Search engines are a baffling tool to most. How can they possibly keep track of everything on the internet and provide spot-on search results? Through SEO or search engine optimisation, that’s how. In this article, we’ll discuss SEO, the many benefits of using it, and the steps to take to implement it into your content.
Let’s get to it.
What is SEO?
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is essentially the process of optimising a website, online content, or social media. This is done to improve the platform or content visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). It’s an essential aspect of digital marketing as it helps businesses and organisations increase their online visibility and reach a wider audience. Interestingly enough, TikTok just began implementing SEO into its videos in the fall of 2022.
Brands in Perth Australia can utilise companies who offer SEO in Perth, for content audits and optimisation implementation.
How Does SEO Work?
To break it down simply, search engines have bots that are programmed to scan written content for consistency in order for it to be sorted. This is done through the use of SEO keywords. What is a keyword? Let’s say there’s an article focused on quick dinner recipes. A bot might pick up on the keywords for quick recipes. Once the bot completes the identification task, they then classify content into a large online library called an index. This example article would be placed in the quick recipes index.
After content is indexed, the search engine’s algorithm scans the texts further and then ranks them. Rank determines which order your content will appear in when someone searches that subject. SEO practices optimise content to be easily digested and analysed by bots and algorithms.
Benefits
The many benefits include and are certainly limited to
#1 – Increased Traffic
An increase in website traffic is perhaps the most well-known benefit and the overall goal of SEO. By optimising a website for search engines, businesses and other platforms can ensure that their website appears at the top of search engine results from pages for relevant keywords. A higher ranking equates to more traffic. More traffic means a larger audience of potential customers.
#2 – User Experience
Breaking down an article for an algorithm kills two birds with one stone. It also makes your content easily readable for viewers. Headings, keywords, shorter sentences, and broken-up paragraphs all make your content a quick read. Most people only skim web pages. Save your reader time by drawing attention to what’s important on your page. The more user-friendly and helpful your content is, the more likely you are to have a returning audience.
#3 – Brand Awareness & Credibility
A higher ranking on a search result page not only gives you potentially more views, but it also legitimises your content. The very first search result that appears on the list is given the title of authority. The ultimate goal is to rank as an authority site, but even being ranked on the first or second page gives substantial credibility.
#4 – It’s Cost Effective
SEO can also help businesses and organisations save money on advertising. Unlike traditional forms of advertising such as print or television, SEO is a cost-effective way to reach a wide audience. Traditional advertising is very expensive and while it has its purpose, why not maximise your SEO to save instead?
How Do You Use SEO?
Algorithms change all the time and in fact, Google changed theirs in September. After close monitoring of the changes, we’d recommend you implement these SEO strategies into your work:
- Keywords
- Article Elements
- Sentence & Paragraph Length
- Product Images
- Backlinks
We already explained keywords above, but to delve just a little further, aim to have your keyword appear in roughly 2-6% of your text. This means if you have a one thousand-word article, your keyword can appear between 20 and 60 times. Any more than that, and search engines will think you’re trying too hard to cheat the system by keyword stuffing. No one likes to be manipulated not even a search engine. If keyword stuffing is detected, you run the risk of your content ranking extremely low or not being ranked at all.
Implement multiple elements into your work. By this, we mean utilising tools like bullet points as we just did above. It grabs the attention of the eye. Add a photo or a video or try varying your sentence and paragraph length. Essentially, break up your text to grab your trade’s attention.
To make your text more easily digestible by both algorithms and humans, be wary of lengthy sentences and paragraphs. SEO guidelines suggest keeping sentences to no more than 20 words. As for paragraphs, aim for a max of 10 sentences. This will not only aid the reader, but it’ll also help the bots and algorithm comb through your text faster.
As for product images, be mindful of the file names as you upload. Most people think when they upload an image that the file name doesn’t matter. Wrong. Even though the filename name isn’t visible, it’s logged within your content and the bots and algorithm read them. Be sure to title them accordingly. Is it an image of a hunter-green hoodie with a smiley face logo? Then label your file huntergreenhoodiesmileyfacelogo.jpeg or whatever file format you choose. This will also help your images appear in the search engine image results.
Lastly, utilise backlinks. A backlink is a link to your content from another site. Create relationships within your niche, submit press releases, or offer to guest post a blog on someone else’s trade page. Backlinks are all about the relationships you build. In addition, craft quality content that people will want to cite and reference in their own work.
Summary
In conclusion, SEO is an essential aspect of digital marketing. It can help businesses and other platforms increase their online visibility and reach a wider audience. It can also improve the user experience of a website, improve brand awareness and credibility, and save money on advertising. Overall, it’s free. So do yourself a favour and implement it into your content. You truly have nothing to lose.
Interesting Related Article: “The Ultimate Guide to SEO: Boosting Your Website’s Visibility“