There’s no wrong time to zoom out and look at your SEO strategy. The Google algorithm is working 24/7, 365 to crunch data and determine where your site stacks up for keywords and search terms, so what are you waiting for? Traffic, sales, and revenue are all on the line.
SEO tips are everywhere, but rarely do we get a chance to hear directly from SEO experts on the topic. Here are more than a dozen website-specific SEO tips from the pros who know it all.
1) Stay Tuned to Google News
It’s hard to think of a better source of information on the Google algorithm than the Alphabet Corporation itself! Pay attention to the latest from Mountain View, CA, because it will impact your SEO efforts from top to bottom.
“Announcements from the Google Dev team come out every few months, and there isn’t much rhyme or reason to the pattern. You’ve got to follow all the relevant channels and accounts to make sure you always get the latest info and don’t miss a beat. That’s how you stay ahead of the curve on SEO, which is evolving faster than ever.” – Ryan Lee, Co-Founder and CEO of Rooted
2) Audit and Clean House
Junk pages, dead links, articles that no longer serve you – these all need to be identified and tossed out the digital window if you want to max out your SEO efforts.
Time for Spring Cleaning, SEO style!
“Do a sweep of your sitemap and perform the audit that you’ve been putting off for years. It’s like ripping off a band-aid, and yes, you may have to abandon some projects in the process. That’s all part of smart SEO – getting rid of assets that aren’t purposeful and ROI-oriented. The algorithm will respond positively to this, as well.” – Kashish Gupta, Founder and CEO of Hightouch
3) Get Influencers on Board
There are thousands of influencers waiting to be part of your brand coalition and help your website rise in the ranks. Reach out and make them part of your marketing game plan to see improvements on the search engine results page.
“It doesn’t matter if you sell bicycle seats, birthday cakes, or insurance for private jets – you can track down relevant influencers and turn them into brand ambassadors for less money and effort than you may think. This helps put a face to a name and drives clicks, which is always a good thing for SEO.” – Brandon Amoroso, Founder and CEO of ElectrIQ Marketing
4) Consider Long-Tail Keywords
By 2021, most individual keywords are ultra-competitive and likely not worth pursuing for smaller brands. Broaden your keyword strategy by making them longer and more unique.
“Look at how many people are using voice search thanks to apps like Alexa and Siri. They’re speaking in longer sentences and using everyday terms that wouldn’t necessarily be typed into a phone or computer. Take advantage of this trend by planting your flag on some long-tail keywords for your corner of the web. That’s where SEO is headed.” – Hector Gutierrez, CEO of JOI
5) Refresh and Refurbish Old Classics
Don’t delete old content from your site just because it’s a few years old! Give it an update for the current year with new information and let it continue to work for you on the front lines.
“There’s no point in starting from scratch when you have an article that’s 90{4224f0a76978c4d6828175c7edfc499fc862aa95a2f708cd5006c57745b2aaca} accurate and high-quality. Just pinpoint the parts that need to be refreshed and upload it with a reminder to the readers that changes have been made. You save yourself time, money, and still get all the SEO benefits for that asset.” – Anish Patel, Founder of Tinto Amorio
6) Always Answer Customer Questions
If you’re a new eCommerce brand or navigating an unexplored niche, potential customers are going to have some questions. Address them with an FAQ or answer people directly through customer service channels on social media or on-site.
“I have done zero SEO on my websites and online platforms, but I still rank well on them because of the fact that I focused on content, providing value, and answering questions.” – Chris Ducker, Personal Brand Expert
7) Try Some Long-Form Content
There’s no magic number for the perfect amount of words in a blog post, but trends show that longer articles (over 2,000 words) are quite effective in drawing traffic with SEO benefits to boot.
Try expanding your horizons with some of these long pieces and see what happens.
“I love the bite-sized convenience of a short blog or a social media post, but the real value proposition comes in the form of longer guides, how-to’s, explainer articles, and product showcases that are several thousand words long. Yes, it’s a tedious process to write and edit them, but these are assets that will strengthen your SEO foundation for years to come.” – Mike Clare, CEO of Mood
8) Build Strong Links Organically
The days of buying links and other black hat practices are long gone. Only the most legitimate and honest link-building methods are acceptable by the Google algorithm, so sharpen up these strategies sooner than later.
“Your library of links across the web is one of your most important assets in the SEO sphere. These are basically votes of confidence that other sites know and trust your website, and that customers can feel safe doing the same. You build links by creating polished content, making connections in your industry, and generally giving value out for free along the way. It’s a marathon, so plan for the long haul.” – Miles Beckett, CEO and Co-Founder of Flossy
9) Master Social Media
If your brand is still behind the ball on social media, it’s hard not to say: “told you so!” Don’t worry – it’s not too late to level up your social media marketing and get all the SEO advantages that come with it.
“It may seem counterintuitive to focus on social when SEO is played in the Google algorithm, but at this point, everything is interconnected online. People are jumping around between apps hundreds of times a day, and traffic is flowing to and from social and search all the time. The more work you put in on platforms like Insta and Twitter, the more results you’ll have on the search pages, so keep up the effort.” – Ryan Rottman, Co-Founder and CEO of OSDB
10) Go All-Out on Calendar Planning
No great accomplishments happen without sufficient planning, and that goes for content marketing in particular. Be flexible with your game plan, but always hit your goals in terms of volume and utilizing all the right channels.
“Content marketing is a more competitive environment certainly, but those who have real empathy for web users and influencers and have the SEO skills to infuse their work with great keyword targeting, search accessibility, etc., are going to have ongoing success.” – Rand Fishkin, CEO and Co-Founder of SEOmoz
11) Website Speed and UX
Google has been assessing the speed and usability of websites in their SEO calculations for years, and now, they’re ramping up the criteria for mobile and tablet-based sites.
“Now is the time to reconfigure your website for a better user experience if you haven’t already. It absolutely has an impact on how your site ranks for all keywords, so make that upfront investment on an improved website even if it’s painful at first. Don’t forget that mobile is the future of search, and you need a fast, lean mobile site to rank highly in that department.” – Jeremy Goldstein, CEO of Nativar
12) Focus on Community Building
Exponential growth is the goal of any business, and this is reflected in the world of SEO as well. The fastest way to accelerate growth is by building an enthusiastic community that gains momentum and organic support.
“Any tactic you can use to draw people in and get on board with your brand, that’s a good signal for SEO. When visitors provide an email address, take a survey, or follow you on social media, it’s going to have a knock-on effect in the search results. These things take time to build but once you’ve built up speed, it takes less input to keep going.” – Owner and Designer Daniel Patrick
13) Become an Honored Guest
Need an all-in-one way to build links, boost traffic, and increase the authority of your website? Guest posting is the answer, and the top SEO strategists all recommend it.
“We don’t hear as much about guest posting as we should. It may be the most underrated SEO amplifier in the game right now. The ROI is enormous for not spending that much money or time on a project, and it’s a win-win for you and the publishing site. Just try guest posting once and you’ll quickly see what you’ve been missing.” – Isaiah Henry, CEO of Seabreeze Management
14) Link Up with Reporters
News media is firing on all cylinders, pumping out stories about brands, influencers, and emerging markets. Make friends with journalists and reporters who can put in the good word and give your brand some well-placed publicity for all to enjoy.
“This is a great angle because it’s a departure from advertising and traditional forms of direct marketing. People want to be informed and are willing to learn about your brand if there’s a lot of relevant news or a compelling narrative. It’s one of the best forms of content marketing and there are always new opportunities on the horizon.” – Corey Ashton Waters, Founder and CEO of Here
15) Never Stop Networking
After a successful campaign or product launch, it’s easy to sit back and relax on the SEO front. However, SEO is a round-the-clock competition, so don’t get too comfortable despite enjoying small victories along the way.
“At the core of any winning SEO strategy is networking, because that’s how you expand your reach and build brand recognition. Anything you can do to reach out, make connections, and offer value will come back to positively influence your SEO rankings, so make networking a top priority no matter what stage you’re at.” –Michael Hennessy, Founder and CEO of Diathrive
We’ve only scratched the surface of SEO’s infinite expanse, but these tips should get you started with confidence and direction. Don’t overcomplicate things, and remember that doing the work is always the most important factor!
