Search Engine Optimization has evolved over the years steadily. Let bygones be bygones; spammy links, stuffed keywords and poor content just for the sake of ratings are a thing of the past.
One-third of the traffic is made up through organic searches to company websites which results in more traffic than social and paid put together! And so, SEO is more fitting than ever! Today’s SEO techniques emphasize more on user experience.
It is perceived as a very difficult task to do however, it is not the case. It is just important to understand that search engine algorithms are ever-changing and are updated all the time, which means it takes substantial knowledge about how they work. It requires practice over a considerable amount of time to get it right. If you are a marketer, blogger or have a business of your own, it is of paramount importance that you at least know the basics of SEO.
A quick guide to help you understand the nitty-gritty yet beneficial tips of SEO for more productive outcomes, to stay on top of the game, read on! Here is your SEO Basic 101:
1. CONTENT IS KING
One of the reasons you have a website or a blog means you have a message to convey. If you are not providing your audience fresh, informative and creative content at regular intervals, then you’re not doing it right. Google loves new content and will give you a boost whenever you update your content. So, what are you waiting for? Go back and visit your website right now! Does it say enough about what you’re selling? Does it say relevant information about your company and why you’re the ultimate choice for your customers? Try to create engaging content with images and videos. Use as many relevant outbound links as you can. Make a content that is visually appealing, engaging and leave the reader in a sense of ‘wow’ after reading it.
2. SOCIAL CONTENT IS CONTINUE TO RULE
Do you want to boost your SEO? Here’s a simple tip. Try to do everything possible to make your Facebook posts and tweets rank higher. Approximately, 76% of marketers use social media to boost and to gain more importance on the SERPs. In coming times, more social media content will be indexed on Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines. The lines between a website and social media are blurring in connection with SEO tactics. Think like a smart person and Prioritize quality over quantity. It’s better to share content from 10 quality social media accounts than with 100 low quality accounts. Search listings dynamics are changing; social media platforms are on the top results when it comes to searching brand names. Sway the power of social media and watch your rankings climb!
3. MOBILE FRIENDLY WEBSITES
Is your website mobile friendly? If not, you’re doing it all wrong! Google has already emphasized on the importance of mobile optimization and its impact on the site’s SEO score. It’s high time to make mobile friendliness a norm rather than an exception. With the announcement of Mobile-First Index, it is now starting to wing its way. This is going to make your SEO game real strong and as more and more people get aware of it. So, gear up to create SEO strategies as this year is sure to get more competitive.
4. LINK TO QUALITY SITES
Make sure you’re linking out to the right sites as it potentially increases your score. Want to improve your reputation with users and search engines? Link out to quality websites that is relevant to your content. It will get the job done even more easily as it leads to more inbound links. But don’t link to poor sites for it would make your site look poor too. So, be certain of what you’re linking at!
5. KNOWING THE RIGHT TOOLS
Winning at SEO is all about using the right tools smartly at the right situation. Whether you’re conducting common search query, real time overview, ROI or you’re launching a campaign, you need to have full knowledge about which tools will give you perfect insights about the users, websites and where your traffic comes from.
Written by Fatima Akhtar Sheikh