While keyword spamming and other shady SEO tactics are a thing of the past (or should be, since they are frowned upon by Google), SEO is still an important matter to discuss. Here are 22 SEO tips to keep in mind to help your article and website rank higher in search engines.
- It All Starts with Great Content: No amount of tricks or tips will beat out great content. If your posts or articles are well-written and helpful to readers, then they will attract more attention and get shared more.
- Remember Your Audience Is Human: Yes, you want to include important keywords into your copy, but remember, you are not writing a post for a search engine. You are ultimately writing for humans. A post that is written well and readers like will do much better than a post that is hard to read but hits all of its keyword targets.
- Don’t Forget the Title: You want your title to be interesting enough to click and attract readers, but you also want your title to be keyword-rich. Many sites use linkbait titles, such as, “You Will Never Believe What Happened After This Mom Had a Baby,” which will initially get the attention and clicks of readers. However, this title will not rank will in a Google search, and will not be easy to find in a few months.
- Use Keyword-Rich Subheadings: Dividing your text into subheadings, makes it easier to read. These subheadings can also boost your ranking if you put important keywords in them.
- The Meta Tag Is Important: When you are getting ready to publish a blog post, it can be tempting to skip the meta tag part. However, make sure to utilize keywords in this snippet of text. Make sure it is attention-grabbing too, since this is the first preview of the article that readers will see in a search engine.
- Link to Trusted Sites: Linking to trusted sites within your content can also help your SEO. This will also give your piece more validity, since you are including the words of other experts alongside your thoughts.
- Link to Your Other Articles: Within your text, link to other relevant pieces on your site. This boosts SEO and keeps your reader on your site longer.
- Inbound Links Are Great: If other sites link to your article, that is a good sign. This means that they are helping your SEO rating, as well as boosting your readership. If this doesn’t happen naturally, try contacting other sites about being included in a round-up post or a blog carnival.
- Long Tail Keywords Convert Better Readers: Shorter keywords, such as “credit card” or “lawsuit” are very competitive. If someone searches for these terms, they are going to be overwhelmed by how many search results come up, and there is a good chance your site will not appear on the first page. Instead, use long tail keywords to target individuals who are searching more specific topics such as, “making money after retirement” or “parenting tips for dealing with stealing.” There will be less competition with long tail keywords too.
- Pay Attention to Keyword Density: Don’t go overboard with keywords either. It makes your piece look spammy, and Google might penalize you for it.
- Utilize Tools: There are several easy-to-use SEO tools available, especially if you are blogging on the WordPress platform. Use these tools to take the stress and work out of keywords.
- Share Often: If you want to attract more attention to your site, try sharing some other great posts. This will get the attention of other bloggers, and they might return the favor.
- Bump Up Posts That Are on Page Two and Three of Google: It can be frustrating when your post still ranks as page two or three on Google. To give it a boost, internally link that page on several of your other posts
- Try Answering Questions: Devote a few posts to answering common reader questions or related questions. This can help with your long tail keywords, and also give you a new idea on what to write on.
- Stay Away from Iffy SEO Companies: Sometimes it might seem easier to just hire someone else to take care of your SEO. However, not all companies are going to deliver the best results. They might just fill your website with outsourced (read: poorly written) content that utilizes outdated SEO methods.
- Optimize Your Images: Make sure each post contains a good image and then optimize it so that the image’s description has essential keywords in it. This way, your image will come up quickly if someone search’s Google images.
- Be Regular: Have engaging content posted to your site frequently. If you are an e-commerce site, you can have a separate blog to gain clicks.
- Make URLs Easy to Access: Make sure your URL and the URL to some of your most popular pages/posts are easy to access. It is much easier to remember and visit www.mywebsite.com/SEOtips rather than www.mywebsite.com/pages/page1/topic/SEO_tips_everyone_needs_to_know
- Write Your Own Copy: If you are an e-commerce site or a website that sells products, then don’t just copy and paste the description from someone else’s website. For example, if you and Walmart are selling the same camera lens, then don’t take their copy. Instead, write your own unique, keyword-rich copy to rank better.
- Upgrade and Update Old Posts: If you have relevant posts or articles on your site, but they are a few years old, try updating them. Add to them and just give them a new shiny coat. This can help them rank better since they are now considered newer.
- Do Your Research: Spend time researching what are the best keywords for your site. You should have a good mix of short keywords and long tail keywords.
- Plan It Out: Once you know which keywords you should talk more on, spend some time planning out your posts and writing dynamic content. If your targeted keyword is “free reading games for kids,” then spend a few minutes brainstorming great topics to write on. Perhaps titles will be:· Should You Waste Time on Free Reading Games for Kids?
· Where to Find Free Reading Games for Kids
· Can Free Reading Games for Kids Help Your Child?
· Best Websites for Free Reading Games for Kids
Keep these tips in mind the next time you write a post. Just remember to keep producing great content that will stay evergreen for several years. Great content will always do better than content that is jam-packed with the right keywords.