There are an estimated 200 ranking factors that Google uses to position web pages within the search engine results. You can learn to manage the way in which your site translates in order to see its performance significantly improve and your conversions increase.
In this article, the specialists at Trustist have created a straightforward guide to how to increase website visibility. Read on for some handy hints and tips.
1. Publishing site and social media content regularly
It’s important that your brand is seen to be active online. Not only will this keep your customers interested, but it will also improve your Google ranking.
Many websites rank high in the results because they add new blog posts regularly and often keep users updated with their activities.
Posting content regularly on social media and interacting with your followers will also increase your chances of getting your site’s details shared widely across the web, which in turn will improve your Google ranking.
2. Keeping content relevant, engaging and shareable
Ensure that everything remains on-brand. Your site should have a clear tone of voice and personality, and there should never be any confusion about what you stand for.
Try to create content that is original and unique, offering a different slant on relevant developments within your industry or offering user guides and product recommendations.
Interactive content and infographics are often shared via social media, so including these may help your visibility to improve.
3. Optimising keywords
If you include relevant keywords, internet users searching for your precise products and services will be much more likely to find you.
Research popular search terms using the Google Keyword Planner. You should organically include popular terms throughout your copy and include synonyms and semantically related phrases where possible.
You should also include long tail keywords as these help to narrow down your audience and attract more relevant traffic. These are often more descriptive. If you sell succulents, instead of “house plants”, you may wish to include “house plants that can survive in the bathroom”.
4. Optimising meta descriptions, titles and anchor text
Even tiny details such as meta descriptions, H1 tags, alt text on images and anchor text can be optimised. Make them descriptive and use keywords to increase your website’s visibility in a smart and subtle way.
5. Including images
This is a great way to keep your content visually interesting, plus it will help Google to understand your site a little better and work out how it should rank.
It will also enable a link to your content to show up in Google images as well as the regular results.
6. Improving accessibility
Potential customers will stay on your site longer if it’s easy to use – and this will help your ranking. Make your navigation super clear and simple.
You should also optimise your site’s interface for all types of device, including mobile devices and tablets, to increase the different types of engagement that are possible.
7. Link building
If you can make connections with other trusted brands in your sector or with popular influencers and journalists, it’s more likely that your site will be linked to from relevant, reputable external sources.
Perhaps you could be quoted in an article or some of your content could be shared on someone else’s blog or social media account.
Either way, if they include a link to your site, people who follow them are more likely to find you – plus, you’ll climb a little higher up the search results.
8. Using schema markup
Visit schema.org and tag all of the elements of your site, then update your HTML to include those tags. This will help Google to identify the purpose of your site and ensure it is ranked in a relevant and effective way
9. Using Google My Business
Add detailed information to your Google listing by signing up to Google My Business for free. You should include your address, full contact details, up to date opening times, images, a full description of your business and its services and positive customer reviews.
This will help your customers to get to know you before they even click through from the page of Google on which you appear, and will also clarify your business’s profile so that the search engine can rank it properly.
10. Using Google Search Console
It’s important to keep on top of your performance and make any tweaks that are needed to improve your website’s ranking. You can do this for free via Google Search Console.
Content quality and keyword optimisation, the inclusion of interesting elements such as images, good accessibility, quality link building and the use of schema markup, Google My Business and Google Search console can all help your site’s ranking to improve.
Follow the SEO tips above, and it’s highly likely that your online performance will improve. Start off by making a plan and consult it regularly, checking in at least monthly on your status in Google Search Console.