Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the visibility of a website, be it personal or professional, by gaining traffic through search engine results. It may seem as though this should be automatic, but there are many ways utilization of good SEO can create a strong, searchable online presence.
The better ranking a website has, the more it will get noticed – the better your ranking, the more of a chance you'll have to find potential clients and consumers that are looking for the services you offer, but may not know about you.
SEO can seem daunting, but if you follow these few simple rules, you can attract attention to your site and brand quickly and affordably.
Domain Name
Your domain name is one of the most important keys to making SEO work for you. A website address identifies who you are in a few short characters. You want to choose a domain name that will quickly explain who you are and what services your provide. It should also be as unique as possible – you don't want a potential consumer to search for your services, but find someone similar! Keeping your domain name simple, easy to spell and with limited characters will assist in avoiding any confusion.
Hosting Provider
The next step is to find a hosting provider that will work best for you and your budget. Do your research! Seek out the best companies that offer what you need, have excellent user reviews, and can provide these services at a cost you can afford.
If you do not know anyone personally that uses a given service, look for packages or deals that do not have long-term commitments so you can determine through usage if it is the right provider for you.
Site Design
When building a site, it is very important to keep your audience in mind. If you are targeting motorcycle enthusiasts, it would most likely be better to avoid using pictures of kittens all over the site! Remember who you are speaking to, and remember what you want the end result to be: sales. Design your site to speak to your audience, and show from the get-go you are able to recognize what they want and can meet their needs.
Content, Content, Content!
Once your website is built, the next step is one of the most important: Content.
Content is what you display on your site. It tells a reader who you are, what you do, what you have done, and any other information you feel is pertinent to telling your story. Keep in mind, your website is many people's first impression of you – set your best foot forward by providing the information that is going to make them secure in contacting you.
Not only will building content tighten your brand, it is also valuable for SEO purposes. By picking a few select key-words that explain who you are, you can create multiple articles or features on your site using these words that apply to you the most. When people search for those words, they will find exactly what they are looking for: YOUR site.
Marketing Your Site
Once you have launched your site, you must begin marketing it. Decide on those key-words. Seek avenues in which to advertise. Network. SEO can boost your search rankings, but it is only as helpful as you make it.
The better ranking a website has, the more it will get noticed – the better your ranking, the more of a chance you'll have to find potential clients and consumers that are looking for the services you offer, but may not know about you.
SEO can seem daunting, but if you follow these few simple rules, you can attract attention to your site and brand quickly and affordably.
Domain Name
Your domain name is one of the most important keys to making SEO work for you. A website address identifies who you are in a few short characters. You want to choose a domain name that will quickly explain who you are and what services your provide. It should also be as unique as possible – you don't want a potential consumer to search for your services, but find someone similar! Keeping your domain name simple, easy to spell and with limited characters will assist in avoiding any confusion.
Hosting Provider
The next step is to find a hosting provider that will work best for you and your budget. Do your research! Seek out the best companies that offer what you need, have excellent user reviews, and can provide these services at a cost you can afford.
If you do not know anyone personally that uses a given service, look for packages or deals that do not have long-term commitments so you can determine through usage if it is the right provider for you.
Site Design
When building a site, it is very important to keep your audience in mind. If you are targeting motorcycle enthusiasts, it would most likely be better to avoid using pictures of kittens all over the site! Remember who you are speaking to, and remember what you want the end result to be: sales. Design your site to speak to your audience, and show from the get-go you are able to recognize what they want and can meet their needs.
Content, Content, Content!
Once your website is built, the next step is one of the most important: Content.
Content is what you display on your site. It tells a reader who you are, what you do, what you have done, and any other information you feel is pertinent to telling your story. Keep in mind, your website is many people's first impression of you – set your best foot forward by providing the information that is going to make them secure in contacting you.
Not only will building content tighten your brand, it is also valuable for SEO purposes. By picking a few select key-words that explain who you are, you can create multiple articles or features on your site using these words that apply to you the most. When people search for those words, they will find exactly what they are looking for: YOUR site.
Marketing Your Site
Once you have launched your site, you must begin marketing it. Decide on those key-words. Seek avenues in which to advertise. Network. SEO can boost your search rankings, but it is only as helpful as you make it.
SHARE
