How to Develop an Effective SEO Strategy

Effectively marketing their business is one of the most popular topics for the entrepreneurs that I mentor. This is one reason why high placement in search engine rankings is so valuable. Greater visibility to potential customers is proven to grow your business and build revenue.

This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in—the process of increasing the visibility of a web page in search engines without paying a fee. These results are often referred to as “organic” or “free.” Unfortunately, securing a top search engine ranking isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Google has hundreds of ranking factors and not all of them are of equal value. Discerning what works and what doesn’t is very challenging given today’s rapid technological changes.

Obtaining Higher Rankings

If you want better search rankings, it is important to know how Google works. Incorporating keywords into content was once a successful tactic used to boost rankings. But this trend is no longer adequate. Studies now show that other key elements are more effective for high ranking visibility.

The following focus areas should be the bedrock of your SEO strategy:

• Content Relevance: This measures how relevant your content is to the specific phrase being searched. Detail and length are also important considerations.
• User Activity: This is gauged by metrics such as click-through rate or time on the site. For example, visitors average more than three minutes on a top URL site.
• User Experience: The use of internal and external links, video and images improves a user’s experience when navigating a site, which in turn influences rankings.
• Social Integration: Sites that also include links to social media platforms like Google+, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram receive a rankings boost.

By incorporating these four key elements in your SEO strategy, you will improve your visibility and ranking among users.

Other Effective Tools

There are also other ways to improve your business ranking. This includes developing a relationship with a guest blogger or social influencer with a vast network who can promote your business and brand. It is also important to be optimized for mobile. Google will penalize pages that are not optimized for mobile. As I discussed in a previous blog, it is a good idea to add accelerated mobile pages to your marketing mix.

Moreover, sites that are more secure (using the HTTPS protocol rather than HTTP) also earn higher search marks from Google. This benefit should prompt you to make this change as soon as possible.

The Bottom Line

Developing an effective SEO strategy can reap immediate dividends for your business. Incorporate these helpful tips to improve your ranking and edge out your competition. Once your business is more easily found, you will continue to grow and develop a loyal customer base.

Recent changes with Google have made this topic even more important for entrepreneurs. It is so important, I am hosting an event so you can have access to the experts that advise me in my business. Google is flying in two of their experts to discuss these changes. Every business will get a free SEO report for their website. Learn more and register so you can get ahead of your competition at www.sharonlechter.com/breakthrough.