An SEO strategy can be devised and implemented with a variety of goals in mind. Whether you outsource to an SEO agency or handle your SEO services in-house, what matters most is getting the best possible return on your investment.
SEO has the potential to be a uniquely cost-effective approach to digital marketing. Most of the steps involved in boosting a website’s SEO performance can be taken care of for little to no cost whatsoever.
Ultimately, your aim is to show Google that you are relevant, credible and worth recommending to its billions of users. Knowing where to start can be tricky, but the fundamentals of effective SEO are surprisingly simple.
The topmost in this checklist definitely could be to select a professional SEO company, so you could achieve your desired results for your business.
However ambitious your objectives may be, the following fundamentals should form the basis of the SEO services you undertake for your site:
1. Effective Keyword Research and Usage
You need to ensure you are targeting keywords and phrases that are actually being used by your target audience. In addition, you need to ensure that these keywords are being embedded strategically across all areas of your website. Always organically so as to not appear forced, your keywords need to appear in your headlines, page names, image captions, URLs, page descriptions and general site copy.
2. Keep Your Website Structure Clean
A clean structure means a website that is organised in a way that prioritises simplicity and fluidity for the user. It incorporates things like a simplified navigation system, quick and easy access to information, good use of internal links and so on; anything that contributes to an enjoyable experience from start to finish.
3. Plenty of Quality Content
Nothing matters more than quality web publishing web content, but you also need a decent quantity of content for it to work. Google always shows preference to websites that provide rich and detailed content on a specific subject, as opposed to those that simply cover the basics. Long-form content always carries more SEO value than brief snippets as long as the quality is up to scratch.
4. Optimise for Mobile
Google has also made clear its preference for websites that prioritise the mobile user experience. Across much of the world, mobile traffic has already comfortably outpaced desktop traffic. It therefore makes sense for Google to give extra credit to those who deliver an engaging, responsive and enjoyable experience for mobile visitors.
5. Keep Page Loading Times Down
It is a known fact that most website visitors are unwilling to wait more than 3 seconds for any given page to load. At which point, they will not think twice about taking their business elsewhere. Not only are slow pages off-putting for the visitor, they can also have a negative impact on your SEO performance.
6. Monitor, Analyse and Optimise
Google Analytics provides all the information you need to make ongoing modifications and improvements to your campaign. All the tools needed to scrutinise all aspects of your website’s performance are at your disposal. SEO is not a one-time only project, but an ongoing investment in the visibility and performance of your online business.