Being smart and consistent with your online content means search engines will find it easily. The benefits of effective SEO are numerous. You’ll have a substantial increase in high-quality traffic to your website. Your sales will improve and your business will become more sustainable. With increased online presence SEO will also enhance your credibility as a brand.
Here are five essential SEO tips to be aware of when using your website as part of your business marketing strategy.
1. Link to Other High-Quality Websites
Some people think linking to other websites or pages may distract from their own. This is not necessarily true. If anything, you’re encouraging your readers to develop and grow by referencing to other relevant and trustworthy sites.
Linking to other sites is still considered one of the smartest basics of search engine optimisation. With link building you’re adding value to your own content. Why? Because you’re offering your reader not only your valuable resources but the opportunity to explore other similar sources.
Good SEO practice means linking out to excellent, authoritative sites.
2. Improve Your Internal Linking
While you’re linking out, have you considered doing some internal linking? This is a SEO technique you shouldn’t ignore. Search engines love it. To get your head around internal linking, understand the basics of it. What you’re doing here is linking within the same website. You’re connecting one page in your website to another of your pages.
Internal linking keeps your reader on your site longer and you’re improving your ranking power. But to make this work well you need to have lots of content on your website. And, this content needs to be helpful and of high-quality for your reader.
In a nutshell, when you’re using internal linking you’re creating the opportunity for good SEO practice.
3. Write Smart Meta Descriptions
Every page on your website should have its own meta description. But be careful of repeating the same information for each meta description you write. You could face being penalised for using duplicate material. Search engines simply don’t like duplication!
Write unique meta descriptions that describe each page for what it is. For example, you can’t use the same content for your contact page as for your “About Us” page. Not only will Google be unhappy, but you’ll be decreasing the value of the browser’s online experience.
A quality meta description improves your SEO and is the reason you get seen by online users.
4. Image Keywords Are Important
We all know using the right keywords is absolutely essential for effective SEO. But have you considered your images when using keywords? Google values this enough that you’ll find tips on this in its Help Center.
So, don’t underestimate the value of pictures and SEO. Make sure you use the right keyword so people searching for your image find it easily. And use descriptive, relevant text for the caption.
Search engine optimisation is about relevance and quality.
Last tip: watch out for keyword stuffing and irrelevant content, even with your images.
5. Write Unique and Quality Material, Consistently
Search engines are always looking for unique, well-written content. For many of us, this can be challenging especially with so many people writing content online. There’s so much competition, which can be daunting if you’re not an avid writer by nature. Creating engaging content that’s new, fresh and exciting requires time, effort and a willingness to expand your own mindset. Practice at becoming better, or hire a copywriter or Cape Town SEO consultants if you’re really struggling. The expense becomes a long term investment in your brand’s growth.
Google likes fresh content which is updated regularly. What this means is search engines will rank content that’s been updated on a regular basis. In other words, the most recent publication date is more likely to be noticed. If finding “fresh” content is a battle, then consider writing consistently at least.
Optimal content freshness on your website, whether it’s with regular blogs or updated product content, will improve your SEO ranking.
A Final Word on SEO
SEO experts will tell you search engine optimisation is one of the most powerful keys to effective online marketing. They know what they’re talking about because they keep up to date with the latest developments online. So, how up to date are you and what do you need to change?
