What is SEO?

Many now realize that a web site is not a “set it and forget it” affair. A web site that is found on search engines and thus generates quality traffic for a web site and a business takes a thoughtful structure and consistent maintenance, especially in regards to content creation. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is all the things, on and off site you do to make sure that the major search engines can find your site. Click To Tweet The major categories of search engine optimization work are outlined below.

SEO is an ongoing list of important tasks and areas to manage.

Search engines like Google and Bing! want to see that your site is easy to navigate and populated with helpful consumer information. Search engines have “bots” or active algorithmic code that scans sites for relevancy and present sites to consumers in the form of “search engine listings”. Being listed on the search engines, especially on the 1st page for the keywords relevant to your business, is fundamental to success in marketing your site online. It also contributes to the credibility of your business. You may be a thriving business with many customers, but the search engines don’t even know you exist. How do you fix that?

Search Engine Optimization can be thought of in two categories of work to do. “On site” SEO or things you do on your actual site to optimize for the search engines, and “off-site work”, work done on directory listings, other sites that point to you, work developing a flow of reviews about your business. Here is a quick hit list of the things to do to optimize your site for the search engines. This list is not all inclusive but will get you started.

Onsite Search Engine Optimization

 

1.  Site code must be clean

You must check your site regularly for code irregularities, search engines road blocks, efficiencies, missing or incorrectly entered meta tags. Search engines like Google change their code requirements frequently so the code must be managed on an ongoing basis.

2.  Tags Audit

Your item tags must be configured properly. An item is a photo, a menu title or site graphic.

3.  Content/quality Evaluation

This evaluation includes a review of site structure, page content volume and quality, site authenticity, topical relevancy, topics that are differentiators in the given market or represent opportunities to stand to the search engines. The presence of an active blog is fundamental to a successful web site that is findable on search engines.

4.  Various design aspects of the site such as menu structure, present of reviews and testimonials and a blog.

5.  Site Speed: Your site needs to load in a time efficient manner on desktop and mobile devices. Site speed is influenced by several factors, including image and files size, code quality and more.

6.  Mobile Device Compatibility: Your site must be “responsive” to the environment it is viewed in. There are design factors and even Google requirements to a site being mobile appropriate.

Off-site Search Engine Optimization

1.  Reviews

The presence of reviews on Google and other sites, the quality of the reviews and the level of response to the reviews.

2.  Directory Listings

Your site’s Name Address Phone number listing being accurate, and the site must be listed in many online directories. We call it NAP and you can’t sleep through it.

3.  Google Business Manager

Your site must have an active, accurate GBM account and be updated on a regular basis. Images, reviews, must be kept current, location information accurate. The site must be verified by Google.

Questions, Next Step

Have more questions? Need help stepping through Search Engine Optimization or managing a complex site to keep it appearing on Search Engines? Contact Beyond Brand Collective here.