Questions answered in this post:
What is Search Engine Optimization?
How Do I Optimize My Website?
Reflect on the last time you searched something on Google. You most likely clicked a link on the first page, right? Statistically, 90% of users click a link on the first results page for any given query they have. But with over two billion registered webpages, how do you distinguish your site as one that should make the front page. The answer, SEO.
Search-Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving your sites visibility on search engines (such as Google) by strategically creating your website using specific keywords, links, and phrases that attract visitors.
The primary components of any search engine’s results algorithm—the method it uses to rank which sites appear first on the results page—are how much traffic each site gets, and the average time each user spends on the page. Thus, when considering how to optimize your site, you should focus on improving the user experience (UX) to entice consumers to visit your page and ensure they stay on it.
To effectively improve the user experience and improve your search-engine results page ranking (SERP), you should follow these key steps:
1. Provide unique content
2. Use unique keywords relevant to your site
3. Link other high-traffic websites on your page
4. Write descriptive SEO titles and meta-descriptions for your website
Provide Unique Content
Unique content is what keeps users on your site. If people can find the same information you provide from other sources, there is no reason for them to stay on your site. Start by creating your story as this is the base of your company. From there, determine your strengths and what concepts you can explain best. Finally, add visual content to keep your audience engaged.
Unique Keywords
For each page—within the SEO settings—you have the option to add keywords that identify the page and its content. Use a keyword identifier to determine which phrases accurately reflect your site while simultaneously ignoring overused keywords. Remember, these choices have major implications regarding whether prospective customers will see your site, so choose wisely!
Linking Websites
To improve the SEO of your website, add internal and external links on your site. Use internal links to keep the user interested as they can navigate seamlessly through your pages, and external links to draw upon the SEO of other websites (make sure to open these pages in a new tab however). Don’t add random external links to sites irrelevant to your content, but ensure you have some present.
SEO Titles and Meta Descriptions
Take this example Google search for our Home Page.
There are two distinct components of SEO present in this image: the SEO title and the meta-description.
The SEO title, in this case “Nova Digital Strategy: Home” is the phrase you want users to see. Usually you want this title to match your primary heading on the page it is for, along with mentioning the company name.
Under the SEO title, you can see the meta-description, which explains to users what the page is about and what they can expect to learn from it. Remember, your goal is for users to click on the page, so ensuring your meta-description matches the content on the page yet simultaneously is enticing is key.
Conclusion
SEO is paramount to making your site visible to the public. Using these key steps will help you optimize your website to attract prospective clients.
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