Search Engine Optimization Techniques You Should Use to Smash your Competition

Search engine optimization techniques (SEO) are the strategies you use to make your site rank higher in the search results for your keywords. If you want more targeted traffic to come to your site, you should carefully study this post to help you develop your own search engine optimization campaign.

1. Design and structure

Image by Alex Ginard

The design and structure of your website is critical. Make sure your HTML code is clean or use a good content management system (CMS) like WordPress.  This makes it simple to build a high quality and SEO-friendly website without knowing any coding.

HTML and CSS are terms that scare many would-be entrepreneurs away.  But thanks to CMS like WordPress and high quality, pre-made, professional themes, you will have no trouble beginning a successful search engine optimization program.

2. Avoid complex backgrounds

It’s better not to use images for your background or your header.  A simple color for your background and text for your header is a much better choice. The simpler your design is, the easier it will be for the search engine spiders to crawl your content to analyze how relevant your site is.

Flash content and Java script should no longer be used, as they are going the way of the dinosaur.  Images, videos and audio files are great, but difficult to analyze. Make sure you describe any of these elements with tags. Above all, DO NOT USE Java script to create an impressive interactive menu!

Most browsers no longer use Java script for security reasons.  Furthermore, search engine spiders will not be able to follow any of those links.

Do create an XML sitemap.  This helps the search engine spiders to find all your pages for indexing. There are now plugins you can use to create a good XML sitemap.

3.  Keywords

It’s important to take your time when choosing your keywords. Google’s keyword planner will help you discover facts about the number of searches and popularity of various keywords and phrases.

Find out which key phrases and words people would use to find you in your niche.  Research the keywords your competitors use on their sites.

Make sure you don’t use your competitors’ same search terms unless you are planning to aggressively compete for their business.  You might do this if you can sell your products or services at a lower price. Pick your top five strong keywords and/or phrases.  Then sprinkle those wherever you can throughout your website.

If you want to divide your website into multiple subsection, you can add some secondary keywords. Make it your goal to put your keywords into your titles and different tags wherever it is relevant. Your links’ anchor text should include strong keywords where possible.  Just be sure not let your keywords force you to write in an awkward or unusual style.

4. Links

Image by PIRO4D

Another really good strategy is to use links to direct traffic to your important content. Pay careful attention to the structure of your site.  Use a lot of links. Every time you create a new post, it should include a few links to similar posts and pages.  Be certain to use site-wide links to keep your visitors focused on your most important pages.

Don’t be afraid to share links to outside sites.   As long as the content you link to is interesting and relevant to your audience, it’s a good strategy.  It shows that you’re interested not just in making money, but in providing excellent service.  Just avoid sharing links to your competitors’ sites!

Back-links are really important.  Every search engine optimization campaign needs to be looking for back-links.  Back-links are links from other sites to your site.  Look for sites and blogs your customers regularly visit.

Try to get your content featured on these sites. Often all you need to do is to contact the owner of a site and ask to swap links.  Most website owners are looking for back-links, too.

5. Write good content

Image by William Fortunado

If you write high quality content, you will have bloggers and webmasters wanting share links to your articles and even to feature your articles. These are some of the highest quality back-links you can get!

Remember that back-links don’t always stay active forever or even for a long time.  Therefore, you need to be constantly looking for new ways to gain more good links.

These are SEO tips that are proven and work.  If you start using them, your site will begin to rank higher in search results. Don’t get sloppy or careless.  Produce high quality content for your visitors. Also learn and practice writing good ad copy (your sales pitch) to help your visitors decide to buy your products or services.

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