Do you know that search engine optimization (SEO) is somewhat related to web design? Yes, for search engine optimization to work you need the expertise of a website designer. In fact, on-page optimization is mainly concerned with making changes to the website design, titles and meta tags, fixing broken links, updating content, and much more. Google is always happy to see a website up to date and ranks it accordingly.
Just assume you have an SUV. Will you keep it in the garage and take it out only when you need to drive? There is no way. You take care of it, wash it regularly, and make sure it stays looking fresh and new every time you take it out, right? Similarly, you should also take care of your website, which is the cornerstone of your online business. The design, development and launch of the website does not end with all your responsibilities. It won’t work for you until you make it work. Like a car needs to be driven, a website needs to be made effective with continuous renewal.
To optimize your website according to Panda, Penguin and Hummingbird (Google’s algorithms that help determine the rank of any website), you need to continually monitor your site with the eyes of an eagle. Any improvement or deterioration should be noted and appropriate action taken. Also, the content should be updated regularly so that every time users visit your site, they can see something new instead of those conventional “yes-yes” phrases.
Without creating any more confusion, let’s quickly jot down the basic requirements for a website to stay current and achieve high ranks on search engine results pages:
• Place relevant keywords and key phrases in the Meta Title and Descriptions. This will not only impress Google and other search engines, but it will also help streamline the search process, allowing your customers to easily find you using keywords.
• Update your website with high-quality content so that when a visitor returns to your page, they find enough content and necessary updates to keep them.
• Don’t forget to include alternative text for images and, if possible, include keywords in those texts.
• Proper navigation is extremely important to rank high on search engine results pages. If Google spiders can’t navigate your website without any hindrance, they won’t rank it in a favorable position.
• Link both internally and externally to create a high impression of your website in the eyes of Google. Internal links make it easy for the user to scroll through all the pages of your website and find all the relevant content and information provided. External links to other sites with high traffic will improve your impression in the eyes of the most popular search engines.
• You need a proper, defined URL with no special characters or symbols that users and search engines can understand. Train your designers accordingly.
• Keyword density is an important factor in increasing your search engine rankings. Make sure your content is keyword-enriched (and not keyword-packed) to get good ranks in search results.
While this is the on-page scenario, you can also rank your website on the top pages of Google by playing some off-page SEO tricks.
The main goal of off-page optimization techniques is to generate more traffic for your website by increasing its visibility on search engine pages. Furthermore, using specific off-page search engine optimization techniques also ensures a stagnant position on search engine results pages, which is necessary to enhance your online presence. These can be better understood in the following points:
• Update your blog: It is essential to maintain the flow of traffic to your website to increase the chances of conversion. Return visits from any individual IP address indicate that someone really likes your website and visits it often. All you can do is arouse more interest in your website by updating your blog regularly. In general, blog posts are pretty easy to use and fun to read. So, create a blog and keep updating it with the latest information on market trends and other user-favorite topics.
• Participate in groups and communities: Social media is a burgeoning platform for improving the performance of any online business. Create groups to discuss market trends, user-friendly products and services, price inflation, and raise awareness of your latest innovative ideas and take note of audience reactions. You can also tweet about your services on Twitter to gain a following, post interesting quotes on your social media pages, and create forums to interact with your prospects/customers and the list goes on.
• Bookmark your website – Opt for social bookmarking for maximum traffic. Bookmarking sites are frequently visited and effectively ranked by search engines and thus you have an opportunity to move your website up the search engine hierarchy.
More factors contribute to maintaining your position on Google pages. A lot of canvas and tedious labor are required for uniform growth and development. Thousands of competitors are out there, waiting to grab you by the throat and pull you down the growth ladder. Hire a professional SEO expert to keep them at bay. With your competitors held back, climbing the steps to digital glory won’t be that difficult.