This Is How You Optimize Your Site...5 SEO Tips For Beginners!
“How on earth do you SEO your website?”
We get this question a lot! And there are many different answers we could give you, because SEO isn’t just a click of a button. And it’s definitely not a one-time fix.
SEO is constantly evolving with technology advancements, software application updates, privacy policies etc.
Why is it such a dynamic practice? Because we don’t live in a static world. We live in a world that is constantly looking for:
- Speed
- Convenience
- Experience
- Solutions
- Personalization
- Expertise and more!
This means that we, as business owners, need to dive in and start showing up in these key areas.
But how do we do that?
By optimizing our online presence and, essentially, making ourselves easy (and quick) to find!
What Does SEO Mean?
What even is SEO?
Well for starters, the term “SEO” is actually an acronym, meaning:
S - Search
E - Engine
O - Optimization
Essentially, it is the process of optimizing your business in order to reach the right target, in the right place and at the right time.
The practice of SEO has two main goals:
- Quality Traffic
- Quantity of Traffic
And both of these goals are to be met using organic methods!
How Does SEO Work?
In a nutshell, SEO is composed of two main parts:
- The basic Search Engine side.
- The more advanced Optimization side.
Today, we’re just focusing on the optimization side of things!
Here’s How It Works:
Step 1. A search is made (ie. Best Pizza Near Me).
Step 2. Google takes your request and begins crawling sites for information that match your search (paying close attention to quality, accuracy and relevance).
Step 3. The crawlers bring all of the information back and organize it from most recommended to least recommended. Essentially, Google prioritizes the “answers” to the request by what it deems to be the most reliable, trustworthy and authoritative source of information.
When you optimize a site, you’re improving the quality of content that Google finds when it crawls your pages, increasing your chances of being prioritized on their results page!
Why Is SEO Important?
SEO can be very time consuming and confusing, however it is SO IMPORTANT. Why? Because this is one of the only platforms where your ideal client is looking for you, rather than you having to look for your ideal client.
Your job is simply to make yourself seen!
5 Reasons Why SEO Is So Important:
- Improves Customer Experience
- Increases Your Authority
- Increases Traffic
- Increases Awareness
- Keeps Your Business Relevant and Competitive In The Market
How Do You SEO?
Now to the good stuff!
PRO TIP: In order to reach your ideal audience, you must first know who they are and understand what they are looking for.
5 SEO Steps For Beginners:
1. Establish a Keyword List.
A Keywords List is essentially a specific list of words and phrases that are commonly searched by your ideal customer and that relate to your specific business. This is where truly knowing your customer comes in handy!
THE KEY is to find specific terms with search traffic that isn’t too competitive, allowing you to be ranked higher in a reasonable time.
2. Create Good URLs.
A good URL is relevant, structured, short, simple and keyword rich!
BE CAREFUL to not fall into the trap of keyword stuffing! Keep your URLs practical and straightforward, easy to read and even easier for Google to crawl.
3. Add Page Titles.
Page titles are the hook for your readers AND for Google crawlers. We recommend keeping your titles up to, but no longer than, 60 characters!
DON’T FORGET to use descriptive terms from your keyword list within your titles.
4. Add Meta Descriptions.
Meta descriptions are elements that describe and summarize the content of your page. This important tag is often what search engines use in their SERP (Search Engine Results Page) snippet. As searchers read through the list of ranked pages on their results page, the meta descriptions help direct their choice.
HERE’S A TIP, anything beyond 160 characters usually gets cut off, so try summarizing your page in a readable sentence package full of your keywords and limiting it to 160 characters.
5. Add Headings.
Headings are a great way to structure your page, organize your points of interest and improve the readability of your content! Try to structure your content so that H1, H2 and even H3 tags contain your focused keywords.
DID YOU KNOW that headings also make the page look pleasant and improve its readability for the visitor?
SEO Your Site With The Search Engine Specialists At OSM
It’s time to start showing up where your ideal client needs you. Are you ready to try it for yourself?
Don’t forget step #1 - KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!
At OSM in Belleville, Ontario, our marketing team LOVES getting to know your ideal client. And we can help you identify, locate and target these individuals as well!
Not ready to do it yourself? Contact our search engine specialists at OSM and ask about our SEO packages - including a researched and ranked keyword list, designed specifically for your business!
We’re here to help you cultivate your organic community, grow as a business and truly thrive in your market - let’s get started together!
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
