9 Ways to boost SEO and better Target Keywords related to your Business
Improving SEO is not as easy as deciding on some keywords and turning out a ton of blog content. If anything, that’s the exact opposite of what any website should do yet so many believe this to be the right way to approach search engine optimization.
Search engine optimization involves many moving parts and constant updates from players such as Google which need to be considered in strategy. Before getting started on a website’s SEO plan, here are the most effectives strategies we’ve found to increase search engine rank.
High quality content that is updated consistently
Commit to building focused, targeted content that does not compromise on quality. What many companies forget on this point is that beyond developing high quality content, consistency in its release is required. By setting up a regular schedule of weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly releases, you create more value for your site from search engines’ perspectives.
Image optimization with alt-text
Alt-text communicates to search engines what a picture is about, helping to rank images to keywords in the same way as text. Alt-text should always be filled in, describing the images that appear. Sans alt-text, there is no other way for a search crawler to understand image placement.
Keywords in URLs, page titles, headings, and more
Keywords optimization is central to search engine optimization. Keywords need to be applied not only in the body of the content but also in URLs, page titles, and headings. That said, do not keyword stuff or add keywords unnaturally into content. By doing so, you may see penalties resulting in lower search engine rankings and potentially more issues as it pertains to the site’s relationship with Google.
Earning quality links to your website
Connecting your website to high authority sites is key to where one ranks in search results. Seek out links from quality websites related to your business. An easy way to do this is by publishing content on your site that others are willing to link to.
Site navigation
Site structure and navigation should be configured for an easy, enjoyable user experience. Sites with high bounce rates sends a signal to search engines that your site is not quality. Improving structure and navigation can help keep consumers happy and index pages clear.
Improving site speed
The amount of time it takes your website to load is something noticed and picked up on by search engines like Google. If a site takes more than a few seconds to load, expect higher bounce rates and the perception of a low quality site, sending search engines scrambling to rank other sites above yours.
Creating a positive user experience
Websites should always be seeking to improve, constantly ensuring it functions to its maximum potential. By providing users with a website that works and where information can be easily located, search engines will interpret your site to be high quality.
Mobile-responsiveness and mobile search
Google recently switched from a desktop-first index to a mobile-first index, meaning that sites with high mobile responsiveness now rank higher than their counterparts. Evaluate your website from a mobile user’s perspective. Now that over 60 percent of online searching is done on smartphones and tablets, mobile responsive designs are a necessity.
Regular updates
Websites require ongoing maintenance and updates to ensure that it does not lose its placement on search engines. Remember, there are usually at least a dozen, if not hundreds, of sites gunning for where you are placed on a search engine. To succeed, you should be checking in regularly on your site’s SEO strategy.
