![Show: use SEO so everyone can find you on internet [SEO checklist]](http://onlineyougrow.com/cdn/shop/articles/cov-seo-checklist-2_c92b1f75-b055-49d6-9f7c-8189218b0dba.png?v=1715867381&width=1100)
SEO isn't just for tech giants and online stores—it's a powerful tool that the best shows in the world use strategically to attract audiences.
We know you're busy producing your show and the thought of optimizing your website might feel like another burden.
But here's the deal: you don't need to be an SEO expert or spend a fortune to make it work. Just a few simple steps can significantly improve your online visibility and bring more viewers to your performances.
To help you out, we have built a free SEO checklist - also, for a full action plan, please check our pack of marketing tactics and strategies for show producers.
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What is SEO for shows exactly?
Simply put, SEO is all about making your show's website more attractive to search engines like Google.
When someone searches for "best live show in [Your City]" or "family-friendly theater performances," SEO helps your show appear in the results. The goal is to get your website higher up on the search results page so more people can find and attend your show.
Why is SEO Important for Shows?
SEO is incredibly important for shows, and here’s why:
- Increased Online Visibility:
The higher your website ranks on search engines, the more people will see it. This means more potential audience members discovering your show online, especially when they're looking for entertainment options.
- Higher Rankings on Search Engines:
Most people don’t look past the first page of search results. By optimizing your site, you can climb those rankings and beat out the competition. Imagine someone searching for "best comedy show near me" and finding your show right at the top!
- Attracting More Local Audience:
SEO isn't just about getting anyone to your site—it's about getting the right people. Local SEO helps ensure that when someone nearby searches for a show to watch, your performance pops up. This means more ticket sales and a fuller house.
Key Components of SEO
Now, let’s break down the main parts of SEO specifically for your show:
On-Page SEO
This involves making sure the content on your website is optimized. It includes things like:
- Keywords:
Using the words and phrases people are searching for in your titles, descriptions, and content. For example, if you have a musical performance, make sure you use phrases like "best musical show" or "live music performance" on your site.
- Content Quality:
Providing useful, engaging, and fresh content about your show. Share your show schedule, special performances, behind-the-scenes stories, and profiles of your cast and crew.
- Meta Tags:
Using meta titles and descriptions that are relevant and appealing to searchers. For instance, a meta description for your homepage could be "Experience the magic of live theater at [Your Show Name], the top-rated performance in [Your City]."
Off-Page SEO
This focuses on actions taken outside your website to impact your rankings:
- Backlinks:
Getting other reputable websites to link to your site, which signals to search engines that your site is trustworthy and relevant. This could be from entertainment bloggers, local news sites, or community event pages.
- Social Media:
Being active on social media with your show’s page can drive traffic to your site and improve your online presence. Share your latest performances, audience reviews, and special events to engage with your audience.
Technical SEO
This ensures your website meets the technical requirements of search engines:
- Site Speed:
Making sure your website loads quickly. No one likes to wait, especially excited audience members looking for show details!
- Mobile-Friendliness:
Ensuring your site looks and works well on mobile devices. Many people search for shows on their phones while on the go.
- Secure Website (HTTPS):
Having a secure website that users (and search engines) can trust. This is especially important if you have an online ticketing system.
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Which keywords should you target for your show?
Show producers, like you, must target specific keywords in SEO because it helps your website appear in search results when potential audience members look for the type of entertainment or experience you offer. This increases the chances that people will find and attend your show.
For example, if you specialize in comedy shows, targeting keywords like "best comedy show" or "comedy show near me" helps attract audience members searching for those terms. This makes it easier for people interested in comedy to find your show online.
Here are some keyword ideas for you. If you want a more developed strategy with actionable steps, go check out our strategy pack for show producers.
| Keyword | Competitiveness Level | Tips and Initiatives |
|---|---|---|
| Best [Show Type] in [Your City] | High | Optimize your website with high-quality images and videos of your performances, gather audience reviews, list on local event directories, and use local SEO strategies. |
| Where to watch [Show Type] | Medium | Create blog posts or pages on your website highlighting your best performances, use keywords naturally in content, and engage with local entertainment bloggers. |
| Show with good atmosphere near me | Medium | Use beautiful imagery and videos of your show's ambiance, gather positive audience reviews, and ensure your Google My Business profile is complete. |
| Best place for [Show Type] in [Your City] | Medium | Feature specific show types prominently on your website (e.g., comedy, drama), use local SEO tactics, and promote special performances on social media. |
| [Your Show Type] show in [Your City] | High | Highlight unique aspects of your show, create SEO-friendly content about your performances, and engage with the local community online. |
| Top-rated [Show Type] near me | High | Encourage satisfied audience members to leave positive reviews, optimize your website for mobile, and ensure accurate information on local listings. |
| Affordable [Show Type] in [Your City] | Low | Highlight affordable ticket options and specials on your website, use keywords related to value, and promote deals on social media. |
| Where to find [Show Type] near me | Medium | Use local SEO strategies, create content around popular performances, and ensure your website is optimized for mobile users searching nearby. |
| Popular [Show Type] in [Your City] | Medium | Use social media to share popular performances, engage with local influencers, and gather audience testimonials to build credibility. |
| Best [Show Type] for families in [Your City] | Low | Create family-friendly content, highlight amenities for families on your website, and host family-themed events to generate buzz. |
What really matters when you do SEO for a show
Actually, we think that SEO often follows the 80/20 rule, meaning that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. For show producers, like you, this means it's crucial to focus on the right strategies to maximise impact without feeling overwhelmed.
| Action / Initiative | Why It Matters / How It Helps Bring New Audience |
|---|---|
| Optimize Google My Business profile | Ensures your show appears in local search results, provides essential information (showtimes, location, ticket prices), and collects reviews to build trust. |
| Gather and respond to online reviews | Positive reviews build credibility and trust. Responding to reviews shows you value audience feedback, encouraging more people to attend. |
| Create high-quality content with targeted keywords | Helps your website rank higher in search results for relevant queries, attracting audiences looking for specific types of entertainment or experiences. |
| Optimize for local SEO | Ensures your show appears in local searches (e.g., "shows near me"), driving foot traffic from nearby potential audience members. |
| Ensure website is mobile-friendly | Most users search for shows on their phones. A mobile-friendly site provides a better user experience, leading to higher engagement and ticket sales. |
| Use high-quality images and videos of performances | Attractive visuals entice potential audience members, showcasing your show and atmosphere, which can significantly influence their decision to attend. |
| Include an online schedule with keywords | Allows search engines to index your schedule, helping you appear in searches for specific showtimes, and makes it easy for audiences to see what you offer. |
| List your show on local event directories | Increases your online presence and backlinks, improving your search engine ranking and making it easier for audiences to find you. |
| Engage with local entertainment bloggers and influencers | Generates buzz and word-of-mouth, reaching a wider audience and attracting attendees who trust these local voices. |
| Promote special events and offers | Creates a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging potential audience members to attend your show for unique experiences. |
| Utilize social media to share updates and engage with audiences | Builds a community around your show, keeps audiences informed about new performances, and drives traffic to your website. |
| Ensure accurate and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across all platforms | Prevents confusion, helps search engines trust your show information, and improves your local SEO ranking. |
| Offer online ticket reservations and purchasing | Makes it convenient for audiences to plan their visit or buy tickets, leading to increased bookings and sales. |
| Create blog posts about your performances and behind-the-scenes | Attracts visitors to your site through informative and engaging content, improving SEO and showcasing what makes your show unique. |
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What is always useless when you do SEO for a show
We have studied a lot of shows when we built our strategy pack and we saw a lot of SEO-related initiatives that don't help attract new audiences. We explain here why they might be a waste of time or even counterproductive.
| Action / Initiative | Why It Doesn't Matter / How It Doesn't Help Bring New Audiences |
|---|---|
| Using meta keyword tags | Search engines no longer use meta keyword tags to rank pages, so focusing on them doesn't improve SEO for your show. |
| Keyword stuffing in show descriptions | Overusing keywords in show descriptions makes them hard to read and can be penalized by search engines, turning away potential audiences. |
| Paying for backlinks from unrelated websites | Backlinks from non-entertainment related or low-quality websites don't improve your SEO and can even hurt your ranking if considered spammy by search engines. |
| Using exact match domains like bestshowintown.com | Having an exact match domain has minimal impact on SEO and can appear spammy, especially if it doesn't reflect your brand well. |
| Creating multiple pages for the same show details | Duplicate content confuses search engines and can dilute your SEO efforts. Focus on one high-quality page for each unique show or topic. |
| Using Flash for show or booking pages | Flash is outdated, not supported by many devices, and negatively impacts SEO. Modern alternatives like HTML5 should be used instead. |
| Focusing only on desktop optimization | Many audiences search for shows on mobile devices. Ignoring mobile optimization leads to poor user experience and lower search rankings. |
| Using automated link-building tools | These tools often create low-quality or spammy links that can be penalized by search engines, hurting your show's SEO efforts. |
| Ignoring structured data for showtimes | Structured data helps search engines understand your showtimes better. Ignoring it means missing out on potential SEO benefits like rich snippets. |
| Not updating your show details regularly | Outdated show information can frustrate audiences and harm your SEO. Regular updates keep content relevant and maintain search rankings. |
| Using irrelevant stock photos on your site | Low-quality or irrelevant images can negatively impact user experience and SEO. Use high-quality photos of your actual show and venue. |
| Over-optimizing anchor text in links | Using exact match keywords for every link appears unnatural and can be penalized by search engines. Use varied, natural anchor text instead. |
| Ignoring page load speed for your website | Slow-loading pages frustrate users and can lead to higher bounce rates, negatively impacting your show's SEO. Ensure your site loads quickly. |
| Using too many ads above the fold on your homepage | Too many ads at the top of the page can be off-putting for users and may be penalized by search engines, impacting your SEO negatively. |
Should you pay someone for the SEO of your show?
Well, we will be transparent. Here’s the thing: SEO can get pretty complex, and having some support can really make a difference. Imagine trying to juggle organizing your show, managing performers, keeping the audience engaged, and then on top of that, diving into the world of search engine optimization. It’s a lot, right?
Having someone handle your SEO means you can focus on what you do best—producing an amazing show. SEO experts know the ins and outs of getting your website to rank higher on search engines. They stay updated on the latest trends and algorithms, which means your site will be optimized correctly and consistently. This can lead to more people finding your show online, and ultimately, more tickets being sold.
- But here’s the kicker: there are a lot of low-hanging fruits in SEO that you can tackle on your own, even if you don’t know much about it.
You will find a lot of low-hanging fruits that cost nothing, are quick to implement, and will make your show’s website much more visible in strategy pack for show producers.
Simple actions like optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly, and using relevant keywords can significantly improve your online presence. These tasks don't require deep technical knowledge but can make a big impact.
So, should you increase the marketing budget of your show to pay someone to manage your SEO? If you can do it, it’s a worthwhile investment. But don't underestimate what you can achieve on your own. Start with the basics, see the results, and then decide if you need more specialized help.
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Useful tools show producers can use for their SEO
Here are some essential tools that our team has collected and listed, to help you improve your show's online presence and SEO.
| Tool | How It's Useful |
|---|---|
| Google My Business | Ensures your show appears in local search results and Google Maps, provides essential information (showtimes, location, ticket prices), and collects audience reviews. |
| SEMrush | Helps identify the best keywords for your show, analyze competitors, and track your search rankings. Provides insights to improve your content and visibility. |
| Yext | Manages your show's listings across multiple directories, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information to boost local SEO. |
| Google Search Console | Monitors your show's website performance, identifies issues, and provides data on search traffic and keywords to optimize your SEO strategy. |
| Yelp | Collects audience reviews and ratings, which improve your show's online reputation and visibility in local search results. |
| BrightLocal | Offers tools for local SEO audits, citation building, and review management, helping your show improve its local search presence. |
| Moz | Provides keyword research, link building, and site audit tools to enhance your show's SEO efforts and improve search engine rankings. |
| Ahrefs | Analyzes your show's backlink profile, identifies top-performing content, and tracks keyword rankings to boost your SEO strategy. |
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Crawls your show's website to identify technical SEO issues, such as broken links and duplicate content, helping improve site health and rankings. |
| AnswerThePublic | Generates content ideas by showing what people are searching for related to your show, helping you create relevant and engaging blog posts and pages. |
| Canva | Helps create visually appealing social media posts and graphics for your website, which can improve user engagement and indirectly boost SEO. |
| Hotjar | Provides insights into user behavior on your show's website through heatmaps and session recordings, helping you optimize user experience and reduce bounce rates. |
Copy the SEO tactics of the best show producers
We understand why many show producers might shy away from SEO and marketing.
Managing a show is already a full-time job, and the concept of SEO can seem vague and foreign. The terminology can be confusing, and it often feels like marketing is a luxury only big productions can afford.
Plus, there's the constant worry about costs and whether any marketing efforts will actually pay off. We get that you prefer to focus on immediate, tangible improvements to your show rather than dive into something that seems complicated and uncertain. No need to deteriorate your show's budget here.
That's why we've created a "marketing pack" specifically for show producers like you.
Our pack is designed to address all these concerns head-on. It includes easy-to-follow guides that break down SEO and marketing into simple steps, so you don't need to be a tech expert to understand. We offer cost-effective strategies that fit within tight budgets, and our step-by-step plans ensure that you can implement a good marketing strategy for your show without feeling overwhelmed.
Plus, we've included real-life examples and tips that have worked for other small productions, so you can see the tangible benefits before you even start.
Our goal is to make marketing accessible and practical, helping your show thrive without adding extra stress to your already busy life.
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