SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it is a critical part of the success of a businesses’ website. Maintaining best-practice SEO strategies will help your web pages rank higher. This means that when someone searches a keyword related to your business, you are more likely to pop up on the search engine closer to the top. Your ranking is crucial because most people who do Google searches don’t look beyond the first few listings on their search results page. If your business is on the 4th or 5th pages, it’s almost a given that few customers will even find you based on their search. SEO management is something that businesses should always be focused on. Here are a few tips for helping improve your SEO strategy and making your business grow.
Finding Keywords
The first step is creating a list of keywords that you want to use for your business. Think of terms that relate to your business. Google itself is a good resource to use to come up with these keywords. For example, if you search “home remodeling,” scroll down to the very bottom of the Google search results page and you will see a section that says “related searches.” The following terms appear:
· Home remodeling contractors
· Home remodeling idea
· Home remodeling near me
· Home remodeling tips
· House renovation ideas interior
· Home remodeling cost
· Home remodeling DIY
· Home renovation ideas on a budget
This gives business owners a great list of keywords that they can begin to use that they know people are already searching.
Long-Tail > Short-Tail
When it comes to keywords, the best practice is to make them longer rather than shorter. Short keywords are usually more competitive, so it will be more difficult to rank. For example, instead of making your keyword “home construction,” make it longer and more specific, like “new home construction Atlanta Georgia.” Being more specific means you will be competing against fewer people using that same keyword.
Where Do I Put My Keywords?
It is essential to drop your keywords in various spots throughout your website. There is a fine line between using your keyword too much and not using it enough. Fortunately, there are website plugins to help with this. Yoast is a plugin that provides users with advice on how and where they should be using their keywords on their website. It provides suggestions about where to place the word, how many times, and whether the keyword has been used too frequently on the site. Here are some of the places we suggest placing keywords to help your pages rank:
· Page titles
· Within articles or blog posts
· In alternate image descriptions
· In meta descriptions
· Subheadings
· Within the URL
A plugin like Yoast can help users ensure that they are properly using their keywords throughout the site to help their business rank and grow.
Specialize
When it comes to SEO and keywords, the key is to specialize. The more general you are, the higher the competition, and the more difficult it will be to rank and for people to find your page. Think about what your business does as a whole and then break down your specialties and create keywords out of those. Here are some quick examples of taking a general keyword and making it more specific:
· “plumbers” becomes “plumbers Atlanta Georgia”
· “Italian restaurant” becomes “Italian restaurant best lasagna”
· “Luxury hotel” becomes “four star luxury hotel”
· “Insurance agency” becomes “automobile insurance agency”
You can get more specific by adding your location or special niches that describe your business into your keywords. This reduces the competition and increases your chances of getting on that first page of Google search results.
Stay Consistent
Another important part of utilizing SEO and keywords is to be consistent. Posting something new on your website once every few months will not help your website rank. A good SEO strategy is to frequently update the pages and posts on your website. Make it a habit to put up a blog post once a week and make changes to your more permanent pages every few weeks. This will keep your site fresh and competitive.
Focus Local
Last but not least, focus your keywords and SEO practices locally! If you are a small local business, there is no reason to waste your time attempting to access people all across the country. Instead, use location in your keywords to help you rank and find more people who are more likely to be future customers in your area. For example, instead of your keyword being “financial advisors,” change it to “financial advisors Atlanta Georgia.” You can even dial into a smaller area than your city! Test out some keywords using neighborhoods within the city. For example, instead of “coffee shop Atlanta Georgia,” try “coffee shop Buckhead.” The more specific you make the location, the less competition you will find, thus optimizing your site and driving business.
SEO management is an essential business practice in today’s digital age. In order to have a successful website, it is crucial that you are working to find the perfect keywords to help drive business. The key is focusing on keywords that are longer, more specific, and that often include location. Also, stay consistent with posts and website updates and use a plugin like Yoast for help. The best way to stay on top of your SEO strategy game is to hire an expert to help you out. Sonny Ahuja has been helping businesses manage SEO and rank online for years. He has the knowledge and experience to help your company grow and kill it online! For more information about the services he provides and how he can help your business, contact Sonny today.
