You’ve heard everywhere about how SEO is the way to get your website ranking higher in Google searches and seen by more potential customers. And while search engine optimization is crucial for small businesses to reach local customers, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
In this post, we’ll spell out some of the easy things you can DIY on your website to increase your SEO value and website reach.
SEO Disclaimer - (It's like an apple tree)
“SEO” is such a buzzword in the business community, and it is a very important aspect of marketing, but it’s a marathon- not a sprint.
A colleague of mine says it this way, “paid ads is like going to the store and buying apples- instant gratification. SEO is like planting an apple tree. It takes time for the seed to sprout, the roots to grow, the plant to grow, and then finally it produces fruit, but when it does, it’s abundant and recurring.”
When first starting out with SEO, you’re not going to immediately jump to the first spot or maybe even the first page of Google among other businesses that have been implementing these practices for years. BUT, this is the perfect time to start!
How Does SEO Even Work?
In short, it’s in the name, optimizing your content for search engines. Google (and other search engines but come on it 2024) wants to provide the most relevant results that match what users are searching for.
There are certain tricks and tips you can implement to tell Google what your page is about so that it pulls up your page when someone’s search matches the key words. There are different types of SEO, let’s get into it.
On-Page SEO
This involves optimizing the elements within your website to improve search engine ranking and user experience. Think of it as making your website search engine and user-friendly:
“How do I do this?”
Content
- Create high-quality, informative, and relevant content that targets specific keywords. This establishes your website as an authority on a particular topic and attracts users searching for related information. Something to keep in mind is a saying I always use, “website content needs to be skimmable, not readable”. Make sure that your important content is first on the page, and not too wordy.
Keyword Optimization
- Strategically incorporate relevant keywords throughout your website content, including titles, meta descriptions, headings, and image alt tags. This helps search engines understand what your website is about and match it with relevant user searches. “How do I know what keywords to use?” Look at suggested Google searches about your industry, or use one of the many keyword tools available.
Website Structure
- Ensure your website has a clear and logical structure, with easy navigation and internal linking. This includes not having too many pages linked in the navigation bar, nesting sub-pages under parent ones, and properly naming pages. This helps both search engines and users find the information they need efficiently.
Page Speed
- Optimize your website performance for faster loading times. Search engines prioritize user experience, and slow loading times can negatively impact your ranking. There are few free tools online to check if your site is slow or not.
Mobile-friendliness
- Ensuring your website is responsive and adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes, is crucial for the growing number of mobile users. For some of our clients, over 90% of users are coming from mobile phones.
Off-Page SEO
This focuses on factors outside your website that influence search engine ranking. It involves building your website’s authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines:
Backlinks
- Acquiring high-quality backlinks, which are links from other websites pointing to yours. Search engines consider backlinks as a sign of trust and relevance for your website. Earning backlinks from reputable websites can significantly improve your ranking.
Brand Mentions
- Encouraging online mentions of your business name and website on various platforms, including social media, industry publications, and online reviews. This increases brand awareness and shows search engines that your business is active and relevant.
Social Media Engagement
- Building an active social media presence and engaging with your audience can indirectly improve SEO, as search engines may consider social signals as a positive indicator.
Image SEO
This involves optimizing images on your website to improve search engine visibility and user experience:
Relevant file names and alt tags
- Use descriptive and keyword-rich file names and alt tags for your images. This helps search engines understand the content of your images and display them in relevant image searches.
Image size and compression
- Optimize image size to ensure faster loading times without sacrificing quality. Large images often lead to slower page loading speeds.
