SEO Basics for the Small Business
SEO is a term used to describe certain website-building practices that increase the likelihood of your site showing up in search engine results. The better your SEO, the higher you’re likely to find yourself on the list of results for relevant keywords. A higher ranking means better visibility and more traffic for your site, increasing the success of your online presence. The best part? Incorporating SEO in your website is a fairly simple and intuitive process once you know what the algorithms are looking for.
The Formula for SEO
One algorithm for search engine optimization is Google’s “Penguin.” Rolled out in 2012, Penguin uses a number of qualities to determine a website’s value and thus its ranking in search engine results. Websites that have highly valuable content, update their content frequently, utilize keywords their customers are most likely to use in searches, link to other relevant sites and content, and have a mobile-friendly site tend to rank higher, while those who are lacking in one or more of these areas can suffer considerably in bringing in search engine traffic.
Content Counts
The best thing you can do for your website is ensure that you are providing content that visitors find useful or interesting. Google and other search engines try to filter out ‘spam’ sites that fail to offer meaningful content to visitors, so it’s essential to make sure your website has something to say. Including information about your business’ practices, its products and services, its values, and its location/contact information can all enhance your website’s value, both for business and for search engines.
Keep It Fresh
The more frequently you update the content on your site, the more credibility you’ll gain with both search engine algorithms and potential customers. Maintaining a blog on your site, continually updating your available products and services, and adding new testimonials whenever you have them are all great ways to keep your website fresh and on search engines’ radars.
Unlock your SEO Potential with Keywords
It’s been said before, but keywords really are key when it comes to SEO. Specifically, you need to know what words potential customers use when searching for products or services like the ones you offer, then include these words in the content and links on your website. Understanding the language your customers use is essential to using keywords effectively. Once you know the language your target customers are using, it’s easy to pepper this throughout your site to ensure that their searches lead them to your door.
Create Connections by Using Links
It may be surprising to know that linking to other sources can improve your website’s SEO rankings. After all, the idea of linking your potential customers to competing sites is enough to cause anxiety in most small business owners. But you don’t have to risk losing customers to create connections between your site and others that have established themselves as reputable. Linking to websites that have information your customers will find relevant or helpful can improve their experience on your website while also increasing your sense of credibility in search engine algorithms.
One Website To Go, Please
If visitors can’t see the valuable information on your site because of poor formatting for mobile, they’re likely to leave your site more quickly than they normally would. If your website gets enough visits like this, search engines will begin to filter it out as spam and send you to the search engine graveyard. Creating a mobile-friendly site keeps you in better standing with search engine algorithms while also increasing customer accessibility.
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