Nobody really knows the exact science of ranking higher in the search engines, apart from the very bright people that develop the algorithms that make them work. However, there is a broad range of knowledge out there that everybody can use to give their rankings a boost.
We’re going to take a look at some of the most important factors that can get you higher up the pages and bring more traffic to your site. Because without it, you are going to struggle to get any decent number of visitors. So let’s get started right away.
1/ Sign up to Google services
We’re going to use Google in this example. It’s the biggest search engine going, and although you shouldn’t discount the effect that the others have, it’s the best starting point. The services you need to look at are Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools. Analytics will give you an overview of who your visitors are and where they come from.
It’s useful – particularly for showing where your site is succeeding – but use Webmaster Tools for a better look at how well your website is working. It will point you to any areas that are occurring on your site, how fast it is, and suggest how you can fix things. If Webmaster Tools thinks your website is shoddy, the search engines will too.
2/ Target your keywords
You need a good batch of keywords that you want to rank for in SEO terms. Once you have those, it’s time to start using them on your site. You can find keyword suggestions in a Google Adwords account – seek out those with high traffic and medium or low competition for the best effect. Long tail keywords are usually less competitive than standard keywords, so consider that if the competition is a little hot.
Once you have a range of keywords, use them to create articles, landing pages and information pages for what you are selling. Use them sparingly – around 2-3% spread is good enough. If you’re using WordPress, then we highly recommend Yoast. It’s a simple plugin that will tell you if you SEO your articles properly.
3/ Kickstart your blog (if you haven’t already)
Of course, one of the best ways to show Google what you know is to tell them. And learning how to start a blog and filling it with great, relevant content is just about the best way to do it. Show your expertise and subject authority and keep your message consistent, and you will soon get a better quality ranking score.
Blogging takes time – of that there is no doubt. But it’s a cost-effective way to get a foothold in the search engines and also shows potential customers that you know what you are talking about. Educate your audience or customers about relevant topics on your industry. Companies like Buffer and HubSpot have consistently educated their both existing and prospective customers and it turns it’s a great way to attract new users or their products.
4/ Don’t forget to share
Finally, make sure you are sharing your ideas across social media channels. Although search engines don’t give a lot of value to social sharing, liking and retweeting, they do see it as a sign of quality. And in the online world, it’s the smallest things that can make the difference between you and the competition. You can write the most amazing and epic content but if no one knows about it, people won’t know your site or blog even exists.
Start building your audience on Facebook, Twitter or even Medium. A dedicated and loyal following can help spread your posts as you strive to rank better.