Meta Description 101: Definition, Importance & Tips

A meta description is a short text that tells the reader what’s on the page before they click. 

You’ve probably heard they’re important for SEO.

But are they really?

That’s what you will learn from the article. I will also share 11 actionable tips on how to write effective meta descriptions and answer a few common questions. 

Key takeaways

  • Meta descriptions don’t affect rankings directly but they can do it indirectly by improving click-through rates and user experience.
  • Google rewrites ≈70% of all meta descriptions, but it still recommends writing quality descriptions. 
  • Good meta descriptions concisely summarize the page, include target keywords, align with search intent, and encourage searcher clicks by showcasing page value. 

What is a Meta Description

Meta description is a short HTML tag that summarizes the page content. 

Here’s what it looks like for my blog:

Neil Patel's meta description.

Readers can’t see meta descriptions on the page without inspecting the code.

But they can see it in the snippet on the search engine results page, below the page URL and title.  

Neil Patel's meta description as it appears in Google.

Its job: to show readers what the page offers and persuade them to click. That’s why people often call it a page’s elevator pitch.  

Are meta descriptions still important for SEO?

The short answer: meta descriptions aren’t very important for SEO. 

Surprised? I bet you aren’t the only one. 

After all, writing meta descriptions has always been one of the core on-page SEO best practices.

Let’s unpack why. 

Meta descriptions aren’t a ranking factor for Google.

However, many SEO believe they improve rankings indirectly.  

This is based on the assumptions that:

  • Compelling meta descriptions improve click-through rates (CTRs).
  • CTRs are a user signal that Google considers when ranking pages. More people clicking on your page signal to Google it satisfies their search intent.
  • Well-written meta descriptions improve the user experience. They show readers what they can find on the page and help them decide if they want to visit on it or not. If they do, they’re less likely to bounce, and bounce rates are a quality signal for Google.

All sounds logical but no recent large-scale studies confirm the positive impact of meta descriptions on CTR or traffic

Experiments conducted by SEOTesting earlier this year indicated that optimizing meta descriptions barely affected traffic and a 2023 case studies by SearchPilot showed that removing them improve CTRs. 

A Linkedin post by Ryan Jones.

Google Rewrites Most Meta Descriptions

One reason why meta description optimization has limited impact is that Google replaces about 70% of them with content directly from the page.

Let me show you an example from one of our recent articles:

As you can see, the meta description tag reads “Discover what GPTBot is, how it works, and what its presence means for your website’s SEO, privacy, and AI data usage policies.”

Meta description code for the Neil Patel article: What is GPTbot?

However, if you search for “GPTBot,” that’s not what you find in the result snippet:

The What is GPTbot meta description as it appears in Google.

The snippet above was taken from the Key Takeaways section.

Key takeways for the What is GPTbot article.

The Verdict: You Should Still Write Meta Descriptions

If Google rewrites most meta descriptions and they don’t move traffic, why bother with them?

First, social media platforms like Facebook still display the original meta description when users share the page. So, by skipping it, you reduce its visibility and shareability. 

The What is GPTbot article as it appears on Facebook.

Secondly, Google itself still recommends it as means of “controlling the snippet.” Essentially, Google may use it in the SERP snippet if it answers the user query better than what Google finds on the page.

Google's guidance on controlling snippets.

So although adding meta descriptions isn’t critical for SEO, still do it. 

Yes, Google often replaces them. But you have a 30% chance that it doesn’t. If you skip the tag, you give up control of the first impression your page makes in SERPs without a fight. 

How to Write a Meta Description: 11 Top Tips.

With the theory out of the way, here are 11 tips for writing meta descriptions that searchers (and Google) will like. 

  1. Stay Under 156 Characters and Front-Load

To ensure readers can see your meta description, don’t go over 156 characters and put the most key info in the first 110 characters. 

Google cuts off the snippet based on pixel length: 960 pixels on desktop and 680 pixels on mobile. That’s roughly 145-155 and 110-130 characters, respectively.

Writing tools, like NeuronWriter below, feature snippet simulators, so you can preview it as you’re crafting your description, so you don’t overflow.

Neuronwriter's snippet simulator.
  1. Check Existing Snippets

Analyzing the snippets for your keyword helps understand what kinds of descriptions Google prefers.

For example, all the meta descriptions for “motorcycle helmet” feature words like collection, range, or selection, kinds of helmets (full face, open face, flip up, etc) and brand names. 

Mimick it when crafting your homepage or category page descriptions. 

A Mega Motorcycle Store meta description.
  1. Satisfy Search Intent

Your meta description must reflect the search intent. Or in other words, it spell out what need it satisfies or problem that it solves. 

For example, the article ranking #1 for ”keto diet’ has a definition of the diet and a brief explanation of how it works because the keyword has informational intent and that’s the kind of information users are after. 

A Healthline meta description.

In contrast, the meta description for the homepage of Next, the UK retailer, aligns with the transactional/navigational intent. Anyone looking for ‘Next’ is likely shopping, so “Shop the latest women’s, men’s and children’s fashion…” nails it. 

A Next Direct meta description.
  1. Highlight the Benefits

To win searchers’ clicks, show them what they will gain.

For a blog post or a guide, state what they will learn. 

Like the meta description for the guide to fitting kitchen worktops, which promises to show the reader how to install it themselves without hiring a professional fitter. 

A B&Q meta description.

For a product page, show potential customers its unique value proposition and how it will change their lives for better. 

Slack’s meta description is a perfect example. It explains what the product does (“is a new way to communicate with your team”) and shows its advantages over alternatives (“faster, better organized and more secure than email”).

Slack's meta description HTML.
  1. Use Active Verbs & Add a Compelling CTA

An effective meta description drives user action through a compelling CTA.

For a blog article, this could be “visit to learn”, for a software product page, “start free trial now”, and for a car, “Book a test drive today,” just like in the Toyota Yaris example. 

The Toyota meta description starts with an imperative “enrich” which is also a common tactic to prompt readers to act. 

A Toyota UK meta description.
  1. Clearly Describe the Page Content

Effective meta descriptions summarize the page content accurately to tell the potential readers what they can find in the article to help them decide if it’s relevant.

That’s what the meta description for the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine article on how to build a garden pergola does.  It tells them what the article includes (advice, ideas) and how it’s structured (a list). 

A BBC Gardeners World Magazine Meta Description.

Inaccurate or misleading meta descriptions backfire: if the reader expects something else from the page, they bounce. This hurts the page rankings by signaling Google that the page isn’t relevant.  

  1. Include Primary Keywords Naturally

Including target keywords in your meta description is another way to signal relevance and help the meta description stand out.

How so?

Google boldens words and phrases related to user query in the snippet.

For example, when I searched for “climbing shoes,” it returned multiple results with the keyword boldened, including the one from Rock + Run product category page. 

A Rock + Run meta description.

But embed the keywords naturally. 

Keyword stuffing makes no sense because A) meta descriptions aren’t a ranking factor, B) Google considers it a spammy practice will most likely replace such descriptions.

And it will do it for your own benefit because it makes text hard to follow, negatively affecting the user experience, which may harm your brand perception. 

  1. Make Your Meta Descriptions Stand Out

Stand-out meta descriptions catch user attention and stop them from scrolling past.  

You can achieve this with:

  • Eye-catching phrases
  • Sensory descriptions
  • Rhythm and rhyme
  • Alliterations 
  • Witty puns, jokes and idioms (like “make a splash” in the M&S description).
A Marks & Spencer meta description.

Beware of clickbait — sensational wording, contrarian opinions, or half-truths. These might be fine for certain sectors, like celebrity news sites, but won’t cut it in ecommerce or SaaS.  

Likewise, spammy claims like “best in the world” don’t inspire confidence while misleading and overpromising can bite you back: users won’t get what they expect and will bounce. 

  1. Match Your Brand Voice

Whatever the vibe of your home or product pages, match it in the meta descriptions. If you nail, you will improve brand recognition. If you get it wrong, you will undermine visitor trust.

For example, Naked Coffee’s home page tag perfectly mirrors the tone of its site and social media content. 

A Naked Coffee meta description.
  1. Write Unique Descriptions for Every Page 

Google recommends writing unique meta descriptions to differentiate pages. 

An example of Google recommendations for meta descriptions.

Duplicate meta descriptions confuse readers and don’t help them choose the right page.

They also signal that you may not care much about the user experience (read “you’re lazy”).  

You can quickly identify meta description issues like duplicates by running the SEO Audit with Ubersuggest. 

Ubersuggest's SEO audit function.
  1. Be Consistent Across the Website

A consistent meta description format across your website provides a predictable user experience.

Mind you, it doesn’t mean ALL pages across the whole website should follow the same format.

But definitely pages of the same category. For example, all category pages and all product pages within the same category. 

How to Write Meta Descriptions At Scale

For large websites with hundreds or thousands of pages, writing meta descriptions manually isn’t always feasible. 

The solution?

Write them manually for the mission-critical pages, like your homepage, category pages, or top-converting product pages. 

And generate the rest automatically, using:

  • Programmatic SEO: Create content from templates using data from structured databases or spreadsheets. Setting it up requires a certain level of technical expertise but once done, you can generate thousands of meta descriptions within minutes. 
  • AI chatbots: Build a spreadsheet with all your pages, for example, by downloading it from the SEO tool, and prompt ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini to create the descriptions. Make sure to provide all the details, like the desired length and what it should include. The downside is that you still need to import these to your CMS. 
An AI-generated meta description prompt.
  • CMS plugins: Install a plugin like AI for SEO (WordPress) or Metagen (Shopfiy) to generate meta in bulk. You can do it either with AI or by inserting variables, like 

Whatever approach, always review and edit the descriptions manually to avoid embarrassing misfires. 

FAQs

To finish, let’s answer a few frequently asked questions about meta descriptions.

What is a meta description in SEO?

It’s a short summary that shows up under your page title in search results. It doesn’t help you rank directly, but it can boost clicks by telling people what they’ll get if they visit your page. Think of it as your page’s pitch, fast, clear, and built to earn the click.

How to write meta descriptions for SEO?

To write an effective meta description, consider including relevant keywords and phrases that accurately describe the content on your web page.
Additionally, ensure:
Your meta description is unique and compelling.
You use active language.
That you highlight the benefits or solutions visitors can find on your page. 
You include a call-to-action.

Do meta descriptions affect SEO?

While Google doesn’t count meta descriptions as a ranking factor, meta descriptions still play a vital role in your SEO. 
Why? The brief summary you provide in a meta description gives users an idea of what to expect. This entices viewers to engage as they can see that your content meets their needs.
Optimized meta descriptions can also enhance click-through rates.

How long should a meta description be for SEO?

The standard length for meta descriptions is 155 characters, but up to 160 is acceptable.  Don’t forget to check the pixel widths of your meta descriptions to avoid truncated results. For mobile aim for 680 pixels, and for desktop 960 pixels.

Conclusion

Meta descriptions aren’t very important because they aren’t a ranking factor and Google rewrites most of them. 

But if you don’t provide a meta description, you voluntarily surrender control over how users see your page in SERPs. This means missed opportunities to attract users and shape your brand image online. 

That’s why writing meta descriptions is still one of the core SEO best practices. 

Read more at Read More

How to Write Your LinkedIn Headline (+ 20 Examples)

LinkedIn is the best platform for building professional connections, finding B2B leads, and job hunting. But in order to make the most of the platform, you need a LinkedIn headline that’s going to stand out.

Below, we discuss what a LinkedIn headline is, how you can write a good one, plus showcase 20 amazing examples you can use for inspiration.

Key Takeaways

  • A LinkedIn headline is like a quick elevator pitch showcasing what you do professionally.
  • To write a good LinkedIn headline, you want to start by perusing different examples to get an understanding of what your headline should include.
  • Make sure to incorporate things like your current role, your biggest skills, industry keywords, and other important information in your own headline.

What Is a LinkedIn Headline?

A LinkedIn headline is a short description of who you are/what you do that sits at the top of your LinkedIn profile. As you can see below, my LinkedIn headline is “Co-Founder at Neil Patel Digital.” Short, sweet, and to the point.

Neil Patel's Linkedin profile.

There are a number of ways to write your LinkedIn headline. You can keep it simple like mine, share a bit more about what you do, or infuse some personality into it. Just make sure it matches your overall personal brand—more on that later.

How to Write a Good LinkedIn Headline

To craft a LinkedIn headline that grabs attention and really showcases who you are, there are a few key elements you want to include. Follow along with these steps to write a good headline that properly details who you are and what you do.

Look at Examples Before You Start

Before you even put a single word in your headline, look around the platform to see how others describe themselves. You can also scroll down just a bit to see 20 amazing LinkedIn headlines we’ve hand-picked to share with you.

Looking around at how other users have written their headlines can be a great way to get the creative juices flowing in your brain. Plus, you can figure out styles that don’t suit you, giving you some parameters to start with.

Include Your Current Role

Now let’s get down to business. It’s time to start writing your LinkedIn headline. And the first thing you want to do is write down your current role.

Keep it simple. Something like “VP of Marketing at Company” or “Dev Lead.” And if you’re currently unemployed and job hunting, you can share that, as well, by writing out something like “Searching for a role in the HR tech space.”

Add Your Skills and Expertise

Next, include any relevant skills and expertise you have that will help you stand out. This can be really simple and in list form, like “Content Strategy, Product-Led SEO.” Or you can be a bit wordier and write something like “I build landing pages that convert.”

Including your best skills and experience can help you stand out, especially if you’re job hunting, looking for new clients, or aiming to expand your professional network.

Incorporate Industry Keywords

One major component of LinkedIn is its search functionality. And to make sure you appear in search results when people are looking for someone with the type of experience you have is to incorporate the right keywords into your headline.

You don’t want to create a keyword-stuffed, jargon-filled LinkedIn headline. But you do want to incorporate enough keywords that they sound natural while still helping you boost your profile’s ranking in search results.

Promote Yourself

Don’t be afraid to show off a bit with your headline. You’re good at what you do. Let it be known. For example, you could include something like “Built a channel with 1M+ YouTube subscribers” or “Building a bootstrapped SaaS product.”

Or, you can talk about what you do for clients. Like, “I write high-converting website copy,” or “I create social media ad campaigns that get results.”

LinkedIn is a professional social networking platform. The goal is to increase your online network, whether that’s finding new clients, making new colleagues, or meeting new industry professionals. And one great way to do that is to really sell what you can do.

Let Your Personality Shine

Just because LinkedIn is a professional platform doesn’t mean you can’t still let your personality come through in your headline and in your content. Include a line that provides a bit more context into who you are as a person—and not just as a professional.

We’ve included a few examples below of how some users have chosen to showcase their personality, even while remaining professional.

Make It Short and Sweet

You only have 220 characters to sum up exactly what you do and who you are in your LinkedIn headline. It’s like the shortest elevator pitch ever. So you need to find the right words to introduce yourself to other LinkedIn users in a really short, concise way.

Another pro tip: Keep the most important part of your headline at the beginning. In both search results and the LinkedIn feed, people will only see the first several words of your headline. They have to click to your profile to see the entire thing.

Make your headline short and sweet, but also, make them want to click to see more about what you have to offer.

20 LinkedIn Headline Examples to Steal

If you want to create your own impactful LinkedIn headline, you first need to look around and see how others in your industry are composing there. Here are 20 different ideas you can steal for your headline to get you started.

1. Be Straightforward

Hailley Griffis's LinkedIn.

Source

Similar to my headline, you can choose to just be straightforward, sharing nothing but your existing role. Don’t worry about any added fluff—just include what you do and where you work so your new connections know exactly what to expect from you.

2. Showcase Your Personality

Kate Erwin's LinkeIn.

Source

Or, you can choose to have some fun with your LinkedIn headline. Infuse your personality into it, creating a headline that’s still relevant to what you do but also lets you showcase a bit of who you are. 

This example, “I live on LinkedIn for a living,” works because Kate is a LinkedIn content creator. So she’s able to put a bit of who she is into her headline while still remaining true to her professional work.

3. Include Your Portfolio

Brinda Gulati's Linkedin Page.

Source

In this example, we see the freelancer has included companies she’s worked with in the past right inside of her LinkedIn headline. This is a great way for potential clients to see if she’ll be a good fit right off the bat.

Consider incorporating some of your past or current clients within your own headline, especially if you only work with companies within a specific industry. It can help narrow down your incoming work requests to more relevant brands.

4. Let Connections Know What to Expect

Olly Meakings' Linkedin Profile.

Source

With this example, Olly has let his followers and connections know exactly what to expect from him and his content. He’s building in public, sharing his experience, and providing content that others in the same boat might be interested in.

5. Promote Yourself

Esha Shamim's Linkedin Profile.

Source

Use your LinkedIn headline as a sort of elevator pitch, promoting yourself and your product or services. In this example, Esha has written that she will write content for your brand that will keep people from scrolling past. 

For your own headline, come up with a quick one-liner that perfectly encapsulates what you do so you can use your LinkedIn profile as a way to bring in new work.

6. Write a List

Jacqueline Ledoux's Linkedin Profile.

Source

Another simple way to use your LinkedIn headline is by simply making a list. List out different roles you have, share a few things about yourself like we see in this example, or list out some of your different skills.

This is a great example because you can use it in any way. Use characters like the “|” or “-” to separate your list items in a visually appealing way that’s easy to follow.

7. Share What You Post About

Naomi Liddell's Linkedin Profile.

Source

Let new connections know what kind of content to expect from your LinkedIn posts. By sharing the topics you talk about, you can find like-minded connections and colleagues that are going to be much more likely to engage with you on the platform.

8. Explain What You Do

Rose Alkamisi's LinkedIn profile.

Source

Explain exactly what you do so that LinkedIn users understand if they want to connect with you or not. This is also a great way to find new work, by creating a one-two line overview of what you have to offer potential clients.

9. Match Your Voice or Personal Brand

Tamilore Oladipo's Linkedin Profile

Source

If you’ve been working on building up your personal brand, make sure your LinkedIn headline matches that voice or branding. In the above example, we can see this creator incorporates all lowercase letters into their overall voice and branding. So of course it makes sense for her to continue that right within her headline.

10. Share Your Accolades

Corporate Natalie's Linkedin Page.

Source

If you’ve won awards or other accolades that are relevant to your work, why not tout them within your LinkedIn headline? Include major accomplishments right inside your headline to further promote your expertise within your profession.

11. Create a Tagline

Sam Hindman's LinkedIn page.

Source

Again, your LinkedIn headline can be treated like a short and sweet elevator pitch. With that in mind, one great way to use it is by creating a tagline of sorts that shows off what you do within a catchy one-liner that can stick in potential clients’ minds.

12. Promote Your Product

Kirsty McConnell's Linkedin page.

Source

This example is great because not only does it share the user’s exact role, but she also added some additional product promotion. So instead of just seeing that Kirsty works at Chameleon, we now know exactly what type of company it is, and she’s included an adjective that helps sell it even further.

13. Include Your Value Proposition

Nathan Ojaokomo's Linkedin page.

Source

What do you have to offer potential clients, customers, or employers? Write out your value proposition and include it as part of your LinkedIn headline. This is another great way to try to promote your product or services and generate new work through the platform.

14. Be Funny

Liz Willits' Linkedin Page.

Source

Take a page out of Liz Willits’ book and just throw some humor into your headline. Just because LinkedIn is a professional platform doesn’t mean everyone’s headlines need to be formal and stuffy. This review from her mom showcases that Liz enjoys infusing humor into her work.

15. Use Buzzwords

Scott Frothingham's LinkedIn page.

Source

Incorporating buzzwords can be a great way to grab attention. It’s the perfect example in this instance as Scott is a copywriter, so throwing in these big, eye-catching buzzwords not only intrigues potential connections but also showcases a bit of what he can do.

16. Share Multiple Roles

Lee Densmer's Linkedin Page.

Source

If you have multiple roles you want to promote, include all of them within your headline. We see Lee doing this in the last line of her headline, listing out, “Business owner, author, teacher, and traveler.” 

17. Include Your Website

Wesley Fairman's Linkedin Page.

Source

You can include a link within your LinkedIn profile, but why not make it even easier for people to discover where they can learn more about you or your business by sharing a link right inside of your LinkedIn headline? It won’t be clickable, but viewers can easily copy and paste it into their browser bar.

18. Share Your Achievements

Ben Kazinik's Linkedin Page.

Source

Proud of your professional achievements? Show them off. We see Ben doing just this by sharing that he boosted monday.com’s monthly visitors from nothing up to 231k. Including tangible accomplishments like this can be a great way to showcase what you can do for potential clients and employers.

19. Share Your Mission

Tori Dunlap's Linkedin Page.

Source

Showcase your professional mission right inside your LinkedIn headline. In this example, we see Tori sharing that she wants to build five million women’s net-worth and self worth. Sharing this is important as it’s a main part of her overall business goals. It also helps her to stand out to her potential audience.

20. Include Relevant Personal Details

Maggie Gremminger's Linkedin Page.

Source

You don’t need to keep your professional and personal self separated. Feel free to include personal details in your LinkedIn headline—especially if they’re relevant to your professional role. In this instance, we see Maggie share that she’s a mom right inside her headline. This makes sense for her as she’s building a platform focused on transforming parental leave.

FAQs

What is a LinkedIn headline?

It’s the short line of text right under your name on your LinkedIn profile. Think of it like a quick intro. it tells people what you do and why they should care. It shows up in search results, connection requests, and posts, so it’s one of the first things people see.

What should you put in your LinkedIn headline?

Start with your role or title. Then add what you’re good at or what makes you different, including things like skills, results, industry keywords, or a short value proposition. Keep it tight, use natural language, and make sure it actually sounds like you. Bonus points if it sparks curiosity or shows some personality.

Create Your Own LinkedIn Headline

Write your own LinkedIn headline by taking advantage of the tips and examples we’ve included throughout this article. Your headline should showcase what you do professionally, the kinds of content you share, and what your skills are so your new connections know what to expect.To make the most out of your Linkedin presence, check out my guide on LinkedIn marketing next.

Read more at Read More

What Is Trendjacking & How to Do it for Your Brand

Do you remember the viral “Little Miss?” meme revival from 2022?

That’s a great example of trendjacking, or inserting your brand into viral online conversations.

It felt like every brand — from global airlines to your local coffee shop — jumped into labeling themselves. Some were hilariously on-point and others…well, not so. For every well-executed moment like a wellness brand that tailored their take to be timely, irreverent, and match their core voice, dozens more missed the mark. And like it or not, audiences can tell.

That’s the fine line with trendjacking. What was once a cheeky social media trick has become a high-stakes play for many modern social media marketers. To stand out and not alienate, brands need more than speed. They need emotional intelligence, audience awareness, and restraint to not jump on every viral moment.

How can you harness what’s trending without sounding tone-deaf or jumping the shark? Let’s break down the basics of effective trendjacking and how you can approach it in a smart way.

Key Takeaways

  • Trendjacking is the practice of inserting your brand into viral conversations in a way that feels timely, relevant, and authentic.
  • Success requires cultural awareness, audience alignment, and speed. Not every trend is right for every brand.
  • Smart brands use social listening tools and planned content workflows to catch trends before they peak.
  • Measuring trendjacking goes beyond likes. Look at sentiment shifts and meaningful engagement.
  • The future of trendjacking will likely be shaped by AI tools, new platforms, and the growing demand for authenticity.

What Is Trendjacking?

Trendjacking is the practice of injecting your brand into a popular or viral conversation to boost visibility, engagement, or relevance. Brands jump on trending topics like memes, social media challenges, or major pop culture moments to join the conversation in ways that are timely and clever.

Trendjacking really gained traction during the heyday of Twitter (now X), when brands like Oreo seized viral moments (the “You can still dunk in the dark” tweet during the 2013 Super Bowl blackout) and earned massive engagement for real-time creativity. That post was a signal to marketers that being culturally responsive could pay huge engagement dividends. 

An Oreo Cookie post on Twitter.

Trendjacking isn’t a completely new strategy, though. It has its roots in the older PR strategy of newsjacking. Popularized by David Meerman Scott, newsjacking focused on inserting brands’ perspectives into breaking news stories to get media coverage. Trendjacking is just an evolution of that strategy, tapping into a broader range of online moments. 

When you do it well, trendjacking can help your brand show personality, relevance, and humor. But it’s not a strategy without risks, especially if you do it without considering nuance or alignment to your brand’s values.

How to Pull off an Effective Trendjacking Campaign

Let’s say you’re ready to drive into trendjacking. How do you do it right? Like many effective social media strategies, the best trendjacking campaigns start long before a trend even surfaces. Success often hinges on preparation and cultural awareness, but the real secret is the agility to act fast without sacrificing your brand’s integrity.

Identify Potential Trends

Trendjacking starts with awareness. The earlier you spot a trend, the better your odds of leading the conversation rather than chasing it.

Start with traditional sources. Social listening tools such as AnswerThePublic, TikTok Creator Search Insights, or Sprout Social can surface what’s gaining traction across different platforms. The latter can help you keep an eye on places like X, Bluesky, TikTok’s trending page, Reddit threads, and even Google Trends to stay ahead of the curve. Using these tools doesn’t just tell you what’s trending. They help you catch the wave before it crests.

Effective trendjacking goes deeper than identifying meme formats or hashtags, though. Ask yourself these questions:

  • Why is this trending?
  • What emotion is it tapping into?
  • What cultural shift or behavioral insight is at play?

Take, for example, the “Girl Dinner” trend. It wasn’t just a meme. It was a commentary on autonomy, wellness fatigue, and the pushback against curated perfection.

In addition to staying on top of developing trends, think ahead. Certain events almost always spawn viral moments: award shows, the Met Gala, political debates, and major sporting events are excellent fodder for trends. Develop a calendar of these events and build a properly resourced team that can act when the internet lights up.

Assess the Trend’s Relevance

Before you jump into the trend, assess whether or not it’s right for you. Ask important, hard questions, like “Does this trend actually align with our brand?” and “Will our audience care?” Finally, will it feel authentic or forced?

Many brands falter here. Chasing a trend that’s off-brand does more than fall flat; it risks damaging your credibility. The Duolingo x Scrub Daddy “cursed collab” worked because both brands share a quirky, unfiltered tone. If a serious financial brand tried the same joke? Cue the confused and cringing followers.

Assess risk, too. Some trends carry baggage, like political undercurrents, social controversies, or rapidly shifting sentiment. Your internal team should include diverse perspectives to help flag possible missteps.

Beyond relevance, hopping on the trend should add to your brand’s story. If it doesn’t connect to your values or content pillars, it might be better to skip it. Not every viral moment is worth jumping into. Restraint is often what separates trend-chasers from trend leaders

Produce the Content—Quickly!

Once you’ve vetted a trend, it’s “go time.” Timing is everything in trendjacking. Wait too long, and you’re just adding noise to an already crowded feed.

In practice, your team needs a streamlined workflow to move from idea to pressing the publish button in hours, not days. Empower social managers with decision-making autonomy. Maintain a library of pre-approved assets like brand visuals, fonts, and tone examples so your team can capitalize on trends without needing to create a full-scale design from scratch.

Creating internal “trend kits” or rapid response playbooks can help your team execute quickly and safely. Remember: the most memorable trendjacks feel both spontaneous and strategically on-brand because they are.

Creating Impactful Trendjacking Content

Once you’ve identified the right trend and confirmed it makes sense for your brand to participate, the real magic begins: creating content to hit the sweet spot of relevance, creativity, and authenticity. Not every trendjacking post needs to be laugh-out-loud funny or ultra-slick, but it should always bring something fresh and on-brand to the table. Some tried-and-true strategies for creating trendjacking content that resonates include:

1. Customize by Platform

What works on TikTok might not work on LinkedIn, and vice versa. Tailor your content’s tone, format, and visuals to the platform you’re posting on. Wendy’s built their brand on X with snarky one-liners, but the food chain takes a more curated and visual approach on Instagram.

A Wendy's tweet series.
A Wendy's Instagram reel.

2. Embrace the Weird (Strategically)

Humor, absurdity, and left-field creativity often fuel viral trends. But you can’t force it. Duolingo’s TikTok presence leans fully into weirdness, but it’s consistent with their edgy, millennial-savvy voice.

Add Value. Don’t Just Copy

Don’t simply copy-paste a trending meme format. Add your brand’s POV, a clever twist, or insights that enhance the original. For example, Canva recently leveraged the app’s ability to create color schemes with the growing popularity of Labubu toys.

A Canva Labubu ad.

4. Prioritize Authenticity

Your audience can smell a cash grab a mile away. If the trend doesn’t align with your values or voice, skip it. If you really feel like you need to participate, subtly nod to the trend without trying to dominate it. Engage, like, or reply to accounts that have posted content in the trend without creating new assets on your own.

5. Keep the Content High-Quality

Even in a fast-moving trend cycle, visuals (and sound) matter. Low-res graphics or clunky text overlays can kill your momentum. Use templates or pre-approved brand assets to keep things polished under pressure.

r/funny - graphic design is my passion.

Trendjacking is not the time to let the copywriter have the keys to the Canva account.

When Trendjacking Goes Wrong…

Trendjacking is a real double-edged sword. When done right, it’s clever, memorable, and engaging. When done wrong, it’s also memorable, but for the wrong reasons; it’s tone-deaf, confusing, or even damaging to your brand. Avoid these common pitfalls.

Tone-deaf or Insensitive Posting

Some trends are tied to serious or sensitive events, and misjudging the tone can result in intense backlash. That’s what happened to Pepsi in 2017 for their ad that featured Kendall Jenner, which co-opted protest imagery to sell soda (and promptly got called out for trivializing real social movements).

Just because a topic is trending doesn’t mean it’s safe territory. Assign someone on your team to assess social sentiment and cultural context before engaging.

Jumping in Too Late

Timing is critical. A trend that peaked two days ago may already feel stale, especially if your post doesn’t add anything new. Joining late makes your brand look like it’s scrambling to stay relevant, not leading the conversation.

To avoid this, consider streamlining your approvals process and having brand-safe assets ready to go.

Misunderstanding the Trend

One of the fastest ways to make a brand look out of touch is to misinterpret the trend altogether. Imagine someone at your company wanted to tweet a meme that referenced “Netflix and chill,” without realizing its NSFW subtext. The internet might notice and not in a good way.

Before trendjacking, do a quick sentiment check. What does this trend actually mean to the people participating in it?

Forcing the Fit

If the trend doesn’t suit your brand voice, values, or audience, don’t force it. It’s painfully obvious when a B2B SaaS brand shoehorns itself into a Gen Z meme format meant for fashion or pop culture. This usually results in low engagement at best and audience cringe at worst.

Brands need a straightforward internal process for evaluating the risk of trendjacking campaigns. Who gets to greenlight? What criteria does the content meet? Building a lightweight risk assessment checklist or review board (creative + legal + DEI leads) can help you act quickly and responsibly.

Lack of Crisis Planning

Even with the best of intentions, things can go sideways fast. That’s why it’s smart to develop a basic crisis response protocol before engaging with fast-moving or culturally sensitive trends. Know who will respond, how quickly, and what steps to take if content sparks backlash. 

Measuring Success and Finding Learnings for the Future

With your trendjacking content out in the world, it’s time to answer the big question: Did it work?

Start by measuring the basics: likes, shares, reach, and impressions. These top-level metrics help assess immediate visibility and initial audience reaction.

Smart marketers go further, though. The most impactful trendjacking efforts don’t just rack up views. They strengthen brand equity and move the needle on meaningful outcomes. Ask yourself:

  • Was the engagement meaningful? Analyze the sentiment and depth of conversation in your engagement. Did people share it with thoughtful comments or tag their friends, or was the engagement just a flood of indifferent likes?
  • Did it shape perception or sentiment? Use social listening tools to see if brand sentiment improved during and after the campaign. Google Analytics and UTM parameters can help tie social moments back to web traffic and conversion goals.
  • Did it drive real behavior? Track clicks, sign-ups, or sales lifts during and after the campaign. This is another instance where Google Analytics and UTM parameters can help tie those moments back to web traffic and conversion goals.
  • Did it strengthen community? Great trendjacking does more than entertain. It builds a sense of belonging. If the post sparked DMs, follow-up content ideas, or user-generated content (UGC), that’s a sign your audience is invested.

Want to level up your campaign? Try aligning your trendjacking posts with keyword-focused content or campaign themes. This gives your SEO strategy a boost, especially in a world where Search Everywhere is the norm (and users can Google the trend and stumble onto your brand).

Upcoming Trendjacking Trends

The art and science of trendjacking will only evolve as the digital landscape shifts. Marketers who want to stay ahead of the curve will need to keep a pulse on what’s trending and how those trends take shape and spread. The future of trendjacking will evolve thanks to things like AI, new platforms, and the rise of “unpolished” realness.

1. AI-powered Content Creation

AI is creating massive shifts in real-time marketing as tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Runway help brands generate reactive content faster than ever. From clever captions to custom visuals, the future of trendjacking likely includes AI-enhanced creativity. The big challenge for brands is to remain authentic in the face of automation.

A social chatbot interaction creating an Instagram ad for Labubu.

Could ChatGPT help brands jump on the enthusiasm for Labubu without spending the time to go out and source a doll? Possibly.

2. New and Niche Platforms

Instagram, TikTok, and X may reign supreme among platforms, but that won’t always be the case. Bluesky is becoming increasingly popular, and YouTube Shorts has challenged TikTok as a vehicle for short-form video content creation. Expect trendjacking to require more platform-specific fluency, understanding not just the content but the culture of each channel.

3. The Rise of “Unpolished” Realness

Consumers are tired of overproduced content. The next wave of trendjacking will favor brands that show up with honesty, humor, and heart. Even if that means posting something that feels more lo-fi than high-concept. Authenticity isn’t just a “nice to have” anymore. It’s a prerequisite for engagement.

A bobespizza Instagram ad.

Bobe’s Pizza may be a small Indiana brand, but they lean on authentic content that resonates with their core audience.

The bottom line is that the future of trendjacking isn’t about being fast. It’s about being fast, smart, and real while building systems to let your brand respond with agility and intention.

FAQs

What is the difference between trendjacking and newsjacking?

While both strategies involve jumping into timely conversations, the difference lies in what you’re responding to. Newsjacking is about inserting your brand into breaking news stories — typically through PR or expert commentary — while trendjacking taps into broader online trends, like memes, pop culture moments, or viral challenges. Trendjacking is more social and creative, whereas newsjacking is often more formal and media-facing.

What is an example of trendjacking?

A classic example is Oreo’s “You can still dunk in the dark” tweet during the 2013 Super Bowl blackout. The brand reacted in real time with a witty graphic and caption, and the internet loved it. More recently, brands like Ryanair and Duolingo have gone viral for trendjacking TikTok memes using their unique, offbeat brand voices. The key to successful trendjacking? Speed, creativity, and cultural fluency.

What is the trendjacking strategy?

When done well, trendjacking helps brands increase visibility, boost engagement, and connect with audiences in a culturally relevant way. It shows your brand has personality and a pulse. Beyond racking up likes, the real value comes from building brand affinity, sparking conversations, and staying top-of-mind in an increasingly noisy digital space.

Conclusion

Trendjacking is about moving fast and smart. When you do it right, it can drive massive visibility and deepen brand affinity. It takes planning, awareness, and a clear voice to avoid the pitfalls and stand out in the scroll. Whether it’s memes, moments, or movements, show up with purpose.

If you need help crafting an agile social strategy that’s authentic and audience-focused, contact NP Digital to help you lead the conversation, not just follow it.

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AI in Marketing: How It Works + Examples

If you’re not using AI in marketing, you’re already falling behind. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are becoming more and more prominent, and many have functions specifically designed to help marketers better promote their products and services.

Throughout this article, we’re going to dive deeper into what AI in marketing looks like, sharing the benefits of taking advantage of AI, how AI can be used in marketing, plus some AI marketing tools to get you started.

Key Takeaways

  • AI can provide a number of benefits for your marketing team, like speeding up tedious tasks, providing you with better insights, and boosting your overall results.
  • You can use AI as part of your content planning and creation process, to gather competitive insights, to improve your customer service, and more.
  • There are a number of AI tools that can help you automate processes and streamline your strategy.

Benefits of Using AI in Marketing

Why should you incorporate AI into your marketing strategy? There are so many benefits that these tools can bring to your team—if you use them right.

Speed Up Processes

AI can help marketers speed up processes and spend less time conducting certain tasks manually. According to HubSpot’s State of AI Report, 79% of marketers agree that AI helps them to spend less time on manual tasks, showing just how valuable these new tools can be.

Improve Personalization

AI can analyze customer data at scale, helping you to gather more insights and understand how to better personalize your content and segment your audience. Better personalization can provide your business with better results from your marketing campaigns.

Better Insights

Because AI can analyze data more effectively than humans can, you can get better insights. For example, AI analysis can help you identify trends earlier, forecast sales and customer behavior more efficiently, and help your marketing team make better decisions.

Cost Savings

Incorporating AI tools into your team’s daily processes can save time and resources, resulting in cost savings within your marketing budget. While AI shouldn’t replace core human workers, there are certain tasks that it can take off their plates, letting them focus on things that actually impact your business’s bottom line.

Higher ROI

Because AI tools can help your marketing team better understand customers, personalize campaigns, and ship better content, you’ll see a higher return on investment (ROI) as a result. Start using AI within your day-to-day marketing tasks to see how it can help improve your performance.

How AI Works With Marketing: 9 Use Cases

Because AI is a newer technology, you might not be sure how it works with marketing quite yet. However, there are a number of key use cases that AI can help with.

  • Content planning: AI chatbots can be a huge help in brainstorming content ideas. Tell the chatbot about your business and your overall content goals and ask for topics that you may not have covered yet. You can then run the ideas through an SEO tool to find top keywords to center your content around.
  • Content creation: While AI shouldn’t be handling the entire content creation process, it can still provide some assistance. Get help creating a comprehensive outline, get ideas for your introduction, or get AI to start with a summary that you can expand on.
  • Marketing automation: Incorporate AI tools into your marketing automation workflows to further your team’s productivity. AI tools can be used as a step within your workflows or they can help you set up new workflows, improving efficiency.
  • Customer service: AI can be a huge help within customer service. Use an AI-powered chatbot on your website to help answer basic customer questions while also escalating issues to a human service representative for larger issues. This can make sure your customer service team is only having to deal with major issues, with AI responding to all smaller queries.
  • Audience segmentation: AI tools can analyze large amounts of customer data, helping you to segment out your audience in a much more effective way than if your team were analyzing the information themselves. Segmentation can help you create more personalized campaigns and marketing efforts.
  • Social listening: Incorporate AI into your social listening strategy to more quickly analyze the data, understand overall sentiment, and generate a summary of overall customer conversations. This type of AI assistance can make your social listening strategy much more effective.
  • Competitive intelligence: Again, because AI is such a powerful tool when it comes to analyzing data, it can be a huge help when looking at competitive insights. Discover how your competitors are faring in comparison to your own performance, plus analyze market trends to see what you can expect in the future.
  • Predictive analytics: Similarly, AI can also be used to predict customer behavior, taking a look at past campaigns and forecasting future results based on historical data. This can be a huge help when creating new campaigns so that you can make them better than ever.
  • Administrative tasks: AI is also hugely helpful with basic administrative tasks like data entry, scheduling, pulling reports, and more. Use AI for the boring manual tasks to free up your team’s time for more important work.

3 Examples of AI in Marketing

Let’s look at some real life examples of businesses using AI in ways that market their products or make working with their business feel more appealing.

Spotify

Spotify is a music streaming service that recently launched its own AI product to help its users have a better listening experience. This AI product is called “DJ,” and it analyzes your top songs and plays music based on your past listening habits.

Spotify's AI DJ.

The DJ will play five songs that all come with a similar vibe, then come back onto the “mic” to share your next five songs. If there’s a set of songs that listeners aren’t interested in, they can tap the “DJ” icon to move onto the next set.

It’s a unique experience that really helps to set Spotify apart from other streaming platforms.

Curlsmith

Curlsmith is a beauty brand focused on curl care. It has a chatbot widget on its website to help customers find what they’re looking for.

Curlsmith's AI widget.

As you can see, the chatbot responses are all “Automated with AI.” Customers can use this chatbot to:

  • Find the right products for their curl type
  • Check in on a recent order
  • Ask questions about shopping with Curlsmith
  • Ask about discounts
  • Change an order

There are programmed responses, but if a user says that they need additional help, there’s a conversational AI chatbot implemented as well that will analyze a user’s response in order to provide them with the best customer service.

Heinz

Heinz put together a creative ad campaign a couple of years ago and used AI to help them build it. The ad told the story of how the Heinz team typed “ketchup” into an AI image generator, and the output was a ketchup bottle with a logo that looked eerily similar to the Heinz logo.

The campaign essentially said, “even AI knows ketchup is Heinz,” and showcased several other prompts the team ran through the AI image generator, all including the word “ketchup,” and the output they received.

This was a creative way to incorporate AI tools in a marketing campaign that also provided an extremely effective result.

AI Marketing Tools to Use

If you want to get started incorporating artificial intelligence into your marketing strategy, you need to find the right tools to use. Below, we introduce you to six different AI marketing tools, each with its own use case.

ChatGPT – AI Chatbot

The ChatGPT interface.

ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that can provide answers to anything you type into the text box. It can help with things like:

  • Brainstorming
  • Outlining
  • Conducting research
  • Optimizing content
  • Analyzing your market

But ChatGPT can honestly help with nearly any request you might have for it. You can also upload Excel files and have it analyze historical data, helping you generate predictive analytics, forecast customer behavior, and gather competitive insights, even without tools that are more catered to those capabilities.

If you don’t use any other AI tool, you should at least have a ChatGPT account under your belt.

Pricing: Completely free for limited (but still extensive) use. To get access to more models and more capabilities, premium plans start at $20/month.

Jasper – Content Generation

Jasper's homepage.

If you’re looking for help with your content generation, Jasper is the perfect tool for you. The tool provides an intuitive workspace that makes it easy to generate content at scale, optimize content so it hits every mark, conduct research to fully flesh out your content, and more.

While Jasper is the ultimate content generation tool for marketers, it also offers AI agent capabilities. AI agents are tools that can operate autonomously, helping marketers get more done in less time.

Pricing: Plans start at $39/month/seat.

Midjourney – Image Generation

The Midjourney interface.

Midjourney is an AI-powered image generation platform. It was originally built through a Discord server (which still remains active), but now can be accessed through an easy-to-use web app. Users can input any text-based description, upload images for reference, and incorporate some of Midjourney’s built-in parameters to create images for any marketing needs.

Generate realistic images, animated images, surreal art, and more. Midjourney is also starting to delve into video generation, which can be a game changer for creating marketing video ads and commercials.

Pricing: Paid plans start at $8/month.

Hootsuite – Social Copy Generation

Hootsuite's homepage.

Hootsuite is a social media management platform, but it also offers a number of free AI-powered tools that can help marketers get ideas for their social copy and captions. Some of the available tools include:

  • Caption generator
  • Tweet generator
  • Video title generator
  • Video description generator
  • Hashtag generator
  • Username generator
  • Social media bio generator
  • Content ideas generator
  • Blog ideas generator

Take advantage of these completely free tools to help you brainstorm more ideas and captions for your social media content. These free tools are also their own example of AI in marketing, as they help promote Hootsuite alongside providing free value.

Pricing: The AI-powered generators are completely free to access. Hootsuite’s suite of social media management tools start at $99/user/month.

Zapier – Marketing Automation

Zapier's homepage.

Zapier is an AI-powered marketing automation platform that makes it easy for marketers to set up automated workflows. Zapier works via “zaps” that connect tools together to create an automation that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

For example, automatically add leads to your CRM, automatically add your new blog posts to your social media content calendar, or automatically add new customers to a spreadsheet for tracking.

These are some basic zaps, though. Zapier also offers a number of extensive workflows that incorporate their AI capabilities, helping marketers to automate more complex tasks as well.

Pricing: Free for up to 100 tasks/month. For more usage, paid plans start at $19.99/month.

Tidio – Chatbot

Tidio's homepage.

Tidio is a chatbot software that enables businesses to create their own AI-powered chatbots for their customers to interact with. Users can get customer support from your AI bot, chat with your bot about product suggestions, and make appointments all through your Tidio chatbot.

Train the Lyro AI assistant with your business information so they can help customers out, while also escalating more serious concerns or more unique questions directly to a human customer service representative.

Pricing: Plans are flexible based on the number of conversations you expect to have per month. Get access to the tool for free for 50 conversations or less. Plans start at $24.17/month for 100 conversations and go up from there.

FAQs

What are some examples of AI in marketing today?

Chat bots, a form of artificial intelligence, are a common occurrence on business websites. Other examples within marketing include ad targeting, dynamic pricing, and ChatGPT.

How is AI changing the marketing industry?

The greatest impact that AI has had on the marketing industry is in the automation of repetitive tasks. This frees up times for digital marketers to focus on larger-scale projects and higher level strategy. 

How to use AI in digital marketing?

Use AI where it actually helps. Automate tedious tasks like reporting, scheduling, and customer service. Use it to speed up content planning and pull insights from your data faster. Let AI handle repetitive tasks so your team can focus on strategy and creative work.

Should you trust AI tools?

AI tools, in and of themselves, are nothing to be feared. There is nothing inherently bad about AI or AI tools. However, you do want to review any work that comes out of them to avoid concerns like plagiarism or inaccuracy.

AI Is the Future of Marketing

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a key part of marketing these days. You can use the tools to help generate content for your marketing campaigns, analyze results, predict upcoming trends, and so much more. To get even more ideas for how to use AI in your marketing efforts, check out our arsenal of AI tools.

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Website Redesign: 11-Step Process From Audit to Launch

Think a website redesign is just about fixing your homepage or refreshing the layout? Think again.

Too often, these projects focus on changing the look or chasing the latest trends. But if your redesign doesn’t fix what’s actually broken, your site won’t perform any better or win you more business.

In this guide, I’ll show you what a website redesign really involves and walk you through my agency’s 11-step process — including mistakes to avoid.

Key Takeaways:

  • A true website redesign is more than just cosmetic, involving rebuilding your website to create a strong foundation for visual design, UX, SEO, and technical infrastructure.
  • Mobile devices have generated over 50% of all website traffic since 2017, so use a mobile-first approach during your redesign process to appeal to the largest percentage of users.
  • If you take a “set it and forget it” approach to website redesign, you’ll end up back where you started. Make a plan to monitor and optimize your site post-launch to keep hitting your goals.

What Is a Website Redesign?

A website redesign is a process that involves changing a site’s appearance, content, and functionality.

The goal? Developing a website that better meets both user needs and business goals.

A website refresh involves making small-scale changes (like making a few tweaks to the homepage layout). But a full redesign basically rebuilds your existing website from scratch.

A site redesign checklist typically includes these elements:

  • Visual Design: How the site looks, including the layout, color schemes, typography, and branding
  • User Experience (UX): How the site functions for users, including the navigation and interactive elements
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): How the site appears in search, including keywords and metadata 
  • Site Architecture: How the site is organized, including page hierarchies, URL structures, and internal links
  • Technical Infrastructure: How the site functions on the backend, including site speed and security
  • Accessibility: How well all users can understand and interact with your website

When to Consider a Website Redesign Project

Not sure if a web design is really necessary? Here are a few signals that it’s time for an overhaul.

Outdated Design

Does your site look like it was designed in 2010? Potential customers might question if your business is still operating — or if it can meet their current needs.

New Branding or Positioning

Has your company refreshed its branding or updated its competitive positioning? Your site is one of the first places you’ll want to roll out these changes.

Subpar User Experience

Do site visitors frequently tell you they can’t find anything on your site? 

Bad Mobile Experience

Is your site the opposite of mobile-friendly? Since 2017, mobile devices have generated over half of website traffic. Which means mobile responsiveness is essential for every site.

Content Management System Limitations

Does your content management system (CMS) limit your site’s functionality or the plugins you can add? Switching from WordPress, Webflow, or any other CMS is a great reason to rebuild your site from the ground up.

Poor Site Performance

Does your site take ages to load — even though you’ve tried everything to speed it up? A complete redesign gives you an opportunity to address technical issues.

How to Redesign Your Website in 11 Steps

Now that you know when it’s time for a redesign, here’s how to do it step by step. I’ll break down my process into phases, from discovery and planning to launch and performance monitoring.

Discovery and Planning

Start by doing research and getting clear on your strategy.

A graphic detailing discovery and planning portions of the website redesign process.

Step 1: Audit Your Current Website

The first step is understanding what’s happening on your website and benchmarking its current performance.

The idea is to assess what’s working on your website and what isn’t. This way, you can preserve the elements that serve your site well (like top-ranking content) and update those that don’t (like a design that loads slowly on mobile devices).

Step 2: Conduct User and Competitive Research

Validate your research by talking with your actual prospects and customers. Add surveys to your site so you can automatically poll site visitors. Or reach out to customers manually.

Ask them what they like about your site, from the design to the functionality. Learn what they dislike about your site. Prompt them to highlight points of friction that prevent them from finding information or accomplishing tasks.

Then, make a list of competitors and analyze their websites. Identify areas where your competitors’ sites outperform yours and opportunities where your new site can do a superior job.

Step 3: Define Goals and Align Stakeholders

After auditing your website and understanding your current situation, you’re ready to set redesign goals. What does success look like for your new site?

Get crystal clear on what you want to achieve. For example, you might want to:

  • Create a better UX so website visitors can easily find the information they need. Which should make your site easy to navigate, decrease bounce rates, and build trust.
  • Implement a new CMS that integrates with the marketing automation tools your team uses. And that allows your team to publish new content more consistently.
  • Improve conversion rates by reducing friction for website users and guiding customers to next steps like signing up for a list, booking a call, or making a purchase.

Create a timeline and establish clear deadlines for each phase of the process.

Then, assemble a website design team with all essential stakeholders. For example, you’ll need someone to sign off on branding and design, website copy, SEO, and legal compliance.

Site Structure and Content Strategy

Map out the site architecture and content before developing mockups.

A graphic detailing site structure and content strategy parts of the website redesign process.

Step 4: Confirm the Navigation and the Content Strategy

Put your research to work. Design navigation that prioritizes user goals so your target audience can easily use the site. Add user-friendly navigation menus to simplify how they access important content.

Don’t forget about SEO best practices. Use a logical hierarchy that organizes content into categories. Make sure most content is no more than three clicks from the homepage.

While you’re at it, clarify your content strategy. Audit your existing content and determine if and how it fits into the new site structure.

Make a plan to combine redundant pages, unpublish outdated content, and identify content gaps that you’ll need to fill with new landing pages.

Step 5: Draft Website Copy

Now you’re ready to create or update the content for the most important pages on your website. Start with your homepage and then systematically work through product or service pages, use case pages, and industry pages. Include existing offer pages and conversion pages in this part of your website redesign plan.

Here are a few copywriting best practices to keep in mind as you write:

  • Write for your audience, speaking to their goals and pain points
  • Incorporate your brand voice, including your style and tone of voice
  • Make website copy easy to skim with clear page structure and subheadings
  • Add calls to action (CTAs) that prompt prospects to take the next step

Design and Prototyping

This is where the redesign process gets visual — and when stakeholders weigh in.

A graphic on design and prototyping parts of the website redesign process.

Step 6: Create Wireframes and a Design System

Design wireframes that show the website navigation, user flow, and content placement. Then, create a design system that shows the color palette, typography, and visual style.

By now, you should start to get a sense of how the new site will look and feel.

I recommend incorporating accessibility into this stage of your website redesign strategy. Choose accessible colors with sufficient contrast and fonts that are easy for site visitors to read.

Step 7: Build Mockups or Prototypes

Next, turn your wireframes and visual guidelines into website mockups or prototypes. Again, start with the most important pages on your website — like your homepage and product or service pages.

Apply the design to actual content drafts so stakeholders can see how the web copy will fit on the site, complete with the text hierarchy, white space, navigation, and design elements.

Develop prototypes for various screen sizes. While mobile devices will likely make up a large percentage of your site traffic, they won’t account for all of it. Make sure your site is just as easy for desktop users to navigate.

Step 8: Get Stakeholder Sign Off

The key to a successful redesign is getting everyone on board with your decisions. So once you’ve confirmed major design and copy decisions, present the prototypes to your stakeholders.

Walk them through how users will navigate the site based on typical journeys. Explain why you’ve made certain design decisions or built specific pages.

Gather feedback and make necessary revisions. Document every comment and change throughout the process. Then, get your team to sign off on the design, UX, and copy.

Development and Technical Setup

Set up your new website for success with a strong technical foundation.

A graphic on development and technical setup portions of the website redesign process.

Step 9: Develop the Website

Now you’re ready to hand off the design to your development team. Work with the website developers to choose a CMS that supports your design, marketing automation, and compliance needs.

Use clean, descriptive URLs with relevant keywords and a logical hierarchy. If necessary, create 301 redirects to update the location of content from your old website.

Optimize for Google’s Core Web Vitals by focusing on:

  • Largest Contentful Paint, which reflects content loading performance
  • Interaction to Next Paint, which reflects the responsiveness of your site
  • Cumulative Layout Shift, which reflects the visual stability of your site

Build SEO foundations into your site so you can easily optimize your content for search engine rankings. Incorporate schema markup and metadata into the backend to help each page rank for relevant keywords.

Step 10: Test and Optimize the Site

Before launching your new site, take time to test it thoroughly. Recruit team members and beta users to check how your site performs on various devices, browsers, and screen sizes. Check for consistent appearance and functionality.

Work with your dev team to create a testing checklist. This way, nothing will fall through the cracks. Here are a few elements to add to your list:

  • Broken links
  • Missing images
  • Formatting issues
  • Faulty integrations
  • Slow loading speeds
  • Form submission issues

Launch and Performance Monitoring

Go live with the new design and monitor performance closely.

A graphic that shows launch and performance marketing portions of the website redesign process.

Step 11: Launch and Monitor the Site

Now you’re ready to launch the redesigned website. With your dev team, go through a complete checklist to set the stage for a successful website launch.

  • Update DNS settings
  • Set up SSL certificates
  • Confirm any 301 redirects
  • Check analytics tracking

Monitor the site closely for the first day or two. Make sure your dev team is available to quickly address any bugs.

Then, regularly review technical aspects like page load speeds, performance aspects like conversion rates, and SEO aspects like keyword rankings. Use your insights to create a plan to continue optimizing your site.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in a Website Redesign

Don’t make the same missteps many web designers do. Watch for these mistakes to make the website redesign process as smooth as possible.

Mistake Phase How to Fix It
Missing Performance Benchmarks Planning Document baseline metrics like website traffic, conversion rates, and page load times before the redesign. Set specific goals for each.
Misaligned Goals Planning Set clear goals at the beginning of your redesign process. Communicate them to stakeholders and provide regular updates.
Navigation Issues Strategy Test the proposed navigation with a group of real users. Monitor how they use the site and where they get stuck.
Poor Mobile UX Design Use a mobile-first design, then scale up to a desktop design. Test for usability issues before launching the website.
Inconsistent Branding Design Create a style guide with branding guidelines, including hex codes, typography, font size, and spacing rules.
Ignoring SEO Essentials Development Establish your new URL structure and create 301 redirects as necessary. Implement structured markup and metadata.
No QA Process Development Assign a QA lead and recruit real users. Follow a clear checklist to test the site and make it easy for users to report bugs.
Post-Launch Neglect Post-Launch Use analytics and SEO tools to monitor site performance. Schedule 30-, 60-, and 90-day reviews and plan for continuous optimization.

FAQs

What is a website redesign?

It’s a full rebuild of your site, going beyond just a visual update. You’re reworking the design, structure, content, and functionality so your site works better for your users and supports your business goals.

How do you redesign a website?

Start by figuring out what’s working and what’s not. Talk to users. Check your analytics. Map out a new site structure and write better copy. Then design, develop, test, and launch. Keep it focused on solving real problems instead of chasing trends.

How often should you redesign your website?

Whenever your site stops pulling its weight. That might be every few years or sooner if your tech, brand, or audience changes. If it’s slow, confusing, or outdated, it’s time.

Why redesign a website?

Because the old one isn’t doing its job. Maybe it’s hard to use. Maybe it’s off-brand. Maybe it just doesn’t convert. A redesign lets you fix what’s broken and build a better experience for the people you want to reach.

Final Thoughts on Website Redesign

Many businesses make design decisions on a whim — no plan, no discussion, and no website redesign goals. This can lead to underwhelming results. Or worse, ongoing updates that leave customers confused.

But with a clear workflow to follow, your website redesign doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Use my 11-step approach to set clear goals, get everyone on board, and design a new website that gets the results you want.

Read more at Read More

20 Landing Page Examples to Learn From

Would you rather have a beautiful website or a website your customers love?

From a business perspective, you shouldn’t choose either. You should want a high-converting website, instead. And this is where landing pages are so important.

A landing page is a key component in any marketing campaign. Whether you’re running a digital ad, sending an email letter, or posting on social media, you need a webpage that you can send interested visitors to that can help generate leads and conversions.

Many people get caught in the trap of creating designs they like without thinking about what their prospective buyers want and need. Unfortunately, this creates a leaky funnel that’s hard to fix.

But if you want to buck that trend and create landing pages that convert, I’m here to help. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 20 landing page examples you can gather inspiration from.

We’ll go over each one’s strengths and weaknesses, so you’ll be able to walk away knowing what it takes to create a high-converting landing page for your business.

Key Takeaways

  • A landing page is a webpage created with a singular purpose—to generate a conversion, whether that’s a lead, sale, subscription, etc.
  • There are five main elements that every successful landing page should have—a bold headline, consistent copy, social proof, one singular offer, and a call to action.
  • Looking at landing page examples can be a great way to gather inspiration before you start building out your own landing pages.

What Is a Landing Page?

A landing page is a single webpage designed with a single goal in mind. That goal could be:

  • Selling a product
  • Signing customers up for a service
  • Promoting a product feature
  • Sharing an e-book, report, or white paper
  • Increasing newsletter subscribers

Potential leads or customers “land on” the webpage, giving it the name “landing page.” It’s a simple page that dives fully into a single offering with the intent of selling the visitor whatever it’s promoting.

5 Elements of an Effective Landing Page

As you scroll through the landing page examples we share below, you might notice that they all appear to follow a similar formula. That’s because you don’t fix what isn’t broken, and the key landing page elements are not broken.

There are five main elements that any high-converting landing page needs to include:

  • Bold value proposition at the top of the page. The top of the landing page should clearly state what it’s promoting and why the webpage visitor needs it.
  • Messaging consistent from the ad or post that led to the landing page. Upon clicking to your landing page, viewers should see a consistency in messaging from the ad or social media post that initially led them there. That messaging should clearly communicate what the page is promoting, giving further information than the bold heading at the top.
  • Social proof, case studies, reviews, testimonials. Social proof is where people tend to lean towards choices that they’ve seen others make, which is why reviews and testimonials can make such a big impact. Include this type of social proof on your landing page to convince people to take action.
  • One single, hyper-focused offer. You should be focusing your landing page on one single topic or offer, whether you’re promoting a single software feature, a single service, or a single lead magnet.
  • A clear call to action. What do you want people who visit your landing page to do? Use that as your call to action. Make it clear, bold, bright, and easy to click.

20 Amazing Landing Page Examples

Need some inspiration for your next landing page? Check out these 20 examples that you can get inspiration from.

1. GetResponse

A GetResponse landing page.

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GetResponse is an email marketing platform. This landing page is highlighting a key feature—email signup forms meant to help businesses build their email lists. Powerful headline, check. Eye-catching image, check. List of current clients, check. List of features, check, You get the idea.

It’s quite long, but that just gives the Get Response team more to convince you to create a free account. And there are plenty of CTAs along the way in case you missed the one at the very top of the page.

Three takeaways from GetResponse’s landing page:

  • Highlight your copy to make it even more impactful. GetResponse highlights important words and phrases throughout the landing page, drawing your attention to them and making their copy pop.
  • Use social proof. The landing page includes a slideable widget filled with customer testimonials that mention this specific feature and how well it works.
  • Use multiple CTAs. Because GetResponse’s landing page is so long, they scatter it with CTAs at the end of every section.

2. Slack

Slack landing page example.

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Slack is always on top of its game when it comes to creating some of the best landing pages. They are constantly optimizing for conversions, and that’s the best way to find your winning landing page. This landing page showcases one of its features—voice or video huddles that happen in real time, letting team members essentially call each other to hash something out quickly.

Three takeaways from Slack’s landing page:

  • Keep your navigation bar bare. Slack only includes the most important elements in the navigation bar on this landing page: letting current user login and prospective users talk to sales.
  • Show the difference between free and premium. If you have a popular free version, use your landing page as a chance to show what users are missing out on by not upgrading.
  • Take advantage of multimedia. The page includes looping animated videos that showcase each of the main features, letting interested users see them in action before signing up.

3. CrazyEgg

Intercom landing page example.

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This landing page for heatmapping software CrazyEgg showcases a specific feature that the software offers. In this case, it’s the ability to create website pop-ups to increase conversions.

The page leads with a demo link and breakdown of the feature, before you see more detailed information on how it works further down on the page.

Three takeaways from CrazyEgg’s landing page:

  • Provide basic instructions. The landing page includes a basic step-by-step for how users can set up pop-ups using the CrazyEgg tool, showing just how quick and easy it is and further selling them on the software.
  • Show versatility in applications. The use cases section shows how a variety of different industries can benefit from using this tool.
  • Use trust badges. CrazyEgg’s landing page is dotted with trust badges from the likes of G2 and Capterra, adding instant credibility to their offering.

4. Lyft

Lyft landing page example.

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Lyft has been growing in the past years, and its website, landing page, and overall online funnel is a driving force, too. They focus on attracting new drivers that want to control their own life.

Once again, we see a giant, attention-grabbing headline that entices users. Now check out the button “Apply to drive.” It implies that it’s not 100 percent sure you’ll be able to get the position — which makes it even more enticing while also stopping candidates from getting carried away.

Three takeaways from Lyft’s landing page:

  • Make a point with your images. I’d bet Lyft wants to attract female drivers, which is exactly why they’ve chosen the feature image on the landing page.
  • Customize data requests. Most landing pages ask for an email. But because Lyft is an app, it asks for your phone number instead.
  • Link off to learn more. You don’t want to overwhelm users with information on a landing page, that’s why linking to other pages (as Lyft has done) can be a useful strategy.

5. Zoho

Zoho landing page example.

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Zoho’s landing page is a great example of a more full-on, but still extremely powerful messaging. They use more text than the average landing page in the industry, but that’s not necessarily bad. It just means users have more information to make a decision. And in a crowded industry like the CRM space, that can be a highly effective thing.

Three takeaways from Zoho’s landing page:

  • Give your users a why. Don’t let users guess how your software stands out. Show them exactly why they should use your software.
  • Show how you compare. Comparison tables are a highly effective way to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
  • Talk price. If price is a USP for your brand, then mention it. Zoho shows how much users can save by using them instead of a competitor like Salesforce.

6. Squarespace

Squarespace landing page example.

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Squarespace is a contender for the shortest landing page ever. Seriously, there’s not much more to it than the screenshot I’ve taken above. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t effective.

Rather than trying to get you to create an account, all Squarespace wants you to do here is look at the templates. I reckon they know that once you see how good the templates are and how easy the platform is to use, you’ll be hooked.

Three takeaways from Squarespace’s landing page:

  • Short can be sweet. You don’t have to have a massive landing page to convince users to take action. A couple of enticing benefits may be all you need.
  • You don’t need much color. Everyone knows color can be used to convey emotion to users. But it’s not essential. And because it’s not on-brand for Squarespace, it’s not used.
  • The rule of three. Three is a magic number in marketing and Squarespace uses it to get across their core USPs.

7. ActiveCampaign

Active campaign landing page example.

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If there’s one thing you can’t fault ActiveCampaign’s landing page for, it’s brevity. They get straight to the point with the key benefit of their platform and encourage you to start a trial by entering your email address. Scroll down further and the rest of the page is similarly pared back, only including key information users need to know.

Three takeaways from ActiveCampaign’s landing page:

  • You don’t need fancy graphics. There are no eye-catching images above the fold and only two in total.
  • Lean on an authority. Are you highly rated by a trusted authority like G2? If so you can do what Active Campaign has done by showcasing all of your badges.
  • Show how your platform works. Images are great, but showing how to use your platform can make a huge difference in your conversion rate.

8. HubSpot

Hubspot landing page example.

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Cost is a big hurdle for any small business looking to purchase a CRM. That’s why HubSpot makes such a big deal of its free offering in this landing page. But just because you get the software for free doesn’t mean it’s limited. That might be your first thought, but HubSpot assuages those fears by showing all of the features you get below.

Three takeaways from HubSpot’s landing page:

  • Get your point across fast. The first three words users read on this landing page will be exactly what they are looking for: free CRM software. They don’t need to know much more to get started.
  • Reiterate your USP in your CTA. You can use your CTA to back up your headline by tacking on a short message or reason to take action as HubSpot has done here.
  • Use white space. HubSpot’s landing page isn’t too busy or crowded. There’s loads of white space, which makes it super easy to read.

9. Shopify Plus

Shopify plus landing page example.

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Shopify Plus isn’t designed for bootstrapped e-commerce stores or side hustlers. It’s an enterprise product and that shows in this landing page. It talks directly to big businesses, addresses their specific concerns, and shows them the kind of results they can achieve. Best of all, it’s topped off with a piece of ultra-professional video marketing that’s also designed to appeal to the brand’s target audience.

Three takeaways from Shopify Plus’s landing page:

  • Tailor your CTA. Enterprise customers aren’t going to make a purchase straight away. That’s why Shpoify encourages them to contact their sales team rather than book a demo.
  • Use statistics. The landing page gives hard data about how much better stores can perform by using Shopify Plus. This is much more powerful than a throwaway comment.
  • Speak to your customer’s values. Shopify devotes a large chunk to talking about the performance of their platform — something enterprise companies care about deeply.

10. Webflow

Webflow landing page example.

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There’s a reason designers aren’t web developers — most don’t know how to code. That doesn’t stop them from designing great-looking websites, but it does mean they need help. Not if they use Webflow, however. Webflow lets designers design and code powerful websites without having to write any themselves. And because the company knows its target audience, everything on the landing page is designed to appeal to designers — from the images to the testimonials to the copy.

Three takeaways from Webflow’s landing page:

  • Tailor your landing page to your target audience. This landing page won’t appeal to anyone who can’t design. But that’s the point. Those people won’t use Webflow, designers will.
  • Double down on social proof. Webflow understands the power of social proof, which is why they highlight their existing customers multiple times on the page.
  • Show, don’t tell. Webflow ends the landing page by showing designers exactly the kind of sites they can create with the platform.

11. ClickFunnels

Click funnels landing page example.

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The goal of the ClickFunnels landing page is to get you to start using its software. They know that once they’ve got you on their platform, you are way more likely to start paying. With that in mind, everything on the page is geared at showing how easy it is to get started and what you can accomplish with the software. There are dozens of testimonials of high-profile salespeople who have made serious bank with the software and copy that challenges any preconceived ideas you have. It’s a masterclass in persuasive landing page design.

Three takeaways from ClickFunnels’s landing page:

  • Let your customers sell for you. Testimonials are so powerful. If you have them from the right people (the kind your prospective customers want to emulate) then they’ll do most of the hard work for you.
  • Attack objections early. ClickFunnels does a great job of overcoming common objections (like you need to have good computer skills or your business isn’t a good fit) above the fold.
  • Use CTAs liberally. There is a CTA banner after every section on this page, giving users every opportunity to convert.

12. Conversionlab

Conversionlab landing page example.

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Conversionlab has been using this landing page design for years now. I’ve noticed they split test different button CTAs, like book a call, get a free consult, and many more. Keeping their Founder on the main page of the website builds a long-term relationship many businesses nowadays miss out on. They clearly state their services through their persuasive headline and, even if you’re not ready to book a consultation, a pop-up will appear collecting your email.

Three takeaways from Conversionlab’s landing page:

  • Put your team front and center. You can build instant relatability with users by putting your team members on your landing page.
  • Don’t be afraid to give it all away. Conversion Lab’s landing page explains in detail what it’s like to work with them, so every prospect knows exactly what to expect.
  • Try twice to convert. Following up with an email (collected via pop-up) is a great way to ensure that a high percentage of prospects that land on your website will end up booking a call with you.

13. Semrush (404)

SEMrush landing page example.

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Semrush is an SEO platform. Here’s a landing page example for their tool that showed up as an ad in organic search. The button is bright (and on-brand) and makes it clear what your next step would be. The main headline focuses on the benefit — grow your online visibility — and the third line focuses on another key benefit — you only need one platform. That’s appealing to marketers who are juggling a ton of tools.

Three takeaways from Semrush’s landing page:

  • Know your audience. The landing page’s CTA focuses on a known pain point of digital marketers: that they have to juggle dozens of different tools.
  • Roll out the big guns for testimonials. Semrush lists some of their biggest customers prominently on the homepage. If these massive companies use the platform, surely you should, too?
  • Use variety with your CTA buttons. Each of the CTA buttons lead to the signup form, but the copy is different in each one, ensuring they hit the pain point that will get someone to click, no matter where they’re at on the page.

14. HelloFresh

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HelloFresh is a meal-kit delivery service, and this landing page is another ad-based page that’s focused entirely on its offering, with no additional navigation.

Like other landing pages, the content is limited. They use a heading, CTA, and images to show how the platform works and some of the user options. However, I suspect that’s on purpose — after all, the premise is relatively simple, it’s more about showing how the service fits into people’s lifestyles.

Three takeaways from HelloFresh’ landing page:

  • Strategic discounts make a difference. The page is offering a discount, but it’s automatically applied the second someone clicks on the page, creating an enticing offering that requires no additional effort on the customer’s side—they just have to click “Redeem” or “Get Started.”
  • Use high-quality visuals. HelloFresh prides itself on high-quality, fresh ingredients, and the images here present these front-and-center.
  • Strategic link placement. The carousel at the bottom is neatly aligned with different dietary needs and preferences, helping move users down the sales funnel.

15. Doordash

Door Dash landing page example.

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Doordash probably doesn’t have to worry as much about getting customers as it does about recruiting new drivers to meet demand. That’s the goal of this landing page that shows users what they stand to gain from becoming a Dasher. It’s on-brand, carefully lays out the benefits of becoming your own boss, and shows you how much you could earn. The only thing it’s missing is social proof.

Three takeaways from Doordash’s landing page:

  • Put the user front and center. Everything on this landing page, from the copy to the images revolves around the user. It’s about what they can achieve and speak directly to them.
  • Pre-qualify users on your landing page. Doordash clearly lists the requirements drivers have to meet, meaning they’ll need to spend less time vetting candidates in the future.
  • Don’t rule out the impact of social proof. The lack of testimonials from current Dashers really lets this page down. The experience of current drivers is probably high on a prospective driver’s checklist.

16. Airbnb

AirBNB landing page example.

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Want to know how much you could rent your property for on Airbnb? That’s exactly what the company’s landing page helps you to understand. This fun and interactive landing page gives users a taste of what they can earn by renting out their property on Airbnb and then shows them how easy the process is.

Three takeaways from Airbnb’s landing page:

  • Dynamic pages can work a dream. As soon as you land on Airbnb’s landing page it automatically changes the content depending on your location. That creates a highly personalized and interactive experience that’s more likely to convert users.
  • CTAs don’t have to take center stage. The CTA to create an Airbnb account is tucked away in the right-hand corner of the page. But that doesn’t make it any less prominent or visible.
  • Make it interactive. Users can play with the slider bar to see how much they could earn by renting out their property for longer. The more you slide, the bigger the number gets, and the more tempting it is to create an account.

17. Zillow

Zillow landing page example.

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Every homeowner wants to know how much their property is worth. It’s that simple desire that Zillow capitalizes on with this landing page, which aims to generate leads for the company’s mortgage business. It’s short, simple and incredibly alluring for both curious homeowners and buyers looking to understand the potential value of a new home.

Three takeaways from Zillow’s landing page:

  • Eye-catching imagery can play a big role. The biggest element on Zillow’s landing page isn’t the CTA, but the image behind it. It’s doing a lot of legwork creating an aspirational feel to the page.
  • Clearly contrast copy and images. There’s a danger that the overlay copy on the background image could get lost. But Zillow does a great job of ensuring the contrast is clear and the copy is readable.
  • Give users more information, but only if they want it. There’s a tendency for the best landing pages to overwhelm users with information. Zillow avoids this by providing FAQs that only appear if users click on them.

18. Visme

Visme landing page example.

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Visme is a graphic design tool that offers a number of templates for different types of business-centric designs, like presentations, infographics, e-books, and the like. This landing page is all about the fact that you can create e-books with the tool, highlighting only e-book templates and other features related to e-book creation.

What I like:

Three takeaways from NP Digital’s landing page:

  • Brand consistency matters. All of the copy and images are related to this singular type of design. This page is perfect for ebook-related ads but also a great SEO play as well.
  • Showcasing different product. The examples section does a great job showing off the variety of different e-books that this product can make.
  • CTAs after key features. The page design here places the CTA button after all the different breakdowns of major features, meaning that the user can buy as soon as they see the feature that matters most to them..

19. Wix

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Wix is a website builder, and this landing page goes all in on its website design capabilities. It showcases all features related to getting a new website up and off the ground.

Three takeaways from Wix’s landing page:

  • Don’t neglect the visual factor. As you scroll, you’re met with colorful blocks that each highlight its own feature, making this a visually appealing landing page that keeps users engaged the entire time.
    Show your work. The examples section here does a great job of showing the full breadth of sites that Wix can help build.
  • Use FAQs (when it makes sense). FAQs can be very useful for helping go into greater detail about a product without clogging up the page experience. They are great for SEO, too!

20. NP Digital

NP Digital landing page example.

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Let’s end with one of the best landing page examples from my digital marketing agency, NP Digital. Unlike some of the other examples in this list, the goal of this landing page isn’t to get people to buy a product or sign up to a service. I want users to download a market research report my team and I created.

As you can see, it’s quite a bit shorter than a normal landing page. That’s because it doesn’t need elements like social proof or loads of images. All I want to get across is a snapshot of what you can read in the report and how you can download it.

Three takeaways from NP Digital’s landing page:

  • Don’t let users enter fake information. I email the document to the address you provide in the form. That means you have to enter your correct email address to get the document and I don’t have to waste time scrubbing fake emails from my database.
  • Sometimes you can ask for more information. Your opt-in form doesn’t have to be tiny in order to convert. Because I’m giving away a lot of information for free, I can ask for more information in return.
  • Long landing pages don’t necessarily make the best landing pages. If you don’t want users to waste time scrolling, don’t make them. Only give them the information they need to convert.

7 Tips for Creating Killer Landing Pages

You’ve seen the best of the best. Now you’re ready to create a landing page that drives business growth. These seven tips will help you create the high-converting landing pages you’ve been dreaming of:

  1. Include clear calls to action. Your call to action should be specifically tied to your goal and should be supported by everything else on your page, from the headline and body copy to the images and overall layout. Avoid bland CTAs like “Submit” that don’t explain the next steps.
  2. Keep your landing page forms simple. Only require users to provide the minimum amount of information they need, usually just their name and email. Asking for too much information early on decreases the chances a user will complete the action you want them to take.
  3. Ensure your copy is clear and concise. The best landing page copy should be clear, easy to read, and make a specific point. Use bullet points, headings, and bold font to make content easier to read. Every single sentence and word on your landing page should serve a purpose, and that purpose should be to support your call to action. If it doesn’t do that, cut it.
  4. Include vital information above the fold. That includes a benefit-focused headline and a CTA. Hopefully, at least a small percentage of your visitors will be ready to buy as soon as they arrive on your landing page.
  5. Ensure your landing pages look the same as your campaign ads. If your page is tied to an email or PPC campaign, make sure the landing page echoes the look and feel of the ad or email. The easiest way to do this is to carry over fonts, images, and colors from your campaign to your landing page. This is especially important for paid ads, as it can increase your quality score.
  6. A/B test your landing page. A/B testing means running two different landing pages and changing just one element to see which performs best. For example, you might use two different images and see which one drives the most conversions.
  7. Use fewer images and a large font. Visual clutter detracts from the message and CTAs. Larger font sizes are also a good idea to keep visitors’ eyes focused on what matters and reduce eye strain. Just don’t go overboard and put everything in a headline-size font — no one wants to be yelled at.

In general, a great landing page includes:

  • A strong heading that includes your main keyword
  • A subheading that clarifies the heading
  • Copy that explains the offer
  • An image, video, or illustration that supports the offer
  • A form or CTA button where the user can convert

You might also include social proof or trust symbols, such as reviews, testimonials, and logos of previous customers.

Building Out Your Next Landing Page

While there are some consistent elements between all strong landing pages, the exact design will depend on your goals, your business, and your industry.

Let me ask you a couple of questions that will guide you in the right direction.

What do you want to accomplish with your landing page?

The most common landing page goals are:

  • Getting people to opt-in in exchange for free value on a subject.
  • Selling a low-ticket product like a book or a mini-course.
  • Promoting a free trial offer for a monthly service or software.

You’ve got to know exactly what offer you want to present on your landing page before creating it.

Are you committed to this project or are you just trying out an offer?

Building a high-converting landing page is not an overnight effort.

You might find yourself optimizing a non-profitable landing page for months before it starts generating real returns. If you’re not ready for that, then I recommend you quit before you even start.

Yes, you can get lucky and hit a home run on your first try, but don’t count on it.

Be ready for the long game so you catch the long-term gains that are so much sweeter than a short-term spike in traffic.

What’s your budget?

Before you begin designing your landing page, you need to prepare a solid budget.

You can’t expect everything to go smoothly throughout the process. Problems are going to occur and most times the easiest and fastest way to solve them is to pay someone who is an expert in the field.

That can be a developer, a funnel designer/builder, an ad specialist, or a CRO consultant. Either way, you should be ready to pay someone to do it right so you don’t face the same problems over and over.

In marketing and life, one of the best ways to test the quality of your work is to put it in front of an audience. For landing pages, you can do that by running ads to see if the traffic converts.

If it does, you raise your ad budget and try to scale. If it doesn’t convert at first, then you should let a professional take a look at it.

Even if you already hired someone to build it for you, don’t expect them to help you here. Yes, they could optimize your page, but you’ve got to keep in mind that people have an emotional attachment to their work.

That’s why you need a third party to help you out.

When it comes to optimizing a landing page for conversions, think about hiring an agency.

Big marketing agencies nowadays have had hundreds if not thousands of clients who have been in your exact situation. That’s why hiring a marketing agency to help you increase your conversion is the best bet.

Talking about CRO (conversion rate optimization) there’s no better choice than NP Digital.

I might be biased, but I think it’s the best marketing agency for both SEO and CRO.

If you’re at the stage where you want to optimize your existing landing page but you don’t know exactly how to do it, then book a quick call with a member of my team who can unravel the secret conversion optimization methods your business needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a landing page?

A landing page is a specially designed page intended to encourage users to complete a specific task (i.e., convert.) They work by highlighting key points, using social proof or case studies to build trust, and providing a CTA to encourage conversion.

Who needs a landing page?

Any business with a website should have a landing page of some sort to encourage users to take an action like booking a demo, calling for a quote, or signing up for an email list, etc.

What makes a good landing page?

There are several elements that make a landing page effective. First, a clear and compelling headline that instantly communicates the value proposition is essential. Second, concise and persuasive copy that highlights the benefits of your product or service. Third, it needs a visually appealing design that is easy to navigate and optimized for mobile devices. Fourth, a strong call-to-action that is prominent and directs users to take action. Finally, I recommend trust-building elements such as testimonials or social proof to instill confidence.

Conclusion

I hope these best landing page examples can serve as an inspiration to create a high-converting landing page. To get the most out of your landing page, be sure to:

  • Find what your best customers struggle the most with and then solve this problem with a short and punchy headline.
  • Use credibility and videos if possible.
  • Know your goals — Is it to get their email or phone number? Have them call? Start a free/paid trial or something else?
  • Use clear and easy-to-follow calls to action.

Finally: always, always optimize your landing pages.

You can NOT be perfect from day one. Every business on this list tests its pages dozens if not hundreds of times before finding the best landing page.

Even then, they still optimize.

Read more at Read More

How the YouTube Algorithm Works (Data-Backed Answer)

Some YouTube videos gain millions of views, while others struggle to find an audience. The reason often comes down to the algorithm. YouTube’s algorithm isn’t guesswork—it’s a sophisticated system predicting what viewers will most likely watch and enjoy.

Whether you’re a marketer, content creator, or business owner, understanding how the YouTube algorithm works can help you grow your channel and reach more viewers. In this article, we’ll break down how the YouTube algorithm works in 2025 and share strategies to help you succeed.

Key Takeaways

  • The YouTube algorithm in focuses on understanding individual viewers through their behavior, preferences, and watch history.
  • YouTube serves videos in three main ways. The homepage shows videos based on viewer history, suggested videos appear alongside a video being watched, and search results combine relevance and viewer preferences.
  • Metrics like watch time, click-through rates (CTR), likes, comments, and shares are key factors in determining a video’s visibility.
  • Including YouTube Shorts, live streams, and playlists in your strategy can help you connect with wider audiences.
  • Regular uploads and active audience engagement signal to the algorithm that your channel offers value.
  • Features like polls, Q&A sessions, and multilingual subtitles increase engagement and appeal to diverse audiences.
  • Algorithm optimization has seven components: create a click-worthy title, add detail to your description, design an attractive thumbnail, increase watch duration, encourage action after the video, maintain engagement with video series and playlists, and improve content using analytics over the long term.

What Is the YouTube Algorithm?

The YouTube algorithm is a recommendation system that serves videos to users based on their histories and (if they’re actively searching) search queries. The algorithm evaluates over 80 billion signals, according to the official YouTube blog. 

The algorithm matters because YouTube is a powerful organic channel. Understanding how to increase the reach of your videos can increase revenue significantly.  

In fact, research conducted by my team at NP Digital found it’s the top organic social channel, outperforming sales from all other platforms by a large margin. 

A graphic that shows how many conversions organic social really drives.

YouTube provides recommendations in four main areas:

  • Homepage: Features videos based on viewer history and content performance.
  • Suggested videos: Highlights related content next to the video being watched.
  • Search results: Combines relevance and viewer preferences to rank results.
  • Shorts: Shows short-form videos in the shorts feed based on user history. 

Let’s look at each of these in detail. 

Recommended Videos: A Whopping 70% of All Views

Recommended videos appear on the homepage and alongside videos on “watch pages,” on-screen at the end of videos, and in the suggested videos sidebar.

Recommended videos on YouTube.

YouTube’s recommendation algorithm drives 70% of views, according to a study by the Institute of Strategic Dialogue

A mixture of personalization factors—based on the user’s history—and individual video performance signals are used to make recommendations. 

Search Results: The Web’s Sixth Biggest Search Engine

Results page videos are served in response to YouTube search bar queries. The algorithm uses a mix of relevance (in relation to the search phrase) and personalization to rank videos. 

Search results for Digital Marketing Tips.

Despite accounting for only 30% of views, the number of searches on YouTube is still high enough to make it the sixth largest search engine on the web. My research found that YouTube has 3.3 billion searches every day. 

Daily searches per platform.

Shorts: Casual Scrolling

The “shorts algorithm” serves videos based on user history, in a similar way to the homepage and watch page suggestions. However, videos are viewed in a scrolling format, typically on mobile. 

A YouTube short.

My team and I looked at the engagement levels of different types of content and found that shorts account for 31.3% of all social media content engagement, beating every other category. Shorts are excellent for building your audience, and I publish them regularly on my channel. 

Content that generates the most engagement.

Trending: What’s Hot In Your Country

The “Trending” tab in YouTube displays videos that are going viral and generating high viewing figures. According to the YouTube Help Center, “Trending isn’t personalized and displays the same list of trending videos to all viewers in the same country.”

The Trending YouTube tab.

The YouTube Algorithm’s Evolution

The YouTube algorithm has evolved significantly over the years. Early versions rewarded videos based on view counts alone, encouraging clickbait tactics. In 2012, the focus shifted to watch time, prioritizing videos that kept viewers engaged for more extended periods.

In 2025, AI-driven personalization will play a central role. The algorithm analyzes viewer behavior to recommend videos that align with individual preferences. Metrics like watch time, click-through rates (CTR), and satisfaction surveys have a major impact on video ranking.

Short-form videos, like YouTube Shorts, are now a major factor in discoverability. They grab attention quickly, making them effective for engaging new viewers. Creators who include Shorts in their strategy often see significant growth in views and subscribers.

The evolution of the algorithm shows that success on YouTube depends on adaptability. Content that engages viewers across formats and metrics is more likely to gain visibility.

How the Algorithm Works: A Complete Overview

So, how does the algorithm work? 

Let’s look at official and reputable third-party sources to piece together an understanding of what YouTube looks at to recommend and rank videos.

Official YouTube Documentation: Personalization and Performance

YouTube has stated that it uses a comparison system on its official blog: 

“…we start with the knowledge that everyone has unique viewing habits. Our system then compares your viewing habits with those that are similar to you and uses that information to suggest other content you may want to watch.” 

YouTube has also explicitly said that it measures user activity

“Our algorithm doesn’t pay attention to videos, it pays attention to viewers. So, rather than trying to make videos that’ll make an algorithm happy, focus on making videos that make your viewers happy.”

In addition, a paper published in 2016 titled Deep Neural Networks for YouTube Recommendations explained that the YouTube recommendation model works in two stages. Although it has evolved since the paper was published, there’s a strong likelihood that the underlying ideas have remained the same. 

First, the algorithm goes through a “corpus” of millions of videos to retrieve a subset of videos that match the user’s preferences based on their history. Second, it evaluates multiple video and user factors to rank these candidates, returning what it determines to be the best-fit recommendations. 

A Discussion Between YouTube Insiders: No One “Number”

In early 2025, YouTube Creator Liaison Rene Ritchie and Todd Beaupré, who leads the Growth and Discovery team, discussed the YouTube algorithm in depth. 

Rene Ritchie asked, “We often hear from creators, ‘What’s the one number? Is it click-through rates? Is it watch time?” How do creators optimize for all of these factors?”

Beaupré answered by saying, “One thing to understand is there’s no single answer to that question, as much as creators would love to have one. But the reality is that we’ve enabled the system to learn that different factors have different importance in different contexts.” 

He also added, “While we do look at how long people watch videos, it’s only one of the factors we consider…we introduced this concept of satisfaction…where we’re trying to understand not just viewers’ behavior but also how they feel.” 

The key point is that YouTube considers a wide range of context-dependent factors. But the emphasis is on user “satisfaction.” Factors like relevance, watch time, and engagement all fit neatly into this category. 

7 Key YouTube Algorithm Signals

A mix of official documentation and third-party testing highlights seven key areas that YouTube looks at in order to evaluate what Todd Beaupré calls “satisfaction.”

Here’s a working roundup of YouTube algorithm signals:

  • Content characteristics: The algorithm uses metadata, such as titles, descriptions, and transcripts, to determine a video’s relevance to a viewer’s query. Optimized metadata increases a video’s chances of being recommended.
  • Watch time: Longer viewing sessions suggest valuable content. While there is significant variance across topics, my team and I found that 3.06 minutes is the average watch time on YouTube, and this is a good benchmark to keep in mind for longer videos. 
A graphic showing average watch time for long-form videos by platform.
  • Click-through rate (CTR): This is the percentage of impressions that turn into clicks.  Attractive titles and thumbnails draw more clicks and indicate relevance. 
  • Likes, comments, and shares: Viewer interactions show the content’s relevance and appeal. Videos with strong engagement are more likely to be promoted.
  • Viewer behavior: Content is prioritized based on individual viewing history, likes, and repeated interactions. It also considers patterns among viewers with similar interests to recommend content.
  • Relevance: Research by the Pew Research Center found that 32% of adults in the US use YouTube to stay up to date with current events, making it one of the web’s most popular news platforms. Because of this, the relevance of news-related content is likely a strong ranking factor. 
  • Handling misinformation: Channels with authority and consistent, trustworthy content are favored. The algorithm also flags and limits the reach of misleading videos, so aligning with YouTube’s policies is critical. According to YouTube, consumption of “borderline content” recommended by the algorithm is lower than 1%. This is content that doesn’t violate YouTube’s terms of service but comes close.  

How to Improve Your Organic Reach: 7-Step Framework

Improving organic reach on YouTube is about focusing on three factors: engagement, relevance, and viewer satisfaction. 

A graphic showing how to improve organic reach on YouTube.

Creating useful, attention-grabbing content should be your priority. However, there are also powerful tweaks that can give your rankings an extra lift.

1. Pick a Catchy Title

YouTube looks at your video’s title to understand what it’s about. A well-crafted title makes it more likely that you’ll be recommended to users and appear in search results for relevant queries. 

Here’s how to nail your video titles:

  1. Pick a primary high-volume keyword: Enter the core topic of your video into the YouTube search bar to generate specific keyword variations and pick one of these for your title. You can also run potential keywords through a tool like Ubersuggest, as there is significant overlap between Google and YouTube search term volumes. 
Results for Social Media Marketing.
  1. Describe a clear benefit: A catchy title isn’t just for telling the algorithm what your video is about. It’s also for building interest and driving clicks. Articulate a clear, precise outcome or benefit, as I have done with “social media mastery” in my video below. “How to” titles also work very well on YouTube. 
Results for Social Media Marketing 2025.
  1. Don’t get too hung up on tags: There’s no harm in adding tags in the Show more section of the Details page of the upload window. However, don’t worry too much about these as their value is limited. Three or four keywords that describe your video will do the job.

2. Optimize Your Description

Descriptions do more than summarize your video—they help the algorithm understand and categorize your content.

Here’s how to create a killer description:

  • Focus on the first two lines: These appear in search results. Start with an engaging preview that highlights what viewers will learn.
  • Provide details: Outline key takeaways and include timestamps for longer videos. Use bullets in your description to make it easy for readers to skim. 
  • Add calls to action (CTAs) where appropriate: Direct viewers to related videos or encourage them to subscribe when it’s appropriate to do so. 

Here’s an example of a helpful description from one of my videos. It’s comprehensive—giving plenty of info to YouTube—and pulls readers in with a clear description of what they’ll learn. 

An example YT video description.

3. Create a Captivating Thumbnail

Your thumbnail is an invaluable opportunity to stop scrollers, restate the benefits of watching your video, and encourage clicks. And if you’re not a natural designer, AI tools can fill the gap.

Here’s how to create thumbnails that get noticed: 

  • Reiterate the benefit in a different way: Use the thumbnail as an opportunity to reiterate the main promise or learning of your video in a slightly different way to attract viewers that may not have found your title compelling. 
  • Include a picture of your face: Research shows that we’re drawn to content that includes human faces.
  • Keep your design professional (without breaking the bank): Platforms like Canva and Adobe Express, which now have AI features, create professional-looking thumbnails that grab attention.
  • Split Testing: Test different thumbnails across your videos to see which combinations perform best.

You can see a selection of thumbnails for my videos below. In all cases I include my ugly mug—ahem, beautiful visage—and reiterate the main promise of the video in a slightly different way to the title. 

Neil Patel thumbnails.

4. Aim for Longer Watch Durations

The algorithm rewards content that keeps viewers watching from start to finish. Strong video storytelling holds those eyeballs and boosts watch time.

Here are my four top tips for improving average watch duration:

  • Start strong: Hook your audience in the first 10 seconds with a clear and engaging statement.
  • Match expectations: Align your video content with what the title and thumbnail promise. 
  • Add chapters: Divide longer videos into sections with timestamps so viewers can skip to the parts they’re most interested in. 
  • Modify your strategy based on feedback: Analyze audience retention graphs in YouTube Studio to see where viewers drop off and refine your content strategy accordingly, removing sections that might be seen as boring or not useful. 

I hit all these criteria in my video “I’ve Closed $100M+ in Sales, Here’s How to Sell Anything to Anyone.” It opens strong, provides exactly what it promises (with practical examples), includes chapters, and cuts all nonessential fluff. 

Oh, and don’t be afraid of creating lo-fi (or low-fidelity) videos if your audience is already engaging with content that’s more casual. This content isn’t overly polished and is designed to communicate authenticity. My research found that it tends to outperform high-fidelity content. 

Lo-fi vs Hi-fi content.

5. Don’t Skip the Conclusion

How you end your videos matters. A good conclusion keeps viewers engaged and encourages them to either subscribe, watch another video, or visit a landing page. 

Add all of the following to your conclusions:

  • End screens: Add an end screen with a CTA and a link to your landing page or subscribe button. 
  • Verbal calls to action (CTAs): Suggest specific videos or playlists that viewers can watch next.
  • Add cards: Reference related content from your channel and use clickable cards to drive traffic to it.

Here’s an example of a video from Russell Brunson with an end screen that includes a CTA, a card of a related video, and links to his channel page (the picture of his face) and his commercial website. 

A Clickfunnels YouTube endscreen.

6. Create Series and Playlists

Serial content keeps viewers engaged for longer and increases session time as they watch the whole series, which the algorithm values. Creating binge-worthy videos also encourages viewers to subscribe to your channel.

There are two ways to offer serial content:

  • Playlists: Group related videos into playlists that autoplay. This keeps viewers watching without needing to search for the next video.
  • Episodic, well-labeled series: Structure your content in a way that builds anticipation, such as a step-by-step tutorial or a multi-part series that is clearly labeled—“Part One,” “Video One,” etc. 

When signing off from videos in a series, don’t underestimate cliffhanger endings. A teaser for what’s coming next can make all the difference in keeping viewers watching. 

Here’s an example from my SEO Unlocked course on SEO fundamentals, with a link at the end of the video to part two. 

A video from Neil Patel's SEO Unlocked course.

7. Monitor Analytics to Find Opportunities

YouTube Studio offers tools to analyze your performance, refine your strategy, and align content with audience preferences.

Here are the key metrics to track in YouTube analytics:

  • Audience retention: Identify drop-off points and adjust your content to keep viewers engaged.
  • Click-through rate (CTR): Measure how well your titles and thumbnails attract clicks.
  • Engagement metrics: Look at likes, comments, and shares to understand what resonates.
  • Demographics and traffic sources: Learn about your audience and adjust to appeal to core groups. 
YouTube video analytics.

Bonus Tip: Make the Most of YouTube Shorts

As we’ve mentioned before, YouTube Shorts are a powerful way to reach new audiences and promote your main content. Their quick, engaging format is perfect for grabbing attention. But they work slightly differently from long-form videos. 

Follow these best practices for maximizing the reach of your shorts:

  • Focus on one idea: Keep it simple and clear. Shorts are most effective when they focus on a single concept.
  • Use captions: Many viewers watch without sound, so captions help convey your message.
  • Repurpose content: Highlight key moments from your long-form videos to attract new viewers.

Here’s an example from my YouTube channel. In under a minute, it delivers a quick lesson on social media engagement.

Adapting to Trends in 2025

Staying competitive on YouTube in 2025 requires keeping up with audience expectations and platform trends. Interactive content and a focus on sustainability and inclusivity shape how creators connect with viewers.

Interactive Content

Interactive features like polls, Q&A sessions, and community posts help you connect with your audience on a deeper level. These tools encourage participation, making viewers feel more connected to your content. This engagement also signals to the algorithm that your videos resonate with your audience.

Here’s an example of how Marvel used a poll:

Source: Clipchamp

A poll from Marvel's YouTube channel.

This simple and easy addition makes the video more engaging and can even spark future conversations and video ideas.

Live streams are another way to build engagement. Use live chats to answer questions or collect feedback directly from viewers. These real-time interactions create a sense of community and keep your audience coming back for more.

Sustainability and Inclusivity

Audiences are increasingly drawn to creators who reflect their values. Content incorporating sustainable practices, like reducing waste during production, can appeal to eco-conscious viewers. Inclusivity is equally important. Multilingual subtitles, diverse representation, and accessible formats help you reach a broader audience while improving viewer satisfaction.

Focusing on these areas can strengthen your brand and improve your chances of gaining visibility on the platform.

Is AI Changing the Way the Algorithm Works?

I believe that the future looks bright for YouTube creators in the age of AI. 

The algorithm has evolved significantly over the years. Early versions rewarded videos based on view counts alone, encouraging clickbait tactics. In 2012, the focus shifted to watch time, prioritizing videos that kept viewers engaged for more extended periods.

In 2025 and beyond, AI algorithms will continue to focus on relevance, watch time, click-through rates (CTR), and satisfaction. My view is that it will get better and better at measuring these signals, which means that high-quality content is the best path to success. 

In addition, my team and I have found that AI engines often cite YouTube videos, with a 414% uptick in citations in AI overviews since launch. This points towards continued growth in the consumption of YouTube videos as AI search becomes more pervasive. 

A graphic on YouTube Citations Growth in AI overviews since launch.

FAQs

How does the YouTube algorithm work?

The YouTube algorithm matches videos to viewers based on relevance, engagement, and personal preferences. It analyzes metadata, watch time, and viewer behavior to recommend content that keeps audiences engaged.

What is the YouTube algorithm?

The YouTube algorithm is powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to determine which videos to recommend to users. It evaluates individual preferences, engagement metrics, and channel authority to prioritize content.

What 4 things does the algorithm prioritize on YouTube?

Watch Time: Videos with longer viewing durations and those contributing to session watch time perform better.

Engagement: Likes, comments, and shares improve visibility.

Relevance: Titles, tags, and descriptions matched to user queries.Viewer History: Recommendations based on past watch and search behavior.

Conclusion

Mastering the YouTube algorithm is about creating engaging content that connects with your audience. The algorithm prioritizes watch time, relevance, and engagement, so aligning your videos with these factors is critical.

Focus on building quality content that addresses viewer needs, optimizing it with strong YouTube SEO practices. Use features like interactive tools, live streams, and Shorts to connect with your audience and expand your reach. Embracing sustainable and inclusive practices can also strengthen your brand and attract diverse viewers. Whether you’re improving your video marketing strategy or experimenting with new formats, staying focused on your audience will keep your channel growing.

Read more at Read More

Top 10 SEO expert columns of 2024 on Search Engine Land

Search Engine Land's Top SEO columns of 2024

Since Search Engine Land launched, we have given SEO experts a platform to share their in-depth knowledge and timely insights – with the goal of helping you solve problems, manage challenges and understand the constantly shifting SEO landscape.

What follows are links to the 10 most-read, must-read Search Engine Land SEO columns of 2024 that were contributed by our fantastic group of Subject Matter Experts.

10. The SEO’s guide to Google Search Console

Dive into Google Search Console’s features and reports, plus how to navigate the tool like a pro, from basic setup to advanced SEO analysis. (By Anna Crowe. Published July 8.)

9. 15 AI tools you should use for SEO

Get more done in less time with these must-have AI tools to automate tasks, optimize content and improve your search engine rankings. (By Ludwig Makhyan. Published Sept. 27.)

8. How to use Google Search Console to unlock easy SEO wins

Steps for using GSC to review your traffic, analyze the search landscape and make impactful optimizations for quick results. (By Marcus Miller. Published Aug. 22.)

7. How to make your AI-generated content sound more human

Leverage AI like ChatGPT to generate more human-sounding long-form content. Refine prompts with details to produce engaging articles. (By James Allen. Published Feb. 26.)

6. Google recognizes content creators: A breakthrough for E-E-A-T and SEO

Google now highlights content creators as trusted sources in search results. Here’s why this matters for E-E-A-T and how SEOs can benefit. (By Jason Barnard. Published Sept. 25.)

5. How SEO moves forward with the Google Content Warehouse API leak

Addressing common questions, critiques and concerns following the massive Google Search leak and how your approach to SEO should change. (By Michael King. Published May 30.)

4. What is generative engine optimization (GEO)?

Understand what GEO is, how it’s revolutionizing digital marketing and key strategies to optimize for AI-driven search. (By Christina Adame. Published July 29.)

3. Unpacking Google’s massive search documentation leak

This breakdown unveils potential Google Search ranking factors, including details on PageRank variations, site authority metrics and more. (By Andrew Ansley. Published May 30.)

2. How Google Search ranking works

An in-depth analysis of how Google’s complex ranking system works and components like Twiddlers and NavBoost that influence search results. (By Mario Fischer. Published Aug. 13.)

1. ChatGPT vs. Google Bard vs. Bing Chat vs. Claude: Which generative AI solution is best?

Here’s a comparison of genAI tools ChatGPT, Bard, Bing Chat Balanced, Bing Chat Creative, and Claude based on four metrics. (By Eric Enge. Published Jan. 26.)

Top 10 PPC expert columns of 2024 on Search Engine Land

Search Engine Land's Top PPC Columns of 2024

Search Engine Land gives PPC experts a platform to share their in-depth knowledge and timely insights – with the goal of helping you solve problems, manage challenges and understand the constantly shifting landscape of paid search, paid social, and display.

What follows are links to the 10 most-read, must-read Search Engine Land PPC columns of 2024 that were contributed by our fantastic group of subject matter experts.

10. Value-based bidding: Why it’s key to boosting your Google Ads

Discover how this bid strategy can optimize your Google Ads campaigns for the most valuable actions and overall profitability. (By Sarah Stemen. Published Feb. 7.)

9. Mastering Performance Max using scripts

Learn to negate poor performers, track disapproved products and exclude spammy placements with Google Ads scripts. (By Nils Rooijmans. Published Sept. 20.)

8. Google is hiding search data from advertisers and profiting

Here’s how it affects your ad campaigns and what you can do to optimize performance despite limited visibility. (By Mark Meyerson. Published Sept. 10.)

7. Google Ads for lead gen: 9 tips to scale low-spending campaigns

Looking to elevate your Google Ads lead gen efforts? Here are nine levers that can boost your PPC campaigns toward significant growth. (By Menachem Ani. Published Jan. 10.)

6. The Performance Max playbook: Best practices and emerging tactics for 2024

Strategies for running Performance Max campaigns in 2024, covering campaign structure, creative, budgeting and conversion tracking. (By Navah Hopkins. Published April 11.)

5. What Google’s query matching update means for future PPC campaigns

Learn about Google Ads’ latest improvements to query matching and brand controls and what it indicates about how keywords will evolve. (By Menachem Ani. Published July 10.)

4. 4 advanced GPT-4 capabilities to level up your PPC efforts

Leverage AI for PPC with improved prompts, data integration via plugins, custom GPTs, and API-enabled actions. (By Frederick Vallaeys. Published Feb. 1.)

3. ChatGPT for PPC: 17 strategic prompts you can use today

Learn how to use ChatGPT to level up your paid search efforts without sacrificing strategy, authenticity and creativity. (By Amy Hebdon. Published Sept. 3.)

2. What 54 Google Ads experiments taught me about lead gen

Two years of experiments reveal key findings on the best-performing bid strategies, keyword match types, campaign settings and more. (By Mark Meyerson. Published Aug. 29.)

1. How to analyze Performance Max search terms insights for PPC success

Google Ads fixed the bug preventing Performance Max search query data from showing in scripts. Here’s how to analyze it PPC optimization. (By Frederick Vallaeys. Published March 13.)

Google’s CEO warns ChatGPT may become synonymous to AI the way Google is to Search

Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, and its executive team held a strategy meeting with employees last week on its 2025 outlook and what Google needs to focus on to get there. As you can imagine, much of it was around AI and shipping AI products that are better, faster and more consumer focused.

This was covered in CNBC’s write up named Google CEO Pichai tells employees to gear up for big 2025: ‘The stakes are high’.

Consumer focused Gemini. “Scaling Gemini on the consumer side will be our biggest focus next year,” Pichai was quoted as saying. The issue is, ChatGPT from OpenAI is quickly becoming the brand for AI, like Google is for Search. The CNBC article reads:

One comment read aloud by Pichai suggested that ChatGPT “is becoming synonymous to AI the same way Google is to search,” with the questioner asking, “What’s our plan to combat this in the upcoming year? Or are we not focusing as much on consumer facing LLM?”

Pichai wants Google to be that, not OpenAI. Will that be baked into Google Search or a new AI mode in Search or something else, it is not clear.

Comparing OpenAI to Google. Pichai also showed a chart of large language models, with Gemini 1.5 leading OpenAI’s GPT and other competitors. But that lead might not stay and that Google may have to play catchup, he suggested. “I expect some back and forth” in 2025, Pichai said. “I think we’ll be state of the art.”

“In history, you don’t always need to be first but you have to execute well and really be the best in class as a product,” he said. “I think that’s what 2025 is all about.”

Build and ship faster. Pichai also stressed that the company needs to go back to its early roots and build and ship faster, while also being more scrappy. Throughout the meeting, Pichai kept reminding employees of the need to “stay scrappy.”

“In early Google days, you look at how the founders built our data centers, they were really really scrappy in every decision they made,” Pichai said. “Often, constraints lead to creativity. Not all problems are always solved by headcount.”

This will help Google compete in this area.

“I think 2025 will be critical,” Pichai said. “I think it’s really important we internalize the urgency of this moment, and need to move faster as a company. The stakes are high. These are disruptive moments. In 2025, we need to be relentlessly focused on unlocking the benefits of this technology and solve real user problems.”

Why we care. 2025 will be a big year for AI, OpenAI, Microsoft, Google and other AI startups. This is an important year for these companies to gain market share and brand recognition in this space.

It will also be an exciting year, as these AI technologies should lead to fundamental changes in consumer behavior.