In 2016, you’d be hard pressed to find a website or blog that wasn’t tailored to show up better in your Google searches. In fact, if you’re reading this article, it’s being hosted on a web page that is most likely Search Engine Optimized, so as to make it easier to reach inquiring minds who wish to learn about this topic. That being said, you’re probably looking forward to being the owner of your very own website or blog soon, so here are a few key things to know about SEO....
How Does SEO Work?
So what is SEO optimized? As time passed, Google’s algorithm gradually evolved into its current state. It now ensures that the search you’ve performed brings results which are not only the most relevant, but have been viewed, read, and already considered credible sources by others. The top result, be it a blog article or a website contact form, contains reliable, user-friendly, and informative content which others have confirmed as such, via their clicks and retention rates...
What Does This Mean for YOUR Website?
Simply put, your website should directly address a searcher’s needs. It should contain well-crafted and reliable content, whether that be text, image, video, or other media. Establishing trust with your users will not only help present you as an authority, but will positively affect your SEO. Unnecessarily stuffing keywords, a practice mistakenly thought to boost a site’s visibility, can actually work against your placement in search results. Tagging your images is also an important factor in optimizing for search engines, as Google will not read things like photos, but their “alt text” instead. This is as exact a description as possible for said image.
Pages should be easily accessible, able to load quickly, and allow for seamless browsing, whether it be for desktop or mobile users. Sure, “keywords” play a part in search engines picking up your content, but the user’s experience is a priority. Slow websites or complex user interfaces can be turn-offs, drastically cutting down the retention rates of visitors. Potential customers and subscribers are lost everyday by making avoidable design mistakes.
Internal Linking also affects how you appear in search results. Referring links back to your own website (those that don’t leave your domain) can not only provide a richer and more informative user experience, it will help establish trust with the search engine bots that look for relevant information. In addition, providing your visitors with ample opportunities to learn more and browse your site reduces bounce rates-- users stay longer, thus increasing the chance they’ll come back and boosting your search engine result standings in the process.
Good SEO means that Google recognizes your site as having fresh and recently updated content; this requires ongoing maintenance. Making sure your site’s loading is up to speed, using social media to boost your profile (subject for a whole other article), and avoiding annoying ads are just some of the things you can do to make sure your site is performing well in search engine results. Don’t neglect location-based search results, especially if you’re a brick-and-mortar business. Keeping your contact info accurate and up-to-date is beneficial to overall business and SEO. Always keep your content relevant, and when possible, able to stay so relevant over time. The more long-term utility it serves to users, the greater the chance that it shows up in results. Remember, the definition of “good SEO” is about as static as the technology that uses it, so stay ahead of the curve by keeping up-to-date with SEO best practices. One easy way to do this is by subscribing to this series. Fill out the form below to gain access now.
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In 2016, you’d be hard pressed to find a website or blog that wasn’t tailored to show up better in your Google searches. In fact, if you’re reading this article, it’s being hosted on a web page that is most likely Search Engine Optimized, so as to make it easier to reach inquiring minds who wish to learn about this topic. That being said, you’re probably looking forward to being the owner of your very own website or blog soon, so here are a few key things to know ab...