Search engine optimization or SEO is a critical part of inbound marketing. If you’ve already identified the keywords for which you want to be found for online, you’re well on your way to implementing your SEO strategy. Below are 5 SEO tips that can help you maximize the opportunity to have your website appear at the top of the search engine results.
SEO Tip 1: Use an Exact Match Domain
Google continues to place a lot of weight on domain names when ranking sites. Those sites that have domain names that exactly match a keyword phrase tend to appear higher in the search results. You can help your visibility by targeting a specific phrase for which you want your website appear.
If your business name is “Law Office of Adam Schiller” and you practice matrimonial law in Binghamton, NY, a domain name like “binghamtondivorcelawyer.com” can help you appear for searches for “binghamton divorce lawyer” in Google.
SEO Tip 2: Include Keyword Phrases in Relevant Page Titles
Much like domain names, the titles of your web pages are weighed heavily by Google. Including your keyword phrase at the beginning of your page title not only helps Google better understand what your page is about, but the phrase will appear in bold when it exactly matches someone’s search query.
The page titles that appear in bold in the search results tend to attract more clicks from visitors because they indicate a potentially relevant web page.
SEO Tip 3: Create Descriptive Meta Descriptions
The content in a web page’s meta description is the descriptive text that appears below the page title in the search results. Again, include your keyword phrase towards the beginning of the meta description so searchers can see it in bold when it matches exactly.
The meta description is your opportunity to hook searchers and make your page stand out from others in the search results. Include a brief summary (155 characters) of your web page content along with a call to action to get people to click.
SEO Tip 4: Use H1, H2, and H3 Headings in Your Web Pages
Not only does using headings make it easy for people to consume your content when they scan, it also makes it easier for the search engines to understand what content your web page contains. The H1 heading is the third most important element on a web page besides title and meta description because it connects the dots between the search results and your web page. Google wants to see a clear connection as well as your visitors so they know they’ve arrived at the right place.
The H2 and H3 sub-headings also give you the ability to feature your keyword phrase as well as any secondary keyword phrases that are relevant for the page. They help to break your web page into more readable sections that follow the “F-pattern” and are easier for people to read online.
SEO Tip 5: Create a Blog and Publish Regularly
Google loves content. When you have a small company, your blog is your primary means of feeding the Google animal with fresh, relevant content that helps to increase your online visibility. With each blog posting, you can target a specific keyword phrase for which you want to be found. It’s much easier to achieve visibility through blog postings than it is to get visitors to one of your static internal pages on your website like the “Services” page.
Keep these 5 SEO tips in mind when managing your website and you will have a much better chance of appearing high on Google when people are searching for the keywords you’re targeting.
What other SEO tips do people have that help improve online visibility?
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