Everyone knows that if you want to build something big, you have to have a strong foundation. That holds true whether you're putting up a skyscraper or creating an online marketing plan. While you may think it's all about links and keywords, solid search and online marketing encompasses so much more. That's why anyone looking to start marketing their business online should print out and study Matt McGee's new SEO Success Pyramid.

Matt unveiled his SEO Success Pyramid to the public on his blog this week. I'll go so far as to say that if you only click on one link from Search Engine Guide this week, it should be to this post. (Well, it should actually be to register for our upcoming conference where Matt will be speaking about this, but if you click on just TWO links, his post should be the second one.)

Matt explains:

...the best SEOs don't talk to their clients about rankings; they talk about the process of making great web sites that earn traffic and convert visitors into customers. They talk about the process of creating great content that attracts links like bees to honey.

Matt builds off the teachings of basketball coach John Wooden to create a pyramid style representation of all the things involved in creating a solid search engine marketing plan.

The SEO Success Pyramid places concepts like planning and commitment as foundational principles that build the base and specific tactics like keyword research and link building as part of the structure. Really, this is one of those graphics you should print out and hang up in your office.

It's a great way to help get you focused again if you start veering down the path of information overload or social media time sink.

Make sure you check out Matt's full post to see his description of each block in the pyramid and how it applies to SEO.