10-Step SEO Strategy for 2020

20 November 2019

An SEO strategy is a plan for your search engine optimization activities that can be chart out in definitive steps. It is a long term solution to drive traffic to your website, improve conversion rates and boost your online revenue.

If you want your website to rank well in google , here are 10 components of SEO that should know about when optimizing their website to rank well in top search engines.

1: Perform an SEO Audit

First things first, you need to know where you stand. It’s difficult to measure improvement in SEO rankings when you have no idea where you were starting to begin with!

seo audit

Auditing your site is an important element in establishing your SEO strategies because it helps to establish a baseline understanding and easily identify where you have room for improvement.

2: Keyword Research

First, you need to find out different words sets of your target audience use to find your brand or content online, called keywords. You need to find the most popular and relevant keywords core business.

So, how do you find the right keywords?

The simplest way is to Google them.

google-keyword-search-tools

Make a list of 4-5 broad topics. Now, type one of these topics in the search bar. Add the suggestions made by Google to your keyword list.

During your research, you will come across the following types of keywords:

  • Short-Tail - They are made up of three words or less. They have a high search volume and competition, no clear search intent, and a low conversion rate. Use them as head keywords.
  • Long-Tail - Keywords with more than three words have low search volume and competition, but high conversion rate due to clear search intent. Use them for specific content.
  • Short-Term - They offer high conversion rate, clear search intent, and high search volume, but only for a short period. You can use them to gain from trending news and media.
  • Long-Term - Also called evergreen keywords, they are just like short-term keywords, but have a longer life span. You can use them to create evergreen content like guides and skyscraper posts.
  • Product-Specific - They have low search volume and competition, but high conversion rate owing to their precise search intent. You can use them in product-related content.
  • Location-Specific - Also called geo-targeting keywords, they are critical for local businesses where location matters for attracting leads.
  • LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) - They are semantically related to the main keyword. They can boost your primary keyword ranking. You can use them to create blog guides...

3: Build pages for each topic.

When it comes to sites and ranking in search engines, trying to get one page to rank for a small number of keywords can be next to impossible. But here is where the rubber meets the road:

Take the 10 pillar topics you came up with in Step 1 and then produce a web page for every one which summarizes the subject at a higher level -- using the long tail key words you came up for each bunch in Step 2. A pillar page on SEO, for example, can explain SEO in short sections that present keyword research, image optimization, SEO strategy, along with other subtopics as they are identified. Consider every pillar page as a table of contents, in which you're briefing your subscribers on subtopics you will elaborate on in blog posts. Use your keyword list to determine just how many distinct column pages you should create. Ultimately, the number of themes for that you create pillar pages should coincide with the number of different products, offerings, and locations your business has. This will make it much easier for your prospects and clients to find you in search engines regardless of what key words they use.

Each page needs to include relevant content to your prospects and clients and should include pictures and links to pages on your site in order to enhance the user experience.

4: Competition Analysis

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5: Set Up a Blog

Blogging can be an incredible way to rank for keywords and engage your website's users. After all, every blog post is a new web page that gives you another chance to rank in search engines. If your business does not already have a blog, set one up, and make a point to blog at least once a week. Remember, you are blogging primarily for your audience, not the search engines. Write about things your audience and/or prospects are interested in, make sure you're including relevant keywords where appropriate, and your audience will naturally find you.

6: Stay Current on SEO News & Practices

SEO is not a one-time deal. Google keeps improving its search engine algorithms, which means you; need to update your SEO strategies accordingly as well. Start following Google Webmaster Central Blog and other blogs like Search Engine Journal, Search Engine Land, and Moz, among others to know of the latest developments in the SEO world. Keep looking for fresh and more relevant keywords, especially if you want to capitalize on social media trends and the latest news. Keep updating your content creation and distribution strategies as per your SEO results.

7: Get your SSL Certificate

There’s no doubt about it – customers are more worried than ever about cyber security. It seems like every day there is a new headline exclaiming that another business has been hacked and all of their data was compromised.

It’s no wonder why customers are extremely hesitant to visit a website that doesn’t seem secure. Google and it’s competitors have taken notice. So they are penalizing the SERP rankings of sites that don’t take the necessary steps to ensure that their customers are protected.

8: Use Schema Markups

One of the most powerful ways to optimize your website for search engines is through schema markups! A schema markup is essentially a code installed on your website which allows search engines to find and deliver the most important information to customers through search results.

It tells the search engine what information is the most important for customers to know at a glance, and then that information is displayed directly on the search result.

9: Make it Mobile-Friendly & Load Faster

This is beyond website content, but good user experience is becoming more and more important in strong SEO rankings. According to Robert Berris in his blog Three UX Principles That Help Your Website Do Its Job Right, “During the last two years, Google has evolved to place much higher emphasis on sites that deliver quality user experiences across platforms and devices. Though traditional ranking factors are still king, search engine optimization is increasingly becoming user optimization.” So, work with your web developers to be sure that your website is easy and intuitive to navigate and that each link works and takes your visitors to the next bit of information they’re looking for.

Page Speed Website Load Faster

10: Hire an Expert

Working with a professional who understands SEO will mean always being on the first page of rankings, have a great reputation on social networks, and in general always be in a position to capture the attention of more consumers. Basic SEO is mostly common sense. However, if you can afford it, it is wise to hire a SEO expert to ensure your site is truly optimized. A SEO consultant or agency can audit your site and look at how it is performing against your most important keywords. They will provide you with a prioritized list of action items to help you take your site to the next level.

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