Did you know that Google makes thousands of changes to its algorithm each year? Does it seem impossible to keep up with the latest SEO best practices?
If so, don’t worry because you’re in the right place. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about SEO services for small businesses. We’ve got what you do and don’t want to do when it comes to creating a winning SEO strategy.
Do’s: Top SEO Tips for Small Businesses
SEO is an ever-changing industry and it can be difficult to stay up to date with all the changes. You can’t risk listening to old advice that isn’t relevant anymore. As you grow your website, it can be tempting to jump on all the new tactics that keep popping up.
However, there are some tried and true strategies that will always serve you well. Here we dive into the four foundational tips we suggest to all our clients. When you use these four tips to correctly build a foundation for your SEO then you’ll soon see your website ranking in the SERPs.
Do Focus On Your Ideal Target Audience
Before you start creating any content and upgrading your website to improve your site speed, a quality SEO strategy always starts with your audience. You must understand your audience inside and out if you want to create content that will catch their attention and turn them from browsers to buyers.
To define your target audience you can start by looking through your current customer list. What do they have in common? What characteristics define them and make them uniquely interested in the product or service you offer?
Take the time to write out detailed personas outlining exactly who you’re looking for when it comes to growing your business. Look beyond demographics and determine socioeconomic factors and psychographics as well.
Do Focus On Local SEO
As a small business owner, you can’t always compete with larger national brands. However, when you focus on local SEO you won’t have to. Local SEO can give you an edge in your community and grow your business both online and off by building brand awareness and driving traffic to your business.
In the last two years, there has been a 150% increase in “near me” searches online. Think about the last time you found yourself across town around lunchtime, what did you do? Chances are you reached for your phone and searched for Thai food near you.
If you’re not ranking for your industry in your area then you need to move improving your local SEO strategy to the top of your to-do list. You can do this by optimizing your GMB profile, including your city name across your website, and becoming active within your local community.
Do Work With a Digital Marketing Company for Small Businesses
When it comes to buying SEO services, not all agencies are equal. Some are specialized in certain areas of SEO while others focus on giving the best all-in-one experience possible. However, what they all offer is the ability for you to scale your efforts while giving you back your time to focus on your business.
You’re a hard-working business owner and you have your hands full growing your business and working with your customer. Smart business owners understand that they don’t need to do everything themselves. Search engine optimization changes frequently and staying up-to-date can become a full-time job.
Work with an expert so you can get back to the work you love and grow your business to the level you’ve always wanted.
Do Work From a Technical SEO Checklist
Your load time matters. Take the time to create a technical SEO checklist and follow it for every article or page you publish. Some items that you might include in your checklist include:
- Check and upgrade site speed
- Check for duplicate content
- Be sure your website is secure
- Find and fix broken links
- Ensure your website is mobile friendly
As you can see a technical audit isn’t difficult. However, it will take time and you’ll need to assess these items regularly. Set a time when either you or your SEO expert will run a technical audit to ensure your site is healthy in the long run.
Dont’s: What to Avoid When It Comes to SEO
As mentioned SEO changes frequently. You’ve likely heard some old advice that can now get you penalized by search engines. Stay away from these old tactics if you want to build your SEO strategy the right way.
Don’t Use Keyword Stuffing or Other Old Tactics
Keywords are still an integral part of growing your organic reach through search engines. However, the old tactics of stuffing all your keywords into the end of your article to game the system won’t cut it anymore.
Search engine bots are too smart these days and readers will bounce as soon as they feel your article isn’t readable. Don’t alienate either one by using keyword stuffing to try to rank your article. Choose instead to use natural and organic keywords that enhance your article while also telling the algorithms what your article is about.
Other old tactics that no longer work include spamming forums or directories with links to your website, duplicate content, and hidden texts.
Don’t Ignore Local SEO Companies
As you search for an expert to help you grow your SEO strategy, don’t discount local companies. While larger agencies offer many enticing extras and short turnaround times, they don’t offer the customization and personalization of working with a local smaller company.
Additionally, your business might not need all the extra services a larger agency might offer. This will lead to a bigger bill that you don’t need and wasted opportunities. Instead, stay local and work with a company that will treat you like a partner while offering similar results as a larger agency.
Don’t Try to Shortcut the Process
You might be worried and wondering, how long does SEO take to work? The answer varies depending on your industry and competition. However, what we can assure you is that if you try to shortcut the process you won’t see the same level of success as you will when you take the steps necessary.
Search engine optimization is an investment in your business. Once you begin to rank for certain phrases your future customers search for every day then you’ll see the level of organic reach that will scale your business year over year. Trust the process and do the work necessary to see the results you want for your small business.
Follow These Tips for SEO Services for Small Businesses
Here at CAE Marketing, we stay on top of the latest SEO strategies so you don’t have to worry about it. Don’t risk following old advice that can hurt you. Instead, follow these foundational strategies to grow your reach organically.
If you’re ready to work with an expert for your SEO services for small businesses then we can help. We help small business owners just like you to grow their businesses by growing their visibility through SEO.
If you’re ready to work with a top results-oriented marketing agency in the Boca Raton area then reach out to us today.
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