Boosting your website’s visibility can be simple if you know where to start. If you’re wondering how to improve SEO, here are five actionable tips you can implement right away to start seeing results. And for the more technical aspects, our team is ready to assist!
1. Publish Fresh Content Regularly
Why It Helps: Consistent, relevant content is a strong indicator to search engines that your site is active and valuable, which can boost your ranking.
How to Do It:
- Start a Blog: Write about topics related to your business, answer customer FAQs, or share industry news. Aim for quality over quantity—try to post at least once a week if possible, but make sure it’s valuable content.
- Update Existing Content: Periodically revisit old blog posts to add new statistics, links, or updated information. This not only keeps them relevant but also signals to search engines that the content is fresh.
- Create a Content Calendar: Plan content in advance around key themes or events in your industry to keep your blog consistent.
2. Use the Right Keywords Naturally
Why It Helps: Keywords help match your content to specific search queries, making it easier for search engines to find and rank your website.
How to Do It:
- Keyword Research: Use free tools like Google’s Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or AnswerThePublic to find relevant keywords. Look for terms that have a good search volume but aren’t overly competitive. If you’re willing to pay for a subscription, try out SERanking, SEMrush or Ahrefs. You can use YouTube to learn how to use these for keyword research.
- Placement Matters: Use your main keyword in your title, introduction, headers, and image alt tags. For example, if your main keyword is “how to improve SEO,” include it naturally throughout your post but avoid “keyword stuffing” (overloading with keywords).
- Use Long-Tail Keywords: Target specific phrases people might search for, like “best SEO tips for small businesses.” These phrases have less competition and help capture more targeted traffic.
3. Optimize for Mobile Users
Why It Helps: With over half of all web traffic coming from mobile devices, search engines prioritize mobile-friendly websites. Ensuring your site works well on mobile can improve your ranking.
How to Do It:
Mobile-Friendly Design: Use a responsive design that adapts to any screen size. WordPress is our go-to platform, and offers mobile-responsive templates.
Run Mobile Tests: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to see how your site performs on mobile devices and get tips on fixing issues.
Speed Up Load Times: Compress images, reduce the number of large files, and consider using a content delivery network (CDN), such as Cloudflare, to improve load speeds on mobile. You can use plugins to do these on your WordPress website, but be careful to check the reviews. Some plugins can crash your website. Backing up your website first is key in case it doesn’t jive your template.
4. Use Internal Links
Why It Helps: Internal links create a web of content within your site, helping search engines understand your site’s structure and spreading SEO “link equity” across pages.
How to Do It:
- Link Strategically: Link to relevant pages or posts within your content. For example, if you mention a specific service, link to its page to provide more information.
- Anchor Text Optimization: Use descriptive keywords in your anchor text (the clickable text of the link) rather than vague phrases like “click here.”
- Plan Link Paths: With a list of high-traffic and cornerstone pages, link to these pages often to drive more traffic and share authority.
5. Write for Humans, Not Just Search Engines
Why It Helps: Search engines increasingly prioritize content that offers real value to readers, which means that high-quality, engaging content can give you an SEO boost.
How to Do It:
- Write Conversationally: Use simple, conversational language that’s easy for readers to understand. Avoid overly technical terms unless necessary.
- Use Subheadings and Bullet Points: These break up your content, making it easier for readers to scan. Search engines also recognize this structure, which can improve your SEO.
- Answer Questions: Address common questions people might ask about your topic. This can help you rank for “People also ask” boxes in search results, which brings more visibility.
No Time for SEO?
Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of SEO? You’re not alone! Many businesses struggle to keep up with the ever-evolving world of search engine optimization. But don’t worry—Blue Ridge Creative Marketing is here to help you elevate your online presence without adding to your already full plate. Contact us today to get started!
