Beginner SEO Tips
Choose Smart Keywords
Keywords are the phrases that people may use in a Google search to find the website they need — and you’ll want to incorporate relevant keywords that describe your business into your website content, blogs, and social media posts. In crowded markets more specific keywords will help the people who want exactly what you offer to find you. Try to pick several long-tail keywords and use them on your site. These keywords at least two words long, and while they see fewer searches each month, they’re less competitive.
That means you have a better chance of sliding into first place for these phrases. Consider, for example, “hatha yoga classes for pregnant women” as opposed to “yoga classes.”
Choose an Optimized Domain
Your URL or domain name is one of the first things that both search engines and visitors see on your website. Ideally, you want to choose a URL that includes your business name. You might also want to use a primary keyword relevant to what you do. As an example, if you own Maya’s Flower Shop, a perfect URL would be www.mayasfreshflowers.com. That way your URL includes your brand name and a primary keyword: “fresh flowers.”
Write Titles and Descriptions
Write a unique title and description for every page of your website. Also known as meta tags, these are short texts about each page of your site, and they are one of the first things that search engines look at when indexing and scanning your website. They also appear to people when your site shows up in a SERP. Include keywords about your business in your titles and descriptions.
Your title and description don't just help search engines. Searchers read them to help decide whether or not your site offers what they want. Hover over any open tab on a a browser and you will see the page title for that page. You can also see the title and description for a page in Google search results above and below the website URL. To attract clicks from your target audience, write descriptions that accurately reflect the content on each page of your site. This will help bring in traffic from people who are most likely to stick around your site.
Optimize for Mobile Devices
More than half of all searches today are performed from a mobile device. On searches performed on mobile devices, Google gives priority to sites that are mobile-friendly. Creating a mobile-optimised website is one of the quickest, easiest ways to improve your ranking in relevant searches.
Submit Your Sitemap
Search engines discover and scan new websites on the Internet by following links. When you have a brand new site, it can take some time for Google to scan your site. Don’t sit around and wait for search engines to find your site. First, verify your domain using Google Search Console. Don’t stress — it won’t take long. Then, submit your sitemap (which outlines your site’s pages) directly to search engines so they can scan and index it immediately. Learn about the process in the easiest way possible here. Submit your sitemap to Google using this link.
Use Your Geography
When deciding which websites to display on a SERP, search engines pay close attention to geography. They look at the location of the person conducting the search and try to find relevant businesses in that area. If you own a local business, you may not need to compete on a national scale, but it is crucial to attracting customers in your area. You can help search engines associate your business with your location by putting your address and phone number on every page of your website. If you run a local business, it's also important to submit your website and business details to popular online listing sites like Yellow Pages, Google+, Merchant's Circle, Yelp, and others. Because they receive a large amount of traffic, these online directories rank well in searches and can bring in new customers who might never have found your website.
Get Reviews and Links
Once you've created online listings for your business, try to get reviews from your customers. Search online for other websites in your industry, looking for blogs and websites that could link to your site. Try contacting local newspapers or your chamber of commerce to see if they are willing to link to your site or write an article about your business. Because search engines use links to determine the credibility and importance of your website, it's important to create a network with as many sites as possible linking back to you. If you want your website to rank well, you will need to continually create fresh, well-written content. Content tells users and search engines what your website is about. When you create new content, you are sending the message that your site is still active and relevant. Writing in a regular blog on your website is a relatively easy way to generate new content on a regular basis. Use keywords in your posts and write entries that answer your customer's common concerns. Blogs are a great way to show off your expertise and build credibility in your field.
Be Active on Social Media
Increasingly search engines look at social media to help determine the popularity and reputation of a website. By maintaining active profiles of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you can attract the attention of new customers and let search engines know that you're legitimate. Most SEO experts believe that a website will rank higher if it's associated with an active account on a social network, so open up a profile, link to it on your website, connect with your customers and post as often as possible.