As marketers, we’re often asked ‘what is SEO?‘ In very basic terms, SEO is making your website search engine friendly, ensuring it ranks on search engines such as Google.
What is SEO?
Imagine giving your website a megaphone in the vast concert hall of the internet. That’s what SEO does; it helps shout out to search engines who you are and why people should visit.
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation and refers to the process of enhancing a website’s technical setup, content relevance, and link popularity. This ensures its pages are easily discoverable, more pertinent, and popular in response to user search queries, leading to a higher ranking by search engines.
How can you make your website Google friendly?
As Google is the most popular search engine, with over 90% of the market share, it is vital to understand how Google works to optimise your website for it.
There is so much to consider when it comes to creating a website. It’s not enough to simply design something with visual impact. To maximise your website’s full potential, it must be Google-friendly.
This means that it must be optimised in a way that makes it easy for Google to crawl, index and rank your pages.
Struggling with SEO? We’ve highlighted five practical tips to boost your site’s performance on Google.
Understanding SEO and Google
When answering the question, of what is SEO, it’s best to start with a better understanding of exactly what it is and how search engines work, especially since there are several terms used by those who operate in the space daily that may not make sense to those who don’t.
As mentioned above, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the practice of optimising websites to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
How does Google work?
Google navigates the vast online universe by matching your search queries with accurate information in the blink of an eye.
It uses complex algorithms to decide which websites appear first when you search for something. When these algorithms get to work, they examine multiple criteria including the relevance and quality of the content, the website’s structure, and the user experience, to determine which website shows in its search results.
How can you improve your website for Google?
To improve your website’s ranking on Google, you’ve got to play two games at once – impress both the search engines and those who click through.
Enhancing a website’s performance on Google requires you to use relevant keywords, create high-quality content, and improve your website’s structure and navigation.
You can also use Google Search Console, a free service, that will enable you to track your website’s progress and pinpoint any weak points needing attention.
How can I do SEO for my website?
Now that we’ve answered ‘what is SEO’ – here are some top tips for implementing strategies on your website to make it more Google friendly and to help it rank well on search engines.
1. Creating High-Quality, Google Friendly Content
For those asking what is SEO and ultimately seeking to make their website Google friendly – high quality content is key. Elevate where you land in Google’s searches by following these practical advice points. With a little effort, you’ll see better results quickly.
- Keyword Research and Usage: One of the most important aspects of creating Google-friendly content is to conduct thorough keyword research. Start by identifying what phrases or keywords your target audience is using to search for information related to your website. Once you have identified these keywords, you should use them strategically throughout your content, including in your headings, subheadings, and body text. However, it’s important not to overuse keywords, as this can be identified as spam and could result in a penalty from Google.
- E-A-T Principle: Google prioritises content that demonstrates expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-A-T). Knowing your audience inside out – their wants, needs and interests is step one to creating content that resonates. Your content needs to be precise, well-researched, and supported by reliable references for credibility. Demonstrate what you know by featuring professional certifications and credentials. Share success stories from satisfied customers to add an extra layer of trust.
- Avoiding Duplicate Content: Duplicate content can harm your website’s ranking in Google search results. Be certain all of your work is both distinctive and authentically yours to prevent problems. This includes both the text on your website and any images or videos that you use. If you do need to use content from another source, make sure to give proper attribution and use quotes or citations where necessary.
- Optimising Titles and HTML Elements: Your titles and HTML elements, such as meta descriptions and headings, are important for both users and Google. Make sure that your titles accurately reflect the content of your page and include your target keywords where appropriate. Write enticing meta descriptions that catch the eye and make users want to explore further by clicking through to your site. Properly structuring your headings with suitable tags can make a big difference in readability.
By following these tips, you can create high-quality, Google-friendly content that will help your website rank well in search results and attract more visitors, ultimately converting to leads for your business.
2. Website Structure and User Experience
Website structure and user experience are incredibly important for your business’ website to ensure it appears highly in search engine results.
- Mobile-Friendly Design: With more people than ever before using their mobile devices to browse the internet, Google now prioritises mobile-friendly websites in its search results. Therefore, having a mobile-friendly website is essential. Use a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes, and ensure that text and buttons are easy to read and click on.
- Internal Linking and Anchor Text: Internal linking and anchor text help search engines understand the structure of your website and the relevance of your pages. Use descriptive anchor text that accurately reflects the content of the linked page, and ensure that internal links are properly structured.
- Site Navigation and URL Structure: Clear and intuitive site navigation and URL structure improve user experience and help search engines crawl and index your website. Use descriptive and concise URLs, and organise your site’s pages into logical categories and subcategories.
- Website Speed: Websites that don’t load fast enough make visitors impatient and more likely to exit right away. This spikes the bounce rate, harms your user experience and drags down your site’s SEO performance. To improve speed, optimise images, minify code, and use a content delivery network (CDN).
3. Increasing Organic Traffic and Visibility
Using social media platforms and SEO tools are other ways to boost organic traffic to your website and form part of your overall search engine optimisation strategy.
- Leveraging Social Media: Whilst many professional service-based businesses shy away from social media, these platforms, used well, can be a great way to drive traffic to your website. When you put up posts on platforms like Facebook or Instagram, it can lead users straight to your website and expand who you’re reaching overall. Furthermore, social media signals are a ranking factor in Google’s algorithm, so having a strong social media presence can help you rank higher in the SERPs.
- Using SEO Tools: There are many tools available for those seeking to boost their search engine presence and drive more traffic. There are many paid options but SEO tools such as Google Search Console can help you identify areas where your website can be improved. Monitoring who’s visiting your website—and what they’re doing there—lets you discover strategies for attracting even more users through organic search, improving Google’s ranking as a result. Additionally, using tools like robots.txt files can help you control how search engines crawl and index your website.
- Local SEO Strategies: If you have a physical location, local SEO strategies can help you attract customers in your area. By optimising your website for local search queries, you can improve your website’s visibility in local search results. This can help you attract more organic search traffic and increase your market share.
By incorporating these suggestions your website will begin to rank higher in searches and draw greater amounts of unpaid traffic.
4. Google My Business
For businesses looking to boost visibility without breaking the bank, using Google My Business, a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps is crucial.
The platform enables businesses to enhance their digital presence while keeping those searching for them informed about every aspect of their business—from addresses and opening times to customer reviews.
With this no-cost tool from Google, companies can manage how they appear in search results and on maps. Customers can also quickly look up your business details like address, phone number, and operating hours with ease, and also see your reviews.
Google My Business is a great way to showcase your business and stand out from the competition.
To ensure that your website is Google friendly, adding your business to Google My Business should be on your checklist. It’s easy to set up and can be done in just a few steps.
Making Your Website Google Friendly
For further guidance on optimising your website, contact Sirius for a no obligation discussion.
