Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays a crucial role in determining a business's online visibility and success. It involves various strategies and techniques to improve a website's ranking on search engine result pages (SERPs). While there are aspects of SEO that businesses can handle themselves, there are times when seeking the expertise of a professional becomes necessary. In this blog post, we will explore how you can affect your SEO and when it's appropriate to call in a pro.
What is the Goal of SEO?
In a world of paid marketing, SEO is your best free tool to drive organic traffic to your website. By optimizing your web pages and content, you can improve your website's visibility and rank higher in search engine results. According to Backlinko, the first organic search result on Google has a click-through rate (CTR) of over 25%, while less than 1% (.63% to be exact) of traffic visits the second page of Google search results. Getting that coveted number-one spot can lead to increased website traffic, brand exposure, and potential conversions. What’s even better? A monopoly of the top five spots - or even the whole first page!
How to Improve Your SEO
1. Optimize Backend Technical SEO
Backend technical SEO involves optimizing the technical aspects of your website to improve its search engine visibility. This includes meta tags, site structure, XML sitemaps, page speed optimization, and mobile-friendliness. Optimizing images and internal links, using descriptive URLs, and implementing schema markup can further boost your content's SEO. An optimized website flow is crucial for providing a seamless user experience. After all–if your customer gets lost, then you lose your customer. A well-structured website allows search engine crawlers to index your site easily, and valuable customers can find the necessary information. While this may require technical expertise, businesses can learn and implement these optimizations themselves with the help of online resources and guides.
2. Enhance Content for SEO
Remember: Content is King, but optimization is Queen. The content you produce on your website, including blogs, landing pages, and social media posts, also plays a significant role in SEO. High-quality, relevant content is a non-negotiable if you want to resonate with your target audience and move them further down the sales funnel. Regularly publishing fresh, informative, and engaging content can make your website a valuable resource and improve its ranking on SERPs. By incorporating relevant keywords, providing helpful information, and improving content quality, you can attract search engine attention and improve your chances of ranking higher.
3. Build a Strong Backlink Profile
Backlinks, or incoming links from other websites, play a vital role in SEO. Search engines perceive backlinks as votes of confidence and credibility for your site, strengthening your domain authority. Building a solid backlink profile involves developing relationships with reputable websites and earning high-quality backlinks. Focus on creating valuable, shareable content that naturally attracts inbound links. However, beware of spammy link-building tactics, as search engines penalize manipulative practices. Building a robust backlink profile requires time and effort but can significantly impact your SEO.
4. Utilize SEO Software
You can leverage various SEO software tools to streamline your business’s SEO efforts and improve search engine rankings. These tools offer insights into keyword research, competitor analysis, backlink tracking, and on-page optimization. They can help you identify improvement areas and measure your SEO strategies' effectiveness. By investing in SEO software, you can better understand your website's performance and make data-driven decisions. Just keep in mind that these platforms can be very technical, and there is a significant learning curve to become fully optimized.
5. Manage SEO In-House through Social Media
In-house social media contributions can complement your SEO efforts. A robust social media presence allows you to engage with your audience, share valuable content, and drive traffic to your website. By integrating SEO best practices into your social media strategy, such as using relevant keywords in captions and meta descriptions, you can optimize your social media profiles and posts for search engines. Hiring an agency to craft a detailed social media marketing plan can lay a foundation for your in-house employees, saving you time and money in the long run.Your on-the-ground content and insights into your company’s inner workings will provide the genuine personality that your audience is looking to connect with.
When to Call in a Pro: Consumer51 Marketing Agency
Improving your website's SEO is an ongoing process that requires a combination of quality content creation, technical optimization, and strategic link building. As a business owner, you can impact your SEO by implementing best practices and monitoring performance. However, when faced with technical challenges, complex keyword research, or algorithm changes, we at Consumer51 are happy to help you save time and focus on other aspects of your business. Are you ready to scale up? Contact us now to start the conversation.