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This article relates back to the hotly debated topic, that of where advertising time and dollars is best spent in today’s increasing digital realm. The simple fact is Google.com is ranked as the number one website in the world according to Alexia.com, with an average of 10 pageviews/user on a daily basis [1].
This information does more then just suggest that Internet users are utilising search engines, it shows that they are using them regularly, with the average user ‘Googling’ something 10 times a day.
Getting onto the first page in Google and maintaining that position is often a misunderstood and overly complex process. There are several simple things you can do to assist in your own Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
1. Establish Traffic Volume Benchmarks
2. Create SMART Goals for Future Growth
3. Ensure You Have an Accurate Page Title
4. Update Website Content Regularly
5. Contribute to Blogs
6. Include your Website Address in Your Email Signature
7. Setup and Use Twitter or Facebook
8. Setup Free Accounts on Local Business Directories
1. Establish Traffic Volume Benchmarks
Establishing what your average daily, weekly or monthly traffic volume is will enable you to begin creating a plan for monitoring and increasing that volume. The best way to establish a traffic volume benchmark is to refer to your Google Analytics report, which your current web design company should supply on a monthly basis, free of charge (for assistance in understanding your Google Analytics report, see ‘Google Analytics, The Dashboard’).
[Don’t have Google Analytics, contact dlc today to discuss installing it on your website].
2. Create SMART Goals for Future Growth
A SMART goal is a Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely goal. For instance, the goal might be to increase your websites traffic volume by 50 users/month in the first three months.
This example is specific, with a set number of users over a timeframe. It is also measurable in that we can use the Google Analytics report to establish if we have hit this mark, very attainable and realistic with the techniques outlined in this article, and timely. (A goal of becoming the number one search result next month, is not a SMART goal, as SEO takes time and planning.)
Also, remember to monitor your SEO progress each month and see if you are achieving your SMART goals. Refer back to tip 1 for details.
3. Ensure You Have an Accurate Page Title
The ‘page title’ is what web browsers display at the very top of the browser window. For instance, at the top of this blog page, the page title is displayed as the name of this article “8 Tips to Achieve Better Search Results”, from our homepage, the page title is displayed as "Brisbane Web Design by Design Lots Creative”.
The ‘page title’ It is not content within your site, yet search engines pay particular attention to the information displayed here. Check with your web design company to ensure your page title accurately represents what your business does.
4. Update Website Content Regularly
Search engines, like Google, routinely ‘crawl’ your site looking for new content; when they find new content, they place a higher search preference on that content.
Routinely updating the content on your site will keep search engines coming back and will assist you in reaching the first page in Google and staying there.
5. Contribute to Blogs and Forums
This is a fast and easy way to accomplish tip number 4. If your website has a ‘blog’ or ‘news’ section, try to add an article once a week, or once a fortnight.
If your website does not have a blog, browse online forums within your area of expertise which allow you to post comments. When you post a comment, make sure it is relevant and not simply self promotion and include a link to your website to reference your credentials.
6. Include your Website in Your Email Signature
Every time you send an email, the recipient is already sitting at their computer and more then likely online. It takes no time at all for them to click on the link and be taken to your site. Increased traffic through to your site assists in building a good page ranking.
7. Setup and Use Twitter or Facebook
Both of these online social networking sites (OSNs or social media sites) are very effective means of increasing both online brand exposure and search engine ranking (see ‘What Can Twitter do For Your Business?’).
When you post something on either OSN, you are sending out ‘x’ number of links back to your profile, and website every time. ‘x’ is a representation of how many ‘followers’ or ‘fans’ you have on each OSN, respectively.
8. Setup Free Accounts on Local Business Directories
Again, a small portion of SEO is about developing links back to your website. Free online directories like Truelocal.com.au and Hotfrog.com.au are a good way of developing a small network of links that point back to your website.
Conclusion
SEO, amongst other eMarketing initiatives are fast becoming the most effective means of promoting your business for several reasons. Amongst a large list, eMarketing and SEO are cost effective (see ‘SEO, How it Adds Up), measurable and green (see, ‘Go Green’). dlc can assist you in developing a comprehensive eMarketing campaign, contact us today for more information.
Sources:
[1] ‘Top Sites’ http://www.alexa.com/topsites
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