Seo Best Practices
Introduction to SEO
So what is SEO? In short, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. When you want to get free traffic from search engines such as Google, then you need to “Optimize” your website, page or post to give yourself the best chance possible to rank high and get free traffic to your website.
Here we will guide you and provide the Best Seo Practices.
Understanding Search Engine Algorithms
Although this section is titled how to Understand the Algorithms, I don’t believe we are mere users of search engines who will ever entirely understand the full operation of the algorithm, to some extent the search engines will always hold something back on how to rank successfully on their engines.
Otherwise, if they didn’t do this, everyone would know how to rank and simply do that.
Around 20+ years ago, all you had to do was tweak meta descriptions and there’s a good chance you will rank high.
However, since this time algorithms have evolved and become very sophisticated. Gone now are the days where you can easily “Game the system”.
So with this in mind, how do we go about Implementing the best SEO strategy to please the algorithms, whilst also getting the possible rankings?
There are many things you can do, I mean many!
However if I was to give just one tip, I would advise to write for the customer or user who is searching for the keyword you are ranking for.
If you write for the user in the mind, rather than trying to overcome an algorithm, as alogotihms are now so sophisticated cthey can see though this now anyway, so being there for a user is always the best way forward.
One other important advice is to always keep up to date with latest Search Engine Updates, expect the unexpected , and react quickly if they do change the way websites are ranked.
Keyword Research and Optimization
There was a time when Keyword Optimisation was important for ranking pages, such as Keyword Density and use of LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) which n sport are related keyword to the mani keyword.
Now Im sure there are still some strength to this, but the word on the street is that this isn’t as powerful as it used to be.
By all means do use Related keywords, and do keep Keyword density around 1% for your main keyword.
But as for most crieiteria with SEO, this is just 1 box that needs to be ticked from many.
Techniques for effective keyword research.
Tips for integrating keywords naturally into content.
On-Page SEO Strategies
When it comes to the important of ON Page SEO, the key things to consider are Making sure all your titles, metedescritons, headers, Image optimization and alt text usage. are optimised.
But, there is nothing more important than creating unique, quality content.
When trying to rank for a keyword there are a couple of things to keep in mind:
1) What type of keyword is it your ranking for, generally there are 2 kinds:
a) Informational
b) Transactonal
2) What is the intent of the user typing in your content?
3) Are yu creating content that satisfies this search request?
If you can understand all 3 of these, then yu are on the right track to being able to create quality content ideal for your keyword.
Technical SEO Essentials
Website speed and mobile-friendliness.
A well known raning factor on search engines is how your website works. How fast does it load and does it work well with mobiles and are all now important criteria every website should take into account.
URL structure and site navigation.
One of the best ways to make sure your URL and navigation is best suited to your website, where possible, is to plan in advance.
As I personally use WordPress one of the main ways to do this is to tweak the “permalinks” section, which will display a certain “path” to each url.
Also as a good rule of thumb, never be more than 2 or 3 click away from a target page from a users perspective.
Off-Page SEO Tactics
Building quality backlinks.
Backlinks are a very underrated and often not talked about SEO requirement.
Think of the analogy of a sports car being your website. You may have the Ferreari of all sports cars, but with the engine ( or backlinks in this example) yuo ain’t going nowhere!
Backlinks are very important when it comes to raking a website as in effect they act as a signal, or vote from another source whose painting back to you.
Have enough of these and you can potentially rank high.
Social media for SEO.
One thing I do recceemnded is getting social signals.
Yes ranking on a search engine will bring valuable traffic, however if you can get noticed and attract traffic from social media, such as from Pinerest, Instrgram, Facebook Twitter to mention a few.
If you can get one or all of these platforms up and running with regular signals than that will likely help telling the search engines that yu have something to offer them to.
Guest blogging and content marketing.
Guest blogging is a great way to acquire backlinks. In short, you contract a website which is within your niche or at the very least related to it. Ask them if they will give you a backlink, in return you will provide them content, such as a post for example.
Be sure to send back quality content, which passes ay plagiarism checks.
Local SEO for Businesses
If you are a “bricks and mortar” business you may want to make sure you are featured on the local search section of google business.
Being found for local keywords and also in maps will help boost your visibility and always traffic, leading to customers.
SEO Analytics and Tools
Once you have the traffic in place, you then want to analyse it, and find out whats working, whats not and how to try and squeeze more out of the success of what your already doing.
This is where Anaylytics and Webiste Monriotoing comes in.
I always use both google console and Google analytics to give me all the most up-to-date info I need to make sure Im making the most of out the traffic I am getting. Quite often it can lead to your next plan of action too.
Avoiding SEO Common Mistakes & Pitfalls
One of the most common mistakes I find with websites and people who run them, ios that they try and create content for the algorithm, rather than for the eundser in mind.
Never write for the algoimth always write for the intent of keyword and fulfil a users needs.
The second most popular mistae also see is the lack of backlinks. Once a website is set up, and hours upon hours of content is written, most people ae worn out by this process by then, and wont take on that last extra hurdle, which is backlinks.
Argualbly its the harderest part of SEO, which is probably why Search Engines use this as main criteria, but is one of the most important.
Understanding and dealing with penalties.
I wouldn’t say that every kind of penelaty can be fixed, but if you do get a penalty, often they can be overcome, so the first thing is to not panic!
The first thing you need to do is understand exactly what the problem is with yuro website and why the traffic and declined or even dropped off completely. To do this Review Google’s Webmaster Guidelines to understand the violation.
If its found that you have poor backlinks in place then Remove or disavow them.
Once you find out what is wrong you need to immediately fix the issue on your website, this may require some work, but most penetalties can overcome, usually these are highlighted via the Google Search Console.
Other Things to be Mindful of With Google Penalties
Improve content quality and remove black-hat SEO tactics uf there are any on your website.
Submit a reconsideration request to Google after fixing the issues. This can be done via your Google Search Console.
Stay updated with the latest algorithm
At least once a year over the period of maybe a few weeks, Google, as an example, roll out udpates which effect all websites and rankings. Often there are winners and Losers to this.
The tip here is to monitor and once the update is complete take action to fix any issues which arise. Sometimes this isn’t needed, sometimes websites actually can benefit to updates.
By following all the tips and advise around SEO feature on this website, will put you in a far better place to potentially need to amend or fix issues.
However, having said that, algorithms can change in mysterious ways, and often can be onpredoctable. So always be on guard.
Going Forward with Good SEO Strategies
If you don’t know what white hat is, in shorts, its the opposite of back hat. White Hat SEO means doing the right thing, and taking on board what the search engines are asking for.
Black hat SEO can work, however the vast majority of time it will be short lived.
If you want a sustainable business/Website then always think in a white hat way.
Seo success isn’t quick or comes overnight. You could argue this is also another factor and critieria search engines test you on, are you willing to go thorgh the test of time to continuously promote and push your business, are you serious about your website, or will yu give up after a month and therefore not be seen as an authority in your chosen niche?
Build a sustainable SEO strategy focusing on quality and user experience. COntinue feeding your wbeioste fresh and upto date informative content. Build a healthy and natural looking backlink profile, but above all have patience!
Future of SEO
Preparing for future changes in search engine algorithms.
Can you really prepare for future changes of Search Engine Algorithms ?
Well the answer to this is, unhelpfully yes and No! 🙂
Yes, what you can do today is use the criteria search engines are asking for from you now, and also only create unique fresh content aimed at fullfilly a need or intent by the user who searches for you.
No, As no one knows what will happen on the next update. With the big changes coming to Serach engines soon, like the introduction of AI, which result in a BIG shake up on how we use search engines, it is nearly impossible to second guess exactly what will happen.
SO all we can do here and now is deal with the algorithm that is current. Hopefully any future changes and updates wont be to big of a leap from what your website is currently successfully ranking for. However, like every website owner, we are all at the mercy of the search engines themselves when it comes to free traffic.
