Everyone wants to be listed in the top 3 positions on a Google Search Page. With so much competition for the same spot, how do you improve your chances of being the winner?
Search Engine Optimization or SEO is the method or process of getting your website to the top position on a Google search page. This process helps make your website more user-friendly from the search engine‘s perspective. There are plenty of companies that will charge you thousands of dollars to rank your site on Google for certain keywords but if you don’t mind taking some time to learn a few tips, you can save yourself a ton of money.
#1: Pick your domain with search engines in mind.
Search engines give serious consideration to your website’s domain name. So, it’s a good idea to include your main keywords if at all possible. For example, if you’re selling trailers, you would want to rank for the keyword “trailers”. It’s better to have a domain name like TrailerSalesbyHenry.com rather than HenrySales.com. Your domain name isn’t the most important factor in gaining top search engine rankings but it is a factor to be considered. Make sure to register your domain name for a few years in the future so Google will consider that you plan to stick around for a while. Domain longevity is a factor in Google’s algorithm for placement.
#2: Make your website search engine friendly.
Check to see that your site builder or software is search engine friendly. Some site builders use so much script or code to build your pages that it leaves the search engines wondering what content to index or has them skipping over valid content that is hidden inside the code. Google loves text. The more valid your text content is the better your site will be indexed by search engines. Keep extra add-ons and even video content to a minimum. You make your site user-friendly for your visitors. Keep it simple and user-friendly for the search engines, too.
#3: Submit your website
What? Don’t they just find me? Well, yes they do, but if you want to make sure how you are indexed or that you are indexed, letting them know you exist is essential. Submit your website to Google, Yahoo and Edge along with national directories that might exist for your business type. Join local networking organizations like the area chamber or non-profit clubs that might list your site as well. You will benefit from the backlinks these site provide.
#4: Choose the right keywords
Many people begin right off promoting their website with certain keywords they think will work. Without checking to see how many people might actually search for the keyword and its competition, this is really a bad idea. For example, you could try ranking for “car sales on easy street”, because the competition is low for those keywords. But, if no one uses those terms, it’s not going to be effective. Use an online tool like the Keyword Explorer to find high volume and low competition keywords to launch your website successfully.
#5: Write unique and relevant content
Google does make sure your content is unique and relevant to your keywords. The more relevant content you have, the higher Google will consider you for rankings. Don’t copy and paste content. Google can tell if it is replicated from another website which will hurt your rankings as well as the rankings of the website you copied. Try placing your keywords frequently into an article or key section of your website. If you’re selling books, sentences like “Books are a great way to enjoy the long winter months” are beneficial.
#6: Frequently update and add new content
Google absolutely loves fresh content. It keeps their “hungry robot” coming back for more! Try changing your content every few days or adding a blog post or helpful tips. New content is necessary the more competitive your keywords are. A minimum is to change or update your content about every two to three weeks. If you don’t have time to do this, we can easily help keep your website filled with fresh and updated content.
#7: Build a Social media presence
Don’t underestimate the power of social media on your SEO rankings. Google indexes social media platforms along with websites. Social media activity includes whether or not you have profiles on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter as well as how frequently you post items. If you’re not already on Facebook or Twitter or even YouTube, it’s time to start!
#8: Link Building
Link building is highly important to search engine ranking. You need a consistent supply of quality, one-way backlinks to your website in order to truly rank as high as possible. How do you do it? Try building links from highly visible and nationally recognized websites, Google sees these links as more important and higher quality than others. Look to local organizations that are well-known in your community. Add links that are helpful to your target audience.
#9: Secure your website with SSL
An SSL certificate provides a secure connection between the hosting company and your users. It allows you to securely process sensitive information quickly and easily. Another added benefit is that Google treats websites with SSL certificates more favorably than those who don’t. Check with us for more details as some hosts require a dedicated IP address along with this certificate.
#10: Be aware of changes by Google
Google consistently updates their algorithms to ensure only high-quality websites get ranked. Using unethical methods of getting higher search results or trying to “trick your way to the top” isn’t going to keep you at the top for long. Google has plenty of “eyes” to help them know the truth about a website ranking. Google’s recent update has the ability to detect low-quality website content. Writing good quality content with the correct grammar and spelling is becoming more and more important. Remember to build a website that is search engine friendly as well as user friendly!
Conclusion
Ranking on search engines organically takes plenty of time and effort but can still be accomplished without spending a ton of money. Take the time to care about your website and its viewers (including search engines). Keep actively creating new content, updating your content, keeping your information linked with social media and driving links to it. You can’t expect top rankings overnight, in most cases it can take 6 months to rank for the keywords you really want. However, this is the best way to ensure your ranking sticks for the long term. The key benefit in doing Search Engine Optimization organically rather than buying ads is that your ranking will last longer. If you need help, contact us for a free discovery meeting. We can help get you started!