Hey dude! Get ready and buckle up, because this guide is about to change everything you thought you knew about SEO!
What is SEO Anyway? The Shockingly Simple Explanation!
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is simply the act of optimizing your website to increase its performance on search engines like Google. But what is Google even looking for? Google wants its users to be happy. If you Google “how to cook meatloaf,” you want the first result to give you an amazing meatloaf recipe. Google has to sift through millions of web pages to figure out which article is the most relevant. When there are many similar articles, Google considers other factors:
- Website speed: Is your site fast?
- Author credibility: Is your site an authority on the topic?
- Backlinks: How many other websites link to your page?
The 3 Pillars of SEO That Will Make You a Google Ranking Superstar!
SEO is broken down into three main focus areas:
- Content: The words and information you publish on your site.
- Links: The connections between your site and other websites.
- Technical SEO: The behind-the-scenes elements that make your site fast and user-friendly.
Content is King: The Shocking Truth About Keywords!
Keywords are the words people type into Google when they are searching for something. When creating content, each article should target specific keywords. The key is to find keywords that are not too competitive, but that can still drive business.
- Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific and have less competition. For example, instead of targeting “tennis,” you might target “best tennis racket for beginners”.
- Use free tools like answerthepublic.com to find long-tail keywords.
How to Create Killer Content That Google Will Love (and Users Will Devour)!
Let’s say you have a website in the smart home niche and you’re looking to write content about smart home gifts. Let’s use “best smart home candles” as an example.
- Analyze the Competition: Google your keyword and see what the top-ranking articles look like. For “best smart home candles,” the top article is from Smart Home Pursuits and it’s from 2021.
- Copy the Format: Google has already shown us it likes a particular format, so we should follow suit. The article from Smart Home Pursuits used a listicle format.
- Craft a Click-Worthy Title: Keep your main keyword towards the front, use related keywords, use interesting words, dates and numbers to encourage clicks, and keep the title short. For example: “Best Smart Home Candles of 2024: Top 5 Flameless Lights”. Put the title in two places: at the top of your article and in your title tag using an SEO plugin like Yoast or Rank Math.
- Optimize Your Meta Description: This is what appears below your title in Google search results. Put keywords in it, use clever copy to encourage clicks, and keep it short. For example: “Light up your home with the best smart candles of 2024. Find out which has the best…”.
- Create a Killer Outline: Mimic the format and subtopics of top-ranking articles. Use H1 for the main title, H2 for subtopics and H3 for sub-subtopics. Open multiple articles and create a super set outline.
- Write an Introduction That Hooks Readers: The introduction paragraph is crucial. Its job is to get people to stay and read. Get straight to the point, and build trust.
- Write Natural Content: Use keywords but avoid keyword stuffing. Add related keywords that appear in the search results for your keyword.
- Match the Length of Top-Ranking Articles: Use a free Google Chrome plugin like detail to find out how long the top-ranking articles are.
- Make Your Content Readable: Use short paragraphs, images, videos, lists and call outs to keep readers engaged.
- Optimize Your URL: Use keywords, separate words with hyphens, and keep it short. For example: “best-smart-home-candles”.
- Interlink Your Content: As you write more content on related topics, link those articles together.
The Power of Links: How to Get Other Websites to Love You!
A backlink is when one website links to another website. External backlinks are one of the biggest ranking factors in Google’s algorithm. They are like a vote of confidence.
- Find Relevant Websites: Look for websites in your niche that are trustworthy and get Google traffic.
- Outreach: Find the website’s contact information and send them an email requesting a backlink. For example: “Hey [Name], I love your website and I’ve been a longtime reader. I just wrote an article on Smart Home Candles that would be a great supplement to your content on budget-friendly, smart home devices. If you wouldn’t mind linking to my article that would make my day”.
Technical SEO: The Secret Sauce That Will Make Your Site Fly!
Technical SEO is the easiest part. It’s like tuning up your car to make sure it goes fast. SEO tools make this easy. The free version of Screamingfrog is enough to get the job done. Look for:
- Slow pages.
- Pages that look bad on mobile devices.
- Pages with no internal links.
- Pages that Google can’t find.
- Broken links.
Conclusion
SEO is not some mystical black art. It’s a science that can be understood and mastered. By focusing on content, links, and technical SEO, you can achieve your goals and get your website to the top of Google. Start implementing these strategies today, and get ready to witness a dramatic transformation in your website’s traffic. Remember, the answer to doing well on Google is always found on page one of Google. Go forth and conquer!
FAQs
How long does it take to see results from SEO? SEO is a long-term strategy and results can vary depending on your niche, competition, and how consistently you implement the strategies discussed in this post. Generally, it can take several months to see noticeable improvements in your rankings and traffic.
Do I need to hire an SEO expert? While hiring an expert can be beneficial, it’s important to understand the basics of SEO so you can evaluate their work and ensure that you are getting good value.
What if my site is new, is it possible for me to rank on Google? Absolutely. While older sites with more authority may have an initial edge, focusing on creating high-quality content, building backlinks, and optimizing your technical SEO is vital for new websites to rank. Consistency and patience are key.