{"id":11804,"date":"2024-12-05T23:49:14","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T23:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/"},"modified":"2024-12-05T23:49:14","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T23:49:14","slug":"seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/","title":{"rendered":"SEO Maintenance: Here\u2019s What to Do &amp; How Often"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The real secret to continuously ranking well in search engines lies in consistent, strategic maintenance.<\/p>\n<p>In this guide, we\u2019re going to show you exactly how to maintain your SEO the right way.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s kick things off with some basics.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/#What_Is_SEO_Maintenance\" >What Is SEO Maintenance?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/#How_Much_Maintenance_Does_SEO_Require\" >How Much Maintenance Does SEO Require?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/#SEO_Is_an_Ongoing_Process\" >SEO Is an Ongoing Process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/#How_to_Maintain_Your_SEO_Results\" >How to Maintain Your SEO Results<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/#Track_Performance_Metrics_and_Identify_Issues\" >Track Performance Metrics and Identify Issues<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/#Refresh_Outdated_Content\" >Refresh Outdated Content<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/#Search_Intent_and_SEO_A_Complete_Guide\" >Search Intent and SEO: A Complete Guide<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/#Manage_Your_Local_SEO\" >Manage Your Local SEO<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/#Stay_Informed_on_Industry_News\" >Stay Informed on Industry News<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/05\/seo-maintenance-heres-what-to-do-how-often\/#Boost_Your_SEO_Knowledge_to_Maintain_Your_Rankings\" >Boost Your SEO Knowledge to Maintain Your Rankings<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_SEO_Maintenance\"><\/span>What Is SEO Maintenance?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>SEO maintenance is the ongoing process of monitoring, updating, and optimizing your website to maintain and improve its search engine rankings.<\/p>\n<p>The initial efforts you make to optimize your website are usually not enough to produce long-term results. Google algorithms change, your content becomes outdated, and technical issues arise.<\/p>\n<p>So, your website needs consistent care and attention to weather these changes.<\/p>\n<p>Without regular maintenance, even the most perfectly optimized website can gradually lose its rankings.<\/p>\n<p>Perform SEO maintenance so it doesn\u2019t happen to you.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Much_Maintenance_Does_SEO_Require\"><\/span>How Much Maintenance Does SEO Require?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The level of SEO maintenance you need depends on your <strong>website\u2019s size<\/strong> and the <strong>competitive landscape<\/strong> of your industry.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s extremely difficult to give a one-size-fits-all answer.<\/p>\n<p>Small websites may only need a few hours of maintenance each month, focusing on essential updates and minor optimizations.<\/p>\n<p>But larger websites in competitive niches will require more frequent and detailed maintenance to stay ahead.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll cover specific maintenance tasks and how often to perform them later in this guide. But first, let\u2019s clear something up.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SEO_Is_an_Ongoing_Process\"><\/span>SEO Is an Ongoing Process<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cSet it and forget it\u201d doesn\u2019t work when it comes to SEO.<\/p>\n<p>You need to continuously check on and maintain your website\u2019s SEO performance because:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Google regularly updates its algorithm:<\/strong> While most are minor tweaks, some significant updates can dramatically impact your site\u2019s rankings. If you\u2019re not adapting your site\u2019s SEO to align with Google\u2019s latest guidelines, you could see a drop in traffic.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Your competitors are probably continuously optimizing their websites:<\/strong> If you\u2019re not actively improving your SEO, you could gradually slip down the search results.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Your technical SEO health might deteriorate over time:<\/strong> Technical issues like <a title=\"How to Find (and Fix) Broken Links\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/how-to-find-and-fix-broken-links\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">broken links<\/a>, <a title=\"Duplicate Content and SEO: The Complete Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/duplicate-content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">duplicate content<\/a>, and security problems might creep in. Without regular maintenance, these technical issues may go unnoticed and hurt your rankings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Your content can become outdated and inaccurate:<\/strong> Regularly updating your content ensures it remains valuable to your audience and continues to rank well in search engines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Maintain_Your_SEO_Results\"><\/span>How to Maintain Your SEO Results<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While there are a lot of aspects to keep on top of, maintaining your SEO doesn\u2019t have to be overwhelming.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how you can focus your efforts on the SEO maintenance tasks likely to yield the best results.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Track_Performance_Metrics_and_Identify_Issues\"><\/span>Track Performance Metrics and Identify Issues<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Performance metrics are key indicators that show how well your website performs in search results.<\/p>\n<p>By monitoring these key indicators regularly, you can spot potential problems before they start to seriously impact your rankings.<\/p>\n<p>Here are two metrics you need to track:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Keyword rankings:<\/strong> Monitor how well your pages rank for your target keywords. Pay attention to any sudden drops or gradual declines, as these could indicate problems with your site\u2019s SEO.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Search traffic:<\/strong> Keep an eye on your organic traffic. A drop in keyword rankings will correlate with a subsequent drop in search traffic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We suggest you <strong>review these metrics biweekly<\/strong>. This gives you enough time to spot problems while ensuring you don\u2019t miss out on anything that requires immediate attention.<\/p>\n<p>For monitoring keyword rankings, use Semrush\u2019s <a title=\"Position Tracking: Keyword Rank Tracker Tool | Semrush\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/position-tracking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Position Tracking tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Add your keywords to the tool and <a title=\"Configuring Position Tracking | Semrush Knowledge Base\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/kb\/548-configuring-position-tracking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">complete the setup process<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Then, go to the \u201c<strong>Overview<\/strong>\u201d tab and scroll down to the \u201c<strong>Rankings overview<\/strong>\u201d report.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll see how well you\u2019re ranking for your target keywords. Over time, you\u2019ll also see ranking improvements or declines.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Rankings Overview\" alt=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Rankings Overview\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.78571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/position-tracking-backlinko-rankings-overview.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>For monitoring organic traffic, use <a title=\"Google Analytics\" href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/analytics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Analytics<\/a> (GA).<\/p>\n<p>Open the tool and go to \u201c<strong>Reports<\/strong>\u201d &gt; \u201c<strong>Acquisition<\/strong>\u201d &gt; \u201c<strong>Traffic Acquisition<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll see all your traffic sources.<\/p>\n<p>Uncheck all channels except \u201cOrganic Search\u201d to focus solely on organic traffic from search engines. And then click \u201c<strong>Plot rows<\/strong>\u201d to see a graph of your traffic over time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Analytics \u2013 Traffic Acquisition \u2013 Organic Search\" alt=\"Analytics \u2013 Traffic Acquisition \u2013 Organic Search\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.88571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/analytics-traffic-acquisition-organic-search.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Further reading:<\/strong> <a title=\"Google Analytics 4 (GA4): Ultimate Guide and Tutorial\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/google-analytics-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Analytics 4 (GA4): Ultimate Guide and Tutorial<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Refresh_Outdated_Content\"><\/span>Refresh Outdated Content<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Updating your content helps maintain its rankings and keeps the information relevant to your visitors.<\/p>\n<p>Outdated information can hurt your credibility and cause users to leave your site, which could signal to Google that your content isn\u2019t meeting user needs.<\/p>\n<p>So, we recommend you review your content <strong>every six months<\/strong>. (Depending on your industry, you may need to review content more or less often.)<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a simple process to follow:<\/p>\n<p>First, use <a title=\"Google Search Console\" href=\"https:\/\/search.google.com\/search-console\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Search Console<\/a> to identify your most important pages.<\/p>\n<p>Go to \u201c<strong>Performance<\/strong>\u201d &gt; \u201c<strong>Search results<\/strong>.\u201d Then, switch to the \u201c<strong>Pages<\/strong>\u201d tab to see which pages are receiving the most clicks and impressions.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GSC \u2013 Performance \u2013 Pages\" alt=\"GSC \u2013 Performance \u2013 Pages\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.0642857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/gsc-performance-pages.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Then, check each page for outdated information and update the content.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what to look for when updating content:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Statistics:<\/strong> Update outdated statistics and sources. Make sure all facts and figures are current.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Product information:<\/strong> Update any references to products or services, especially if there have been changes or new releases. Remove mentions of discontinued products.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Screenshots and visuals:<\/strong> Replace old screenshots and images with new ones. This is especially important if your content includes product interface screenshots that may have changed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Missing subtopics:<\/strong> Identify any subtopics that weren\u2019t covered initially. Add these to make your content more comprehensive and valuable.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Search Intent and SEO: A Complete Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/search-intent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Search intent<\/a>:<\/strong> Re-evaluate whether your content still aligns with the current search intent of your target keywords. Adjust the content as necessary to better meet users\u2019 needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Search_Intent_and_SEO_A_Complete_Guide\"><\/span>Search Intent and SEO: A Complete Guide<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Technical SEO issues are problems that can prevent search engines from properly crawling (finding), indexing (storing), or ranking your website.<\/p>\n<p>Even small technical issues can impact your SEO performance, so it\u2019s important to monitor and fix them regularly.<\/p>\n<p>We suggest you perform <a title=\"Technical SEO: The Ultimate Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/technical-seo-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technical SEO<\/a> checks <strong>at least once every month<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Start by examining the \u201c<strong>Pages<\/strong>\u201d report in Google Search Console.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GSC \u2013 Page indexing\" alt=\"GSC \u2013 Page indexing\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.82\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/gsc-page-indexing-1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This report highlights technical SEO issues Google detects that may be affecting your site\u2019s visibility in search results.<\/p>\n<p>Focus on the \u201cWhy pages aren\u2019t indexed\u201d section.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GSC \u2013 Why pages aren\u2019t indexed\" alt=\"GSC \u2013 Why pages aren't indexed\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.92\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/gsc-why-pages-arent-indexed.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s crucial that all your important pages are indexed. Otherwise, they won\u2019t appear in search results and have no chance of ranking.<\/p>\n<p>For a detailed analysis of your site\u2019s technical health, use Semrush\u2019s <a title=\"Site Audit: Improve the SEO of Your Website | Semrush\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/siteaudit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Site Audit<\/a> tool.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Configuring Site Audit\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/kb\/539-configuring-site-audit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Set up a project<\/a> in the tool and run a full crawl of your website. Once the report is ready, you\u2019ll get a detailed account of technical SEO issues like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Duplicate content:<\/strong> Pages with identical or very similar content that could confuse search engines<\/li>\n<li><strong>Broken links:<\/strong> Internal and external links that lead to nonexistent pages<\/li>\n<li><strong>4xx errors:<\/strong> Pages returning error codes that you need to fix or <a title=\"Redirects 101: A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Setup &amp; Best Practices\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/redirects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">redirect<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Slow <a title=\"Page Speed and SEO: The Complete Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/pagespeed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">page load speed<\/a>:<\/strong> Pages taking too long to load that may hurt your user experience and rankings<\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Core Web Vitals: Essential Guide to Better Site Performance\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/core-web-vitals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Core Web Vitals<\/a> issues:<\/strong> Problems with loading, interactivity, and visual stability on your website<\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"15 Crawlability Problems &amp; How to Fix Them\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/blog\/crawlability-issues\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Crawlability problems<\/a>:<\/strong> Issues preventing search engines from properly accessing your content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Site Audit \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Overview\" alt=\"Site Audit \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Overview\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.77428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/site-audit-backlinko-overview-nov-2024.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>The tool also provides advice on how to fix each issue.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"How to fix issues\" alt=\"How to fix issues\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.63692307692308\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/05\/how-to-fix-issues-1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Manage_Your_Local_SEO\"><\/span>Manage Your Local SEO<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re a local business owner trying to attract nearby customers, maintaining your local SEO will help keep your business visible and relevant in local search results.<\/p>\n<p>There are two things you need to do regularly:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Keep your business information accurate on all directories:<\/strong> Your business details need to stay accurate across all online platforms. This includes your hours, contact information, address, and service offerings. When something changes\u2014even temporarily, like holiday hours\u2014you need to update it everywhere.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Engage with customer reviews:<\/strong> Reviews are crucial for both rankings and customer trust. Make it a habit to respond to all new reviews as fast as you can (ideally within 24 hours). Thank happy customers and address concerns and negative feedback professionally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Use Semrush\u2019s <a title=\"Listing Management by Semrush - Visibility Where You Need It Most\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/listings-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Listing Management<\/a> tool to update your business information across lots of directories\u2014all in one place.<\/p>\n<p>With one click, you can update over 150 directories, ensuring your information stays consistent everywhere your customers might find you. Without spending time logging into each one individually to make changes.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Semrush \u2013 Listings Management \u2013 Directories\" alt=\"Semrush \u2013 Listings Management \u2013 Directories\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.94\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/08\/semrush-listings-management-directories.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>For review management, use Semrush\u2019s <a title=\"Listing Management by Semrush - Visibility Where You Need It Most\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/review-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Review Management<\/a> tool. It brings all your reviews into one place. So you can respond to them easily and maintain a strong online reputation\u2013again while saving A LOT of time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Review Management \u2013 Reviews\" alt=\"Review Management \u2013 Reviews\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.55142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/review-management-reviews.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>And the tool can respond automatically to positive reviews using AI.<\/p>\n<p>That way, you can quickly and easily stay on top of your reviews and show customers you care.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Review Management \u2013 AI Replies\" alt=\"Review Management \u2013 AI Replies\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.58857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/review-management-ai-replies.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stay_Informed_on_Industry_News\"><\/span>Stay Informed on Industry News<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Keeping up with the industry changes helps you adapt your strategy and maintain SEO results.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s always something new happening in the world of SEO:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Search engines like Google frequently roll out algorithm updates:<\/strong> These changes can significantly impact your rankings, so it\u2019s crucial to stay informed and adjust your strategy accordingly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>New trends in technology can shift the SEO landscape:<\/strong> One particularly relevant example of this is Google starting to use AI to generate direct answers and summaries in search results through <a title=\"AI Overviews: What They Are and How to Optimize for Them\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/ai-overviews\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI Overviews<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>New best practices, tools, and strategies pop up:<\/strong> The SEO industry is huge, and individuals and agencies are always iterating on their processes. Whether it\u2019s a novel method for keyword research or a new tool that streamlines your workflows, you want to stay on top of it all.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can stay informed about recent developments by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Monitoring industry news websites like <a title=\"Search Engine Land\" href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Search Engine Land<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Reading Google\u2019s official <a title=\"Search Central Blog\" href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/blog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Search Central Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Following experts on social media like <a title=\"X \u2013 Barry Schwartz\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/rustybrick\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barry Schwartz<\/a> and <a title=\"X \u2013 Aleyda Solis\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/aleyda\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aleyda Solis<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Make it a habit to dedicate some time each week to catch up on the latest news.<\/p>\n<p>By keeping yourself informed, you\u2019ll be better equipped to adapt your strategy quickly and maintain your visibility in search.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Boost_Your_SEO_Knowledge_to_Maintain_Your_Rankings\"><\/span>Boost Your SEO Knowledge to Maintain Your Rankings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Clearly, there\u2019s a lot to learn and monitor when it comes to SEO maintenance. While tools like Semrush can make it much easier, there\u2019s no substitute for understanding the fundamentals.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few helpful resources to give you the knowledge to stay on top of your site\u2019s SEO:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a title=\"The Ultimate SEO Tutorial\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/seo-tutorial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Ultimate SEO Tutorial:<\/a><\/strong> Learn everything you need to know to improve your site\u2019s rankings, no matter your current level of knowledge.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"On-Page SEO: The Definitive Guide + FREE Template\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/on-page-seo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">On-Page SEO Guide:<\/a><\/strong> Drill down to the fundamentals of on-page optimization to boost your pages\u2019 visibility in search results.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"SEO Trends This Year and How to Adapt\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/seo-this-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SEO Trends You Need to Know:<\/a><\/strong> Stay on top of the latest trends in SEO, so that you can adapt your strategy and stay ahead of the competition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/seo-maintenance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SEO Maintenance: Here\u2019s What to Do &amp; How Often<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backlinko<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The real secret to continuously ranking well in search engines lies in consistent, strategic maintenance. In this guide, we\u2019re going to show you exactly how to maintain your SEO the right way. Let\u2019s kick things off with some basics. What Is SEO Maintenance? SEO maintenance is the ongoing process of monitoring, updating, and optimizing your website to maintain and improve its search engine rankings. The initial efforts you make to optimize your website are usually not enough to produce long-term results. Google algorithms change, your content [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":11805,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,52],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backlinko","category-marketing-blogs"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/position-tracking-backlinko-rankings-overview-IdXOl2-600x400.png","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/position-tracking-backlinko-rankings-overview-IdXOl2-600x600.png","author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}