Purpose
To establish a standardized process for manually collecting high-quality, authoritative links from trusted sources and creating a link pack in Zimmwriter for use in Authority Solutions’ blogs. This ensures content credibility and enhances SEO performance.
Scope
Involved Areas: Content and SEO Teams
This SOP applies to the collection, validation, and organization of external links for content enhancement.
Responsibilities
- SEO Specialist/Content Writer: Identifies and collects relevant authoritative links.
- Content Creator: Ensures link packs align with the blog topics and support content credibility.
- Content Manager: Reviews and approves the final link pack for integration.
Definitions and Key Terms
- Link Pack: A curated set of high-quality, relevant external links to authoritative sources used in blog content.
- Wireframe: A structured document outlining the blog’s keyword focus and content layout.
- Authoritative Source: A trusted, industry-recognized website providing high-value content and insights.
Tools and Resources
- Google Search: For identifying and collecting relevant articles.
- Notepad or Text Editor: For organizing and storing collected links.
- Zimmwriter: For finalizing and saving the link pack.
- Google Drive: For accessing blog wireframes and target keywords.
Prerequisites and Preparation
- Ensure access to the designated wireframe folder in Google Drive.
- Have Google Search and a text editor open for link collection.
- Log in to Zimmwriter before finalizing the link pack.
- Confirm the blog topic and target keyword from the wireframe.
Step 1: Understand the Blog Topic and Keyword
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Identify the main keyword or service/page target keyword from the wireframe for the blog post.
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Access the wireframe document in the designated folder on Google Drive.
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Locate the keyword assigned to the blog topic or page target.
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Note down the keyword for use in the search process.
Example: If the wireframe states “Local SEO” as the target, that will be the main keyword.
Step 2: Prepare Your Tools
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Open a Google search window.
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Open a plain-text editor like Notepad to collect URLs during the process.
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Log in to Zimmwriter for the final steps (do this after collecting URLs).
Step 3: Search for Relevant Articles
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Use the following Google search query for each of the listed trusted sources:
site:[SOURCE] + [MAIN KEYWORD]-
Example: site:https://www.searchenginejournal.com local SEO
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Search through the results and open each article that appears relevant to the blog topic.
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Review the content to ensure it meets the following criteria:
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The content is informative, authoritative, and up-to-date.
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It aligns with the blog topic or provides supporting information.
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Sources to Search From:
Step 4: Collect Relevant Links
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For every relevant article, copy the URL and paste it into Notepad.
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Use a clean format: one URL per line.
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Example:
site: searchenginewatch.com content marketing
CopyEdit
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/local-seo-guide/12345/
https://ahrefs.com/blog/local-seo-tips/
https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo/local
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Aim to collect 5-10 high-quality links for each link pack. If more are available and useful, include them.
Step 5: Create the Link Pack in Zimmwriter
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Open Zimmwriter and navigate to the Link Pack Creation tool.
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Copy all the URLs from Notepad.
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Paste the URLs into Zimmwriter’s link pack editor.
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Review the list to ensure:
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There are no duplicate links.
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All links are working and relevant.
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Save the link pack:
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Click “Save New Link Pack”.
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Use a consistent naming convention:
[Main Keyword/Service Name] Link Pack
Example: Local SEO Link Pack.
Step 6: Quality Assurance
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Double-check the saved link pack in Zimmwriter to confirm:
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It contains the correct links.
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The links are organized and match the intended topic.
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Test a few URLs to ensure they open correctly.
Step 7: Utilize the Link Pack
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Use the saved link pack for internal blogs or content requiring outbound links to authoritative sources.
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Periodically review and update the link packs to ensure the links remain relevant and accurate.
Additional Notes:
- Accessing Keywords: Always pull the target keyword from the wireframe stored in Google Drive before starting the process. Ensure you’re using the exact keyword provided in the wireframe.
- Time-saving tip: Bookmark commonly used search queries for future use (e.g., site:https://moz.com local SEO).
- Frequency of Updates: Link packs should be updated every 3-6 months to ensure freshness.
- Always prioritize links that are recent and specific to the blog topic.
Review and Finalization
- Internal Review:
- Content Manager checks the final link pack for consistency and alignment.
- If needed, edits are made before implementation.
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Approval:
- Obtain final approval from the SEO lead or content owner.
Document Control
- Review Date: [To be updated upon review]
- Version: [Initial version or update number]
- Approvals: [Signatures/Approvals from relevant stakeholders]
Additional Notes:
- Accessing Keywords: Always pull the target keyword from the wireframe stored in Google Drive before starting.
Time-Saving Tip: Bookmark commonly used search queries for faster access.
- Example: site:https://moz.com local SEO
- Frequency of Updates: Link packs should be updated every 3-6 months for freshness.
- Prioritization: Always prioritize recent links and those highly relevant to the blog topic.
