You know how you, yourself, search online for products and services, but have you ever wondered how your potential customers are searching and more specifically, how they FIND YOUR website? Small businesses play a vital role in the economy, and they are facing more competition than ever before. With the increasing number of online businesses, it's essential to have an online presence that can attract customers and stand out from the competition.
That's where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in. SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), making it easier for customers to find your business. DIY SEO is the process of implementing SEO strategies and techniques without the help of a professional.
In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about DIY SEO Tasks and how to implement it in your own website. Once you understand and implement these changes you should see a positive impact or an increase in search traffic to your site within one to three months.
DIY SEO Tasks
1) Understanding How Google Works
Google uses a complex algorithm to determine the relevance and ranking of websites in search results. The algorithm takes into account numerous factors, including the quality of content, the user experience, and the number of high-quality backlinks pointing to your website. Understanding how the algorithm works will help you make informed decisions about your SEO strategy.
💡DIY TIP: Check out Search Engine Journal for a full list of Google algorithm launches, updates, and refreshes that each have rolled out over the years, as well as links to resources for SEO professionals.
1) Understanding Consumer Search Habits
Consumers today use search engines to find what they need, and statistics show that Google holds the majority of the search engine market share. When consumers search for products or services, they enter keywords related to what they're looking for. It's crucial for your business to understand the keywords that your potential customers are searching for, so you can optimize your website to rank higher for those keywords.
💡DIY TIP: Use this FREE Keyword Planner Tool to research and implement the right keywords for your consumers. Keyword Planner uses auto-complete APIs to generate thousands of long-tail keywords in seconds, along with monthly search volume and cost per click data. You can also use the more traditional, Google Adwords.
3) Optimize Your Site's Content
Once you have a better understanding of your consumer's behaviors, search keywords they are using and more on how Google's algorithm works to rank all websites against one another, you're ready to optimize your website's content for search engines. This means reviewing all of your existing website copy or verbiage for three things: relevancy, usefulness and accuracy.
If your content is either not answering users search queries or includes false or misleading information, Google will know and it will decrease your site's 'rankability' in search results. The simplest way to get started is to:
#1: Check all page titles and descriptions for those optimal keywords and accuracy.
#2: Check all of your site's image alt tags for the same relevant keywords.
#3: Check each page's meta-tag descriptions for appropriate keywords.
Once you feel confident about these recent optimizations to your site's content. You are ready to submit a request to Google to check your site's new updated content.
💡DIY TIP: Sign up for Google Search Console to ensure Google can 'see' your site, check updated content and also see how web visitors are brought to your site when searching Google. Finally you are able to set email alerts that will notify you when there is an issue or problem with your site.
4) Design Your Site for Speed and Usability
To rank higher in search results and beat out the competition, you need to implement a comprehensive SEO strategy. This includes designing your site with high-quality content, optimizing your website keywords, building high-quality backlinks, improving the user experience and overall site speed.
Some website features or elements that can potentially slow your site speed and site load time (which again, will negatively impact your site's rankability) are: unoptimized or too large of image files, JavaScript issues, too much flash content or features, unclean code, utilizing too many plugins or add-on apps, not using gZIP compression, not making use of caching techniques or your site not being mobile optimized.
More specifically, ensure your site check's all of these boxes:
✔ Your website loads quickly on all devices and browsers.
✔ Your site design is easy to navigate on all types of devices especially mobile.
💡DIY TIP: Check out InTandem's FREE website performance tool if you are interested in getting a full, 15+ page report complete with your full website audit results and recommendations for YOU or any SEO expert can action on.
5) Create a Google My Business (GMB) Profile
Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to manage your online presence on Google, including Google Maps. By creating a GMB profile, you can improve your visibility in local search results, making it easier for customers to find your business. Optimizing your GMB profile can also help improve your rankings in search results.
💡DIY TIP: If you have not already created your FREE Google My Business profile, why are you still here reading this blog?! Go! Right now! It's free and easy and will greatly improve your site's overall visibility within search engines.
In conclusion, DIY SEO is a cost-effective way for small businesses to improve their online visibility and attract more customers. By understanding consumer search habits, how Google works, and implementing a comprehensive SEO strategy, you can improve your website's rankings in search results and stand out from the competition. If you're new to SEO, start by creating a GMB profile and familiarize yourself with the basics, and then expand your SEO efforts as you gain more experience. Good luck!
About the Author
Margaret McNair is a Web and Graphic Designer for InTandem Digital Consulting, as well as head of our Business Process Development. She has over 20 years of experience in Marketing and Branding spanning across different industries. 10+ years in website design, content writing and graphic design.
To learn more about Margaret, visit her on LinkedIn.
InTandem Digital Consulting provides various digital solutions to small and mid-size businesses. Our portfolio includes: Website Design, Social Media Management and Customer Experience Strategy. Our CX workshops are offered both in-person and virtually.
To learn more about how InTandem Digital Consulting can help you and your business, click HERE
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To learn more about InTandem Digital Consulting’s website design services, how we can help grow your business through social media or even strategize with you on some ideas to drive awareness to your brand. Visit us at www.intandemdigital.com