Help Scout uses two types of pages to take advantage of the highly competitive customer service software space:

Alternative pages:

Help Scout has several pages comparing it to competitors like Zendesk, Freshdesk, and Desk.com. Instead of a direct comparison, they rely on customer testimonials and features to make their case.

(Image source)

Help content and FAQs: 

They use their help docs to answer questions like, “How to transfer from Zendesk to Help Scout”

(Image source)

Apply this to your B2B SEO strategy:

There are three types of queries you’ll want to target when doing competitor SEO:

  • Alternative queries (Zendesk alternatives)
  • Versus queries (Helpscout vs. Zendesk)
  • Competitor documentation

While the first two are obvious, let’s discuss the last one.

Competitor documentation presents a great opportunity to bank on existing SEO demand.

Take a look at your competitor’s product documentation, product landing pages, use case landing pages, and product videos.

Do they sufficiently answer customer questions, or are they lacking information? If it’s the latter, you’ve found your sweet spot.

Take the example of Filmora, a video editing software that went up against the industry giant, Adobe Premiere.

They noticed gaps in Adobe’s documentation and created how-to content for Premiere Pro. Along the way, they also introduced their product and explained how readers could use it to solve their problem.

6. Include video in your B2B SEO strategy

If you think B2B SEO is limited to blogging, it’s time to rethink your strategy.

Ideally, your strategy should be like that of Ahrefs: to be there for people when they’re searching for anything SEO-related.

To that end, they don’t just create blog posts, but also YouTube videos for each topic.

(Image source)

If you’re serious about SEO, ignore video at your own peril.

As Wistia discovered in an unplanned experiment, video on a webpage does affect search rankings and traffic. Specifically, having their videos indexed contributed to a 10.6% increase in organic traffic.

Video is not just good for SEO, but also conversions. As one study found, 80% marketers said video helped them directly increase sales.

Apply this to your B2B SEO strategy:

Take a look at existing search results for popular queries in your niche. Do they include videos? If so, it might be a good place to start creating videos.

You’ll also want to explore any content gaps in your niche. Maybe there aren’t enough how-to videos on your topic, or perhaps none of your competitors are investing in animated explainer videos.

For videos you already have on your website like demos, explainer videos, and customer success stories, be sure to optimize them for search.

While it’s difficult to rank in universal searches with a video, Wistia recommends some best practices for ranking in the video tab of a Google search. This includes choosing a good platform to host your videos, adding a video transcript, using the right titles and tags, and including a thumbnail image.

7. Refresh content often

A common question companies tend to ask when thinking about B2B SEO is, “how many posts do you need to succeed?”

Let’s look to Ahrefs again for the answer.

The SEO tool has been around since 2010. During this time, they’ve only published around 250 posts. That’s about 25 posts per year, or one post per two weeks.

So, where do they invest the rest of their content efforts?

They spend a lot of time refreshing old posts. CMO Tim says, “Once we notice that a post is losing traffic, it’s a sign that we need to refresh it. Or even if the post is doing super well, but we feel it has some outdated info, we go and fix it.”

This helps their blog stay relevant, even as the world of SEO changes regularly.

Over time, all content loses traffic. This happens due to algorithm changes and the fact that search engines are constantly looking for the most thorough and up-to-date pieces of content for any given query.

Refreshing content is the best way to keep your best posts from losing traffic and avoid content decay.

Apply this to your B2B SEO strategy:

Don’t think you need to churn out new content each week to have a successful blog. Instead, spend time refreshing old pieces that may be losing traffic.

It’s not only cost effective, but also helps your blog stay current.

A content audit every month should help you identify pieces that need an update. This guide from BuzzSumo provides a helpful checklist to create a content audit and refresh older content.

Your B2B SEO strategy exists for a reason

Building a B2B website with over 2M visitors is no simple feat. But traffic alone isn’t the goal of B2B SEO, as the examples discussed above show.

You want to attract relevant traffic to your website with a high chance of converting into paid customers.

Bottom of funnel keywords, competitor SEO, and evaluating business potential of keywords are great ways to make sure your content strategy is aligned with business goals.

Use top and middle of funnel keywords and videos to boost your SEO performance and traffic. Where possible, be sure to insert relevant calls to action for your product too.

Finally, to get the most bang for your buck, spend some time refreshing content. Your readers and search engines will thank you for it.

MOST B2B COMPANIES STRUGGLE WITH GENERATING CONSISTENT ONLINE LEADS & SALES…WE FIX THAT!

Since 2009, we have helped hundreds of businesses grow strategically. Let us do it for you!

The post B2B SEO Strategy Guide 2021: 7 Lessons from Companies that Drive 2M+ Visits/Month appeared first on HigherVisibility.