Learn the fundamentals of search engine optimization and tips to get you started.
Search engine optimization is a topic that sounds really daunting, and it can be if you’re going into it blindly. Fully optimizing your website’s content for the best results is an ongoing process, but this should help you get started with the fundamentals of improving your rankings on Google.
Content is King
This might seem obvious but make sure you’re producing content that people care about. Who is your target audience and what are you offering them? Take some time to study your industry, and keep an ongoing list of current topics and keywords that are most relevant.
Keyword Research
The way you word something is just as important as what you are saying. You want Google to deliver your content to the people looking for it. Try to think about how you would search for something. There are a lot of tools like Wordtracker and Google Trends that help you see which keywords in your industry are searched for most.
- Target baby boomers by passions and hobbies, rather than by age alone.
- Depict older generations more accurately with creative imagery.
- Engage with consumer reviews.
The Importance of Headings
You’ve done your keyword research and now it’s time to apply what you found. It’s important to have an H1 and H2 heading on each page and to include your keyword or keyword phrase in these titles. Google can detect someone trying to spam the page with a keyword, so make sure your headings are still relevant to the content on the rest of the page.
Pro Tip: Think about what you can add that might make you stand out among a list of search results with similar keywords (ex. numbers or buzzwords). You want to entice visitors, while still accurately explaining what the page is about.
Ex. If your post is about the “best running shoes” then your title could be “13 Best Running Shoes For Optimal Performance and Comfort (2020 Guide)” Your post URL doesn’t need to be the full-length title. That can be shortened to just your main keyword phrase. Ex. .com/best-running-shoes
What’s Alt Text and Meta Data, and Why Should I Care?
A lot of people stop reading at this point but stay with us. It’s not as complicated as it sounds. These are simply an opportunity for you to give Google more context to what your content is about. Because Google doesn’t physically see images as we see them, using alt text when uploading a new image tells the search engine what the image is about.
Metadata, like the meta description, appears under your title in the search results. While it’s not a necessity, use this as an opportunity to support your title and further entice someone to click on your post.
Improving your SEO definitely doesn’t stop here, but this should get you started on the right track. Have questions or suggestions of your own? We’d love to hear from you. Feel free to start a conversation in the comment section below.
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