What if you could rocket to the top of user searches in 2020?
In our digital world, the success of a business is all about reaching as many people as you can. And that means mastering Search Engine Optimization.
Unfortunately, many business owners don't know the first thing about SEO and using search engines. They end up making rookie mistakes that hurt their business and give up a lot of ground to the competition. And even veteran site owners can make big mistakes if they don't understand how SEO has changed and evolved.
How can you jump to the top of user searches and grow your organic traffic each month? Keep reading to discover our 7 key tips for using search engines properly in 2020.
Some of the trends for 2020 have been building for a long time. For example, the majority of users now browse the internet through a smartphone or tablet rather than a mobile device. Because of that, good SEO means making sure your site is optimized for mobile.
What does a mobile-optimized site look like? Generally, there are fewer images and "filler" content. Some browsing on the go just wants to get to the good stuff, and a cluttered website will get in the way.
The site should feature responsive design. This will automatically adjust how the site looks for different screen sizes and make it easier for mobile users to navigate.
Finally, mobile users feel the "need for speed." Make sure your pages load very quickly or your SEO will suffer due to the high bounce rate.
At the end of the day, Google is always trying to give users what they want. And that's why their search engine favors websites with very rich content that users crave.
You can't just generate a bunch of junk articles, though. You need to focus on high-quality content because it reflects on the quality of your site in a very literal way.
For example, Google's algorithm tries to evaluate the Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness of every website. By providing relevant, high-quality content that is correctly optimized (more on this later), you can jump high in the search ratings.
A good business is all about efficiency. And what could be better than an SEO tip that also makes your site safer and more secure?
If you haven't done so already, it's time to switch your site to HTTPS. Doing this increases the security of your website. And if you don't do it, users will find out.
That's because Google's Chrome browser now flags non-HTTPS sites as "not secure." Users can still click on your site, but they are unlikely to do so while Google is busy flagging it as a safety risk for users.
Compared to some of the tips on this list, migrating everything over to HTTPS can be annoying and complex. But the final result enhances your SEO and site security, all in one stroke.
You've probably figured out that SEO and user experience are related to one another. If you provide positive user experience, more users will visit your site. This, combined with quality content and a low bounce rate, can help with your SEO.
That's why one of the simplest SEO techniques is to focus on the user experience first and foremost. It's easy to focus so much on things like site optimization that you lose track of whether customers are actually having an enjoyable experience when they visit.
How can you enhance the user experience? Some of the techniques we touched on (including fast-loading pages and responsive design) will enhance that experience. On top of that, consider adding things like buttons that can help mobile users contact your business with a single click.
Long story short? By basing your design decisions around the user experience, you will naturally improve your SEO.
That "customer first" mentality extends to link building. In order to get the most out of your SEO in 2020, you must change the way you think about building links.
It wasn't that long ago that link building was all about driving traffic to your site. Now, however, online users have gotten savvier about the internet and more cynical about business marketing.
So, cheap SEO ploys may still work in driving traffic. But when customers encounter irrelevant links left and right, they will lose trust in your business. And they'll be that less likely to share your content or even visit your site at all.
Instead, focus on links that are relevant to consumer needs and relevant to your brand. This is a long term strategy that boosts organic SEO while also building consumer loyalty.
Earlier, we talked about how on-page optimization is a vital part of your SEO. But what, exactly is on-page optimization all about?
Honestly, good optimization goes back to a good user experience. For example, providing intuitive internal links within your pages helps customers navigate your site. It helps you manage a link flow (similar to a sales funnel) and create a road map that invites user exploration.
Optimization also involves providing the right kind of metadata. Make sure you are formatting headers, providing snippet descriptions, and adding alt tags to all of your images.
You can also add schemas to your pages that provide search engines with relevant site info. And the easier you make things for the search engines, the better your SEO will be.
Star Trek has always done a good job of predicting our technological future. For example, users now spend their days talking to technology such as Alexa and Siri!
Those users are now searching the internet via voice. You can take advantage of this by embracing voice-friendly keywords.
Keep in mind voice searches tend to be longer and come in the form of a question. They are also more likely to be focused on local searches than general searches.
It will take time and effort, but voice-centric SEO helps to "future-proof" your website.
Now you know the key to SEO and using search engines in 2020. But do you know how to find the right talent to transform your website?
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