To succeed as an entrepreneur, you must master getting noticed by search engines. Consumers worldwide use search engines to find products, services and information, so people must find your business online quickly. That’s why we put together this article that explains search engine optimization for entrepreneurs.
Ranking higher in a search engine is key to the growth of your business. The higher you rank, the more people will click on your page. And the more people click on your page, the more leads you generate. All the effort leads to increased sales and revenue for your business!
So, how do you get your business to rank better in search engines? The answer is Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
What is SEO?
SEO refers to the techniques used to improve your website’s ranking on the results pages of search engines like Google. Therefore, strategically gathering unpaid search traffic (or organic traffic) is essential.
SEO has many layers to it. There is no precise answer as to what makes up SEO. Your website has to follow many SEO ranking factors to be recognized by search engines.
For example, there’s basic and local SEO. For an e-commerce website, you can stick to more general SEO principles. But if you have a local business, you will want to target your SEO locally. Local SEO means including local keywords, your address, and other details about your business on your website. It can be a complicated process, but you’ll start seeing actual results once you get it down.
So, where can you start? This post will take you through the basics of SEO. Here is everything your website needs to be optimized for search engines:
The 6 Components of a Good SEO Strategy
Keywords
Keywords will be one of the essential components of your website’s SEO. Think of it this way – when customers search for information or a specific product online, they enter keywords into the search bar, and the search engine delivers results. Therefore, it’s super important that your website has keywords relevant to the search your potential customer is executing. For example, if you own a coffee shop in Toronto, you will want to have both the words coffee shop and Toronto in your website content.
It would help if you also researched the keywords and phrases customers use. Then, develop a list of keywords and phrases relevant to your business and naturally incorporate them into your website. Emphasis on naturally because Google will flag keywords included just because they’re keywords, not because they make sense. Make sure each sentence flows and that you use keywords properly.
Page Title
Make sure your pages have page titles, also known as title tags. Your page titles should be unique and contain your primary keyword for the best results. Your page title shows on the search results page, so it’s essential to include a keyword.
Page Description
Be sure to include a relevant page description. A good page description could decide between a searcher clicking on your page or someone else’s. Keep it unique, relevant and under 160 characters.
Headings
Make sure your content includes headings. Headings range from H1 to H6, with H1 being the biggest. Headings keep your content organized and readable, something that’s super important to search engines. Headings are also a great place to incorporate keywords, as search engines quickly pick them up.
Just be careful not to overdo it with the keywords in headings. Keyword stuffing can not only be penalized, but it’s also just plain annoying for readers.
Image ALT tag
When you include an image on your website, the ALT tag displays descriptive text in place of the picture. Not only is this convenient when an image isn’t loading, but it also provides greater accessibility. For web browsers that can’t view images, an image ALT tag still allows them to interact with your website. Accessibility is so important for SEO.
Your image ALT tag is another place where you can incorporate keywords.
URL structure
Your URL is the other most crucial component for SEO next to keywords. Your URL lets search engines know who you are. Keep your URL as short as possible while still being relevant to your website. For example, if you own a business, use your name so that customers can easily find you! Only use lower-case letters and a dash where a space would typically be.
SEO Takeaways
So, now that you know what components go into SEO, you can start optimizing your website. When doing so, keep these tips in mind. To be as SEO-friendly as possible, your website should be:
- Readable
- Easy to navigate
- Accessible
- Relevant
- Fast (Make sure your website doesn’t lag)
These tips will help you rank as high as possible in a search engine. And the higher you rank, the more growth you’ll see as an entrepreneur!
Need help getting your website’s SEO off the ground? 10|20 Marketing can help!
Search engine optimization (SEO) has many complexities. When you’re an entrepreneur, it can be tough to focus on the intricacies of SEO while still trying to run a business. That’s why we’re here to help. Our team of SEO experts will put together an SEO or local SEO strategy that’ll yield results. As a result, we can boost your ranking in any search engine from keyword research to implementation!
Ready to get started? Contact us for a free consultation!