Search engine optimization runs the internet. SEO is the coding embedded in websites through keywords, alt text, metadata, and more. Search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Siri use this coding to direct users to the most appropriate content online.
For example, if you break down on the road and search for “tow services near me,” the SEO rankings of the tow companies nearby will determine which ones you find first. As you can guess, the higher you rank on SEO, the more leads you’ll generate.
Therefore, it’s time to answer the question, “What are SEO best practices and how can they be applied to your website?”
Keep reading for everything you need to know about putting your website on the map.
Research Keywords for Your Niche and Industry
Keywords are the backbone of SEO best practices. These are what users type into search boxes to find the content, products, or services they’re looking for online.
However, if you don’t want your website to get lost in a sea of similar content, you must approach your keyword usage carefully. For example, don’t use generic, single-word keywords.
Instead, use niche-specific, geo-specific, and long-tail keywords. This will help you hone in on your target market. We recommend using SEO tools or working with an SEO agency to help you identify and implement the keywords that will be most effective for your brand.
Use Internal Links
When asking, “What are SEO best practices?” you must include internal links on your list.
Internal links are essential to your website for multiple reasons. First, they will keep website visitors on your site longer. If you embed links in your articles to other relevant content on your site, visitors can easily access those pages.
We also recommend guiding users to different locations that are relevant to the article, such as:
- Product/service pages
- Contact pages
- Email sign-up landing pages
- Etc.
This will help you generate more leads and the increased duration of their visit will improve your site’s credibility.
Get Credible Backlinks From Other Websites
Any website can claim to be credible or legitimate. However, search engines like Google demand more verification. For example, if you have backlinks from other websites leading to yours, it shows Google that you have trustworthy, authoritative content.
Backlinking will also help you generate more leads through the other websites’ audiences. To maximize your click-through rate on these links, however, you need to apply backlink best practices.
Most notably, you need to acquire these backlinks through content that’s relevant to your brand. You also need to create effective anchor texts. These are the hyperlinked words that users will click on to visit your link.
You can learn more about backlinks and using the proper anchor text in this article by the HOTH.
What Are SEO Best Practices for Your Business?
These are just a few examples of the best SEO practices you can implement on your website. The field of SEO is vast and complex. If you need help, we highly recommend working with an SEO agency.
For now, you can find more answers to “What are SEO best practices?” by reading through some of the other articles on our blog. Our website was created to provide small business owners like you with the knowledge and insight they need to become more successful.
