Whether you’re just starting out or have an established business already, there is one key term that you should come to understand, and that is Search Engine Optimization or SEO. It’s critical to web success and growing your business audience through SEO. So, what is it and why is it very important for a business owner like you?
SEO is made up of strategies and processes that are designed to make sure that your online content shows up on search engines. Many factors go into this process, including using the right keywords and phrases, creating high-quality content, and building good backlinks.
If done right, SEO can improve your business and even expand your brand to a wide audience. Altogether, this helps you achieve your end goal—to increase sales for your business. However, it can be hard when you are just starting to figure out what exactly it is you should be focusing on when it comes to SEO.
Can you just use any kind of keyword? Will creating premium content be enough to go straight to the first pages of Google? What kind of backlinks will benefit your website? These are all legitimate concerns. But the process would be easier if you invest in an SEO agency that can do the technical work for you. This way, you can focus on the other aspects of your business.
Regardless of whether you decide to outsource or stick it out on your own, here are five things to consider if you want to make sure that your business audience grows through SEO:
1. Mobile-Friendly Websites
Let’s face it, more people these days are using their mobile phones to search. Gone are the days when you had to find a library or wait for your desktop computer to turn on before you could look up a fact or recipe. So, it makes sense that Google has now prioritized mobile-first indexing.
This just means that your website should be created and designed with a mobile-first mindset. If users are hopping onto your site and find it clunky and difficult to navigate, they probably won’t stick around for very long.
2. Quality Content Is King
Another thing to consider is the quality and length of your content. Google would know which articles are more helpful for its users by tracking click-through rates, bounce rates, the amount of time a user spends on the page, engagements, and other similar factors.
The more informative and relevant your content is, the more it is going to be read and shared by people. This tells Google that your content is worth a top spot in their Search Engine Results Page (SERP).
3. Featured Snippets
Have you ever searched for something and the answer you were looking for turns up in the little description under a website? This snippet can be so helpful in determining whether or not a user should click through the website. You should also utilize this feature for your websites. Providing a short description of your content will encourage users to visit your website to found out more.
Today’s user wants digestible content and many are skimming first. So make it easy by including a summary snippet! This is key to growing your business audience through SEO.
4. Voice Search
This is a new one to consider, but voice recognition technology is getting better and more reliable. Due to advancements, voice assistances like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant are becoming more popular. So, how does this tie-up with SEO? That’s because users are now making searches using their voice. And the thing is, a voice search is very different from a keyword search.
People are less likely going to use abbreviations when they speak. If someone is searching for a coffee shop near them, they might just type in “coffee shop” and let the search engine automatically determine their locale and provide options.
Whereas, if they vocalize this same search to Siri, they are more likely going to be specific. For example, the user might say “coffee shop in Bay Area” instead of just “coffee shop.” In other words, you should be using keywords and phrases that are more specific and truly conversational.
Conclusion
If you run an online business, you must have a strong understanding of the basics of SEO. This is true, even if you do decide to hire an SEO team. Knowing the basics and best practices will help you determine whether a certain strategy is working for your business or not. SEO practices and rules are always changing, so make sure to keep your nose to the ground on any information, so your business can readily adapt to them. These four latest items can be important to growing your business audience through SEO.
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