In the modern business world, organizations of all sizes understand the essential basics of search engine optimization—and how it can impact profitability. However, when it comes to creating a detailed SEO strategy, many business owners find themselves wanting. Use these essential tips to begin building an airtight SEO strategy and watch your traffic boom.
Hone in On Your Target Keywords
You can’t be successful without honing in on the keywords your target market is utilizing to search for answers to their queries and solutions to their problems —solutions your service provides. It’s time to take the gloves off and get down and dirty with analytics. Step inside the shoes of your potential customer; what would you search for if you were dealing with their problem? Use Google Keyword Planner to collect keywords, then record these terms and their respective search volumes. Keep in mind that it’s important to assess your ability to rank for a given term. Watch for keywords with relatively high search volume that aren’t very competitive; finding these can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but the effort is more than worth it. Typically, these take the form of long tail keywords— typically a product term with a few extra words (strategically) tacked on to the end.
Set Up a Link Building Strategy
When it comes to off-page SEO strategy, link-building should be your top priority, as links are one of the main ways search engines are able to rank your web pages. Brainstorm ways you might attract inbound links to your website; at the onset, this could mean doing a link swap with other local businesses. Once your blog is up and running, share some of your more relevant posts on social media channels. You might also ask other bloggers for guest blogging opportunities, and share a link to your own site within the article you write.
Maintaining a high-quality blog can be a fantastic way to engage your target consumer and improve your keyword ranking. Each blog post serves as a new opportunity for search engine ranking. If your business doesn’t already have a blog, set one up as soon as possible. Once it’s up and running, be diligent about posting—at least once a week. Create posts that are relevant to your target audience, including valuable information they’ll find useful. Be sure to include relevant keywords where applicable, and your audience will naturally build.
Stay Abreast of SEO Trends
Search engine optimization is a constantly evolving beast, and it’s important to stay abreast of current SEO news. Staying on top of SEO trends that seem to change on a monthly basis can be challenging, but there are a few resources you should keep bookmarked, including:
- Moz.com
- neilpatel.com
- SearchEngineWatch.com
Try different strategies that you come across in these resources, and be flexible with your SEO methods—as algorithms vary and search engines become more intelligent, SEO best practices are bound to change.
Hire an SEO Agency for Localized Help
When you work with a local, reputable SEO company, your company information will be submitted to both national and local online networks. Local SEO agencies have done the research needed to determine how to get a business found by a local target market. Whether it’s local directories or reliable local blogs, a marketing agency in your immediate area understands the ins and outs of garnering local results. For example, a company that specializes in Los Angeles or San Diego SEO services is likely going to have a better handle on the ways your website can be used to attract local business in Southern California.
The world of SEO is ever-changing, but building an SEO strategy is an essential part of modern business management. Incorporate these tips into your planning and give your website the SEO help it needs in 2018.