Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is straightforward – your website must deliver top-quality information to Google to guarantee that your content is indexed and ranks high in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).
Leads generated from SEO convert at an average rate of 14.6%. While traditional strategies such as direct mail or print ads have a conversion rate of 1.7%.
To improve your website’s ranking in the SERPs, attract top-quality prospects and achieve increased conversion rates, you must implement effective SEO strategies.
Read on to find out the top 13 SEO methods that actually work.
13 SEO Tips To Increase Your Organic Traffic
1# Content Optimized for Users’ Search Intent
Despite the fact Google’s rankings are determined by its algorithm, Google rewards websites which produce top-quality and relevant content.
Part of the algorithm ranks sites based on engagement metrics such as the time users spend on a site, click-through-rate and return visits.
Therefore, it is important you produce content that engages visitors so they will spend time on your site and return.
Use stories in the intros with compelling, clear and concise copy to emphasise interesting facts and figures. Videos and images are also excellent ways to spice up the content.
2# Low and High-Volume Keywords
It’s difficult to rank high in the SERPs with high volume keywords because of increased competition. Low volume keywords can actually boost your organic traffic.
Consider gaps in your content clusters and focus on developing trends to produce content around. Your posts must answer users’ queries and align with your values.
3# About the Pillar Cluster Model
Google recognises topical relations between users’ queries and provides the best answers. The search engine delivers authoritative content on any topic.
To help Google identify your content as authoritative, create a single pillar page, which offers a top-quality overview of a subject and links to other pages with related sub-topics.
This is how you can spread authority across your website and boost the organic traffic to your page. Cluster pages also streamline your site’s structure and offer an improved user-experience.
4# An Efficient Link Building Strategy
To increase your websites authority, you must earn inbound links from high authority sites. Network with websites, which have a high domain authority.
Create content relevant to the content on those sites. Another technique is the skyscraper method from Backlinko. It involves finding content which ranks well for your keyword and improving it to gain a backlink.
5# Historical Optimisation
The historical optimization strategy involves refreshing older pieces of content. Update posts with new information and republish them.
By doing this, you will build on the organic value that has already been accumulated via backlinks and user engagement. Historical optimisation is perfect for blogs with high numbers of subscribers and high traffic volumes.
6# Compressed Images
The size of your website’s images affect the page load speed, which in turn, affect your ranking position in the SERPs. The bigger the image, the longer the loading time.
Compression merges similar coloured pixels into one pixel to reduce resolution and file size. You can’t detect color differences between a compressed and uncompressed image.
7# Featured Snippets
Featured snippets are answers displayed by the search engine to questions directly on the results page. To appear in featured snippets, write posts which answer users’ questions.
The most important element is the semantic relevance of the keyword used by the users. Organise your content so Google knows you are answering people’s questions.
8# Build Page Authority
Page authority determines rankings in the SERPs. For example, if you’ve been discussing a subject for a long time on your blog and built a reputation as an expert, Google will rank the web page higher. You must build authority and develop your brand in your niche.
Blog regularly, post on social media channels and submit guest blog posts. Write about related topics your customers may be interested in.
9# Alt Text for Images
Search engine crawlers cannot see images. They can see alt-text and the name of your images’ files.
Alt-text is a caption to your image, which tells the crawlers what the image is about. Use descriptive alt-text, which is relevant to the page’s content.
10# CTAs
You must optimise your pages to convert. Create content for top of the funnel, middle of the funnel and bottom of the funnel readers. Each page must comprise of a CTA which matches the users’ search intent.
11# On-Page SEO
On-page SEO involves optimising your website’s page with back-end and front-end elements which help you rank higher in the SERPs.
These elements include page titles, meta descriptions, image alt-text, high-quality content, headers, structured markups, page URLs, site speed and internal linking. Use target keywords in your content and answer users’ questions.
12# SEO Audit
To help Google index your site correctly, you must perform an SEO audit. Check your website’s navigation and links. Create a simple URL structure.
Check the page load speed. Fix any broken or dead links. Build a sitemap. Eliminate any duplicate content.
13# Measuring Success
Measure the success of your SEO efforts with metrics such as organic traffic growth, conversion rates, average time spent on page, link growth, bounce rates and keyword rankings. SEO is continuously evolving and you must keep up-to-date.
Read Also:
- 12 Worst SEO Mistakes To Avoid
- How To Use SEO To Drive Traffic & Generate Sales?
- The New Guide to SEO Optimization – Focusing on What Google Wants in 2020
Author Bio: This article was written by Martin O’Callaghan of Wood Flooring Ireland. Martin has recently worked with an SEO agency to improve his websites visitor numbers and increase sales. He has since developed a keen interest in SEO and has identified thirteen areas that are crucial to improve a websites ranking on Google.
