Search engine optimization ( SEO ) is how you help customers find your website when they search for something on search engines. Build your website correctly and optimize for keywords, and you'll drive more traffic to your page and generate more sales.
Tips that will help you rank better in online searches
- Find right keywords
Think about the words your customers will use when searching for your products or services on the web. If you sell appliances, for example, it's more likely that all of your customers will use a formal word, such as refrigerator, or a slang word.
- Focus on your unique offerings
Remember that you are competing with other businesses for the attention of potential customers online. Look for words that match your market's differentiators, such as your unique offerings or geographic location.
Competition is also fierce for keywords you buy as part of a pay-per-click campaign, in which an ad for your company appears above or next to the free search results.
- Don't overfill your website with too many keywords
As Google's webmaster guidelines state: "Create pages first for users, not search engines."
If you just sprinkle keywords all over your website content, you risk distorting the meaning and irritating your readers.
- Create links to your website
The more sites that link to your site, the higher you will rank in searches. Ask the owners of related sites to link to your site.
Focus on quality links. A link pointing to your site from a chamber of commerce or university website will help you gain more visibility.
- Publish high-quality content
The main mission of search engines is to help people find answers to their questions. So, the best strategy for getting a lot of traffic is to create compelling content – articles, videos, and photos – that provide quality information to your readers. Make sure you update your content frequently so that it remains relevant.
- Be present on social media
Social media is a great ally in your SEO strategy because people also use social media platforms as search engines. They will often search for companies or products using Facebook’s search function, for example. Your company’s social media profile will also rank in search results when people search for your company or related terms.
- Make sure your website is easy to use
Use plenty of headings to improve readability and include keywords in your headings. Headings stand out to search engines and will help you rank your site higher.
Site speed is also important for SEO. The last thing you want to do is annoy your visitors with a slow site.
- Be patient.
Monitor the results from day one, but don't expect quick results. It normally takes a few months to move significantly higher in the search engine rankings.
Also, remember that SEO is constantly changing. What works today may not work in two or three years. Keep working on it and stay up to date with the latest changes that affect rankings.
