Top 10 SEO Strategies to Grow Your Small Business's Online Presence
Top 10 SEO Strategies for Small Businesses
These days, having a well-rounded SEO strategy is key to any small business’ success, however, many businesses have limited resources and need to be smart about how they use their time, energy and funds when it comes to SEO. Here, we’ve put together a list of the 10 most important SEO strategies for small businesses.
1. Conduct keyword research
The first step in any SEO strategy should be to conduct keyword research. Doing keyword research will help you identify the words and phrases that web users are searching for to find the kind of content you provide, giving you a better idea of how to structure your SEO campaign.
2. Create a strategic SEO plan
Once you’ve identified relevant keywords, you’ll want to create an SEO plan to determine how you’ll incorporate these keywords into your website. Determine which pages should be keyword optimized, how you’ll optimize them, and what goals you’re hoping to achieve.
3. Optimize content for search engines
Now that you’ve chosen the right keywords for your website, it’s time to start optimizing your content for search engines. This means adding relevant keywords and phrases to various parts of your website, such as titles, headings, body text, and meta tags. You should also consider using formatting techniques, such as bolding, italicizing, and underlining, to emphasize important keywords and phrases.
4. Build backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites to yours, and they’re an important factor when it comes to SEO. One way to build backlinks to your website is through guest blogging, where you contribute content to other websites in exchange for a link back to your site. You can also reach out to websites in your industry and ask to exchange links, or work with online influencers to promote your website.
5. Implement social media
Social media is fast becoming one of the most important elements in any SEO strategy. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook are great ways to connect with potential customers, while also providing search engines with more data to index. Make sure to post regularly and engage with your followers to encourage them to visit your website.
6. Monitor your results
Once you’ve implemented your SEO strategy, you’ll want to keep an eye on how it’s performing. Regularly check your website’s analytics to see which keywords and phrases are driving the most traffic to your website. This feedback will allow you to refine your SEO strategy and ensure it’s always up-to-date.
7. Keep your content fresh
Search engines place a lot of emphasis on fresh and up-to-date content, so make sure you’re regularly adding new content to your website. Try to keep your content relevant to the topics you’re targeting, while also thinking of new angles to approach them from. Updating old content is an excellent way to make sure it continues to be seen by search engines.
8. Make sure your site is mobile friendly
Mobile devices are the most popular way of accessing the web, so make sure your website is optimized for these platforms. This means creating a separate website for mobile visitors, or using responsive design techniques to make sure your website looks great on any device.
9. Use local SEO techniques
If you’re targeting local customers, then you’ll want to focus on local SEO techniques. Make sure your business is listed on Google My Business and Bing places, and add your address and contact details on every page of your website. You should also create pages specifically aimed at local customers, and make sure to use local keywords in your content.
10. Track your progress
SEO is an ongoing process, so make sure you’re tracking your progress over time. This will give you a better idea of what’s working and what isn’t, and allow you to adjust your strategy accordingly. Regularly check your website’s analytics, monitor your rankings in search engines, and keep tabs on your backlinks to make sure your SEO efforts are paying off.