SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization, which means:
“The process of maximizing the number of visitors to a particular website by ensuring that the site appears high on the list of results returned by a search engine.” – Dictionary.com
SEO plays a very large role in growing your organic reach. When online users are searching up a question or want facts about your industry, you want to make sure your website pops up and provides them with the information they’re looking for. This can lead to many positive opportunities such as: potential new clients, exposure, and leveraging your business – making you appear as a ‘reliable source’ to new and old users. This is why proper SEO is important for your business’ life online!
Search engine optimization is a fairly broad topic and can entail a number of steps. However, there are key basics to keep in mind when optimizing your website.
Where to Start with SEO
Ensure Your Website is Secure
Website security matters – especially to search engines! If your website has switched to HTTPS and has an SSL certificate, you are heading in the right direction! Now, these changes won’t push you to the top but it will bring you closer. Having a secure website also gives you the opportunity to further the relationship between you and your current clients and build trust with new ones!
Use Ideal Content Length
Most websites see success when their content is fairly lengthy. This does not mean you need to write chapters or essays but it is ideal to write long and relevant content that speaks to your users. Try including content that your user may search up and create content that will answer those concerns – without keyword stuffing!
Take Advantage of Relevant Keywords
In the previous tip I mentioned “keyword stuffing” – what is that? Keyword stuffing is not a good thing. If you are stuffing keywords everywhere on your site, you are writing for search engines and not your users! This will lead to users being less active on your website as your content won’t make sense to them. To take advantage of keywords the right way, you want to naturally include them within your website through titles, descriptions, image names, blogs, etc. Be tasteful with the amount you choose to use.
Understand Google Analytics
Google Analytics is our best friend. Google Analytics is the place to be when wanting information about your website’s performance and user interaction. With analytical information, you are able to adjust your content or your keywords with more knowledge as oppose to guessing and debating what’s right and wrong. Pay attention to your bounce rate and pages per session to better understand your demographic. These two fields impact your search engine ranking.
Don’t Forget the Importance of Links
Research proves that links play a big part in leveraging your website. Whether it be links used as referrals or backlinks, both of them matter. Traffic, exposure, duration length, and bounce rate are all impacted when proper linking is done on your website.
Before you take a leap in to the world of SEO, I want to give a full disclaimer that SEO is a time consuming process, I won’t sugarcoat it. Please keep in mind that even if you have optimized every corner and crevice of your website, that does not mean you’ll rank 1st place overnight… But don’t get discouraged! Although optimization takes some time to do properly, it is definitely worth it in the long run.
If time is not on your side right now but you need your website optimized – don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Future Access has a team of passionate individuals ready and willing to help your business succeed online. Let us handle the technical stuff, so you can focus on what you do best: promote, sell, and grow your business!