How to improve the SEO ranking of your business website

Want to boost your chances of getting found in an organic Google search? Read tips on how to improve your website’s SEO ranking.

So, your new website is finally live! You’ve taken the time to do the research, bought a domain name, designed and built it. And you’re really proud of your efforts, but as yet only a few people know it exists.

How can you ensure that your new business website gets in front of the right people – and importantly is easily found by potential customers in Google searches? The answer lies in making sure you’re following the right SEO practices!

How to improve the SEO ranking of your website

From an SEO (search engine optimisation) perspective, your content is critical. But in practical terms what does this really mean for your new website?

There is a lot of jargon around content marketing, which can make it feel like a daunting, complex prospect to tackle. But it doesn’t have to be. With some careful thought and planning about what you publish on your website, you can help to improve your SEO ranking.

At its simplest level, just thinking about what keywords people may search for in order to find your service, products or offering can make a big difference.

Once you have identified these keywords, make sure you feature them in relevant areas of your website. But don’t overplay them – remember you are still talking to a real person rather than deliberately targeting a robot and how it searches.

Using SEO tools to maximise your website’s presence

Some website builder tools come with an SEO tool too to help you maximise your presence. Check with your domain name registrar (the company who you purchased your domain from) whether you have this tool available.

These often provide step-by-step guidance and recommendations on how each page can be improved, and are a great way to establish the SEO basics for your site.

Simple online searches can also reveal a number of readily available SEO improvement tools – some of which are free and others paid for. However, they do give a good review of your site as Google sees it, and can offer some valuable tips and techniques to raise your site’s ranking in organic searches.

(‘Organic’ means featuring in search listings naturally, rather than as a paid for advert, which commonly features at the top and has an ‘Ad’ reference next to it.)

Getting your new website noticed

You can also improve your SEO ranking by regularly adding new content to your site. This doesn’t have to be as arduous or involved as it may sound!

You can easily tick off the fresh content requirement through regular news articles, blogs and linking in your social media – all of which will create a wider reach for your online presence and more engagement with your target audience.

The trick is to develop good quality, keyword rich content which is engaging, particularly conversational pieces which are also more likely to be noticed or shared. (You can read advice on how to write a blog people will want to read here.)

One other aspect to consider is that Google increasingly prefers content which answers questions rather than just being driven by keywords, as they are moving towards voice activated search using kit like the Apple Watch.

So think about featuring content that answers critical questions or lists. For example, if you sell dog accessories online, research may tell you that many people search: “What’s the best dog collar for a puppy?” If you were to then write a blog with that title, you’ll increase your chances of ranking in a search for that question.

Using social media to boost your SEO ranking

If you use social media channels, including video, then make sure your posts, tweets and films link back to your website, news articles and blogs where appropriate. This could include embedding YouTube videos into your website or using a Facebook plugin, so people can comment and share their opinions with their Facebook friends.

But remember, the social media platforms own the connection not you, so don’t rely on this in isolation. It’s equally important to build a high quality email list, which you and your business own. So look for ways you can encourage your social media followers and fans to join your mailing list. A newsletter or free giveaways (such as fact sheets) are great ways to do this.

Finally, let your website evolve and develop as your business does. Fortunately being online allows you to be dynamic and respond to what your customers are looking for (and any latest SEO updates), while embracing and reflecting your business.

Need more tips for your business website?

You’ll find more helpful advice in these articles:

You can also download free guides to help you get your business online here

This is a sponsored article.