Search Engine Optimization can be a murky, confusing world. There are so many tips and tricks flying around the World Wide Web, but which ones actually work? And in the ever-changing world of SEO, are they still relevant? Fortunately, there is good information out there. You just have to dig for it. Check out these three tried and true methods for ensuring your pages are optimized for SEO.
Use Good Keywords. Don’t Overdo It.
Using good keywords is the cornerstone of SEO. If someone is looking for your business, make sure you include the search terms they’re most likely going to enter into the search bar to find your site. Some older articles out there claim that you should use keywords at every possible opportunity (keywords stuffing!), but times they have changed my friends—the mighty Google recently confirmed that they have tweaked their search algorithm. This is bad news for keyword stuffers whose sites will be sent to the bottom of the search results, not the top as they had hoped. So try to use your keywords in the first paragraph (first sentence if possible), the last paragraph and in the body, but only when necessary.
READ: The Benefits Of SEO For Your Business – Free SEO Checklist Included
Give Them Great Info
This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people don’t realize the importance of good content. Google is an information-gathering superstar, tracking everything, including whether the visitor to your site reads a whole post to if they decide to visit other pages on your site. If they stay on your site, it tells Google that this is the exact content the person was looking for, which is what Google wants because when they do, your site will move up in the rankings. So don’t just cobble a bunch of random words together that mean absolutely nothing. Put a little bit of time into your content and make it as relevant as you can. There are many great freelance writers out there who can help you ensure great writing quality.
Read: Writing for the Web: How to Make Your Copy Stand Out
Link Your Content
As mentioned above, Google ranks sites that people spend more time on higher up in the results list, so be sure link to other relevant content on your site whenever you can. Include links to keywords in your posts for best results. As an added bonus, linking to internal content can actually improve user engagement of your site. So the more great content you include on your site, the more opportunities you will have to link to other pages of your website. Be sure not to rely too heavily on linking to top-level pages of your site, such as the homepage or the “Contact Us” page. Those pages are usually linked in the navigation anyway, so they’re easy for your site visitors to find. Instead, link to pages and content deeper within your site. You want them to stay on your site for as long as possible!
Keywords, fantastic content, and linking to relevant pages on your website are just the start of enhancing your online presence, and growing your business.