WTF is SEO.
I’ll give you a hint, it starts with search.
Search. Engine. Optimisation. Also more commonly referred to as SEO. And why you ask is SEO of any importance, isn’t that what Google, Bing and all those other engines are built for?
Search is your key starting point, without search, you don’t exist, no really you don’t. SEO is the process used to optimise a websites technical configuration, content relevance and link popularity so your business and brand can become easily finable, more relevant and popular towards user queries and as a consequence, search engines rank them better. Yes - so Google can find you!
Search engines are there to help people find what they are looking for online - why do you think “places to eat dinner in Queenstown” is one of the most searched queries to date. Whatever you are researching, search engines provide a common starting point when you are looking for information and for you, it’s a valuable opportunity to direct relevant traffic to your newly refreshed 84Group certified website.
So where do I start and what the actual am I doing? If search engine optimisation is the practice of orienteering your website to rank higher on a search engine results page (SERP) so that you receive more traffic. And we all know what more traffic means - more awareness and ideally more traffic means RESULTS! In an ideal world you rank first on the page of Google (or Bing, let’s not forget those Bing users) results for search terms that resonate with your target audience. Plot summary - SEO is as much about understanding the ants and needs of your audiences as it is about the technical nature of how to configure your website.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Lets wrap this up and give you the basics that will see you ace your SEO.
Keyword research AKA the foundation of any good SEO strategy. Knowing how to use these keywords effectively is like liquid gold! Select your primary and secondary keyword lists - primary should be your main content focus, with secondary being your supporting words.
Write your own compelling and quality content. If you want users to go to your website, like a moth to a flame, the you need quality content that is original, detailed and evergreen. This highlights your unique perspective and expertise and enables them to build a relationship with you and your brand. What’s more, Google loves unique content, they can sniff it out like Paul can sniff out banana bread on a Sunday night. Don’t just create content that is relevant then and there, consider evergreen content that will bring your audience long term benefit!
Format your content for Search Engine Gods. Three words for you, targeted featured snippets. These appear at the top of the search page on Google. They are designed to answer your query in a quick and concise manner - you don’t even need to leave the page. They are highly visible and also attract organic traffic - winner winner!
Page Titles and Meta Description they are the GOAT! They might be the first thing your audience will see, making them make or break for your brand. These words hold the power, like women in every aspect of life - so make sure they are impactful!
Short and Descriptive URLS. Clean and concise URLS can help search engines understand your page and gives you a more user friendly shall we say appearance in the SERPs. An effective URL will use keywords, be readable and of course CONCISE!
Remove any content that loads slowly. Noone likes to live in a slow paced environment, so what makes your website any different? If your page is loading slowly, users are highly unlikely to stick around - thus increasing your bounce rate.
LINKING. Internal and external links are highly effective. Internal links - direct users to other pages within your website. External links go to another website. Just remember, validate those external links or all that external credibility goes running out the door!
Site Audits. Do these on the regular. These ensure your site remains as function and user-firiendly as possible.
Last but not least COMPETITORS. Always check out what they are doing in the market, chances are they are producing similar types of content that you are. by analysing your competitors you can learn about more effective and fresh content ideas!
Give 84Group a bell. Chances are, we can help. Chances are higher, we can absolutely smash it for you and your brand.