SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization which means improving your websites content to rank in popular search results on Google, Bing or Baidu which are referred to as Search Engines.
It is the key to unlocking your website’s potential and driving organic traffic to your website.
If you are a beginner diving deep into the world of SEO, you must’ve come across the most popular terms like Keyword Research, Link Building, Guest Blogging and what not!
But all we need is a detailed guide that explains – How to do SEO for Beginners.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through a few essential and super-easy steps to optimize your website and improve its visibility in search engine results.
Implement these strategies and you’ll be well on your way to generate more traffic and growing your online presence.
When starting to optimize a website for Search Engine Rankings, this is the single most effective method to carve out your SEO strategy.
Why look at Competitors? Let me explain.
Let’s say you have a website for a Roofing business and you want to reach to people.
What’s the most easiest way to know how to market?
Yes, you’ve guessed it right. Looking at what’s currently working for other Roofers in the market.
In this way, you can steal Competitor stats and brainstorm on your SEO campaign.
But wait! How do we find our Competitors?
Give a plain old Google search to check who’s coming up on top.
For our example, let’s look at some Roofers in Toronto.
Check their website to see if they’ve been posting blog content or focusing on getting editorial links.
You can use a tool like SEMRush or Ubersuggest to get a detailed Competitor Analysis and find out their high traffic pages and keywords. More on this later!
Easy, right? Let’s move on to the next one.
Yes, we’ve arrived at Keywords. They are the foundation of an SEO Strategy.
Sign up for tools like Google Keyword Planner (it’s a freebie! don’t miss it), SEMrush (paid) or Ahrefs (paid) that can help you discover relevant keywords with high search volumes and manageable competition.
I recently conducted a poll on LinkedIn to find out what’s the most preferred Keyword Research tool.
Out of 214 people, 45% voted for Google Keyword Planner.
Also look at what your competitors are using to rank their websites.
For example – “Roofers in Toronto” can be a high value keyword for our example niche.
Incorporate these keywords naturally throughout your website to increase its chances of ranking higher in search engine results.
Did you check the Google Search image provided above? If not, check it now.
What is the title for the first website?
Simple formula – [Name of Company]: [Toronto Roofing Company]
Bang on!
Your page title is one of the most critical On-page SEO elements.
It’s the first thing that Google crawler check to understand what your website is about.
Make sure it accurately reflects the content on your page containing your target keywords.
Aim for a length of around 50-60 characters to ensure it displays properly in search engine results.
While aiming for a high SERP ranking, maintaining a proper URL structure is necessary.
include relevant keywords in your URL to provide search engines and users with a clear idea of what the page content is about.
Two words to remember while creating your page URLs –
Descriptive and Concise.
Avoid using long and complex URLs that are difficult for users to read and remember.
Instead, opt for short, keyword-rich URLs that accurately represent your content.
The Meta Description is a brief summary of your page content that appears below the page title in search engine results.
Although it doesn’t directly impact your website’s ranking, a compelling meta description can significantly influence click-through rates (CTR).
That’s why I referred to it as the Gatekeeper.
Crafting a great Meta Description can be a game-changer for your SEO strategy.
Incorporate your target keywords naturally within the meta description while providing a concise and enticing overview of your page’s content.
Aim for a length of around 150-160 characters to ensure it appears fully in search results.
But wait!
DISCLAIMER: Google will sometimes change your Meta Description based on the Search Query and will show some random text from inside the website content.
So Content is King indeed. Let’s move inside Page content next.
The H1 tag serves as the main heading of your entire page and should contain your primary keyword or keyword phrase.
It helps search engines understand the main topic of your content and improves its relevancy.
For example: Go to Alpine Roofing website and let’s check what the H1 heading is –
“Best Roofing Company in Toronto”
See how it covers the main search keyword there?
Ensure that your H1 text is clear, descriptive, and captures the essence of your page.
As we discussed, Content is king when it comes to SEO.
Developing high-quality, informative, and engaging content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience will surely boost your SERP rankings.
Incorporate your target keywords throughout the content naturally, ensuring a balanced and seamless flow.
Avoid keyword stuffing, as it can harm your website’s ranking.
Instead, focus on providing valuable information and maintaining a conversational tone that resonates with your readers.
For example, if you’re writing the page content in First Person, make sure that it stays the same throughout the page or else it may sound conflicting and lead to higher Bounce Rates.
Backlinks play a crucial role in SEO by indicating the credibility and authority of your website.
You might’ve head the terms Domain Rank (DR), Page Rank (PR), Domain Authority (DR), Page Authority (PR), Spam Score, Trust Flow.
Alright, let’s cover this topic in detail.
In simple terms, a backlink is a referral to your website from another website.
It passes some authority from the source website to the target website.
For example, if you have a major publication like Entrepreneur mentioning about you, don’t you get some real eyeballs over you?
So building and showcasing credibility through your business or content attracts links from other relevant websites referencing your work.
Build high-quality backlinks from reputable and relevant websites in your industry.
A simple way to achieve this is by guest blogging, creating share-worthy content, participating in industry forums, or reaching out to influencers for collaborations.
Quality backlinks from authoritative sources can significantly boost your website’s visibility and organic traffic.
Here’s a free tool by Ahrefs to check backlinks for your competitors for free.
While doing the regular On-page SEO stuff you have to keep in mind the most important thing.
Technical SEO.
Yes, Google considers Page Loading Time as an important metric for ranking websites on SERPs.
You can take a look at the complete Technical SEO Guide here and follow the steps mentioned.
RELATED: How to Improve Website Ranking in 5 easy steps
Keep in mind that SEO is an ongoing process and keeping track of your website’s performance is vital.
Regularly track your website keyword rankings, organic traffic, and other relevant metrics using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
Analyze the data to identify potential areas of improvement and adjust your SEO strategy accordingly.
Don’t forget your competitors.
Study the industry trends to stay ahead of the curve and continue optimizing your website for better results.
Mastering SEO for beginners is an empowering journey that can propel your website’s visibility and attract a steady stream of organic traffic.
By following the step-by-step guide outlined above, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and strategies to optimize your website effectively.
Again remember, SEO takes time and dedication, so be patient and consistent in implementing these techniques.
As you progress, continually adapt your strategy based on data and emerging trends to stay at the forefront of search engine rankings.
Good luck on your SEOs. See you in the next one!
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