When one thinks of search engine optimization, one might think it involves a lot of hard work, tons of money, and grandiose gestures, given how rough competition can be. They’d probably expect Orange County SEO experts to pull all the stops to make it to the coveted first page!
Contrary to that belief, however, that’s not always the case. As the popular saying goes, “A little goes a long way,” and that certainly holds for SEO too. In the quest for the first page, people tend to gloss over very minor details that may not seem like much but are actually crucial to getting your website primed for search engines.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the six small steps you need to do for SEO.
1. Structure, Structure, Structure
Before you can even think about publishing content, you need to figure out the logistics. What is it that you want to create? Is it relevant to your audience? Is it something you can write yourself, or would it be a better idea to pass it along to a more talented writer? Do you want to create the same type of content (e.g., all blogs), or would you want to spice it up (e.g., blogs, videos, artworks, etc.)?
Having a system in place ensures that things will run smoothly and efficiently. You can easily do this by designating specific tasks for people on your team, creating outlines for content, and having a set schedule for writing, editing, and publishing. You can’t have a well-oiled machine if your gears aren’t in place!
2. Consider the Visuals
Like it or not, people do judge books by their covers. It’s just a natural human instinct to be attracted to and gravitate towards pretty and organized things. So, it’s important to look at your website’s visuals and make sure it’s easy on the eyes too.
There are certain elements of website design that are more popular than others. Whitespace, for example, has a lot of space on your website. This allows readers to focus on what’s important. Take a look at Apple’s homepage, for example:
Another popular element of design is bold, bright colors that pop out like this:
Whichever way you design it, you have to make sure that it’s not too cluttered. Keep the text short and sweet, and let the website design and images do the rest of the talking. As you can see from the previous screenshots, a few words can pack a serious punch.
3. Put Some Effort
Back in the early days of SEO, people used to employ shady tactics like keyword stuffing and invisible text to rank higher on search engines. Nowadays, it’s mostly frowned upon as it’s lazy, halfhearted, and overall, not a good look for your brand. Google also actively punishes people who continue doing these acts, so think twice before trying to cheat your way in. If you’re going to do SEO, you have to do it the honest way.
You also need to be very thoughtful with your content. You can’t just whip up a 200-word article, slap on a clickbait title, and call it a day! It probably won’t be a valuable read for your audience, and you will lose readers eventually. Instead, write something that you think your audience would like to see, making sure that it serves their needs.
4. Do Your Keyword Homework
Keywords are what people plug into search engines when they’re looking for something. So, if you’re trying to be found by your audience, you need to make sure your keywords are something they would search for.
There are so many ways to do proper keyword research, but we’ve highlighted a few of them below. As an SEO company in Orange County, we’ve found that these were the most helpful for our clients.
Firstly, use a mix of short and long keywords. Short keywords are more generic, making them popular search terms. On the other hand, long keywords, while harder to find, increase your chances of conversion. A mix of these two significantly increases your odds of getting found.
Secondly, choose keywords that are relevant to your content. For example, if you’re a shoe-selling business, you wouldn’t want to focus on keywords like sprained ankles or pedicures. While related to feet, they’re probably not what customers came to your site for!
Lastly, utilize keyword research tools like SEMrush or Moz Keyword.
5. TL;DR Meta Descriptions
Meta descriptions tend to get glossed over and ignored because they don’t directly influence search engine rankings. However, they can have a huge effect on clickthrough rates if optimized correctly.
That’s because meta descriptions are the little excerpts people read on search engines. If your website were a YouTube video, your meta descriptions are eye-catching, engaging titles that encourage people to click it. An interesting meta description can make all the difference with your audience.
So, don’t underestimate the power of a good meta description.
6. Build Links
When people think of building links, they usually refer to external links, wherein you make a list of websites and try and encourage them to link back to yours. External links tell search engines that you’re a credible source and are trusted by other websites.
However, internal links are just as powerful. They not only tell search engines that your site has a wealth of information, but they also allow your readers to breeze through your site quickly. It’s like following a breadcrumb trail—they’ll click on an article, see an internal link to another interesting article, then the cycle repeats. Before long, they’ll be spending more and more time on your website, and that can never be a bad thing!
Look through your content and see if it can be connected to another page on your site. It’s easier than it looks—far easier than building external links, in fact, though both are needed to get your SEO up and running.
Conclusion
SEO is something holistic—you need to optimize every single thing to a tee if you want to rank high on the search engines. It pays to be nitpicky, and all that extra time and effort you spend will be worth it in the end!
If you need extra help optimizing your site for SEO, why not consider a helping hand? Drive Traffic Media is an SEO company in Orange County that can get everything together for you. Contact us at (949) 800-6990 for more details!
