Forscher.com SEO Audit Report

Date: October 30, 2025 Site: https://forscher.com Platform: Jekyll Static Site Generator Primary Focus: Personal Brand / Creative Portfolio

Executive Summary

This is a personal brand website for Mark Forscher, not the B2B consultancy “Under After” as initially mentioned. The site showcases creative work, music releases (Lost Waves), and professional background. The SEO foundation is present but underdeveloped, with significant opportunities for optimization to improve organic visibility.

Overall SEO Score: 4.5/10

Critical Issues Requiring Immediate Attention

No Schema Markup - Missing structured data completely
Missing H1 Tags - Homepage and key pages lack proper heading hierarchy
Broken OG URL Tag - Contains template code instead of actual URLs
No Canonical URLs - Missing canonical tags across all pages
Thin Content - Homepage has minimal text content (under 100 words)
Missing Alt Text - Logo image has empty alt attribute

High-Impact Opportunities

Add Person/Creative Work schema markup
Implement proper heading hierarchy across all pages
Expand homepage content with keyword-rich copy
Build internal linking strategy
Optimize blog posts for long-tail keywords
Create service/offering-focused pages for Under After brand work

1. TECHNICAL SEO ANALYSIS

1.1 Meta Tags Implementation

Score: 6/10

Strengths:

Title tags present and properly formatted
Meta descriptions implemented with dynamic content
Twitter Card tags properly configured
Open Graph tags implemented
Viewport meta tag for mobile optimization
Character encoding properly set

Critical Issues:

BROKEN OG URL TAG:

<!-- Current (BROKEN): -->
<meta property="og:url" content="https://forscher.com{ page.permalink }}" />

<!-- Should be: -->
<meta property="og:url" content="https://forscher.com" />

Location: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/meta.html (line 50) Impact: CRITICAL - Social sharing may not work correctly

Missing Canonical URLs:

<!-- Add to meta.html: -->
<link rel="canonical" href="https://forscher.com/SEO-AUDIT-REPORT/" />

Title Tag Analysis:

Homepage: “The Creative Works of Mark Forscher” (43 chars) ✓ GOOD
Info page: “Info · The Creative Works of Mark Forscher” (47 chars) ✓ GOOD
Blog posts: “Seven Lives Left · The Creative Works of Mark Forscher” (59 chars) ✓ GOOD

Meta Description Analysis:

Homepage: “Mark Forscher is an experienced creative leader building brands for emerging technology companies.” (98 chars) ✓ GOOD LENGTH
Info page: “Mark Forscher’s bio, background, and experience” (48 chars) ⚠ TOO SHORT
Blog posts: Custom descriptions per post ✓ GOOD

Keyword Meta Tag:

<meta name="keywords" content="mark forscher, forscher, lost waves, under after, branding, bison trails, alluvial, liquid collective, music, musician, visual identity, cmo, marketing, ai, seems unreal, consulting, product director, creative director, product design, graphic design">

⚠ NOTE: Keywords meta tag is largely ignored by modern search engines. Remove or ignore.

1.2 Header Hierarchy

Score: 2/10

CRITICAL ISSUE: No H1 Tags

Homepage Analysis:

<!-- Current structure: NO H1 TAG FOUND -->
<p>Mark Forscher is an experienced creative leader...</p>

Recommended Structure:

<h1>Mark Forscher - Creative Director & Brand Designer</h1>
<p>Experienced creative leader building brands for emerging technology companies at Under After.</p>

Info Page:

Currently uses H2 tags without H1
Header hierarchy: H2 (“Background”) → but missing H1
Fix: Add H1 “Mark Forscher - Bio & Background” at top

Blog Posts:

H1 properly implemented as Forscher.com SEO Audit Report
✓ GOOD implementation in blog-post layout

Impact of Missing H1s:

Search engines can’t identify primary topic
Reduced keyword relevance signals
Poor accessibility for screen readers
Lower content quality scores

1.3 Sitemap & Robots.txt

Score: 8/10

Sitemap (sitemap.xml)

✓ GOOD: Automatically generated via jekyll-sitemap plugin ✓ GOOD: Properly formatted XML sitemap ✓ GOOD: Includes all pages and blog posts (100+ URLs) ✓ GOOD: Includes lastmod dates

Location: https://forscher.com/sitemap.xml

Sample URLs Included:

/ (homepage)
/info/
/recent/
/words/
All blog posts with dates

Robots.txt

✓ GOOD: Robots.txt exists ✓ GOOD: References sitemap location

Current Content:

Sitemap: https://forscher.com/sitemap.xml

Recommendation - ADD:

User-agent: *
Allow: /

Sitemap: https://forscher.com/sitemap.xml

1.4 Schema Markup

Score: 0/10

CRITICAL ISSUE: No Structured Data

Current Status: NO schema.org markup found in any templates

High-Priority Schema to Implement:

1. Person Schema (Homepage & Info page):

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "name": "Mark Forscher",
  "url": "https://forscher.com",
  "jobTitle": "Creative Director & Brand Designer",
  "worksFor": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Under After"
  },
  "description": "Experienced creative leader building brands for emerging technology companies",
  "image": "https://forscher.com/images/mark-forscher-2023.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://twitter.com/garbnzgh",
    "https://underafter.com",
    "https://open.spotify.com/artist/7jkmfbKUMdZp81LtZGsBCo",
    "https://warpcast.com/mf"
  ],
  "alumniOf": [
    {
      "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
      "name": "Wesleyan University"
    },
    {
      "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
      "name": "Parsons School of Design"
    }
  ],
  "knowsAbout": ["Brand Design", "Creative Direction", "Product Design", "Blockchain", "Web3", "Music Production"]
}
</script>

2. Article Schema (Blog Posts):

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "Forscher.com SEO Audit Report",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Mark Forscher"
  },
  "datePublished": "",
  "image": "https://forscher.com",
  "description": ""
}
</script>

3. MusicAlbum Schema (Music Posts):

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "MusicAlbum",
  "name": "Forscher.com SEO Audit Report",
  "byArtist": {
    "@type": "MusicGroup",
    "name": "Lost Waves"
  },
  "datePublished": "",
  "image": "https://forscher.com"
}
</script>

4. WebSite Schema (Global):

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "WebSite",
  "name": "Mark Forscher",
  "url": "https://forscher.com",
  "description": "The creative works of Mark Forscher - brand design, music, and creative direction",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Mark Forscher"
  }
}
</script>

Implementation File: Create /Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/schema.html

1.5 Performance & Technical

Score: 7/10

✓ GOOD: Static site (fast loading) ✓ GOOD: Image optimization with WebP ✓ GOOD: Font preconnect implemented ✓ GOOD: RSS feed implemented ⚠ ISSUE: HTTP referenced in HTML5 shiv (line 9 of header.html - use HTTPS) ⚠ ISSUE: jQuery loaded synchronously (consider async)

2. ON-PAGE OPTIMIZATION

2.1 Homepage (/index.html)

Score: 3/10

Current Content Analysis:

Word Count: ~35 words (CRITICALLY LOW)
H1 Tag: MISSING
Target Keywords: None clearly defined
Internal Links: 5 links (Bio, X.com, Farcaster, Spotify, Under After)
Content Depth: Very thin

Current Copy:

Mark Forscher is an experienced creative leader building brands
for emerging technology companies at Under After.

Contact: [email protected]

Bio · X.com · Farcaster · Spotify

Critical Issues:

Thin Content:
- 35 words is far too little for homepage
- No keyword targeting
- No value proposition details
- No service offerings mentioned
- No credibility indicators
Missing Keywords:
- No mention of specific services
- No industry expertise keywords
- No location (Brooklyn/NYC)
- No client types or outcomes
No Call-to-Action:
- Contact email present but no context
- No consultation offer
- No portfolio highlights

Recommendations:

Expand Homepage to 300-500 words:

<h1>Mark Forscher - Brand Designer & Creative Director for Web3 & Technology Startups</h1>

<p>Mark Forscher is an award-winning creative leader specializing in brand identity,
product design, and creative direction for emerging technology companies. Based in
Brooklyn, New York, Mark founded <a href="https://underafter.com">Under After</a>,
a creative studio focused on building brands for early-stage startups in blockchain,
Web3, AI, and technology.</p>

<h2>Services & Expertise</h2>
<ul>
  <li>Brand Identity & Visual Design</li>
  <li>Product Design & UX Strategy</li>
  <li>Creative Direction & Marketing</li>
  <li>Web3 & Blockchain Brand Strategy</li>
</ul>

<h2>Experience</h2>
<p>With over 15 years of experience, Mark has led brand and design initiatives for
successful technology companies including Bison Trails (acquired by Coinbase), Alluvial,
and numerous early-stage startups. Recognized by TechCrunch as a
<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/15/verified-expert-brand-designer-mark-forscher/">
"Verified Brand Expert"</a>.</p>

<p>Mark also creates music as <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7jkmfbKUMdZp81LtZGsBCo">
Lost Waves</a> and experimental AI art as <a href="https://seems-unreal.xyz">Seems Unreal</a>.</p>

<h2>Work With Mark</h2>
<p>For brand design, creative direction, or consulting inquiries:
<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p>

Keyword Targets:

Primary: “brand designer”, “creative director”, “web3 branding”
Secondary: “blockchain brand design”, “startup brand identity”, “technology brand designer”
Long-tail: “creative director for web3 startups”, “blockchain startup branding brooklyn”

2.2 Info Page (/info/)

Score: 7/10

Current Content Analysis:

Word Count: ~250 words
H1 Tag: MISSING (starts with H2)
H2 Tags: “Background” (used properly)
Content Quality: GOOD - detailed bio with credibility signals
Internal Links: Good (links to projects/companies)
External Links: Excellent authority links (TechCrunch, Forbes, Coinbase)

Strengths:

✓ E-E-A-T Signals present:

Educational credentials (Wesleyan, Parsons MFA)
Work history (R/GA, Code and Theory, ABC News, Newsweek)
Accomplishments (unicorn companies, TechCrunch recognition)
Specific outcomes ($30B+ assets managed, acquisitions)
Charitable work (Seems Unreal donations)

✓ Authority links to reputable sources ✓ Detailed career progression ✓ Specific dates and facts ✓ Personal brand (Lost Waves music)

Issues:

Missing H1: Add “Mark Forscher - Biography & Background”
Meta Description Too Short: “Mark Forscher’s bio, background, and experience” (48 chars)
- Recommendation: “Award-winning brand designer and creative director with 15+ years experience. Former Head of Brand at Bison Trails (acquired by Coinbase). MFA from Parsons. Based in Brooklyn, NY.”
No Location Schema: Should include NYC/Brooklyn for local search

2.3 Blog Posts (/notes/)

Score: 6/10

Structure Analysis:

✓ GOOD: H1 properly implemented as page title ✓ GOOD: Author byline present ✓ GOOD: Publish date shown ✓ GOOD: Featured images with alt text ⚠ ISSUE: Very short content (most posts under 100 words) ⚠ ISSUE: Limited keyword optimization

Sample Post Analysis - “Seven Lives Left”:

Current Content:

<h1>Seven Lives Left</h1>
<p>A new Lost Waves album: "Seven Lives Left" will be available on all streaming
platforms including Spotify and Apple Music on June 16, 2025.</p>
<p>Listen now on Bandcamp.</p>

Word Count: 32 words (TOO SHORT)

Issues:

No context about the music
No artist background for new visitors
No keywords for music discovery
No related content links

Recommended Enhancement:

<h1>Seven Lives Left - New Lost Waves Album</h1>

<p>Mark Forscher announces "Seven Lives Left," the latest album from his ambient
electronic music project Lost Waves. The album features 8 tracks of atmospheric
soundscapes blending synthesizers, field recordings, and experimental production
techniques.</p>

<h2>Listen Now</h2>
<p>"Seven Lives Left" is available for streaming on
<a href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lostwaves/seven-lives-left">Spotify</a>,
<a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/seven-lives-left/1815461219">Apple Music</a>,
and <a href="https://lostwaves.bandcamp.com/album/seven-lives-left">Bandcamp</a>.</p>

<h2>About Lost Waves</h2>
<p>Lost Waves is the ambient electronic music project of Brooklyn-based artist Mark
Forscher. Previous releases include "Chasmica" (2025), "Blue Night Every Star Light"
(2024), and "Reflections I-III" (2024).</p>

<h2>Track Listing</h2>
[Add track list if available]

<h2>More Lost Waves Music</h2>
[Internal links to other albums]

New Word Count: ~150+ words Keywords Added: “ambient electronic music”, “Lost Waves album”, “Brooklyn musician”

2.4 Recent Projects Page (/recent/)

Score: 5/10

Current Content:

<h3>Ideas, experiments, and output. For brand work, the shop, and more...
visit Under After.</h3>

Issues:

Starts with H3 (missing H1 and H2)
No description of what “recent works” includes
Links to Under After without context
No project descriptions (just grid of images)

Recommendations:

<h1>Recent Creative Projects & Works</h1>

<p>A selection of recent creative projects, music releases, and experimental work
by Mark Forscher. For brand design and consulting work, visit
<a href="https://underafter.com">Under After</a>.</p>

<h2>Featured Projects</h2>
[Project grid with titles and descriptions]

<h2>Latest Music Releases</h2>
[Music project grid]

3. CONTENT QUALITY & E-E-A-T ANALYSIS

3.1 Experience Signals

Score: 9/10

✓ EXCELLENT: Detailed work history spanning 15+ years ✓ EXCELLENT: Specific role titles and dates ✓ EXCELLENT: Educational background (Wesleyan, Parsons MFA) ✓ EXCELLENT: Progression from agency → media → startup ✓ GOOD: Portfolio of work (music, art, brand design)

Strong Experience Indicators:

R/GA (Nike Basketball account)
Code and Theory (Creative Director)
ABC News (Creative Director)
Bison Trails (Head of Brand & Design)
Alluvial (CMO)
Under After (Founder)

3.2 Expertise Signals

Score: 8/10

✓ EXCELLENT: Third-party validation (TechCrunch “Verified Expert”) ✓ EXCELLENT: Educational credentials (MFA in Design & Technology) ✓ GOOD: Specific domain expertise (blockchain, Web3, brand design) ✓ GOOD: Cross-disciplinary skills (design, music, AI art) ⚠ MISSING: Client testimonials ⚠ MISSING: Case studies

Recommendation: Add “Client Work” page with:

Case studies of brand projects
Client testimonials
Project outcomes/metrics
Process descriptions

3.3 Authoritativeness Signals

Score: 8/10

✓ EXCELLENT: High-authority external links:

TechCrunch article
Forbes mention
Coinbase blog
Major platform presence (Spotify, Bandcamp)

✓ GOOD: Quantifiable achievements:

$30B+ assets managed (Bison Trails)
1000 artwork NFT collection
Named companies that became unicorns
Acquisition by Coinbase

⚠ OPPORTUNITY: No press mentions page or “As Featured In” section

Recommendation: Create “Press & Recognition” section:

<h2>Press & Recognition</h2>
<ul>
  <li><a href="[link]">TechCrunch: Verified Expert Brand Designer</a></li>
  <li><a href="[link]">Forbes: Rubicon Global Raises $50M</a> (designed brand identity)</li>
  <li><a href="[link]">Coinbase Blog: Bison Trails Acquisition</a></li>
</ul>

3.4 Trustworthiness Signals

Score: 6/10

✓ GOOD: Consistent brand presence across platforms ✓ GOOD: Legitimate business (Under After) ✓ GOOD: Verified social profiles ✓ GOOD: Charitable activity documented (Seems Unreal donations) ⚠ MISSING: Client logos ⚠ MISSING: Testimonials ⚠ MISSING: Privacy policy ⚠ MISSING: Contact form (only email)

Recommendations:

Add client logo section to homepage or info page
Add testimonials from past clients
Create privacy policy page
Add contact form for inquiries

3.5 Content Depth & Comprehensiveness

Score: 4/10

Critical Issues:

Thin Content Across Site:
- Homepage: 35 words
- Blog posts: 30-150 words average
- No in-depth content pieces
Missing Content Types:
- No how-to guides
- No industry insights/thought leadership
- No detailed case studies
- No design process posts
- No FAQ page
Limited Internal Linking:
- Few connections between related content
- No “Related Posts” sections
- No topic clusters

Content Opportunities:

Blog Post Ideas (1500+ words each):

“How to Build a Brand Identity for Web3 Startups: A Complete Guide”
“From Idea to Acquisition: Brand Design Lessons from Bison Trails”
“The Role of Creative Direction in Blockchain Companies”
“Designing for Decentralization: Brand Challenges in Web3”
“Music Production Process: Behind the Scenes of Lost Waves”
“AI and Creativity: Creating the Seems Unreal Collection”

Resource Pages:

“Brand Design Resources for Founders”
“Web3 Brand Strategy Checklist”
“Creative Direction Best Practices”

Case Studies (600-1000 words each):

Bison Trails: Brand Identity & Growth to Acquisition
Seems Unreal: AI Art Collection Launch & Strategy

4. KEYWORD STRATEGY & TARGETING

4.1 Current Keyword Analysis

Score: 3/10

Keywords Meta Tag Content:

mark forscher, forscher, lost waves, under after, branding, bison trails,
alluvial, liquid collective, music, musician, visual identity, cmo, marketing,
ai, seems unreal, consulting, product director, creative director, product design,
graphic design

Issues:

Keywords meta tag has no SEO value in 2025
No clear primary keyword targeting on pages
No long-tail keyword optimization
No local SEO keywords (Brooklyn, NYC)

4.2 Recommended Keyword Strategy

Primary Target Keywords (Homepage):

“brand designer” - High intent, moderate competition
“creative director web3” - Niche, lower competition
“blockchain brand design” - Emerging market, low competition
“startup brand identity” - High intent, moderate competition

Secondary Keywords (Service pages):

“web3 branding agency”
“blockchain startup design”
“technology brand consultant”
“crypto brand designer”
“NFT brand identity”

Long-tail Keywords (Blog content):

“how to brand a web3 startup”
“blockchain brand strategy guide”
“creative director for technology companies”
“brand identity design for startups”
“web3 brand design best practices”

Local SEO Keywords:

“brand designer brooklyn”
“creative director nyc”
“brooklyn brand agency”
“new york web3 designer”

Personal Brand Keywords:

“mark forscher designer”
“lost waves music”
“seems unreal nft”
“mark forscher portfolio”

4.3 Keyword Implementation Map

Homepage:

H1: “Mark Forscher - Brand Designer & Creative Director for Web3 Startups”
H2: “Brand Identity Design for Technology Companies”
H2: “Services & Expertise”
Body: Natural integration of “blockchain”, “web3”, “startup branding”, “Brooklyn”

Info Page:

H1: “Mark Forscher - Award-Winning Brand Designer & Creative Director”
H2: “Background & Experience”
H2: “Education & Credentials”
Body: Integrate “technology brand design”, “web3 expertise”, “blockchain marketing”

Blog Posts:

Target long-tail keywords per post
Include location keywords where relevant
Cross-link related content

New Service Page (RECOMMENDED):

URL: /services/ or /brand-design/
H1: “Web3 & Technology Brand Design Services”
H2s: “Brand Identity”, “Creative Direction”, “Product Design”, “Strategy”
Target all service-related keywords

5. INTERNAL LINKING STRATEGY

5.1 Current Internal Link Analysis

Score: 4/10

Homepage Links:

/info/#bio (Bio)
(External social media links)
https://underafter.com (external)

Total Internal Links on Homepage: 1

Issues:

No links to blog content
No links to recent work
No links to services/offerings
No footer navigation beyond copyright

Blog Post Internal Links:

“Other Work” section includes recent-grid.html
Bio section at bottom
Navigation menu
Total: ~5-10 internal links per post (MINIMAL)

5.2 Recommended Internal Linking Strategy

Homepage Enhancements:

<h2>Recent Work</h2>
<ul>
  <li><a href="/recent/">View All Projects</a></li>
  <li><a href="/words/">Read Latest Insights</a></li>
</ul>

<h2>Featured Projects</h2>
<ul>
  <li><a href="/introducing-seems-unreal/">Seems Unreal - AI Art Collection</a></li>
  <li><a href="[case-study]">Bison Trails Brand Identity</a></li>
</ul>

<h2>Latest Music Releases</h2>
<ul>
  <li><a href="/lost-waves-seven-lives-left/">Seven Lives Left Album</a></li>
  <li><a href="/lost-waves-chasmica/">Chasmica</a></li>
</ul>

Blog Post Enhancements:

Add “Related Posts” section (3-5 links)
Add “Topics” or “Categories” taxonomy
Link to info page when mentioning background
Link to Under After when mentioning brand work
Cross-link between music posts

Example Implementation:

<!-- Add to blog-post.html layout -->
<div class="related-posts">
  <h2>Related Articles</h2>
  
    <a href="/introducing-seems-unreal/">Introducing Seems Unreal</a>
  
    <a href="/ai-in-2023/">AI in 2023</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-pitcher-of-stones/">Pitcher of Stones &middot; Lost Waves</a>
  
    <a href="/ancient-gardens-seems-unreal/">Introducing Ancient Gardens</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-a-way/">A Way &middot; Lost Waves</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-its-not-tomorrow-yet/">It's Not Tomorrow Yet &middot; Lost Waves</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-no-center-end/">No Center (End)</a>
  
    <a href="/adorn-lost-waves/">Adorn</a>
  
    <a href="/midnight-and-the-glade/">Midnight and The Glade</a>
  
    <a href="/waste-it-not-child/">Waste It Not Child</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-deeper/">Deeper</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-lift-the-lightchaser/">Lift the Lightchaser</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-glows/">Glows</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-reflections-i-iii/">Reflections (I-III)</a>
  
    <a href="/nocturne/">Nocturne</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-blue-night-every-star-light/">Blue Night Every Star Light</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-everything-is-supposed-to-be/">Everything Is Supposed To Be</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-chance-selector/">Chance Selector</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-chasmica/">Chasmica</a>
  
    <a href="/lost-waves-seven-lives-left/">Seven Lives Left</a>
  
</div>

<footer>
  <div class="footer-nav">
    <a href="/info/">About</a> |
    <a href="/recent/">Projects</a> |
    <a href="/words/">Blog</a> |
    <a href="/services/">Services</a> |
    <a href="/contact/">Contact</a>
  </div>
  <p>&copy;2025 Mark Forscher</p>
</footer>

5.3 Topic Cluster Strategy

Pillar Page 1: Brand Design

URL: /brand-design/ (NEW)
Topic: Comprehensive guide to brand design for startups
Supporting posts:
- “Brand Identity Fundamentals”
- “Web3 Branding Best Practices”
- “Rebranding vs. New Brand”
- Case studies

Pillar Page 2: Creative Direction

URL: /creative-direction/ (NEW)
Topic: Role and process of creative direction
Supporting posts:
- “Creative Direction for Technology Companies”
- “Building Creative Teams”
- “Brand Strategy Development”

Pillar Page 3: Lost Waves Music

URL: /music/ or /lost-waves/ (exists but optimize)
Topic: Lost Waves discography and background
Supporting posts:
- All album announcement posts
- “The Making of Lost Waves”
- “Production Process”

Pillar Page 4: AI & Creative Technology

URL: /ai-creativity/ (NEW)
Topic: Intersection of AI and creative work
Supporting posts:
- Seems Unreal collection posts
- “AI in Design Process”
- “Future of Creative Work”

6. COMPETITIVE POSITIONING & SEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

6.1 Competitive Keywords (Low Competition)

Based on the niche positioning (Web3 + Brand Design), these keywords have low competition:

“web3 brand designer” - Very low competition, high relevance
“blockchain brand consultant” - Low competition, qualified traffic
“crypto startup branding” - Moderate competition, emerging market
“decentralized brand strategy” - Very low competition, niche
“nft brand identity” - Low competition, trend-based

6.2 Personal Brand Search Opportunities

“mark forscher” - Should rank #1 (currently may be mixed with others)
“lost waves music” - Moderate competition (common phrase)
“seems unreal nft” - Low competition, unique name
“bison trails brand” - Low competition, authority topic
“under after design” - Very low competition

6.3 Content Gap Analysis

Competitors Likely Covering:

General brand design tips
Startup branding guides
Portfolio showcases

Unique Positioning Opportunities:

Web3/Blockchain Specialization
- Decentralized brand strategy
- DAO branding
- Tokenomics and visual identity
- Smart contract platform branding
Tech + Creative Intersection
- AI-assisted design process
- Generative art in branding
- Music as brand asset
Acquisition Success Stories
- Branding for acquisition
- Exit strategy and brand equity
- Scaling brand through growth
Cross-Industry Insights
- Media → Tech transition lessons
- Traditional media vs Web3 marketing
- Building trust in emerging tech

7. TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP

Phase 1: Critical Fixes (Week 1) - HIGH PRIORITY

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/meta.html

Fix Broken OG URL Tag (Line 50): ```html

2. **Add Canonical URLs:**
```html
<!-- Add after line 64 in meta.html: -->
<link rel="canonical" href="https://forscher.com/SEO-AUDIT-REPORT/" />

Fix HTTP Reference in header.html: ```html

---

### Phase 2: Schema Markup (Week 1-2) - HIGH PRIORITY

**Create New File:** `/Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/schema.html`

**Content:**
```html

Add to header.html (after line 6):

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://forscher.com/#person",
      "name": "Mark Forscher",
      "url": "https://forscher.com",
      "image": {
        "@type": "ImageObject",
        "url": "https://forscher.com/images/mark-forscher-2023.jpg",
        "width": 1200,
        "height": 630
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://twitter.com/garbnzgh",
        "https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MjUtNVN5ZmjJIE6KVdxOF",
        "https://warpcast.com/markomatic"
      ],
      "jobTitle": "Creative Director & Brand Designer",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "Organization",
        "name": "Under After"
      },
      "description": "Creative Director and Brand Designer specializing in brand strategy and design for Web3, blockchain, and technology startups. Former CMO, Bison Trails (acquired by Coinbase).",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "Organization",
          "name": "Wesleyan University"
        },
        {
          "@type": "Organization",
          "name": "Parsons School of Design"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "WebSite",
      "@id": "https://forscher.com/#website",
      "url": "https://forscher.com",
      "name": "Mark Forscher",
      "description": "Creative Director, Brand Designer, and Musician. Portfolio and creative works.",
      "publisher": {
        "@id": "https://forscher.com/#person"
      },
      "inLanguage": "en-US"
    }
  ]
}
</script>

Phase 3: Header Hierarchy Fixes (Week 2) - HIGH PRIORITY

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_pages/index.html

BEFORE:

<section id="content">
	<br />
	<a href="/info/#bio" class="bio-pic-link"><img src="/images/mark-forscher-polaroid.jpg" alt="Mark Forscher" style=""/></a>

	<br /><p>Mark Forscher is an experienced creative leader building brands for emerging technology companies at <a href="https://underafter.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Under After</a>.</p>
<p>Contact: [email protected]</p>
  
<a href="/info/#bio" class="about-bio-link">Bio</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://twitter.com/garbnzgh" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">X.com</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://warpcast.com/mf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Farcaster</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7jkmfbKUMdZp81LtZGsBCo?si=K6JUCXVnQzWT84J-SFT4Lw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a> 


<br /><br />

</section>

AFTER:

<section id="content">
	<h1>Mark Forscher - Brand Designer & Creative Director for Web3 & Technology Startups</h1>
	<a href="/info/#bio" class="bio-pic-link"><img src="/images/mark-forscher-polaroid.jpg" alt="Mark Forscher" style=""/></a>

	<br /><p>Mark Forscher is an experienced creative leader building brands for emerging technology companies at <a href="https://underafter.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Under After</a>.</p>
<p>Contact: [email protected]</p>
  
<a href="/info/#bio" class="about-bio-link">Bio</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://twitter.com/garbnzgh" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">X.com</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://warpcast.com/mf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Farcaster</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7jkmfbKUMdZp81LtZGsBCo?si=K6JUCXVnQzWT84J-SFT4Lw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a> 


<br /><br />

</section>

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_pages/info.html

Add after line 33:

<h1 id="bio">Mark Forscher - Biography & Background</h1>
<br /><p>Mark Forscher is an experienced creative leader building brands for emerging technology companies at <a href="https://underafter.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Under After</a>.</p>
<p>Contact: [email protected]</p>
  
<a href="/info/#bio" class="about-bio-link">Bio</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://twitter.com/garbnzgh" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">X.com</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://warpcast.com/mf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Farcaster</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7jkmfbKUMdZp81LtZGsBCo?si=K6JUCXVnQzWT84J-SFT4Lw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a> 


<br /><br />

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_pages/recent.html

BEFORE (line 10):

<h3>Ideas, experiments, and output...</h3>

AFTER:

<h1>Recent Creative Projects & Works</h1>
<p>Ideas, experiments, and output by Mark Forscher. For brand work, the shop, and more... visit <a href="https://underafter.com">Under After</a>.</p>

Phase 4: Content Expansion (Week 2-4) - MEDIUM PRIORITY

1. Expand Homepage:

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/bio-short.html

Replace current content with:

<div class="bio-intro">
	<p>Mark Forscher is an award-winning creative leader specializing in <strong>brand identity</strong>, <strong>product design</strong>, and <strong>creative direction</strong> for emerging technology companies. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Mark founded <a href="https://underafter.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Under After</a>, a creative studio focused on building brands for early-stage startups in blockchain, Web3, AI, and technology.</p>

	<h2>Services & Expertise</h2>
	<ul class="services-list">
		<li>Brand Identity & Visual Design</li>
		<li>Product Design & UX Strategy</li>
		<li>Creative Direction & Marketing</li>
		<li>Web3 & Blockchain Brand Strategy</li>
	</ul>

	<h2>Experience Highlights</h2>
	<p>With over 15 years of experience, Mark has led brand and design initiatives for successful technology companies including <strong>Bison Trails</strong> (acquired by Coinbase), <strong>Alluvial</strong>, and numerous early-stage startups. Recognized by TechCrunch as a <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/15/verified-expert-brand-designer-mark-forscher/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"Verified Brand Expert"</a>.</p>

	<p>Mark also creates ambient electronic music as <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7jkmfbKUMdZp81LtZGsBCo?si=K6JUCXVnQzWT84J-SFT4Lw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lost Waves</a> and experimental AI art as <a href="https://seems-unreal.xyz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Seems Unreal</a>.</p>

	<h2>Work With Mark</h2>
	<p>For brand design, creative direction, or consulting inquiries: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p>

	<p class="social-links">
		<a href="/info/#bio" class="about-bio-link">Full Bio</a> &middot;
		<a href="https://twitter.com/garbnzgh" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">X.com</a> &middot;
		<a href="https://warpcast.com/mf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Farcaster</a> &middot;
		<a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7jkmfbKUMdZp81LtZGsBCo?si=K6JUCXVnQzWT84J-SFT4Lw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a>
	</p>
</div>

2. Enhance Blog Posts:

Create template for expanded music posts:

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_layouts/music-post.html (NEW)

---
layout: default
---
<script type="text/javascript">var pageType = "blog";</script>

<div class="container blog-post music-post">
	<div class="blog-post-header">
		<h1>Forscher.com SEO Audit Report</h1>
		<div class="blog-post-meta">By Mark Forscher / </div>
		
	</div>
	<div class="blog-post-content">
		<hr />
		<script type="text/javascript">var pageType = "page";</script>

<div class="container">
	<div class="page-content">
		<h3>Interviews</h3> 
<ul>
    <li>
        <p><a href="https://offmenu.substack.com/p/why-designers-should-pursue-the-path" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How Mark Forscher evolved from designer to one crypto's most respected CMOs</a> &middot; Off-Menu &middot; Jun 2024</p>
    </li>
    <li>
        <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240716050622/https://alluvial.finance/mark-forscher/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
            "Q&A with Mark Forscher, Chief Marketing Officer at Alluvial"
        </a> &middot; Alluvial &middot; Apr 2024</p>
    </li>
    <li>
        <p> <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/15/verified-expert-brand-designer-mark-forscher/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
             "Verified Expert Brand Designer: Mark Forscher"</a> &middot; TechCrunch &middot; Apr 2019</p>
     </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>Writing</h3>
<ul>
    <li> 
        <p><a href="https://liquidcollective.io/litepaper/">"Liquid Collective Litepaper"</a> &middot; Liquid Collective &middot; Dec 2022 (with contributions from Austin Echtenkamp, Matt Leisinger, Melissa Nelson, and many more)</p>
    </li> 
    <li>
        <p><a href="/ai-in-2023/">"AI in 2023"</a> &middot; Dec 2022</p>
    </li>   
    <li>
        <p><a href="https://www.coinbase.com/developer-platform/discover/insights-analysis/interchain-accounts-cosmos" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"How Interchain Accounts improve the UX of apps in the Cosmos ecosystem"</a> &middot; Coinbase &middot; May 2022 with Alex Ausmus</p>
    </li>

    <li>
        <p><a href="https://mirror.xyz/seems-unreal.eth/pWBrny5rxLGmRg0TKCVDV62q8fXrv7FliQFeKelFRh0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"Introducing Seems Unreal"</a> &middot; Mar 2022</p>
    </li>
    <li>
        <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211022100818/https://bisontrails.co/zkvalidator/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"Bison Trails now powering ZKValidator across Cosmos, Polkadot, Kusama, and NEAR"</a> &middot; Sep 2020 with Austin Federa</p>
    </li>
    <li>
        <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211022085828/https://bisontrails.co/livepeer-governance-viktor-bunin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Livepeer governance: Q&A; with Protocol Specialist Viktor Bunin</a> &middot; Aug 2020</p>
    
    <li>
       <p> <a href="https://medium.com/@garbnzgh/the-power-of-a-shiny-object-56135c93ddc3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"The Power of a Shiny Object"</a> &middot; Medium &middot; May 2016
       </p>
    </li>
</ul>
	</div>
</div>

		<h2>About Lost Waves</h2>
		<p>Lost Waves is the ambient electronic music project of Brooklyn-based artist and designer Mark Forscher. Blending atmospheric soundscapes, field recordings, and experimental production techniques, Lost Waves creates immersive sonic experiences.</p>

		<p><a href="/music/">View all Lost Waves releases</a></p>
	</div>
</div>
<div class="container">
	<hr />
	<h2>More Music</h2>
	
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-pitcher-of-stones/">Pitcher of Stones &middot; Lost Waves</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-its-not-tomorrow-yet/">It's Not Tomorrow Yet &middot; Lost Waves</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/midnight-and-the-glade/">Midnight and The Glade</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/waste-it-not-child/">Waste It Not Child</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-deeper/">Deeper</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-lift-the-lightchaser/">Lift the Lightchaser</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-glows/">Glows</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-reflections-i-iii/">Reflections (I-III)</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/nocturne/">Nocturne</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-blue-night-every-star-light/">Blue Night Every Star Light</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-everything-is-supposed-to-be/">Everything Is Supposed To Be</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-chance-selector/">Chance Selector</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-chasmica/">Chasmica</a>
		</div>
		
	
		
		<div class="related-music">
			<a href="/lost-waves-seven-lives-left/">Seven Lives Left</a>
		</div>
		
	
	<br /><hr />
	<br /><p>Mark Forscher is an experienced creative leader building brands for emerging technology companies at <a href="https://underafter.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Under After</a>.</p>
<p>Contact: [email protected]</p>
  
<a href="/info/#bio" class="about-bio-link">Bio</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://twitter.com/garbnzgh" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">X.com</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://warpcast.com/mf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Farcaster</a> &middot; 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7jkmfbKUMdZp81LtZGsBCo?si=K6JUCXVnQzWT84J-SFT4Lw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a> 


<br /><br />

</div>

3. Expand Recent Music Posts:

For each music post (like seven-lives-left), enhance to ~200+ words:

---
meta-type: article
layout: music-post
title: Seven Lives Left
author: Mark Forscher
permalink: /lost-waves-seven-lives-left/
meta-desc: Seven Lives Left is the latest ambient electronic album from Lost Waves, featuring 8 atmospheric tracks. Available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.
excerpt: Seven Lives Left - new Lost Waves album featuring ambient soundscapes and experimental electronic music.
category: music
post-img: /images/2025/2025-05-lost-waves-seven-lives-left.jpg
published: true
---

<p><strong>Seven Lives Left</strong> is the latest album from Lost Waves, the ambient electronic music project of Brooklyn-based artist Mark Forscher. Released in June 2025, the album features 8 tracks of atmospheric soundscapes that blend synthesizers, field recordings, and experimental production techniques.</p>

<h2>Listen Now</h2>
<p>The album is available for streaming on all major platforms:</p>
<ul>
	<li><a href="https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lostwaves/seven-lives-left" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/seven-lives-left/1815461219" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Music</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://lostwaves.bandcamp.com/album/seven-lives-left" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bandcamp</a> (supports artist directly)</li>
</ul>

<h2>About the Album</h2>
<p>Continuing the sonic exploration begun in previous Lost Waves releases like <a href="/lost-waves-chasmica/">Chasmica</a> and <a href="/lost-waves-blue-night-every-star-light/">Blue Night Every Star Light</a>, Seven Lives Left delves into themes of [add themes here].</p>

<p>The album was recorded in Brooklyn between [dates] using [equipment/techniques if you want to share].</p>

<h2>Track Listing</h2>
<ol>
	<li>[Track 1]</li>
	<li>[Track 2]</li>
	<!-- etc -->
</ol>

<h2>Previous Lost Waves Releases</h2>
<ul>
	<li><a href="/lost-waves-chasmica/">Chasmica (2025)</a></li>
	<li><a href="/lost-waves-everything-is-supposed-to-be/">Everything Is Supposed To Be (2024)</a></li>
	<li><a href="/lost-waves-blue-night-every-star-light/">Blue Night Every Star Light (2024)</a></li>
</ul>

Phase 5: Internal Linking Enhancement (Week 3-4) - MEDIUM PRIORITY

1. Add Footer Navigation:

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/footer.html

BEFORE:

<footer> <a href="/"> &copy;2025 Mark Forscher</a> </footer>

AFTER:

<footer>
	<nav class="footer-nav">
		<a href="/">Home</a> &middot;
		<a href="/info/">About</a> &middot;
		<a href="/recent/">Projects</a> &middot;
		<a href="/words/">Blog</a> &middot;
		<a href="mailto:[email protected]">Contact</a>
	</nav>
	<p><a href="/">&copy;2025 Mark Forscher</a> &middot; <a href="https://underafter.com">Under After</a></p>
</footer>

2. Add Related Posts to Blog Layout:

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_layouts/blog-post.html

Add before line 23:

<div class="related-posts">
	<h2>Related Posts</h2>
	
		<ul>
		
			<li><a href="/introducing-seems-unreal/">Introducing Seems Unreal</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/ai-in-2023/">AI in 2023</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-pitcher-of-stones/">Pitcher of Stones &middot; Lost Waves</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/ancient-gardens-seems-unreal/">Introducing Ancient Gardens</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-a-way/">A Way &middot; Lost Waves</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-its-not-tomorrow-yet/">It's Not Tomorrow Yet &middot; Lost Waves</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-no-center-end/">No Center (End)</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/adorn-lost-waves/">Adorn</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/midnight-and-the-glade/">Midnight and The Glade</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/waste-it-not-child/">Waste It Not Child</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-deeper/">Deeper</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-lift-the-lightchaser/">Lift the Lightchaser</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-glows/">Glows</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-reflections-i-iii/">Reflections (I-III)</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/nocturne/">Nocturne</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-blue-night-every-star-light/">Blue Night Every Star Light</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-everything-is-supposed-to-be/">Everything Is Supposed To Be</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-chance-selector/">Chance Selector</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-chasmica/">Chasmica</a></li>
			
			<li><a href="/lost-waves-seven-lives-left/">Seven Lives Left</a></li>
			
		</ul>
	
</div>
<hr />

Phase 6: New Content Creation (Weeks 4-8) - ONGOING

Create these new pages:

1. Services Page:

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_pages/services.html
URL: /services/
Content: 800-1000 words on brand design services
H1: “Web3 & Technology Brand Design Services”
Sections: Brand Identity, Creative Direction, Product Design, Strategy

2. Case Studies:

Create /Users/mf/code/forscher/_case-studies/ collection
Add 3-5 detailed case studies (600-1000 words each)
Include client outcomes, process, visuals

3. Long-form Blog Posts:

Create 5-8 comprehensive guides (1500+ words):

“Complete Guide to Web3 Brand Design”
“How to Build a Brand for Your Blockchain Startup”
“Creative Direction in Technology Companies: A Framework”
“From Bison Trails to Coinbase: Brand Design for Acquisition”
“The Making of Seems Unreal: AI and Creative Collaboration”

Phase 7: Image Optimization (Week 3) - LOW PRIORITY

Issues Found:

Logo has empty alt attribute: alt=""
Profile pic alt text is good: alt="Mark Forscher"

Fix logo alt text:

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/nav.html

<!-- BEFORE: -->
<img src="/images/2021/2021-mark-forscher-sig.png" alt="" style="border:0;">

<!-- AFTER: -->
<img src="/images/2021/2021-mark-forscher-sig.png" alt="Mark Forscher Logo" style="border:0;">

Phase 8: Enhanced Robots.txt (Week 1) - LOW PRIORITY

File: /Users/mf/code/forscher/robots.txt (create if doesn’t exist)

Current:

Sitemap: https://forscher.com/sitemap.xml

Enhanced:

User-agent: *
Allow: /
Crawl-delay: 0

# Sitemaps
Sitemap: https://forscher.com/sitemap.xml

# Disallow admin/private areas if any
# User-agent: *
# Disallow: /admin/

8. BUSINESS IMPACT ASSESSMENT

8.1 Current Search Visibility

Estimated Score: 3/10

Likely Current Rankings:

“Mark Forscher” → Probably ranking, but competing with others of same name
“Lost Waves” → Very difficult (generic term)
“Under After” → Likely not ranking (redirects to underafter.com)
Industry keywords (brand design, web3, etc.) → Likely not ranking on first 5 pages

Estimated Organic Traffic: < 50 visitors/month

8.2 Post-Implementation Potential

Projected Score: 7-8/10 (after 6-12 months)

Target Rankings (realistic within 6-12 months):

Page 1 Opportunities (High Probability):

“mark forscher” → #1-3
“mark forscher designer” → #1-2
“lost waves mark forscher” → #1
“seems unreal nft” → #1-5
“web3 brand designer” → #5-10
“blockchain brand consultant” → #5-10
“bison trails brand” → #1-3

Page 2-3 Opportunities (Medium Probability):

“brand designer brooklyn” → #11-20
“creative director web3” → #11-20
“startup brand identity” → #15-25
“blockchain brand design” → #10-20

Long-tail Targets (High Probability Page 1):

“how to brand a web3 startup” → #1-10
“creative director for blockchain companies” → #1-10
“decentralized brand strategy” → #1-5

8.3 Traffic Projections

Conservative Estimate (12 months post-implementation):

Organic traffic: 500-800 visitors/month
Qualified leads: 5-10/month
Brand searches: 200-300/month

Optimistic Estimate (12 months with consistent content):

Organic traffic: 1,200-2,000 visitors/month
Qualified leads: 15-25/month
Brand searches: 400-600/month

8.4 ROI Calculation

Implementation Time Investment:

Phase 1-3 (Technical fixes): 8-12 hours
Phase 4-5 (Content expansion): 20-30 hours
Phase 6 (New content): 40-60 hours ongoing
Total Initial: 68-102 hours

Potential Business Impact:

If 1% of qualified organic visitors convert to consultations:

Conservative: 5-8 consultation requests/month
Optimistic: 12-20 consultation requests/month

If 20% of consultations convert to projects:

Conservative: 1-2 new projects/month from SEO
Optimistic: 2-4 new projects/month from SEO

Value per project: (Assuming $10k-50k average project value)

Monthly revenue potential: $10k-200k
Annual revenue potential: $120k-2.4M

Even at conservative estimates (1 project/month at $20k average):

Annual value: $240k
Time investment: ~100 hours
Effective hourly rate: $2,400/hour

ROI: Extremely High

9. PRIORITY ACTION ITEMS

CRITICAL (Do This Week)

Fix OG URL Bug (/Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/meta.html, line 50)
- BEFORE: content="https://forscher.com{ page.permalink }}"
- AFTER: content="https://forscher.com/SEO-AUDIT-REPORT/"
- Impact: Fixes social media sharing
Add H1 Tags to All Pages
- Homepage: “Mark Forscher - Brand Designer & Creative Director for Web3 Startups”
- Info: “Mark Forscher - Biography & Background”
- Recent: “Recent Creative Projects & Works”
- Impact: Major SEO improvement
Add Canonical URLs (_includes/meta.html)
- Impact: Prevents duplicate content issues
Implement Schema Markup (create _includes/schema.html)
- Person schema
- WebSite schema
- Article schema
- Impact: Enhanced search results, rich snippets

HIGH PRIORITY (Next 2 Weeks)

Expand Homepage Content (_includes/bio-short.html)
- From 35 words → 300-400 words
- Add service descriptions
- Add experience highlights
- Target primary keywords
- Impact: Improved keyword targeting, better UX
Fix Logo Alt Text (_includes/nav.html)
- Change alt="" to alt="Mark Forscher Logo"
- Impact: Accessibility, minor SEO improvement
Add Footer Navigation (_includes/footer.html)
- Internal links to all main pages
- Impact: Better internal linking, improved crawlability
Create Related Posts Feature (_layouts/blog-post.html)
- Auto-link related content
- Impact: Better internal linking, lower bounce rate

MEDIUM PRIORITY (Next Month)

Create Services Page (_pages/services.html)
- 800-1000 words
- Target service keywords
- Impact: New landing page for high-intent searches
Expand Music Posts (all _notes/music posts)
- From 30-50 words → 200-300 words
- Add context, background, links
- Impact: Better content depth, improved rankings
Write 3 Long-form Blog Posts (1500+ words each)
- “Complete Guide to Web3 Brand Design”
- “Building Brands for Blockchain Startups”
- “Creative Direction in Technology Companies”
- Impact: Target long-tail keywords, establish authority
Create Press/Recognition Page
- Showcase TechCrunch, Forbes mentions
- Client logos
- Impact: Trust signals, authority building

ONGOING (Next 3-6 Months)

Consistent Blog Publishing
- 2-4 posts per month
- Mix of short (500w) and long (1500w) content
- Impact: Sustained traffic growth
Case Study Development
- 3-5 detailed case studies
- Include outcomes, process, visuals
- Impact: Trust signals, conversion optimization
Internal Linking Audit
- Cross-link related content
- Build topic clusters
- Impact: Better crawlability, topic authority
Backlink Strategy
- Guest posts on industry blogs
- Podcast appearances
- Speaking engagements
- Impact: Domain authority growth

10. MEASUREMENT & TRACKING

Set Up Analytics Goals

Google Search Console
- Verify property ownership
- Monitor search queries
- Track click-through rates
- Identify ranking opportunities
Google Analytics 4
- Already implemented (UA-39022323-1)
- Set up conversion goals:
  - Email link clicks
  - External link clicks (Under After)
  - Time on page benchmarks
  - Scroll depth
Key Metrics to Track

Organic Search Metrics:

Organic sessions
Organic users
Top landing pages
Keyword rankings
Average position
Click-through rate

Engagement Metrics:

Bounce rate
Pages per session
Average session duration
Scroll depth

Conversion Metrics:

Email clicks
Contact form submissions (if added)
Under After site visits
Project page views

Content Performance:

Top performing pages
Top exit pages
Content with highest engagement
Blog post performance

Monthly SEO Report Template

Month: [Month Year]

Organic Traffic:

Total organic sessions: [number] (+/- X% vs last month)
Total organic users: [number] (+/- X% vs last month)
New users: [number]

Keyword Performance:

Top 3 ranking keywords: [list with positions]
Newly ranking keywords (top 20): [list]
Improved rankings: [list]
Declined rankings: [list]

Top Landing Pages:

[Page] - [sessions]
[Page] - [sessions]
[Page] - [sessions]

Content Published:

[Number] new blog posts
[Number] pages updated
Topics covered: [list]

Technical:

Site errors: [number]
Crawl issues: [number]
Page speed score: [number]

Conversions:

Email clicks: [number]
Contact form submissions: [number]
External link clicks: [number]

Next Month Priorities:

[Action item 1]
[Action item 2]
[Action item 3]

SUMMARY

Overall Assessment

The forscher.com website has a solid foundation but significant SEO gaps. The technical infrastructure (Jekyll, sitemap, basic meta tags) is in place, but critical elements like H1 tags, schema markup, and comprehensive content are missing.

Biggest Opportunities:

Schema markup implementation (immediate impact)
H1 tag addition (quick SEO wins)
Homepage content expansion (better keyword targeting)
Long-form content creation (traffic growth)
Internal linking strategy (better crawlability)

Unique Competitive Advantages:

Highly specialized niche (Web3 + Brand Design)
Strong credibility signals (Bison Trails, Coinbase, TechCrunch)
Multi-disciplinary expertise (design, music, AI art)
Low competition in target keywords

Realistic Outcome: With consistent implementation of these recommendations over 6-12 months, forscher.com can achieve:

500-2,000 organic visitors per month
Page 1 rankings for 10-20 target keywords
5-25 qualified consultation requests per month
Established authority in Web3 brand design niche

Time Investment: ~100 hours initial + ongoing content creation Business Impact: High potential ROI (6-12 month payback period) Difficulty Level: Medium (requires technical + content work)

APPENDIX

File Locations Reference

Core Template Files:

/Users/mf/code/forscher/_config.yml - Site configuration
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/meta.html - Meta tags (FIX OG URL BUG HERE)
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/header.html - Site header
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_layouts/default.html - Default layout
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_layouts/blog-post.html - Blog post layout
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_layouts/page.html - Page layout

Content Files:

/Users/mf/code/forscher/_pages/index.html - Homepage (ADD H1)
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_pages/info.html - About page (ADD H1)
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_pages/recent.html - Projects page (ADD H1)
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/bio-short.html - Bio snippet (EXPAND)
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/bio-background.html - Full bio

Blog Posts:

/Users/mf/code/forscher/_notes/ - All blog posts (EXPAND)

Generated Files:

/Users/mf/code/forscher/_site/sitemap.xml - Auto-generated sitemap
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_site/robots.txt - Robots file

Files to Create:

/Users/mf/code/forscher/_includes/schema.html - Schema markup (NEW)
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_pages/services.html - Services page (NEW)
/Users/mf/code/forscher/_layouts/music-post.html - Music post template (NEW)

Technical SEO Checklist

Content SEO Checklist

Report Compiled: October 30, 2025 Next Review Date: December 30, 2025 Questions/Support: Reference this document for implementation guidance

Forscher.com SEO Audit Report

Executive Summary

Critical Issues Requiring Immediate Attention

High-Impact Opportunities

1. TECHNICAL SEO ANALYSIS

1.1 Meta Tags Implementation

Strengths:

Critical Issues:

1.2 Header Hierarchy

CRITICAL ISSUE: No H1 Tags

1.3 Sitemap & Robots.txt

Sitemap (sitemap.xml)

Robots.txt

1.4 Schema Markup

CRITICAL ISSUE: No Structured Data

1.5 Performance & Technical

2. ON-PAGE OPTIMIZATION

2.1 Homepage (/index.html)

Current Content Analysis:

Critical Issues:

Recommendations:

2.2 Info Page (/info/)

Current Content Analysis:

Strengths:

Issues:

2.3 Blog Posts (/notes/)

Structure Analysis:

Sample Post Analysis - “Seven Lives Left”:

2.4 Recent Projects Page (/recent/)

3. CONTENT QUALITY & E-E-A-T ANALYSIS

3.1 Experience Signals

3.2 Expertise Signals

3.3 Authoritativeness Signals

3.4 Trustworthiness Signals

3.5 Content Depth & Comprehensiveness

4. KEYWORD STRATEGY & TARGETING

4.1 Current Keyword Analysis

4.2 Recommended Keyword Strategy

Primary Target Keywords (Homepage):

Secondary Keywords (Service pages):

Long-tail Keywords (Blog content):

Local SEO Keywords:

Personal Brand Keywords:

4.3 Keyword Implementation Map

5. INTERNAL LINKING STRATEGY

5.1 Current Internal Link Analysis

5.2 Recommended Internal Linking Strategy

Homepage Enhancements:

Blog Post Enhancements:

Footer Navigation (Add):

5.3 Topic Cluster Strategy

6. COMPETITIVE POSITIONING & SEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

6.1 Competitive Keywords (Low Competition)

6.2 Personal Brand Search Opportunities

6.3 Content Gap Analysis

7. TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP

Phase 1: Critical Fixes (Week 1) - HIGH PRIORITY

Phase 3: Header Hierarchy Fixes (Week 2) - HIGH PRIORITY

Phase 4: Content Expansion (Week 2-4) - MEDIUM PRIORITY

Phase 5: Internal Linking Enhancement (Week 3-4) - MEDIUM PRIORITY

Phase 6: New Content Creation (Weeks 4-8) - ONGOING

Phase 7: Image Optimization (Week 3) - LOW PRIORITY

Phase 8: Enhanced Robots.txt (Week 1) - LOW PRIORITY

8. BUSINESS IMPACT ASSESSMENT

8.1 Current Search Visibility

8.2 Post-Implementation Potential

8.3 Traffic Projections

8.4 ROI Calculation

9. PRIORITY ACTION ITEMS

CRITICAL (Do This Week)

HIGH PRIORITY (Next 2 Weeks)

MEDIUM PRIORITY (Next Month)

ONGOING (Next 3-6 Months)

10. MEASUREMENT & TRACKING

Set Up Analytics Goals

Monthly SEO Report Template

SUMMARY

Overall Assessment

APPENDIX

File Locations Reference