This is a question we are commonly asked, below you will find the answer.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is like the 90s video game Tetris, there is no real way to beat the game it simply gets faster and faster with each level, and simply it never ends. The ever-changing algorithms and change to the competitor’s content can knock you off the coveted Google top spot.
To understand how SEO works, it is key you have a basic understanding of how search engines work. Search engines send out a series of “crawlers” these explore the internet following one site to another whilst doing this they create a search index, evaluating the sites content and what information they hold. It is this information that the search engine uses to determine its suitability to the proposed question.
A search engine’s never-ending goal is to provide users with the best results possible. It has an ever-changing algorithm. This results in a change in search rankings by simply tweaking some aspects of your site such as tags and internal links which can improve passing traffic using your site. Other key ways in which you can ensure you are on the top spot is by using some or all the following techniques.
Key words are essential to improve your SEO, these can be found in the heading, sub notes or the main body of text. Although the internet is a global entity, most of the business is still conducted at a local level. By adding geo tagging to your sites and AD’S you will increase your SEO and improve site traffic.
The following are all ways in which you can improve your SEO. High quality content. What is high quality content? Well, that is the question everyone wants the answer to too. Ultimately the consumer provides the answer to if your content is high quality. However, all users view of high quality is different from each other’s, from yours and from Googles.
There is a way that you can create high quality content that both your users and Google deem high quality, this does however take time, but this is not time wasted. The first and most important part is that you are creating content that your user wants or needs. For example, why write about your love of Marvel when the site is aimed at users who have technical difficulty?
Google searches keywords related to your site. It does so by searching for the keywords in the search and then linking these to your site. Include these within your writing such as “computer” and “Weymouth.” Not only does this ensure that you are writing relevant and up-to-date content but shows Google that you have low bounce rates and good traffic, boosting your SEO.
Making your content easy to read is another key factor in creating high quality content. Think about the structure and words used. Substantial amounts of texts lacking paragraphs and headings tend to scare readers off and often lead to them leaving your site without reading it. Tailor your language to the audience, use of larger more complicated words can lead to slower readers being put off and make you content harder to understand. Keep the reader engaged by using a combination of various sentence structures and styles. Have fun with your writing, make it personal which enables you to engage with the reader on a personal level helping them understand you and your brand.
Thinking about your search intent, what is your intended goal? For the user to find what they are looking for. For example, if the user is searching for a particular product you offer, you want them to land on the page with that product, not a page blogging about that product. This ensures that your product sells and keeps user activity on your page.
It is not always easy to portray trust over a website or writing, but it is a key aspect in ensuring your site is used which consistently boosts your SEO. How do we do this? The answer is simple! Write in a clear and user orientated way with a clear structure, by staying away from stock photos, and use your own photos including of your team if you have an about us section. By adding testimonials to your page along with ratings from customers, builds trust with your clients and Google proving you are a business and a person.
Finally, a key aspect of any high-quality content is keeping all information updated and relevant. This is essential, as it demonstrates to your user that you are on top of the latest developments and able to provide them with the most up-to-date information. This will build trust, return traffic, and boost your SEO by showing Google your site is still active.
A bonus is site structure. The way you structure your site is a vital aspect of every SEO. A well-structured site helps search engines determine the importance of pages and which pages link to others. Additionally, a well-structured site also helps the consumer navigate your page, the easier your page is to navigate the more likely you are to have return traffic.
Backlinks, (also known as inbound links or one way links) are links from one webpage to another. Search engines view backlinks as “votes.” Pages with a high number of backlinks tend to have a much higher SEO. Each backlink is a thumbs up from another website, this allows Google and others viewing the website that your website is legit, up-to-date and credible.
The more backlinks you have to your website the higher you will appear on search engines. Backlinks help with three main things: rankings, discoverability, and traffic. Google uses backlinks as a thumbs up therefore the higher the number of backlinks, the higher you are likely to rank for relevant search inquires. Search engines discover new and more up-to-date content by revisiting sites they have previously visited, meaning the more backlinks you get the more likely it is that your site will remain in the top of Google search. The more clicks you get the more backlinks you get. The relevance of the anchor text is also a key aspect, for example you are more likely to click on a link for a plumber off a website called plumbers.com than one called catsrus.com
The key to ranking with backlinks is to aim to get relevant backlinks from real businesses and not spam and non-credible sources. Remember, quality over quantity so, one decent backlink a month is a hundred times better than a hundred spam links every month so spend time finding better links from real businesses. You can also check out https://www.youtube.com/mikemartinyoutube and look at single niche PBNs which is how I rank everything I create online.
Load speed also known as page speed is a hot topic when it comes to improving your websites SEO. If your site takes too long to load its content, the visitor is likely to leave before your content has appeared. The goal is for your web speed to be as fast as you can make it without compromising the customer experience, or the website content. There are however many contributing factors as to why your web page may be slow at loading, these are not always things in your control such as the browser or device the user is using. By enabling compression of your files to reduce the size of CSS, HTML and Java script files, reduces the time it takes for your site to load and increases the time spent on it by viewers. Reduce redirects, every time you visitor is redirected to another page, that page needs to load all its content this has the potential to add unwanted time to the visitors visit.
CACHE is another element that can help increase your load speed, “Caching” is when copies of files are stored in a temporary location. For example, search engines such as Google, store snapshots of logos from websites you regularly visit. DNS catch is a record for faster lookups, the DNS tells the browser where to find your website. DNS works worldwide so it will direct the user to the none nearest to them, however as this is worldwide it can take up to 48hours to propagate. Using original, smaller images and videos are also key in increasing your load speed.
Website security is a known Google ranking factor making this the most important SEO factor! Online security or the lack of can have a massive impact on your SEO. By keeping your website secure and improving your security regularly, improves the security and ranking of every page and backlink on your website. The better your website security, the quicker the website will connect to other sites.
An important attribute to consider is you provided your customer with up-to-date content, but it also needs to be safe. By switching to a HTTPS, you are making your website a safer and higher-ranking site. Having a website with poor security does not mean that you have poor content. Lack of security can lead to your site getting hacked for the purpose of placing links, and you can assure that these links are not going to be in places you want your company associated with. This could leave to you being blacklisted by Google. There is a way back from being backlisted after you have improved your security however this can take time. Having a HTTPS within your URL shows your customers that your website is safe and reparable which makes the business appear legitimate and therefore trustworthy to the user.
Just as CEOs have their assistants and Mary has her lamb, search engines have its website crawlers. Search engines, use crawlers to create algorithms which then develops links for the crawlers to follow. A crawler goes around the internet 24/7, once it arrives at a website it saves the HTML in a database. Crawlers return to websites to check for updated content or to simply check if you have made any changes.
Schema Markup is a label made up of code, which shares key information regarding your page and adds content. They act as a signpost for the crawlers who then gain the code which is then added to your HTML to enrich the search engines Snipps created by CACHE. It works the same as your mum wanting to understand technology, Google wants a better way to understand your content. For example, are you a business? Great, where are you located? What are you called? What do you do? Google’s official definition of schema markup is “a standardized format for providing information about a page and classifying the page content.” Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness (EAT). Google includes this within its algorithms and even Google admits this is a particularly Important part of boosting SEO.
EAT is used to value and rank the quality and content for the readers. Below are some features EAT can improve your SEO. All three aspects of EAT let us know that the reader wants to know who you and your business are, create a “meet the team” section on your website. This connects your reader with you and adds a level of trust.
Work with the experts in your chosen field. Write content with these individuals, this builds another level of trust with your reader. Make the point of your content clear, if your right to inform for example make sure that your article informs. By making sure you content is updated regularly you are hitting every aspect of EAT, on average content is relevant for around 2 years, do not fall behind. Make sure your data relates to high quality sources that can be tracked and proven. Also included links to relevant research paper, tweets, and YouTube videos.
As a child, we are taught that everyone has their own point and view, and we must include and respect this. This is no different in the business world. By acknowledging different points of view and discussing them within your work you are proving to your reader that you can accept not everyone is the same and that is ok.
Lastly your online reputation not only affects your SEO ranking but also your trustworthiness. Watch out for negative press and respond to negative comments promptly and professionally. Do not go over the top, instead create aspects that make sense and work for your business. I have always used long content for my own website even when long content is not the norm in the industry I am chasing, you should also look at what is the norm in your industry so, lots of videos, images, content etc. and follow suit so your website does not stand out to Google and is similar everyone else in the industry.
Remember SEO is like Tetris, it is never ending and constantly changing but keep researching and keep going and you will get that coveted Google top spot.
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