Effective SEO boosts your company’s search engine ratings, ushering more viewers – and more potential customers – onto your website. Unfortunately, many marketers assume that effective SEO will strain resources and take initiatives off budget. Read on for four simple ways to enhance the quality of your SEO presence.
Keep it Fresh
Today’s entrepreneurs often overlook the power of fresh, original content – even if it’s brief, image-based, or presented in a breezy list format. But fresh content is bound to boost your website’s rankings, since every time you add new material to your site, Google’s web crawler visits that page and indexes the content, then re-ranks your brand’s position in search engine results. Remember – you’ll only see a boost if you’re promoting fresh, new content, so don’t expect an edge up in rankings if you’re recycling old content, however compelling it may be. Short, informative lists, reviews, and updates are often enough for Google’s web crawlers to take notice.
Embrace High-Quality Links
Crucial to effective SEO is the concept of “link building,” wherein search engines view links to your website from third-party websites as endorsements. When your content is frequently linked, search engines recognize that your results should be shown even higher, rankings-wise. Link building can be time-consuming, but it’s worth starting the process by including links to your business anywhere you can, from business directories to local newspapers, chambers of commerce to business associations, and even Yellow Pages listings.
Harness the Power of Keywords
Take the time to research effective “long-tail keywords,” which tend to be comprised of full sentences, not just single words – “How do I create better SEO?” as opposed to simply “SEO,” for example. Brainstorm long-tail keywords that could relate to your unique brand, and try typing phrases into Google to see what the search engine suggests, since it “learns” popular search terms based on usage rates.
Then, incorporate those keywords into content you publish on your site – or on your blog, social media, or in advertising copy. Place keywords within page titles, website content, and even in URLs, but don’t overdo it. Savvy users will recognize content that’s only been created for SEO’s sake, so be sure to embed useful information in each piece of SEO content your team produces.
Google Your Business!
To gain local exposure, make use of Google My Business, which allows small businesses to optimize their web presence —with Google’s help. First, ensure that you own your business’s page and have access to make changes to your listing. Then, fill in every field you can, making sure to be descriptive, accurate, and informative. Embed keywords to subtly enhance your SEO’s presence, and be as specific as you can when describing your business. Don’t forget to input business hours, and upload as many photos as you’re allowed. Almost everyone uses Google, and once your page is complete, your business will likely appear prominently in local searches related to your product or service.
Large or small, most businesses benefit from a few SEO tweaks, which boost search engine rankings and make it easier for consumers to track down the product or service they’re seeking. With even a limited marketing budget, you can harness keywords and online opportunities in a way that’s bound to make your business more visible, instantly.