As Search Engine Optimization (SEO) experts in Bristol, we have found many small and medium sized companies struggling to understand what is necessary to create successful on-line businesses. Do you wish to tap into the increased web purchasing power that has developed in the last decade? The aim of this article is to introduce the basics of SEO, a critical element in on-line success. Our Internet consultants have been working with Bristol-based search marketing clients clients since 2007 and in sales and marketing to major businesses in London and the South of England for over 15 years..
What is SEO?
Search engine optimisation is the structured improvement of pages on your website so that search engines like Google can more easily match people searching for your products and services to your website. It includes making each page readable by search engines and adding incoming links from high ranking websites.
Good quality SEO helps websites in rising up the page results of search engines like Google achieving high page one rankings, attracting new visits and generating on-line profits for your organisation.
85% of web traffic is generated by search engines like Google and Yahoo, so ranking highly on their search results pages is vital to website business.
Why SEO?
Over time, SEO is the most cost effective way of attracting visitors to your website. It does this through:
Generating more visitors to your website
Increasing on-line sales and sign ups
Increasing recognition of your brand
Gone are the days when you could launch a website on the net and expect it to be listed on page 1 within a couple of months, unless you operate in a very niche market. Those businesses that ignore the ever increasing influence of the internet in today’s markets are unlikely to succeed. SEO is highly important if you are going to reach these buyers, especially in today’s competitive markets.
How Do I Search Engine Optimize my Website?
The rise of websites to page one of Google search results requires a structured approach. Search engines like websites that have been around a long time and have lots of pages. These are often the ones that rank well on their pages. For a new or smaller site, it will take a while to compete with the established sites. SEO is the method by which you begin to do so. These include the following:
Copywriting and website page creation – organise your website like a well laid out store and write persuasively.
Keyword research and analysis – test which phrases bring you most visitors that buy or sign up on your website. Page 1 rankings in search engines is not possible without a sound understanding of the role of keywords, which ones are best for your organization and how they relate to inbound links to your website. Approaching SEO methodically will help search engines and people understand what your business is about and lead to higher rankings.
Make your website easily navigable and attractive – Check that there is a clear structure to your website. Add mini goals so that if a customer is not ready to buy or sign up just yet, they can take a step towards doing so. Use multmedia conversion tools to make your website more appealing and social media marketing. Write the content for people, not search engines.
Link your website with others – Get your website found via important websites.
Submit your website to On-line Directories – Directories list your company like the Yellow Pages and bring traffic to your website.
Update your sitemap – All websites need a structured sitemap – it enables the spiders crawl the site and increases the chances of raising it to page one when properly designed.
Analytics – It may seem obvious but you should track the results of the alterations you make with web analytics such as Google Analytics so that you can evaluate your return on investment and find out which changes are successful!
Search engine optimization consultancy – If you are unsure of the best way forward, get advice from an agency like this SEO Bristol consultancy.
How Long Before My Site is Listed on Page 1?
Reaching page one of the search results also depends on some factors outside your control, so giving a timeframe for success is tricky!
Factors include:
The competitiveness of your market
The area you cover
Changes in search engine algorithms! -
Working relationships with your SEO provider
Smaller websites take at least six months to optimize and marketing budget should be allocated on an ongoing basis to achieve success.
When do I need SEO?
Can your business or organization survive without utilising the power of the internet to find more customers, generate more leads and grow or maintain your market share?
If you already have a good web presence, are you actually receiving maximum return on investment?
If your website has been around for a bit, is it still making the most of new opportunities such as social media marketing?
Is your web market share diminishing?
Is your business changing and can you benefit from reviewing your website and on-line marketing strategies?
Search engine optimization has the power to promote your organisation in readiness for renewed spending and economic growth through using up-to-date techniques to make your website convincing, useable and profitable.