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What do SEO and Puppies Have in Common?

I’m glad you asked! As it turns out, SEO and puppies have more in common than you may think.

Written by Norman Brauns
on 10.17.16

We assume that puppies learn from their owners, but they teach us a thing or two along the way as well. Thanks to our precocious pups, dog owners take on new responsibilities and schedules, become more patient, learn to adapt to taxing situations, and ultimately become better people through what we’ve learned. Throughout my time as an SEO Specialist, I’ve seen these same teachings come about through countless projects and strategies, and I’d like to share some of these with you today (along with lots of pictures of my dog, Louie).

Goals

When you’re crafting an SEO strategy or starting a new project you have a clear-cut goal in mind. Whether you want to improve rankings for a specific set of keywords, increase organic traffic to your site, or make your site as mobile and user-friendly as possible, your actions will lead to this goal becoming reality. The same applies when you bring your puppy home for the first time. Do you want to train your pup to be a companion in running, hiking mountains, and surfing? Or would you prefer your canine to keep you company on the couch during all your “Game of Thrones” binge-watching sessions? Before you start working on your campaign, always have a goal in mind, be it big or small.

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Patience

Although doing keyword research and writing title tags can be repetitive at times, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Having patience isn’t just about waiting. It’s about having faith in your work and knowing that what you get out is what you put in. Just as picking up after your newest family member can be exhausting, you know that eventually all the work you’re doing will pay off in the end. Sometimes you’re going to have to put in extra time and effort, but what you learn throughout the process is that being patient will make you more knowledgeable and prepared for future projects.

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Flexibility

Even though you may have a clear goal when you begin creating your SEO strategy, your plans might change along the way. When something falls through, don’t be discouraged; feed off that energy and realign your plan. As everyone who’s ever owned a puppy knows, mistakes happen. When things don’t go right with your new pup, the worst thing you can do is get upset or give up. Success takes hard work and time, and in the end, it will pay off if you do it the right way. When something you’re working on is not delivering the expected results, don’t be afraid to try a new approach and learn from your mistakes.

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Happiness

Sometimes you have to endure the daily grind to reap the rewards, and doing so will make you a better SEO practitioner (and dog owner). When your rankings start to improve and your organic traffic starts to grow steadily, you’ll feel even better about your success knowing you put in the hours to make it happen.

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