Search Engine Optimization (SEO), also known as Search Engine Optimization, is optimizing your website’s content and navigation to increase its ranking in search engine results. Effective SEO can boost your ranking in Google, Bing, or other search engine results pages, whether you own a retail store, restaurant, or service-based company.
Why is it so important? Online searches are the most common way consumers find local businesses, restaurants, and services. According to Advanced Web Ranking, the first-place website on Google’s desktop results has a click-through rate of 34.36 percent. More than one-third of people who view the page click on the mark. This can lead to a significant increase in website traffic for your business. Google’s study shows that 50 percent of mobile users who search for local companies to visit the store within a day. Search engine optimization can help you capture some of that foot traffic.
Search engines reward websites that are easy to navigate and have relevant content for online users. They use several factors to determine the quality of your website, including:
- How many pages and how long do visitors stay on your site
- Share your content on Social Media
- The loading speed of your website
- If other websites link to yours, it’s a good indicator of your “authority” online.
- If your site is responsive to mobile devices, the pages have been optimized for viewing on a smartphone.
Here are some ways to improve the SEO of your website.
Take the time to understand your customers’ minds.
Many SEO tips can be summarized in one sentence: Think like your customers. Your SEO ranking will improve if your website is helpful to customers. What phrases will customers use to search for your business or product? What kind of search will they do before they decide to purchase? If you were a customer, would you share your website with family and friends? Here’s how to break it down:
- Use “long tail” keyword phrases that are search-friendly. Long-tail searches include terms with more words and details. “Coffee Shop” is a general keyword. “Best coffee shops in Haworth, NJ” is a long-tail keyword. Long tail keywords are less competitive, so you’re more likely to appear first for less popular but more specific phrases in the search results. You can also optimize your website for other shorter terms, such as “coffee shops” or “Haworth NJ,” by including the phrase “best” coffee shop in Haworth, NJ. You might have ” fast cafes in Haworth, NJ” or ” Organic cafés in Haworth, NJ” on your site.
- Shareable content is a great way to spread the word about your business. Social media marketing is most effective when customers share your content. You don’t need to create gimmicky or slick content to get people to share it. You can get more backlinks if your website has the best articles on selecting a product and using it safely and effectively. Create shareable content with a contest, a beautiful photo, a funny video of your staff, or enticing promotions. To be shareable, you need to create valuable or interesting content for the viewer.
Think Local
It can be hard to compete with the many websites in the world if you have a broad SEO strategy. You’ll spend a lot more time and effort if you try to please everyone. Focus on attracting the people most likely to buy from you, those potential customers on their phones in your neighborhood. While shopping, customers are looking for local businesses or researching products. You can ensure that your local business is easily found using a few simple tips.
- Register Your Business with the most popular search engines and mapping services, such as Google My Business, Apple Maps, and Yelp. Yelp and other review websites should be a part of your marketing strategy. They are used by 142 million people every month. From a single dashboard, you can use some tools to ensure that your small business’s information is current on popular directories such as Yelp and TripAdvisor. Centralizing updates will help you avoid errors that could negatively impact search results or frustrate customers, leading them to choose a competitor.
- Add all your contact information to directories and review websites, including your phone number. Include links to popular content, such as menus or directions. Ensure your phone number is clearly displayed on every site page.
- In your title, description, and metadata, use your location. This will boost your site’s ranking in local searches.
Think fast
Researchers claim you only have 15 seconds before the average online visitor will lose interest. Customers are impatient and want their products now. If they do not see anything of interest, they will click away. In this context:
- Search engines will take note if you send traffic to a website and the visitor clicks away immediately. If you create content promoting the best celebrity tattoos, but your visitors don’t find anything related to this promise, they will likely leave your website. Examine your content and ads. Do they match? Visitors, will they get what they expect when they visit your website? To improve the overall user experience, ensure your ads are relevant to users and meet their expectations. Consider whether the website is designed to encourage visitors to explore and if it’s easy to browse and purchase products. Your first goal should be to attract potential customers, but the second is to make them want to buy from you. Make it simple.
- Make your website mobile-friendly. Google will know if someone searches for a shoe shop on their mobile phone. Google prioritizes shoe store websites optimized for mobile because they want the user to have an enjoyable experience. You may lose many customers if your website is not mobile-friendly. Many website builders optimize your mobile website automatically.
