When it comes to digital marketing for small businesses, search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the best ways to generate leads and boost sales. SEO is a digital marketing technique that focuses on optimizing your website to improve its organic search engine ranking. The reality is that, if your website is not on the first page of Google’s search results, people may never know your business exists.
While paid ads and other search engine marketing (SEM) services can help to improve website ranking on search engines, businesses should not rely on this method alone for continued success. With billions of Google searches conducted every second, it is essential to ensure that your SEO game is strong. Keep reading to learn about five ways you can improve your organic search engine ranking in 2023.
1. Perform keyword research
The first step to improve website rankings is to determine relevant keywords that will form the basis of your content creation strategy. Keywords, also called keyphrases, are trigger words that tell search engines what the user is trying to find. Performing keyword research for your industry can give you valuable insights into what your target audience is searching for on Google.
Start by thinking about how your target audience would search for your products and services, and make a broad list of relevant keywords and phrases. For example, if you own a floral shop, your list might contain keywords like “local florist,” “flower delivery near me,” or “best local flower shop.”
If you’re wondering how to find the right keywords for SEO, consider using online tools like Google’s Keyword Planner and Ubersuggest. These tools can help improve SEO by suggesting specific keywords and providing search volume analytics.
Tip: Look for keywords with high search volume and low-to-medium competition. These have the highest potential for traffic and are easier to rank for.
When searching for keywords, be mindful of the message you are trying to communicate to your audience. Adding the right keywords into the content of your website will significantly improve your organic search engine ranking.
2. Create high-quality content optimized for SEO
Once you’ve refined your list of keywords, you can begin crafting the copy for your website. High-quality content that incorporates relevant keywords is essential to improving website rankings on search engines. A good rule of thumb is to include important keywords in the beginning of your website’s page titles and body text, as Google sees early keyword placement as a sign of relevancy.
While using keywords throughout your content is a great strategy to help boost your organic search engine rankings, be wary of “keyword stuffing.” Google penalizes websites that use keywords excessively because it can interfere with the reading experience. Try reading the copy out loud; if your keyword sounds unnatural, consider replacing it.
Another way to improve SEO is to structure your content in a way that will hold your audience’s attention. Breaking website content into “chunks” by using bold headings, bulleted or numbered lists, high-quality photos or infographics, and ample white space allows readers to better understand and absorb information.
3. Utilize meta titles and descriptions
Meta titles and meta descriptions, also known as metadata, provide information about your page to search engines and website visitors. This can help boost your website’s organic search engine rankings by making it easier for search engines to determine what your content is about.
A page’s meta title is one of the first things consumers notice in the search engine results pages (SERPs). Meta titles specify the main title of the page and should describe what the page is about.
A page’s meta description can be found directly under the meta title in the SERPs. Meta descriptions are usually 1-2 short sentences that summarize the page’s content and offer a compelling reason for consumers to visit the website.
When you display a compelling and informative meta title and description, users are more likely to click through to your page, helping to improve SEO and boost your website’s organic search engine ranking.
4. Make sure your website is quick & responsive
The responsiveness of your website and the ease with which users can navigate it, are two important factors in improving SEO for small businesses. Responsive web design involves creating web pages that render well across a variety of devices and screen sizes. More than half of all global web traffic comes from mobile devices, so it is crucial for small businesses to ensure their websites are mobile-friendly. Additionally, Google prioritizes mobile page load speed as a key metric when determining a website’s organic search engine ranking.
This responsive approach to web design puts users first, allowing them to engage with your website easier and prioritizes their overall page experience.
In 2021, Google launched an algorithm update that emphasizes a user’s page experience as a key factor for search engine rankings.
Use Google Search Console to measure your website’s performance and Core Web Vitals.
5. Increase your social media presence
While social media does not directly improve SEO, the social signals (likes, comments, and shares) generated from people sharing your content on social media platforms contribute to brand awareness and exposure, which boosts your online visibility and traffic. Social signals can indirectly impact organic search engine rankings, and many industry experts believe that will only help improve them.
Sharing your content on social media platforms can help people discover your content and brand. To garner attention and encourage likes and shares, make sure your content is engaging, interactive, and consistent.
Many businesses link their Instagram profiles directly to their websites to deliver a steady stream of new content. In this case, maintaining a regular posting schedule is a key component of SEO.
When your website is consistently updated with fresh content via Instagram, this not only supports your brand’s image but shows your willingness to engage. Be sure to incorporate keywords and phrases into your content on Instagram, as those will count towards boosting your website’s SEO.
The takeaway
As of 2022, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to increasing your website’s organic search engine rankings. However, by creating a strategic marketing plan and following the best practices surrounding SEO, you can improve your website ranking and increase your chances of landing on the first page of search engine results.
If you’re looking to improve your SEO, the best place to start is a quality website design.
Hyport Digital offers professional web design and customized SEO services designed to drive traffic and boost our clients’ organic search engine rankings.
Reach out to our team today to create a strategic marketing plan for your small business!
