5 Basic Search Engine Optimization Tips That You Can Apply Right Now

SEO (or search engine optimization) is the organisation and focus of a website so that it appears in search engine rankings for certain keywords. The process of optimizing your website to rank highly in the search results can be a complex process, but these SEO tips will outline 5 key factors that are easy to implement and will help your overall search results.

1. Focus On Your Keywords.

Keywords are the words and phrases that your potential customers will type into a search engine when searching for information on products or services associated to your online business. The more generic a keyword the more competition it will have. When a keyword is more specific the search results will be more defined and targeted.

2. Your Page Format.

Search engines trawl through the internet and make an index of all websites. This index is used to provide search engine results and better results come from having your keyword strategically placed in your page format. For example, it is advantageous to have your keyword in your domain name. This is not always possible, so make sure you insert your keyword into the title of your page, in your first sentence and in subheaders within the content. Also try to use your keyword as an anchor text. These are the highlighted words that when clicked, will link to open a specific webpage.

3. Your Page Content.

Content is king and you need to generate information that is unique, beneficial to your audience and that can be easily read by people, not just by search engines. Ideally, your page should have approximately 500 to 1000 words containing between 4 to 8 keywords. If you just fill a page with a load of keywords your website will be marked as spam and not get ranked at all. Update the content your website frequently. A great way to do this is to write a regular blog.

4. Link Building.

Link building is the process of creating links back to your website from third party websites. Search engines view backinks as an indication of the popularity and value of the content on a website. Generally, increasing the number of backlinks pointing to a site will improve that website’s search ranking but ensure that the links coming into your website, or backlinks, are from quality websites and not just spam websites made up of keywords. Poor backlinks will lower your rankings.

5. Use Images.

Although search engines cannot ‘read’ images they can read the descriptions that you give to your images. Each photo, image or graphic should have a keyword attached to it. Images also make the page more attractive for your readers and can draw the reader in to read your content in more detail.