It isn’t always about trying to go for the most popular search terms and expecting to be able to compete with the big fish right out of the gate!
It’s about knowing your audience and trying to provide the content, information, and overall service they want/need 👀
With that in mind, here are 7 SEO tips that will help you to get started…
⚡️ Write for humans first and search engines second
The Google algorithm gets smarter by the day and using constant human input, continues to better align with our thinking. That being said, there is no magic formula to outwit a search engine, so don’t bother trying. Write for humans first and search engines second.
Ultimately, your priority should always be to provide your audience with what they are looking for, and that only comes through writing engaging content.
Anyone can spot a keyword that’s been forced in so blatantly, so fit them in where it makes sense and allow driving keywords to elevate your already informative and valuable content!
⚡️ Use targeted keywords in all the right places
Whilst the motivation should always be humans first, search engines second, the fundamentals of this whole process is keywords.
Not only do they get to the heart of what visitors and Google are looking for by isolating common search terms, but keywords are at the heart of SEO, they should be at the heart of everything you do, too.
However, once again, it isn’t about just chucking them in left, right, and centre!
It all starts with keyword research, use SEO tools like Google Ads. Then dig deeper to find more long-tail variants, study competitors to find keyword gaps, and don’t forget to include them in your metadata as well as the anchor text for your links.
⚡️ Focus on user experience (UX)
There is nothing worse than having to navigate a site that you can barely use. In fact, after more than a few seconds of frustration, most people don’t bother and Google will struggle to make the best out of it too.
Things like bad links, error pages, and messy site structures will all impact what people take away from your website! ⛔️
Not only do users value a good experience and easy navigation, but this seamlessness also helps Google to scan your content and determine your SERP rankings.
TOP TIP – Use headings and short, easy to read paragraphs, tidy up your sub-folders, and optimize for mobile.
All of these things will help to reduce your bounce rate, improve your rankings, and generate better conversion overall.
⚡️ Focus on building relevant links
Links are a key ranking factor!
Bots discover content by following links through to subsequent pages and judging how relevant they are to a search query. This goes for internal linking as well, so don’t be afraid to link to other useful pages on your site where necessary and where it feels natural.
⚡️ Remove anything that slows down your site
It can’t be overstated how simple it is to get the technical stuff right in order for your website and specific content to speak for itself.
Whether you’re writing informative blogs, selling a product/service, or simply pointing someone in the right direction, your site needs to be quick, accessible, and easy to use.
These days, people expect instant information and instant results. If your site takes an age to load, they’ll simply move on.
⚡️ Pay attention to Google algorithm updates
We’ve briefly touched on this already but Google gets smarter and more intuitive by the day. The core updates and tweaks to the algorithm are constant and often unexpected, with sites either benefitting or being penalized for how closely they adhere to the most recent update.
Track your traffic using services like Google Analytics and SEMrush to see where updates may have occurred, so you can then adjust accordingly.
⚡️ Improve existing content & add missing subtopics
Lastly, you need to remember that there is no real finish line when it comes to your SEO strategy.
Constant updates and battling with your competitors means that there’s always work to be done, not to mention that you can still improve on what you’ve done already.
If you haven’t been using SEO properly already, going back and updating content with keywords, backlinks, and better readability is a great way to get started!
Circling back to your keyword research, this is a great opportunity to use these phrases and competitor analysis as the basis for a long-term content plan.
A content audit can be done using tools like SEMrush and Yoast!
For more SEO help, get in touch today! I can take it off of your hands 👀