If you’re in the marketing world, you’ve probably heard of SEO by this point. If not, then hang on tight; you’re about to experience a crash course. SEO stands for search engine optimization. This refers to the process of increasing your website’s visibility to other Internet users through a search engine. When someone types in a word or phrase, search engines like Google scour the Internet for relevant websites.
By optimizing your website, search engines can find the business more easily and push your link closer to the top of the list—the coveted first page results. Needless to say, ensuring your small business website is search engine optimized should be high on the list of marketing to-dos. To get started, we came up with a list of our own: five simple small business SEO tips. Keep these tips in mind to optimize your website for search engines.
1. Conduct keyword research.
The first step towards search engine optimization is researching relevant keywords for the business. These are popular words or phrases that Internet users are searching for, and are related to your business topic. For instance, a printing company keyword could be “printer.” One of the easiest ways to research keywords is through Google AdWords. The application can tell you how often a keyword is searched for, where it is searched from (regionally or nationally) and other related keywords or phrases to consider as you begin your next SEO phase.
2. Know where to place keywords.
Once you have some keywords in mind, it’s time to start integrating them throughout your website. The goal should be approximately one to four keywords per 100 words of copy. Generally, you should include a keyword in the title of every article or blog post, at least one in a subtitle or bulleted list and the rest spread naturally throughout the copy. This shows search engine algorithms that the website content is highly relevant to the keywords being searched, and should be included in the compiled list of results.
3. Include hyperlinks.
Search engines also determine relevance by seeing if your content includes hyperlinks, which can help users elaborate on the information searched for. The best way to do this is by turning incorporated keywords into hyperlinks. Hyperlinks can direct users to another page within your own website (click to see more info about our marketing materials), or another website where a topic is expanded upon (click to see this company’s guerrilla marketing). Team up with other sites to incorporate hyperlinks to each other’s websites within your content.
4. Update fresh content.
Not only do search engines want to know that your website is relevant; they want to see if it is updated. Keeping fresh, current articles on your website is a great way to boost search engine rankings. For example, consider starting a blog and posting weekly updates on it. Include articles about your product or service, but feel free to branch out a bit, too. Articles on thought leadership, business and entrepreneurship are always popular. This lets search engines know that your info is up to date and worth clicking on.
5. Improve social media profiles.
Finally, never doubt the significance of social media. First, be sure all of your profiles have links to the website, and vice versa. Then, optimize the profiles themselves. The key is to be as descriptive as possible. Fill out the “About” or “Information” sections using keywords or phrases you researched earlier. Include the business address on the profile, and incorporate as much content as possible when posting. It’s also a great opportunity to share content from your website or blog onto your social media pages for an extra SEO boost.
Search engine optimization is a massive topic with lots of ins and outs for how to be the very first link on a search engine page. To start your SEO journey, keep these five simple tips in mind to build your online presence and grow the business.
