Search Engine Optimization helps businesses, both big and small, stand out; it allows companies to stand out and be noticed by their preferred clientele organically. How exactly can someone achieve being on the first page of a consumer's search? It's simple - data and analytics. Data is one of the most widely used sources in the world, but when it comes to analyzing it, many people draw a blank. Explaining information is virtually connecting the dots and allows the business to discover the "why," and other questions imposed. With the analyzed data, companies can strategically use it to be proactive in increasing their online presence and drive their SEO rankings up. So what can a small business owner do to help improve their SEO score? Here are five simple tips on how to successfully drive yourself to the top and see your company on the first page of Google in time:
1. Consistency
You've probably heard this saying growing up while playing sports, practicing a musical instrument, or studying for a test: "Consistency is key." So as much as it might drive you crazy to hear it again, your parents were right. Being consistent and present with your social media platforms is so important to boost your SEO score. The more you post, the more you will get consumers to visit your website. Also, when researching a topic, business, or industry, it is apart of search engine optimization to prioritize updated blogs and content. The more consistently you post, the more likely you will increase traffic to your website, improving your rankings.
2. Creating Engaging Content
Whether it is creating a new blog or social media post, the content your business posts is crucial to your business's success. There should be a strategy behind the content you're posting, and it differs for each company depending on what you want your customers and visitors to notice. No matter what, creating engaging content enables trust in your brand, brand awareness, as well as allowing you to be discoverable as a dominant player in your industry ( Foote, 5 Top Tips For Creating Outstanding SEO Content) The content you create is crucial for your digital footprint as a business, primarily since everything nowadays is based online.
3. Use Keywords Effectively
Analytics is something that becomes very useful for this particular topic, and there are so many good (and free) tools to help you. Buzz words within your industry and your clientele are what you'll be looking for, especially what your competition is using. Not everyone is using the correct words for their search, which is why using an array of keywords in your articles, blogs, and other content related posts will help those people using different vocabulary to find your site (and hopefully what they were looking for too!) The more keywords you use, and the more often you use them, the more search engines will find you. (Muzones, 5 Traffic-Boosting SEO Tips and Tricks Every Blogger Needs to Know)
4. A Quick Loading and User-Friendly Website
Your website is a crucial identity, and it defines your business as well as your genuine care for visitors to your site. As we get closer to approaching 2020, it's safe to say the "minimalist" trend has been not only timeless but very popular. People want to see a sleek website, but most importantly, a user and mobile-friendly site with accelerating speeds. I hate to break it to you, but if your website can't load within a few seconds, people will find your competitor's site and use their business instead. In the digital age we live in, consumers want a fast working website that is easy to navigate on a desktop, tablet, and even their smartphone.
5. Meta Descriptions
Meta Descriptions are just a fancy word for the description of your article that appears on a Google search. These descriptions are your mini advertisement for an online user to click on your website's blog post. It is critical to make this intelligent and creative to draw in more people to your site. Keywords are always highly encouraged to be used in this little excerpt as well because search engines will look for the keywords that people are searching. (Grybniak, 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Meta Descriptions)
All in all, these five tips are just the start of what SEO could do for your business. You probably won't appear on the first page of Google overnight, but like I said, in time you will not only have more traffic to your website, but you will probably have risen above your competitor.