If you’re new to the world of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed by the information that is out there at the moment. What you need is a guide that puts everything together in a simple and straightforward manner, and this is exactly what we do in this post. Read on to discover Breakaway Digital’s guide to SEO for beginners.
What is search engine optimisation (SEO)?
There is only one place to begin, and this is by explaining exactly what SEO is. This involves making changes to your online presence, especially your content and your website design, which make your website seem more attractive to Google and the other major search engines. It is all about different techniques that are designed to move your website up the search engine result pages whenever someone searches a term that is relevant to your business. This will ensure that your website gets more exposure, increasing traffic and conversions.
Where to begin with SEO
Now that you have an understanding of what SEO is, let’s take a look at some of the simple steps you need to take in order to get started.
Make sure your website has a logical structure
The first thing you need to do is make sure that your website has a logical link structure. This means that there needs to be at least one static text link from which a website page can be reached. In simple terms, ensure your website is easy to navigate. Users should not have to go searching for the things they need. They should be able to search your website without a second thought. All of your important pages should be accessed via your homepage, i.e. services, about, blog, and so on. You should list and link to pages describing your individual services under this tab. Don’t try to switch this up or go for something a little bit different. Straightforward and obvious is the name of the game when it comes to website navigation.
Write great content
The right content is essential when it comes to SEO. There are too many business owners that simply put their contact details and products on their site, and they leave it like this. Let’s say you sell road bikes. The best thing for you to do here would be to create a blog with lots of interesting content on road bikes, from finding the best bikes to different routes that people can take. You can provide content on bike maintenance and other useful information that any cyclist is going to find interesting. There are many benefits associated with this. Firstly, it shows you as an expert in your industry. Aside from this, it helps you to move up the search engine result pages. However, it will only do this if the content is original and interesting and it includes the correct keywords. Keywords are the sort of terms that people will search on Google in order to find a business like yours, for example, “road bikes in Manchester.” You need to incorporate words like this into your content but you need to do so naturally. There are a number of different steps you can take to make sure your copy is enticing and works in SEO terms too. You need to ensure your grammar and spelling are on point. You should also use one H1 tag on each page, as well as using H2-H6 tags as appropriate. You also need to make sure that there are at least 200 words of copy on every page. Do not forget that all copy needs to be well-written and engaging if you want to make sure that you attract new customers or clients.
Start sharing your content on social media
Social media is all about brand awareness and engagement. While you can sell products on social media today, it is important to make sure your presence on social media is not too promotional. Posting an endless string of messages trying to push your products is only going to end up irritating people and result in them unfollowing you. Instead, think about using social media as a tool to show off the personality of your brand and establish the right sort of image. It is also a great platform for getting to know your customers and building loyal relationships. When you get it right, it will have a snowball effect, as people will begin sharing your content for you.
Each page needs to have an enticing meta title and description
All of the pages on your website must have a unique meta title and description. These descriptions and titles need to include your keywords so that you can move up the search engine result pages. They should also be designed in a way that is going to encourage and entice people to click-through to your site. Moreover, you need to make sure you do not exceed the length whereby Google will start to truncate them in the search engine results.
Make sure your website is free of broken links and pages
You also need to make sure your website doesn’t have any broken pages or links. After all, anything broken on a site is never great, is it? If someone comes across a broken page or link, it can give the impression that your website is neglected and that it is not updated. Google encourages site owners to make sure they address errors like this. There are a lot of different free tools available, which enables you to find broken links with ease so that you can rectify them.
Local SEO
Another area that is important when it comes to SEO is local SEO. This relates to any sort of searches that are location-specific. For example, if you own a bike maintenance store in Luton, you’re going to want to make sure you appear in any searches relating to bikes in this part of the UK. So, how do you do that? Well, firstly, you need to make sure that your address details and contact information are up to date and in the correct format. Google My Business is also imperative for local businesses. If you search for a type of business in a local area, you may notice that Google will pull up several results with addresses and contact information. You want to make sure you are one of these businesses, which is why you need to create a Google My Business page and make sure that it is fully optimised.
Gathering reviews and dealing with negative feedback
Google My Business also gives people the option of leaving a review about your company. Reviews can also assist when it comes to building your online presence. Of course, there are many different platforms for reviews to be left today, from social media to independent review websites. When someone leaves a review about your company, it’s adding to the content that is on the web about your business. This helps to build up your authority. But what happens if someone leaves a negative review? Well, it is all about how you react. You need to make sure that you provide a solution. Don’t react with hostility. You’d be surprised but a negative comment can sometimes be the start of a loyal customer relationship.
So there you have it: the complete guide to beginners SEO. We hope that you now feel more confident when it comes to the world of search engine optimisation. But don’t worry if you still have plenty of questions, you can drop us an email here and well endeavour to help. Or why not check out our SEO Services.