Search engine optimization for new websites can be intimidating. SEO is a hot topic nowadays, with heaps of information, sometimes even conflicting, available out there. However, is it always necessary to hire an SEO consultant to help you navigate it?
Not always. There are things you can do by yourself to start the SEO of your website on the right foot. We’ll also mention some good reasons for hiring an expert, hoping to help you gauge your needs by yourself.
SEO Foundations
The most critical elements of search engine optimization take place on your website. You need a solid foundation on-site before you start building links and more. Let’s take a look.
Stay Reasonable
First and foremost, keep in mind not to overdo it and overload your website with keywords. Google even has an over-optimization penalty, so keep it simple.
As a rule of thumb, find five keyword phrases for each page. If you’re struggling with finding the ideal fits, Google has many tools to help you.
Content
Content development and marketing are other buzzwords in the world of online marketing. In general, the more content there is on your website, the longer the visitors will stick around.
However, not any content will work, so strive for high-quality. You should include a mix of the following:
- Industry articles
- Tutorials
- Blog posts
- Videos and podcasts
- Infographics
Doing so will please both search engines and visitors. If you’re only getting started, do blog posts first, and with the growth of your audience, expand your inventory to cover other types of media.
Link Building
Link building, or off-site optimization, refers to having other websites link to yours. There are three main techniques for getting links:
- Organic – this is the best kind, as you don’t have to ask for it. It’s even better if you get them on high-authority websites.
- Whitehat – competent, high-quality link building that seems organic.
- Blackhat – spammy, low-quality links from which you should stay away.
Some of the ways to optimize off-site include submitting blog posts to popular industry blogs, reaching out to related businesses that aren’t a competition, and creating social media profiles.
The most important thing to do, though, is to create link-worthy content that other websites will wish to use.
Where DIY is Possible
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s take a look at some things you could do to boost your site’s visibility further.
Master Keyword Research
Instead of assuming what your customers want, start by researching keywords.
By doing so, you’ll develop a greater understanding of how consumers find your products, as well as gauge the level of demand. Try some of the many available keyword analysis tools to do this.
Plan and Optimize Your Website
Once you understand what your users want and how they find it, create pages on your website to address such queries.
As a rule, there should be a page for each high and medium-priority keywords. You could also create FAQ pages and blog posts for long-tail keyword themes.
Study Your Competition
Note the most prominent websites in your area of work. Focus on those who share your business model, as well as the ones that take a different approach but still represent a search competition.
Then, look into those sites. Do they have content themes that you lack? How do they structure their website to target valuable keywords?
These websites can serve as a foundation for your optimization, and in some cases, they could help with public relations as well.
Keep Your Content Regular
Especially if you run an e-commerce website, it’s unrealistic to publish new posts every day. Still, try to put our original content weekly or at least monthly, and stay consistent.
Remember, as well, that not all content has to be text. For example, you could publish video bulletins, photos of current projects, or anything else that speaks of your work and to your audience.
Get Social
Join at least one or two social media platforms. Creating a social presence enables you to connect with your customers and expand your scope, which will boost your SEO in the long run. Plus, the more people see your website, the higher the chances they may link it.
When to Hire an SEO Company
SEO companies offer search optimization services for businesses. The most significant advantage of hiring professionals is that they already have specialization and experience necessary for efficient results.
While they won’t do many things differently than you would yourself, they will save you time while providing measurable results. As the experts from the best SEO company Toronto say, the metrics at the bottom line do the talking for you.
So, if you do end up hiring a company, ask for monthly analytic reports of your campaigns. After all, measuring is the best way to track progress, and if you see positive results, you’ll know that you made the right choice.
The Bottom Line
Remember, finally, that you don’t need to go only for one method or the other. Handling some tasks by yourself while having a professional fine-tune the details can yield the best, most affordable results.
It’s a competitive world of online marketing – you shouldn’t slack if you want to stay afloat.
