Get Found on Google With These Proven SEO Tips
Confused as heck about SEO and how to, you know, actually implement it on your website??
everyone, to SEO ↑
Well, you’re in luck, because I have 10 SEO tips for you that you can implement today to get started on upleveling your website.
First of all, J, what is SEO? 🤔
Let’s break down what SEO actually means. It’s short for search engine optimization - which is just a way of saying, “let’s make your website show up higher in Google (or Bing, etc) search results.”
Why does this matter? Simple: the higher your website shows up, the more people will see it. And the more people who see it, the more likely they are to become customers or subscribers.
Got it? Great!
Let’s dive into these top 10 tips and tricks for SEO success:
1. Perform Keyword Research
Keyword research is an essential part of SEO. You’ve got to know what keywords people are searching for in order to make sure your website shows up in those searches.
💡 You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find the right keywords for your website. Google Keyword Planner is free and what I typically use, though I did receive my SEO certification from SEMrush and can recommend that one as well. It’s wicked expensive, and while widely regarded as the best, it’s really for those ultra-serious about SEO, or those who are attracting abundance like golden goddesses and have buckets of money to spend.
2. Optimize Your Website Structure
Structure, structure, structure 🙌 (I’m saying that to myself of Jan Brady’s ‘Marsha Marsha Marsha!’)
Having a well-organized website that’s easy to navigate is key. Make sure your pages are labeled clearly and that your internal links work properly. You can take advantage of Squarespace’s handy-dandy SEO Checklist to ensure your URL structure, title tags, and meta descriptions are optimized.
You also want to be sure to use H1 (Heading 1) as the main header, and only use it ONCE per post or page.
3. Create High-Quality Content
Content is queen 👑when it comes to SEO.
Your website needs high-quality, original content that’s relevant and engaging to your audience. And — when I say content, your website copy, sure. But I’m also talking about blog posts. Blog posts help search engines see that you are creating helpful and relevant content.
High-quality content can attract backlinks, increase user engagement, and improve your website's ranking in search engines. When creating content, focus on providing value to your readers, and make sure your content is well-structured and easy to read.
4. Optimize Your Website for Mobile
Mobile optimization is a must for SEO. And also just for user experience - more than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices, so you’ve got to make sure your website looks great and works well on phones. That’s where your peeps are coming from!
You can use tools like Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to check if your website is mobile-friendly. Optimize your website's design, content, and page speed for mobile devices to improve your website's ranking in search engines.
✍️ Tip: If you’re designing in Squarespace, MAKE SURE you hit the little phone in the upper right corner - you’ll have to design your website not only for desktop, but separately for mobile. (I take care of this for my Squarespace web design clients. Here is the link to check out my services.)
5. Improve Website Speed
Google’s got a need for speed! 🏎️
Website speed is a critical ranking factor in search engines. A slow website can negatively impact user experience and lead to a higher bounce rate. There are a variety of tools to check your website speed. One tool I’ve used is Pingdom.
To improve your website speed, you can compress and/or resize images (I also do this for my clients as part of my web design services), and use minimal CSS coding.
6. Utilize Internal Linking
Link me up, Scotty! (sorry)
Use internal linking to help search engines understand your website’s structure and to help users navigate between pages.
✍️TIP: If you have a custom 404 Error page set up (you should), you can add a simple form to fill out to find out what broken link got your visitor there. This should help keep your internal links active.
7. Get High-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are important for SEO, and are something that generally takes some time to develop. They are links from other websites that point to your website. High-quality backlinks can improve your website's authority and ranking in search engines. To get high-quality backlinks, you can create high-quality content, guest post on other websites, and reach out to influencers in your industry. (How many times can I say ‘high-quality’?)
One thing that used to be popular was buying backlinks, but Google caught on, which is a good thing. You don’t want a shortcut to great SEO; you want to create compelling and engaging content which then leads to great SEO. So you really need to work here on authentic backlinks.
8. Utilize Social Media
Social media can also play a role in SEO. Social media signals such as likes, shares, and comments can indicate the popularity and relevance of your content. You can use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter (or not, these days), TikTok, and LinkedIn to share your content and engage with your audience.
This one isn’t a main factor, so if you’re a social media hermit, you’re in good company - and you don’t have to utilize this if you don’t want to. Though if you’re at the beginning of starting your own small business, it might
9. Use Analytics to Track Your Progress
Track your SEO journey with analytics. Use tools like Google Analytics 4 (or GA4 as my fellow techies call it 🤓) or Google Search Console to monitor key metrics like your website’s traffic and bounce rate. This way, you can see where you need to make improvements and adjust your strategy accordingly.
This does take a bit of time to get comfortable with, so give yourself some grace as you’re ramping up on your SEO journey.
10. Stay Up-to-Date with SEO Trends
The world of SEO is always changing, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest trends and best practices. Google frequently updates its algorithm, so it's essential to keep an eye on any changes and adjust your SEO strategies accordingly. By staying informed about these trends, you’ll ensure that your website remains competitive and visible in search engine results pages.
💡Here are two current resources to dive into SEO and keep up with SEO trends: Neil Patel Blog, and Moz. If you want an article I personally loved, check out Everything You Need To Know From Our Experience With SEO written by the folks over at Wandering Aimfully.
Note: It’s important to remember that SEO takes time to build - 6 months, 9 months, even a year, so be patient and keep working - you WILL see results if worked through properly, but it will take awhile.
Search Engine Optimization can be complex, but once you start learning the basics, you might be amazed at the growth of your website traffic. By following these SEO tips and best practices, you can make sure that your website is optimized for search engines and set up for long-term success. 🙌
