A key component of any small business’ marketing strategy is to effectively position its brand in search engine results. Can you dominate search results with content you created? Absolutely. There are simple and powerful ways to gain visibility for your business in search results, while simultaneously improving other related marketing efforts.
It’s no secret that the SEO industry is constantly changing and making updates. It can be difficult to keep up and you may feel like you’re falling behind. However, we came up with 3 SEO tips that are essential for optimizing your search engine rankings. By staying consistent and effectively implementing these tips, you will be able to create an edge against the competition.
Optimize Your Website’s Information
Your website is your most valuable online asset, so ensuring that it is properly optimized to appear high in search rankings is very important. First of all, you want a domain name that accurately reflects your business. If you are a local business, try to include the location. Domain names are one of the first things a consumer is going to see before they click on your website, so make sure it suits what you do.
In order to have your content ranked at the top, it needs to be relevant. Incorporating keywords on page titles and throughout the page is the best way for search engines to recognize your website. You must do keyword research. It’s crucial to know what your potential customers are searching for and what specific words they are using. With that being said, you don’t want to go on a keyword frenzy. By “fluffing” your content with keywords, Google will recognize that and it will lower your ranking. So, make sure to include important keywords, but don’t go overboard with them.
Be Proactive in The Online Community
User reviews are a great way to boost your business’ visibility in search results. Encouraging and responding to all types of reviews is a first step to engaging with the online community. If the review is positive, thank the customer for their feedback and encourage them to come back. If the post is negative, still show appreciation for the feedback and reach out to the customer so you can address their problem. Don’t get discouraged when you receive negative feedback. Instead, use it as an opportunity to solve a problem and prevent it from happening again.
Being engaged on social media plays a notable role to getting ranked. The more proactive your social media strategy, the better chance your page will gain followers and as a result, boost your rankings. There are many different platforms to get involved on. Depending on your business, choose one or two platforms to really focus on. Then, once you gain some exposure, you can expand to other social media websites.
Some ideas for engagement include updates on a new product, promotions, highlighting a positive customer review, or asking an open-ended question. Be sure to respond to those who are reaching out with questions or feedback. Pay attention to any conversation two customers may be having. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask people for their feedback. Always try to keep the conversation going!
Ensure an Appropriate Link Strategy
Links that connect your website to other relevant websites play a major role in optimizing SEO. It helps build authenticity and credibility through the eyes of Google. Start by sharing your own links. For example, be sure to consistently share links to your website via your Facebook, Instagram or any other social media channels. When you send an email, make sure there is a link to your website.
The main goal is to get external websites to link to your pages. The most effective way to do this is creating compelling, unique, high quality content that people will naturally want to share. A great example is doing a guest blog post. By writing a blog for another website, you are able to connect your link to their website. Now, you just can’t go around linking your website to every site possible. The websites you choose must be relevant to your niche. Once you choose a related site, see how you can add the most value to it because more value equals higher search ranking.
Any business that has an online presence needs to make SEO a priority. It’s what captures the consumer’s attention and puts a spotlight on your business. If you need further help, try working with a digital marketing agency to maximize your SEO efforts.
