Most business owners have heard of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and know that having a top ranking on Google leads to better traffic and sales.
What they often don’t understand is how their search engine ranking is determined. What are all the major factors involved, and what should they be paying attention to most?
We’ve compiled a list of The 12 Commandments of SEO for newbies in simple, easy-to-understand terms…..
1. The quality of your website’s content – Say you were to eliminate all the graphical elements on your website and had to score it based on the content quality alone. It’s crucial that your website copy is informative, helpful, and showcases your industry expertise.
2. On-page SEO factors – Your website title tags, URL extensions, alt tags, meta descriptions, and body text should all be optimized for your industry’s most sought-after keywords. Your on-page SEO is your official roadmap for telling Google what search terms you want to appear for the most.
3. Links to your website from trustworthy sources in your industry – Referred to as “backlinks”, these carry some of the most weight when it comes to SEO rankings. You want other websites in your industry (with high authority) to link back to your website. These count as official “votes” for your website and overall SEO score.
4. Website traffic and popularity – Typically, search engines will favour websites that are viewed regularly with higher volumes of traffic. If your website hits are low, it’s a clear sign to search engines that the content isn’t valuable to their users. You should be driving traffic to your website by any means possible, with both free and paid options available.
5. Freshness of content – If you’ve ever seen a news or entertainment blog, their content is updated frequently, often daily. Search engines are always on the lookout for new, fresh content first. If you are not delivering this consistency, your SEO ranking will take a hit.
6. Social media signals – Social media is where most people get their information nowadays. If you are not active on the many popular platforms, no “social signals” are coming your way. You want as many shares, likes, and followers as possible, all directing new viewers back to your website.
7. Legitimate positive reviews – Legit reviews from real people serve as the ultimate proof that your business is trustworthy. You want as many good reviews as possible through Google, Facebook, Yelp, Trustpilot, and anywhere else people will be looking for them.
8. Business directory listings – Although people use search engines to find what they need, business directories are also a popular source of information. You want your company listed in high-end local business directories, many of which are free for a basic listing.
9. Video and Interactive Elements – If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth much more. Quality videos personalize your viewing experience and allow customers to see you in a way that images do not. Also, if there is a way to add other interactive websites to your website, they are likely to stick around longer.
10. Proper keyword research – If you perform all the correct SEO strategies but the right keywords aren’t targeted, your efforts will be in vain. Take advantage of all the best keyword research tools available, and make sure you learn how to use them properly.
11. Proper navigation and structure – How well-organised your website is and how efficiently your users can get around is essential. If your navigation structure is overly complicated, people will lose interest early and leave your website quickly.
12. Mobile Speed & Friendliness – How your website performs on mobile devices has never been more important. Data suggests that over 58% of users will see it on a cell phone first. Your website needs to load fast and look great on cell phones, iPads, and tablets.
If you need help with SEO services, be sure to visit advancewebsolutions.ca for more information!
Jeff Moyer – Advance Web Solutions Owner
