SEO Product Mindset: Bridge Dev Gaps, Prioritize Initiatives
Note: This post may contain affiliate links, and we may earn a commission (with No additional cost for you) if you make a purchase via our link. See our disclosure for more info.
The Whiteboard Friday episode by Gus Pelogia advocates for SEO professionals to adopt a “product mindset” to overcome common frustrations like unfixed technical SEO tickets and a lack of prioritization. This approach fundamentally shifts how SEOs interact with development teams, treating SEO initiatives not as isolated tasks but as product features requiring strategic planning and proof of value, much like a product manager would. The core definition revolves around bridging the communication and implementation gap between SEOs and developers, fostering a collaborative environment where SEO efforts are understood, valued, and effectively integrated into the development roadmap.
Key benefits of this mindset include significantly improved prioritization and implementation of technical SEO recommendations. By leveraging established product development methodologies, SEOs can ensure their work moves beyond mere suggestions to tangible outcomes. Specific strategies involve actively participating in and leveraging sprint planning sessions to align SEO tasks with broader development cycles. Discovery meetings become crucial for understanding development constraints and opportunities, fostering a shared understanding of project scope and potential impact.
A critical aspect is bundling smaller, seemingly disparate SEO tasks into larger, more impactful projects. This aggregation helps in presenting a compelling business case, demonstrating how various small fixes contribute to a significant improvement in user experience or search engine visibility. Furthermore, building Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) is highlighted as a powerful tool to prove the value of an SEO initiative before a full-scale investment. An MVP allows SEOs to demonstrate the potential returns and impact with minimal resources, thereby de-risking the project and making it easier to secure buy-in and resources from stakeholders and development teams. While the article doesn't explicitly detail risks *of* adopting this mindset, it implicitly addresses the risks *of not* adopting it: continued frustration, missed opportunities, and a perpetual struggle to get technical SEO issues addressed. Ultimately, a product mindset transforms SEO from a reactive function into a proactive, strategic partner in product development, leading to more effective and sustainable SEO strategies.
(Source: https://moz.com/blog/seo-strategy-with-product-mindset-whiteboard-friday)
