How to use SEO for Business Success
How to use SEO for Business Success
The marketing enterprise has changed within the last few decades. While the old ways still work, entrepreneurs have realized that the internet is a more powerful resource. But drawing traffic to your site is not as simple as you might think. Digital marketing has a lot of intricacies.
Producing Content
If you have done a little research, you have probably heard of the mantra, “Content is king.” Search engines look favorably on websites that update regularly. You will need to create a blog on your website and write real content. Think about your industry and what your audience wants to know. If you sell something related to automobiles, write about traveling safely or vehicle upkeep. That will indirectly lead to sales.
It might surprise you to learn that there are actually different forms of content. The relevant distinction to keep in mind now is between long-form and short-form. Long-form content is a blogpost exceeding 1500 words that explores the nuances of an issue. This will be useful if you are competing with other websites. In contrast, short-form content provides a brief overview of an issue. If you are targeting a specific region, then you might not have as much competition and your blogs can be shorter. This is known as local SEO.
There are pros and cons to both of these methods. If you write long-form content, your audience might get bored. A good way to counter that is to write the content in a way that will not overwhelm them. This includes using subheadings, images, lists and more. In contrast, short-form content is often regurgitated material that viewers can find elsewhere on the internet. But that is really only a problem if you have competitors who are writing in your industry to your target audience. If you are targeting a specific region, it might not be a problem. This will involve market research on your part.
Helping Search Engines Find Your Content
Of course, writing content is only the beginning. There are very few products that will sell themselves. You need to integrate proper SEO principles. Probably the most important will be the use of keywords. When somebody queries a search engine, she is entering a keyword. Google reveals websites that use those keywords and provide information. Your website will need an appropriate number of keywords per article.
This will entail balancing your keyword density. If you use it too much, your writing is going to be unnatural and people will not want to read your content. On the other hand, your site will not show up on search engines if you do not use the keyword enough. Some WordPress plugins (such as Yoast) will actually tell you if your keyword usage is appropriate.
Use WordPress
You are on the right track if you already use WordPress. It has a lot of potential and is pretty inexpensive. WordPress actually has independent developers working on plugins to make websites more functional. If you want to connect with your audience while they are browsing, you could install a live chat plugin. There is something for pretty much anything you have seen on the internet.
Beyond that, WordPress provides routine updates to its website. It does this for two important reasons. First, hackers are constantly trying to break into the system. The updates help to stay ahead of them. Second, they can work out glitches and improve the speed of your website. Search engines actually demote sites that take awhile to load. This is understandable because most people will go to another site if one is taking too long to load. Overall, WordPress can improve your search engine ranking.
Think About Your Template
You should begin by comparing other websites in your industry to your own. If your template is unprofessional, many are going to think it looks like a third-tier site. People will not trust you enough to make a purchase or read your content. This would actually be another area where WordPress is useful. They have thousands of professional designs submitted by independent developers. Another option is to hire a website designer.
Alternative platforms do have a lot of template options. If you can find one that updates as regularly as WordPress does, then that is great. However, platforms such as Blogger will force users to download an external template and upload it onto their sites. The problem with this is that these external files do not come with updates. When you add a plugin to your site, it might interfere with the template. Since the template does not update, you will either be stuck with that or be forced to find a new template. So you should either commit to a marketing agency that will handle that for you or use a platform that updates its templates.
Use HTTPS Protocol
If you look at a website’s url, you will notice that there will either be an HTTPS or HTTP protocol. An HTTPS protocol comes with an encryption. If your viewers were to use a public WiFi network, their information needs to be secure. An HTTP protocol does not have a secure connection; hackers can steal the data pretty easily. Google is actually rewarding sites that have an HTTPS protocol.
Interact With Other Bloggers
An influencer is somebody in your industry who has an established audience. You should interact with these people to draw traffic to your site (obviously avoiding competitors). Many bloggers begin with something as simple as linking to their site. When the influencer sees traffic coming from your site, she might link back to you. Most bloggers are also receptive to guest posts. It will bring your audience to their site and their audience to your site. Ask a few influencers if they would be open to that.