You’ve put in the time, money and hard work. You’ve lost sleep and time with loved ones trying to build your business from scratch.
Yet, for all of your efforts, sales are lagging and customer acquisition is slow.
What gives?
Turns out, your online marketing strategy is more important than you thought. The companies that appear on the front page of Google earn more than 90% of the overall internet traffic. Where do you stand?
A solid Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy is the ticket.
Today, we’re sharing how to build an SEO plan that delivers the level of success you want to see.
Ready to learn more? Let’s go!
1. Set Your SEO Plan Expectations
It isn’t wise to enter into a brand building or SEO optimization strategy blind. Instead, take the time to think about what you want to get out of your efforts.
Be realistic when setting these goals, taking into account the time you’ve already obligated to other endeavors. At the very least, ask yourself these five questions:
- How much time can I devote to SEO?
- What do I expect SEO to do for my business?
- What is my budget?
- What is the primary product or service my business sells?
- Do I want to optimize for local search, global search or both?
Once you know those answers, you’ve set the foundation for your entire strategy. Now, you’re ready to move onto the next step!
2. Research Your Keywords
Keywords form the pillar of a successful SEO plan. In short, this is the term or terms that people will use to search for your company online.
To maximize your chance of appearing near the top, you want to focus on the words that your target audience most often search for. This takes a little research, but it’s worth the effort.
For instance, if you sell HVAC services in Richmond, Virginia you may consider the following as relevant keywords:
- HVAC service in Richmond
- Richmond HVAC repair
- HVAC technician Richmond
Use an online keyword explorer to find the volume and competition levels for each of your prospective keywords. Once you’ve got a solid list, use these keywords in your online content, including blog posts and social media updates.
3. Ensure Your Site is Healthy
Next, it’s important to make sure your website is up to snuff. If it’s slow to load, full of bugs or not mobile-friendly, you could lose a ton of web traffic.
You can find website check-ups online or hire a professional web developer to take the reins. Then, figure out where you currently stand in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). A tool such as MOZrank can give you the metrics you need.
4. Make a Content Plan
Finally, you’re ready to get some content out there!
Sit down and form a plan to contribute content to your industry space on a regular basis. You might commit to posting on your blog three times a week, and once every day on your Facebook page, for instance.
Also consider online resources such as e-books, data slicks, whitepapers and more. Anything you can do to help strengthen your voice of authority is always a smart move!
5. Create a Link-Building Strategy
At the same time, think about how you can drive links back to your page.
The more high-authority websites that link to your content, the better. To ramp up this strategy in a quick and painless way, consider using an online link-building resource.
Adam White of SEOJet.net suggests looking at the top ten results on Google for any specific key phrase you are targeting to determine how many backlinks you will need to get a page into the top ten results.
With that knowledge in mind, you’re ready to create quality content that industry leaders can’t help but reference and link back to!
Take Your SEO to the Next Level
Now that you know a few SEO plan basics, are you ready to put them into practice?
If so, you need the best tech gear on your side!
Keep browsing our site for helpful advice on where to find the latest smart gadgets and how to use them to work smarter and play harder!
