Anyone who produces content for a blog, regardless of its niche, wants their content to be read by the public. However, for this to happen, the posts need to be found in searches. Knowing how to optimize websites by following SEO strategies can help you.
But when it comes to creating content for Google, it’s crucial to remember that we operate under a set of dynamic, constantly-evolving “rules.” Additionally, even while Google provides some hints, it doesn’t specify exactly what you should do. Nevertheless, there are always techniques to identify the optimal routes.
What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
SEO is an acronym for Search Engine Optimization . These are strategies, usually developed by a digital marketing agency, so that the content produced for your pages is seen more easily by Google, reaching higher positions.
Using proper URLs, including keywords into text, developing high-quality content, optimizing page code to speed up loading times, and designing an easier-to-use interface are a few examples of SEO tactics.
Why is search engine optimization crucial for your website?
Search engines account for a significant amount of the traffic that websites receive from visitors. Consider the number of times you have looked for a phrase on Google and discovered the solution to your query on an unidentified website.
When you optimize a website in Google’s eyes, there is a greater chance that it will be listed among the top positions in the search results. This is an equation that includes dozens of factors, but adopting the so-called “best practices” will help you climb. And the better your position, the greater the chances that the user will click on your link.
Make your website as user-friendly as possible.
It’s not just Google that sees the benefits of optimized pages. Its main goal is to reach users, and they will certainly have a more pleasant experience if you prepare pages that load faster or think about a layout that takes into account the preferences of those who browse.
1. Consider website loading time
A user is less likely to become irate and quit a website that loads slowly. In addition to using more data from visitors, slow and large websites are viewed as providing a poor user experience, and those who have a negative experience are unlikely to come back. As a result, considering enhancing the code might greatly improve your content.
2. Prioritize design for UX (user experience)
Pages should be designed with the user’s well-being in mind. In addition to loading quickly, they should have text that is easy to read and without excessive visual elements that end up cluttering the reading experience. The goal here is to be pleasant above all else, and not to pile up information in a disorganized and confusing manner.
3. Use keywords in your content
All content needs to be developed with a purpose. For example, if your post is about scented soaps, then the keyword chosen for the article should be present several times throughout the text. However, remember that citations should be natural, not forced. Repeating a term just to reinforce it unnecessarily will scare users away.
4. Insert keywords in the <title> and <description> tags
Most modern editors allow users to fill in the <title> and <description> fields. In the first, provide an objective description of what the user will find in the post. In the second, include a description of just under 200 characters about what is available in the text in question.
5. Use keywords in H1, H2 and H3 tags (headings and subheadings)
The information provided in a text must be presented in an order of importance. This order in HTML is indicated by the tags H1, H2 and H3 – the lower the number, the more important it is. In a text, the title is your H1, the subtitles are your H2 and the subtitles within the subtitles are your H3. In these sentences, try to use the keyword whenever possible.
6. Build friendly URLs
The URL is the address of your page and the terms described there are also important in the search. For this reason, URLs must be objective and directly related to the content. Try to use phrases that would be used by someone searching for the subject in question in your post.
7. Give preference to long-tail keywords
Producing content focused on current topics is important, but you also need to think about posts that will stand out continuously, in the medium and long term. On the internet, we call this the “long tail”. Long tail keywords are those that will continue to be searched for for a long time. For example: “digital marketing” is long tail, but “marketing in 2019” is an outdated search that will be less relevant the following year.
8. Use keywords in your images
The images you use on your website are also an important element in helping to locate your content in searches. In the image file name, also use keywords that are related to what is being presented.
Write for the user, not for Google
We’ve mentioned this before, but it’s extremely important to emphasize: you should write texts for users to read, not for Google. Nothing is more important than the experience of those who access the page and consume your text. Texts created with the sole purpose of being “pulled” by search engines are frustrating for users.
This is because they won’t always find the answers they’re looking for there. On the contrary, your page may be marked as a place where there’s no relevant information. In addition, people won’t spend much time on the page, which will considerably reduce your chances of converting visits into clicks, registrations or sales.
Build content with the sales funnel stages in mind
The customer buying journey consists of four stages: research and discovery; problem identification; solution evaluation; and purchase choice. Determining how to interact with customers at each of these stages is one of the responsibilities of marketing strategists. Each of these calls for a distinct strategy.
One of the most effective methods to accomplish this is through content marketing, which enables you to segment information on a topic to satisfy users’ demands at all times. It feels as though you can directly affect the customer without the need for advertising.
Use Call to Action (CTA) on your pages
The goal of content should be to move the user to action. This may be downloading an e-book, purchasing an item, getting more in-depth information about a product, or simply signing up to get emails and incentives. You have the option.
However, it is essential that at some point the reader is called to action. Creating content that is efficient in terms of calls to action is an art, and it is up to the professionals at your digital marketing agency to think of the best strategies to increase the conversion rates of your CTAs.
Build links
Last but not least, keep in mind that link building is an important weapon on the internet. The more pages that link to you, the higher your domain authority. Stronger pages tend to appear higher in search results.
Likewise, whenever possible, link to pages that have similar content to yours, or that provide additional information for the consumer. It’s as if you’re constantly building an ecosystem in which your pages are an important part of the equation.
There’s a lot of work to be done when it comes to creating pages with relevant content that stand out in search engines, right? For those who are just starting out, this basic set of rules may seem like the hardest thing in the world, but believe me: it is possible to stand out on the internet by producing quality and optimized content.
