Simple steps to improve your SEO

Even the most professional site isn’t much use if your customers can’t find it. Enter search engine optimisation (SEO).

Sound complicated? Not necessarily. While navigating the world of search engines and their rankings may seem intimidating, getting found online is often a matter of following a few simple steps – and being vigilant about them.

Make use of effective keywords

Perhaps the simplest, most under-used way to improve SEO is the efficient use of keywords. Keywords are what they say on the box: the key phrases or words your potential customers type into a search field when they’re looking for you. Featuring the right words in the right place on your site will tell search engines like Google you’re relevant to the right searches. The trick is to accurately predict what customers will use to find you. For example, “custom business cards” or “business card printing Auckland”.

While keywords are important and effective, make sure you don’t overuse them. Have one or two primary keywords, with a couple of secondary ones. Try to fit them into website copy naturally, so your copy, article or blog still reads well.

Update your site regularly

Search engine rankings will rate older, dormant material lower than new or freshly updated sites. This means if you have a site that’s updated inconsistently or rarely, your rankings will likely fall. This is where blogs come in handy. Set a schedule of uploading relevant and interesting content – and stick to it.

Use images effectively

Images on your site or blog can help your search engine optimisation in two ways. First, most web users are turned off by walls of text and tend to leave a site quickly when faced with it – decreasing search engine rankings. Relevant and interesting images can help break up text. Effective use of images within text can also help your readers understand the content better and keep them on your site longer. 

Ensure your site is mobile-friendly

These days, a significant percentage of your customer base is browsing your site on mobile. So, if your site is slow-loading or only optimised for desktop browsing, you’ll lose their clicks and your SEO rankings along with them. 

SEO is an arms race

While SEO feels like it’s about technical terms, the reality is that Google and other search engines reward sites that put the needs of their readers first. Fresh, relevant content, well-positioned keywords, good images and a mobile-friendly experience: these are all things that benefit your site user. It’s no coincidence that they also make for a better search-optimised site. Win-win, right?

Need help on improving your SEO? Talk to us today.