Did you know that more than 50 percent of all website traffic comes from organic searches? There’s a reason why companies worldwide spend millions on SEO. A solid search engine optimization strategy can lead to higher revenue, greater online exposure, and brand awareness.
But what does it take to win the SEO game? After all, it’s no secret that Google and other search engines are constantly tweaking their algorithms. What works today may not work tomorrow.
Proper SEO planning is key to success. You need to know exactly where your website is t right now, what works, and what needs to be improved. Then you must come up with a strategy that aligns with your goals.
Not sure where to start? Here’s how to choose the right SEO strategy for your needs!
Perform an SEO Audit
The first thing you need to do is to assess your website’s current SEO. This involves checking for minor and major issues while analyzing organic search traffic, backlinks, keywords, and other relevant factors.
Ideally, perform an SEO audit at least once every six months. Use Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Marketing Grader and other online tools to analyze your pages, traffic stats, and backlinks.
Pay special attention to indexation issues, broken links, and duplicate pages. Check what keywords and key phrases you’re ranking for and which ones need some work. Address one problem at a time.
Build a Healthy Link Profile
An SEO audit will reveal what your link profile looks like. You’ll see exactly where your backlinks come from, which ones can harm your site, and which ones can boost its rankings.
Focus on improving your link profile. Try to get lots of high-value, high-authority backlinks from reputable websites and blogs.
A health and fitness site, for example, should have links from medical journals and authoritative websites, such as Born Fitness, Bodybuilding.com or Girls Gone Strong
One way to get backlinks from these sources is to publish guest posts. Most of them accept submissions from guest bloggers and will publish a short author bio that includes a link to your site.
Create Quality Content
Regardless of your niche, you need quality content to maximize your SEO strategy and achieve higher rankings. This will not only boost your online exposure but also makes it easier to get backlinks and attract search engine love.
Aim for a mix of short- and long-form content. Publish listicles, how-to guides, industry news, checklists, case studies, infographics, and more. For inspiration, check out this helpful post on how to get link-worthy content for your site or blog.
Don’t be afraid to create controversy. Write posts that spark debate and leave readers craving for more. Read industry-related studies (as most of them are conflicting) — and cover your topic from a different perspective than your competitors.
SEO Planning Is an Ongoing Process
When it comes to SEO planning, you need to think long term. Your current strategy will go through lots of changes over the next few months or years. It all comes down to how your website performs in search engines and how the rules change in the SEO world.
Start with a website audit and address any issues that require immediate attention. Next, focus on areas that need improvement. In the meantime, plan your SEO strategy for the following months.
Beware that off-page SEO matters too. A strong social media presence can skyrocket your rankings and give you a competitive edge. Check out our blog post to learn more!
