Search engine optimization can be a very grueling task and the journey to becoming an SEO pro can be very long and complicated depending on the path you take. Luckily, there are basic rules you can follow to ensure that site, and your efforts will be ranked on Google organically. In this blog I will be sharing search engine optimization techniques for your blog – that can also be applied to content on your company website. These techniques can be used on a daily basis with minimal time expenditure – it doesn’t take much extra time and costs you nothing.
Key phrases and not keywords!
One of the biggest mistakes I made when I first started writing blogs was choosing short competitive keywords. I would spend hours perfecting the perfect blog and use keywords like “social media management” or “Twitter best practices” and expect to see my post on the first page of Google.
This is not realistic.
When picking keywords for your blog posts, use longer keyword phrases to ensure that you will rank higher for that particular query. Using phrases like “improving return on investment for social media” or “how to use Reddit to increase your website traffic” will provide better results as they have fewer monthly searches. These phrases will also be less competitive among other people who are writing about that topic.
Use these tips when selecting the write keyword phrase for your content:
- Adding a geographic location in your keyword phrase will help you rank higher on Google for people searching for your product or service within your city. For example “Social media management Kingston Ontario” has a greater chance of ranking on Google than “social media management.”
- Using the answer to a particular question as a keyword phrase will rank higher than a key phrase addressing an entire topic. For example “How to import contact on your LinkedIn business page” vs. “importing LinkedIn contacts.”
- Select low competition keyword phrases from Google Adwords. Creating a Google Adwords account and using the keyword planning tool will provide you with lists of low competition keywords that you can use for your blogs or website content.
Keyword placement is very important!
Another important search engine optimization technique is the placement of your chosen keyword phrase within your blog or website content. Use your keyword phrase in the title of you post, within the first sentence of your post, and once every 200-250 words or 2-3% of your total blog. Be aware that overuse of your keyword phrase will negatively impact your SEO results. Keywords should also be placed in your website URL, SEO Title, and Meta description.
Images
Naming images with your chosen keyword is another important way to improve the SEO of your blog post or website content. Because Google cannot recognize what your image contains, using your keyword phrase as the name of your picture as well as including the keyword in your photo’s meta description and alt text will allow Google to categorize your image appropriately.
File size is important too!
Images with small file sizes improve your SEO. The faster your website loads, the more Google will favour your site in search engine results. Also, if you have a large image and are trying to resize it for your website, do not allow your browser to change the size of the picture for you. The image will be loaded in its large size first before getting resized, and this is bad for your SEO. Image editing software should be used to make your image the desired size.
Using social media for SEO…
Linking is a crucial part of improving SEO for your website, therefore including social share buttons on your website is important. Doing this will allow people to easily share your content, and provide inbound links. Sharing links back to your blog through social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, and Google+ will also provide SEO value. Make sure that whenever you post a new blog on your website you are sharing it on all of your social media channels, you’ll be glad that you did!
Directory Listings
Free directory listings provide quick and easy links to your website. Signing up for local and national directory listings will increase to number in inbound links to your website, thus improving your site’s SEO. Directory listing will also provide valuable web traffic by directing people to your site who are in need of your product or service.
Ask for links!
One of the best ways to get additional inbound links to your website is to ask! Many bloggers are willing to trade links if you provide quality content and link back to their website! Beware, though – excessive liking in this manner can be seen as spam and could hurt your search engine results so make sure you are going after higher quality links instead of just focusing on quantity.
Age your domain!
If you are planning to create a blog or website in the future, get your domain now! The older your domain is, and the longer your site is live – the better it will rank on Google.
If you would like to learn more about SEO for your personal blog or company website, please do not hesitate to send me an email at john@likeavosssm.com or leave a comment below!
