Looking to become an SEO expert? If so, you’re going to have to start with the fundamentals. If you can’t get the basics right, you have no legitimate chance of getting your website to rank. Need a little help with SEO fundamentals?
Then read on. Here are 7 fundamentals to remember in 2021.
1. Research Your Keywords
The first thing you need to do is to research your keywords. You shouldn’t just use what comes to mind. You need to use a keyword research tool so that you can determine the levels of traffic and competition that a keyword possesses.
The key is to look for long-tail keywords. So, you don’t just want to rank for “camping spots,” for example, but for “best camping spots for couples” instead. The more complex the keyword, the less competition it will possess, and the greater chance you’ll have of ranking for it.
There are all types of keyword research tools available to help with this endeavor. Some of the best include Ahrefs and SEMrush.
2. Decide on the Geographical Area You’re Targeting
One of the great things about SEO is that it enables you to target a specific geographical area. If you want to target a small town, you can do so. If you want to target the entire world, you can also do so.
But regardless of the area that you choose to target, you need to choose it before the SEO campaign begins. This way, you can format your keywords to accommodate that specific area.
For instance, if you’re targeting plumbing clients in Melbourne, you would use a keyword that looks something like “plumber in Melbourne.” On the other hand, if you’re targeting camping enthusiasts throughout the entire world, you would just use a keyword that’s void of a geographical descriptor.
The geographical phrases that you use in your keywords can have a large effect on the amount and quality of traffic that you’re able to attract.
3. Create a Link Building Plan
Perhaps the most challenging part of SEO is link building. This is the process of getting other websites to link to your website. Generally speaking, the more backlinks you get, the better your website will rank, especially if those backlinks are coming from websites that are relevant to yours.
The challenge of obtaining backlinks is that it’s largely out of your control. After all, you can’t force other websites to link to your website. That said, there are things you can do to improve your chances of nabbing backlinks. This is why you have to establish a link building plan.
Some of the things you can do to try to obtain backlinks include guest posting on other sites, building relationships with other webmasters, and sharing content from your site on social media. You can find some other tips right here.
4. Obtain Citations
If you’re trying to rank your website on a local level, it’s of utmost importance that you obtain citations. Citations are essentially just instances of your business’s contact information. They’re usually summed up by “NAP” or Name, Address, Phone.
An example of a NAP looks something like “Ted’s Auto, 123 Fake Road, Melbourne, Victoria, (55) 5555 5555”. The key is to get this on as many listing sites as possible (with your contact information, of course). Not only do you want it listed on large listing sites but on local ones as well.
Google will then use these listings to determine how credible your business is. The more listings you have, the more Google will trust you, and the higher they’ll rank your website for your chosen keywords.
5. Be Active on Social Media
While social media usage doesn’t have a seismic impact on SEO, it does, in fact, have an impact. See, social media sends social signals to search engines, indicating to them that your business is active and worth ranking.
You should have your business on Facebook, Twitter, Google My Business, and LinkedIn. You might also consider starting an Instagram for your business.
Post on these platforms a few times a week and search engines should start to take notice. Also, make sure to link each platform back to your website.
6. Create Content Consistently
In order to rank for keywords on search engines, you need to show those search engines that your website is active. One of the best ways to do this is to create and publish content on a consistent basis.
Create a blog on your website. Then, every week or so, publish a piece of written content containing niche-relevant keywords. Make sure that your content provides some sort of value, as you want to show your business as an authority in its industry.
This alone will help with SEO. However, to give yourself an even greater boost, consider sharing all of your blog posts on social media. Those who read them might link back to them, providing your website with much-needed backlinks.
7. Optimize Your Website
Website optimization is a huge part of SEO. The quicker your website runs and the easier it is for visitors to use, the more credibility it will have with search engines.
There is a great deal that goes into website optimization. Not only do you need to ensure that your navigation menu is easy to find but you also have to minify code and minimize images so as to make your website as fast as possible.
If you need assistance optimizing your website, call up a digital marketing company. They’ll ensure that your website is up to par.
Need Help in Implementing SEO Fundamentals?
You now know a little something about SEO fundamentals. But do you still need a little help in implementing them? If so, we here at Comedia are the people to see.
We offer SEO services for businesses and organizations of all kinds. Whether you’re looking to rank locally, globally, or otherwise, our team can help you to do so.
Contact us now to discuss your needs!
