Do you want to improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO)? Then you’ll need to know the basics. Even if you choose to hire an SEO service provider in Waco Texas, it’s still helpful to know the ins and outs of search engine optimization. This will allow you to be an active partner in your website’s success as well as help you reach your goals, whether they’re to increase sales, generate web traffic or build brand awareness.
Let’s learn more about the basics of SEO and why they are helpful in getting your site to rank higher in search results.
Research Your Keywords
Keywords are the words people enter into Google when searching for your products and services. They help bridge the gap between user queries and relevant website content, which is why you need them. When you index keywords, the search engines can accurately rank your pages so that the right people can find them easier. Also, keywords help identify the intent behind a user’s search, whether they are looking to buy, learn or find a specific location.
For example, if you own a sandwich restaurant in Waco TX, some of the keywords you might want to rank for include “sandwich shop near me,” “deli sandwiches in Waco” and “sub sandwiches near Waco.” Keywords should be specific enough so that people searching for this information can find it quickly and easily. By ranking well for the right keywords, you can attract more quality traffic to your site.
Choose Appropriate Images
Content should always include images to complement and enhance the message you are trying to convey. However, not all images are created equal. To choose effective images, follow these tips:
- Select images that are relevant to your content and enhance the certain points you are covering
- Always choose high-resolution images that are clear and crisp
- When possible, use original images or photographs
- If you are using stock images, choose ones that are unique and make sure that you have the legal right to use them
- Maintain a consistent style of images in terms of color, filter, composition and theme
- Optimize your images for the web; PNGs offer high-quality compression, while JPEGs take up less space and are smaller in size
- Use captions to explain the context of the image and always include alt text
- Place images strategically throughout your content to break up large sections
- Be mindful of stereotypes and cultural sensitivities
Write Relevant Titles and Headings
Titles and headings are the first elements search engines and users encounter when evaluating the relevance of your content. Well-optimized titles and headings can significantly improve your visibility and bring traffic to your site. Include keywords naturally into the titles and headings while making sure they clearly define what your content is about.
For instance, if you’re writing a blog post on the best deli meats to use in a sandwich, you’ll want to choose relevant titles such as “5 Best Deli Meats to Put on Your Sandwich.” Make the titles catchy, keep them around 60 characters or less and structure them using hierarchical heading tags (H1, H2, H3).
Create Compelling Meta Descriptions
Writing meta descriptions is another critical aspect of SEO, as these snippets appear under your page title in search engine results and entice users to click. While they don’t directly affect rankings, they do encourage clicks, and therefore help with SEO. When writing meta descriptions, be clear and concise (around 150-160 characters), include your target keywords and include a call to action such as “keep reading” or “learn more.”
Optimize Your Website for Mobile
Having a mobile optimized website is no longer a choice as more than half of traffic comes from mobile devices. A mobile optimized website works well on mobile devices and delivers an improved user experience, increased mobile traffic, enhanced local SEO, reduced bounce rates and faster loading times. Here are some of the key features of a mobile-friendly website:
- Simplified navigation
- Minimalist design
- Optimized images
- Fast loading pages
- Readable fonts
- Large buttons
- Tap to action
- Simplified forms
Build Good Links
Building links for SEO enhances your website’s authority and search engine ranking. Quality links from reputable sites signal to search engines that your content is valuable. The key to any link building strategy is good content. Start producing high-quality content that people will want to link to. Informative content like research studies, infographics and how-to guides naturally attract backlinks because they are shareable and useful.
Other ways to build high-quality links are by guest blogging, engaging in online communities, using resource links from trusted sites and conducting interviews with industry professionals. To see how your link building strategy is going so far, ask your SEO services in Waco TX to conduct a link building audit. You can also do this on your own using a tool like Ahrefs, SEMrush or Moz. This will help you identify links that could be harming your site and replacing them with updated links.
Create an Editorial Calendar
A good SEO strategy involves a solid editorial calendar. This ensures that you are posting quality content on a consistent basis while capitalizing on special dates and trending news. A great goal is to create one new blog post every week. Cover a variety of topics that relate to your brand, your products and your services.
To start your editorial calendar, define your goals and the audience you are trying to reach. Are you trying to boost brand awareness, user engagement or sales? This will guide you toward the best content to create and platforms to use. Some of the best channels and platforms include social media, email, podcasts, videos and blog posts. To help you be successful, use a tool to build your editorial calendar, such as CoSchedule, Google Calendar or Airtable.
Schedule a Consultation with Our SEO Service Provider in Waco Texas
WSI Internet Partners is a digital marketing company in Waco. We have been helping businesses reach their goals for over two decades, and we can do the same for you! With our full suite of marketing services, it’s possible to put together the perfect plan for your business. To get a free local SEO report, contact us today at 254-235-2452. All we need is your business name and we’ll take care of the rest!
