SEO helps websites become search-engine friendly
SEO or “search engine optimization” is a way to get at the forefront of people’s search for topics or the business you specialize in. You may have heard of the term, but you might not know the specifics of how it works.
Search engine optimization (or SEO) is the process of getting online traffic from “free, organic, editorial or natural” searches for related content.
Think of it like a theatrical production. Each person has a specific role or task to make the production successful before, during and after each show.
The algorithm, or sequence of actions with a desired end result, for your website is like the whole company taking part to make it a success. To achieve higher SEO rankings, you need to know that each individual piece is equally important and contributes their own skills. For your website, this includes specific words, page titles, links, words in your links, and reputations of your business and how you mention your competitors (if at all.)
You might feel overwhelmed by the idea of SEO, but you can often have positive results with very minimal changes made. With popular search engines such as Google, you do not always need to focus on specific searchable keywords when writing your own content, but rather focus on writing with your audience/visitors in mind.
For specific website layout tips, make sure your business’ name or title tags for each individual page makes logical sequential sense for your audience. Make sure the flow and the amount of content per page makes it easy for your audience to stay interested and educated about any particular subject.
If you are writing a long description of your history, using the example of a theatre company, you don’t need to write every detail about it on one single page that says “About Us.” However, if you spread content out to subheadings, it helps readers digest more information in smaller “chunks” and guides users to more clickable links when searching for your website online.
Think about your audience’s approach to coming to your website when developing search engine keyword suggestions. For example: you could either type “Andrew Lloyd Webber longest running musical” or “longest running musical in the world.” Some of your audience might know a person associated with the topic, while some only know a general fact about a given topic. If you have keywords for both searches, you will be more likely to be found with these web searches.
When developing your website copy (your company’s “voice” and words on each page), think about what you have to offer that no one else does. Can you approach a common or lesser known topic in a different, memorable way?
If photos help you tell your story, make sure each has a file name – what you use to upload the photo – then make sure it has an “alternative” name. An “alt” name helps a viewer know what the photo is if it cannot be seen due to a) a broken link, b) someone is using a screen reader, due to visual disability of some sort. Not only can you give a description and keep people on your website, you are inviting a new group of individuals, since you took time to make your website as accessible to as many people as possible.
We are also in the world of mobile devices, so your website should cater to those using their cell phones, tablets, etc. You need to make sure that the major search engines, like Google, have indexed your website. This can be done by checking that your site is in a compatible format for mobile devices. You can check Google’s compatibility through their GoogleBot, here.
Lastly, you want to be able to promote your website. There are several free, or very inexpensive, ways to do this. If you have a blog, you become more credible and searchable as a direct source of information about a particular subject. People who follow your blog, and therefore your website/RSS feed, could pick up your story and share it with their online networks.
With the use of social media, you should always post new, relevant info and knowledge about particular subjects within your industry. No one wants to see the same old info on a new platform like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You need to make sure you are rising above the “noise that can be social media and search engine noise with your valuable content for your audience.
About ActiveData Mobile
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