There is an overwhelming number of SEO tips for websites. The majority of the resources provide generic advice that you’ve heard regurgitated after the Panda update. You might be advised to get help through best free press release sites but that’s another thing. In this guide, we’ve come up with actionable tips that you can begin implementing right away. You’re likely to see an increase in organic traffic if you follow the simple steps. Some of them might seem obvious, but you’ll be surprised that you’ve overlooked them in your SEO strategy.
Improve Existing Content
Like every other form of writing, the published article isn’t always perfect. Search engines are dynamic as user search intent changes all the time. It’s also possible that you missed covering some subtopics with the initial article. For example, you’re trying to rank for website development and SEO services. There are content clusters that can be included in the original article. There are tools such as Ahrefs that help identify the “content gap” You get to discover keywords and content that your competitors are ranking for with similar pages on your website.
You could be ranking for the same seed keyword but not the subtopics as they’re not covered in the content. The solution is as easy as writing content for the sub-topics yet to be covered with the content.
Internal Linking
According to Google, internal links provide context through anchor text. The problem with publishing new content is that it will be hard to interlink. There are tools such as Link Whisper that have automated the inter-linking process. You can also use Google search parameters to find linking opportunities on your website.
Content Audit
Having a content schedule is not enough. You might have been writing for a ghost town for years without realizing it. Doing an annual content audit will provide insights into the pages that should be updated, merged, or deleted. Deleting posts doesn’t lead to a decrease in traffic. In some instances, it can boost organic ranking. You can run your website through Screaming Frog for content auditing. Pages that are similar in nature should be consolidated.
Monitor Competitor Backlinks
If your content and on-page are spots on, there is a chance that competitors have more quality backlinks than you do. One way you can overcome this challenge is to research sites that link to ‘less deserving content. Have a reference page if you’re to pitch for a backlink. Link building is time-consuming, and most webmasters would rather focus their efforts elsewhere. This shouldn’t be the case, as links are among the main ranking factors.
Improve Load Speed and User Experience
Google has announced the Web Core Vitals algorithm update that will focus on user experience. A website that takes ages to load results in a bad experience for users. A high bounce rate is a sign to search engines of a poor experience. Some freelancers and agencies offer site speed optimization services. Making your website mobile-friendly is equally important as most people use their phones to access the internet. If you’re on WordPress, make sure to use only the essential plugins as anything else could be slowing down your website.
Breadcrumb Optimization
Breadcrumb optimization is rarely discussed, yet it can improve the CTR of a website. If you look keenly at search results for both desktop and mobile, you’ll notice that Google displays breadcrumbs. Even though Google can show breadcrumbs from different sections of your website, the ideal situation is for the keywords and pages you choose to display. To improve the chances, make sure that there is a breadcrumb on every page with corresponding links.
Limit Size of the Sitemap
It’s generally accepted to have 50,000 URLs per sitemap. If you run a large site with tens of thousands of pages, it’s recommended that you limit the URLs to 10,000 per site map. According to MOZ, it helps with the crawling of the website.
Last Click
Once a user lands on your website, he or she should be able to get what they’re looking for. User satisfaction is one of the key ranking signals. There is no magic bullet when it comes to on-page optimization. Google analytics has insightful data on user behavior and how the audience interacts with your website. You check the pages with the highest bounce rates and try to figure out the issue. The tips highlighted can be implemented retroactively, even for established sites. The focus is to get the basics right.
