Always searching for the right words?
Every day, billions of people search for content on the worldwide web, from local weather reports, to shop opening times or even the occasional meme. So, how is it that Google understands exactly what we are looking for in the time it takes to hit?
Besides the usual advice of great metatags and relevant keywords, there are a multitude of other techniques you can use to best improve your SEO.
Don’t DIY S-EO-S your website
Although it’s tempting to overhaul your current content completely; much like a post-breakup haircut, it’s not always a good idea. Your current model is the perfect baseline to work with and will allow you to accurately measure any improvements your changes have made. Create an SEO plan with goals that best represent success to you and your business. Is it a ten per cent increase in page views? Or five more social media shares this month? Whatever the goal, keep it simple and measured.
Good content travels fast
How often have you felt frustrated by a slow-moving site? According to eConsultancy, at least 40 per cent of us will abandon a website that takes longer than 3 seconds to load. A slow page not only insinuates inexperience but ultimately discourages people from reading about your products.
Faster loading speeds will improve your user experience and ultimately ensure customers who find your site, stay on it.
These are not the keywords you’re looking for
Keywords are a crucial aspect of successful SEO but prioritising the ‘droids’ over the people that read your content could be a mistake. A healthy balance of long-tail keywords and customer driven copy will encourage a positive change to your engagement. With SEO at the forefront of your mind, it’s easy to forget that search engines don’t actually read your posts, purchase products or hit that ‘like’ button — that’s down to your customers. With that being said, write your content with the user in mind. Make it punchy, unique and relevant.
SE-Oh no!
When analytics show your techniques aren’t working, it can be an intimidating situation to manage. However, peaks and troughs in engagement are all part of a healthy SEO process. Search engines frequently change the ways in which they rank websites and their relevancy, so think of lower engagement as a hint from Google to keep on top of your strategy. To get back on track, have a look at the content that is doing well and replicate some of its keywords or metatags. Google search for your own keywords and view what pages are listed above yours for some SEO inspiration — just be sure to turn off personalised search first.
SEO is not a project with an end point. Search engines continue to refine their ranking methods, and audiences continue to change how they search. A website that performs well this month may need renewed attention next month. Building a considered SEO strategy gives a business the foundation to keep pace with these shifts. Small adjustments to page speed or keyword targeting tend to compound into stronger organic search visibility over time. Treating on-page SEO as an ongoing practice, checked and refined regularly, tends to produce steadier results. Many businesses find that partnering with an experienced SEO agency takes the guesswork out of this process.
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