From: gregisenberg
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a critical component for startups aiming to gain visibility and traffic in the digital landscape [00:23:34]. The effectiveness of a website’s travel content, for instance, can be directly tied to the skill of an SEO engineer [00:02:05].
Current SEO Landscape
Large, established travel platforms like Trip Advisor and Expedia consistently rank high on Google, dominating search results and traffic [00:02:10]. This dominance often funnels travelers to the same popular destinations, restaurants, and tours [00:02:30].
Leveraging Emerging Platforms for Content
While traditional search engines are dominated by legacy players, platforms like TikTok and Instagram offer new avenues for content discovery and, by extension, SEO opportunities for niche travel experiences [00:03:01].
- TikTok Creator Search Insights: This feature reveals suggested and trending search topics, as well as content gaps, indicating what users are actively seeking on TikTok instead of Google [00:05:12] [00:05:22].
- Instagram Map: A hidden geolocation tool within Instagram allows users to search for locations (e.g., “Rome”) and view photos and stories posted by others, effectively acting as a “heat map” of popular or trending places in real-time [00:07:21] [00:07:45]. This can help identify less well-known local attractions or new exhibits [00:07:55].
Building an SEO-focused Directory
A startup can build a directory-style app by identifying top-searched categories on TikTok, such as coffee shops, coffee art, or bookstores [00:08:44].
Development Process
- No-code/Low-code Tools: Utilize these tools for rapid mobile app development [00:09:09].
- AI for Development: Tools like Claude AI and ChatGPT can assist in building apps without extensive coding knowledge [00:09:16].
- Directory Structure: Organize content into city-based guides, e.g., a “coffee guide of Seoul,” featuring aesthetically pleasing, design-forward locations [00:09:30].
- Monetization: Guides could be monetized by offering free previews (e.g., first two locations) and charging a small fee (e.g., 99 cents) to unlock the full guide [00:10:00].
- Content Curation: Initially, content can be created by the founder [00:12:14] or extracted from existing platforms.
Automating Content for SEO
To create an SEO machine, content from platforms like TikTok can be extracted and optimized for web search [00:13:44].
- TikTok API: Use the TikTok API to access trending local videos [00:13:47].
- Transcription: Utilize tools like Descript or Google’s speech-to-text API to transcribe video content [00:13:57].
- Content Refinement: Clean up transcripts using AI tools like Claude or ChatGPT to make them suitable for blog posts or written guides [00:14:16].
- Automation: Use Zapier to automate the posting of refined content to platforms like WordPress [00:14:26].
- Niche Focus: Start with a specific niche, such as coffee shops (“coffee snobs.xyz”), and expand later [00:14:40].
- SEO-Friendly Guides: Automatically generate written guides from TikTok links, including links to Google Maps, to create SEO-friendly content [00:16:13]. These guides could ideally appear in search results for specific locations and interests, like “coffee in Williamsburg” [00:16:38].
The goal is to become a “center of gravity” around a specific topic, building SEO juice that can lead to significant growth, potentially even becoming a competitor to established travel operators [00:18:59] [00:19:02].
Role of AI in SEO
AI and technology can significantly enhance SEO efforts by helping companies outrank competitors [00:23:18]. This includes faster product creation and potentially reducing the need for large development teams [00:24:21].