Industry, size, and framework are just some of the defining factors of businesses, and while these elements differentiate organisations from one another, they still have a shared goal. All businesses strive for success, and this success looks different for every organisation, but this isn’t to say that shared methods can’t achieve various outcomes. For instance, all businesses can benefit from search engine optimisation (SEO), as a strong online presence is required to reach new customers and keep existing ones engaged. Businesses everywhere are looking to improve their Google ranking, but the ever-changing algorithm makes it difficult to understand what the best practices are. So, if you’re aiming to boost your Google search ranking, discover our top five SEO tips for businesses below.
1. Keyword optimisation and content quality
Firstly, to increase website traffic, you need to ensure that you have high-quality content that’s well-optimised. This means using a search engine marketing (SEM) tool to conduct keyword research. The trick is to find keywords that are relevant with substantial search volume without being overly competitive. If you’re in a niche market, then long-tail keywords can be particularly effective.
Once you have your keywords, you can use these to create high-quality, valuable content that addresses user intent. Google favours content that’s engaging, well-researched, and genuinely useful! Don’t forget to place keywords strategically, such as in headings, meta descriptions, and body text, but don’t shove them in if they don’t flow nicely. It’s all about integrating keywords naturally for readability and relevance, without stuffing too many into one section of text.
2. Technical SEO and site structure
When you optimise websites for Google, this requires you to look at the technical side of things. For instance, site speed is now more crucial than it has ever been before; not only does a slow site frustrate users, but it will also be penalised by Google. Similarly, websites must now be functional across various browsers and devices, since almost 60% of global website traffic comes from smartphones.
In terms of site structure, you need a clean URL format with descriptive URLs, proper tags, and internal linking so that search engines are able to crawl your site with ease.
What’s more, schema markup makes it easier for search engines to understand your content and improve how it appears in search results.
3. Backlinks and domain authority
Another one of the many Google ranking factors is backlinks and domain authority. With quality backlinks from reputable websites, search engines are able to deduce that your content is credible and relevant. It’s best practice to earn links naturally via valuable content and collaborations with other websites. This might come in the form of guest blogging, press releases, and partnerships. Be sure to keep an eye on your backlink profile and address any low-quality or spammy links that have the potential to damage your domain authority.
4. User experience (UX) and engagement metrics
Bounce rate, time on page, click-through rate (CTR), and various other engagement metrics all affect your SEO. It’s for this reason that it’s so important that you optimise your content and design for ease of use to keep users engaged. This might involve creating an intuitive navigation structure that helps both users and search engines find information quickly. Loading, interactivity, visual stability, and multiple other core web vitals are also part of Google’s ranking criteria, so it’s essential that you optimise for these, too.
5. Local SEO and Google My Business
A lot of businesses rely on their local customers; this is where optimising for local SEO comes in. Businesses targeting their local area should set up and optimise their Google My Business (GMB) profile, and ensure their business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all platforms. Similarly, businesses should never underestimate the power of positive customer reviews on Google or other local directories. Encouraging and managing these reviews effectively can boost your local ranking and attract more customers. Last but certainly not least, using local keywords in your content and meta tags can improve your visibility in local searches.
How do I get my business to rank higher on Google?
SEO can be a complicated maze, and there is no one sure-fire way to guarantee that your website ranks well on search engines organically. This is especially true when Google’s algorithm always seems to be changing, leaving businesses unsure of what the best practices are. Fortunately, our five “must-haves” are the bread and butter when it comes to SEO, meaning you can remain confident in the fact that implementing these will leave your website in good stead. That said, we understand how daunting digital marketing can seem for businesses, which is why we’re happy to offer our marketing consultancy services to those who need it.
Get in touch with VAST to unlock your business’s online potential.
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