Amy Robinson
Simple Steps To Slaying SEO For Small Businesses
SEO is the word on every business owner’s lips, but what does it actually mean? The term can seem complex and rather daunting for those who are either new to the world of running a business or those who are trying to modernise their company for the digital era. The acronym stands for Search Engine Optimisation.
According to Neil Patel, in its barest form, SEO is “the process of taking steps to help a website or a piece of content rank higher on Google.” For example, if you are the owner of a spa that specialises in Swedish massage, people who type that keyword into Google would be greeted by your website in the top results if it has ranked above other competing websites. For those working on a restrictive budget, the good news is that SEO is an organic method of ranking as opposed to paid advertising, where you have to compensate for taking up online space.
Here are some simple tips to help small business owners to help them start using SEO to their advantage and start slaying.
Be in it for the long game.
When it comes to SEO, there are no reliable and legitimate “quick solutions”. You have to be in it for the long haul to succeed with SEO. If you want fast results, you should direct your attention and time elsewhere, like paid advertising. You may have seen businesses offering to get you to the top of Google within a short time period, but you need to be wary.
There are two strategies you can take with SEO: black hat or white hat. Businesses that make grand promises about fast results use black hat SEO. Black hat is not a good strategy for lasting results. Sometimes they will use keywords not relevant to the website to manipulate the ranking in Google’s search results, and other tactics like redirecting people via URLs that differ from the ones they initially selected and paying other sites to link to their content. While this method will bring more traffic to your website in the short term, you will be penalised by Google eventually, and your website could even be blacklisted.
White hat SEO is ultimately the best way to go because your hard work will pay off with patience and precision, and as you are working with Google rather than against it, the results will last longer. You must take the time to ensure the content on your website is of a high standard, your website is fast and responsive, and it’s built with users in mind. Google will then play its part and provide users with the best results possible, ensuring your incredible content is seen.
Be intentional with your keywords.
Search Engine Optimisation is heavily affiliated with keywords, so conducting your own research around them is integral to the success of your website. Using sources such as Google Trends, Keyword Planner, and premium tools like SEMRush can help you to identify what keywords are associated with your business and use them when devising your own marketing strategy. Once you have completed this step, you can begin posting blogs and landing pages that integrate these keywords and use meta tags and descriptions to increase traffic to your website.
Local SEO works wonders.
Setting up your website with local directories is an excellent way to get more traffic to your website, especially if your business has a physical location. One of the first things you can do is set up a detailed profile on Google My Business. If you are looking to attract customers in your area, having a local presence online will allow current customers to review your business and/or services there. This will work to your advantage as reviews will help Google see how your business is performing and build consumer trust in your brand.
The takeaway from the above tips is to take your time and ensure all your content is of high calibre. Make sure all profiles on local directories are thoroughly filled in, do your research on keywords to create better content and remember that slow and steady wins the race.
If you need any assistance improving your SEO, we can help you to grow your online brand and drive more traffic to your website. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation.
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