10 Of The Most Effective SEO Techniques

SEO is difficult to navigate because of how fluid it can be. Google updates its algorithm between 500–600 times a year, which means there’s an update at least every day of the year.

Though many SEO experts dedicate their lives to figuring out the ranking criteria, they sometimes find themselves scratching their heads at the end of the day.

With all the uncertainty surrounding SEO, it can be hard to know where to start and what will lead to higher rankings.

Obviously, there are varied approaches you can take depending on your industry and business goals. However, these 10 strategies have proven effective across various niches:

1. Produce good content that answers questions for real people

According to a study from SearchMetrics, Google has determined that users aren’t interested in reading “snippets of content” but rather want longer posts with more details.

Focus on producing quality content that provides value for users by answering their questions directly so they don’t have to search elsewhere for accurate information.

2 . Make sure your website is mobile-responsive

Mobile Internet usage is steadily increasing, and studies have found that most users won’t continue to a website unless it’s mobile-friendly.

If you already have a responsive design, make sure your text is optimized for the screen size, navigation links are clear and fonts are readable.

If not, hire someone to work on this change today.

3 . Use summary descriptions with proper formatting

Though meta descriptions aren’t required by Google, they can help influence click through rates (CTRs) when used properly.

Make sure you use “click here” or “click to visit [website URL]” as opposed to generic words like “learn more,” which will tell Google users won’t find what they’re looking for on your page.

Mobile users also benefit from descriptive meta descriptions that are easy to read.

Avoid the urge to summarize your page with generic keywords and stick with a description that clearly describes the content of the page.

4 . Maintain quality backlinks

Positive ratings on Google’s algorithm don’t necessarily mean you have good links, but good rankings almost always equate to strong link profiles.

Link building is an ongoing process, it should be part of any successful SEO campaign, not something done in one specific timeframe.

Strong anchor text is also important, so use relevant keyword variations instead of generic terms like “click here” or “see more.”

5 . Learn the EAT Principle

The EAT Principle stands for “expertise, authority and trustworthiness.”

It’s a concept that was first introduced by Google as part of its ranking algorithm in 2005. These attributes are important because they indicate to Google whether or not your content is credible and useful enough to serve up for search result listings.

6 . Build internal links

Internal links within content can help point users toward related pages on your site, leading to higher conversion rates.

They can also give an added boost of relevancy to your page within the eyes of Google since it shows you are linking relevant terms together.

7 . Long-Tail Keyword Research

Keyword research is an essential part of SEO and the foundation for any successful campaign. If you solely focus on short-tail keywords, you are closing yourself off to a large number of keyword opportunities.

Long-tail keywords are more targeted, resulting in fewer searches that convert at higher rates than short-tail terms.

These can also be used in conjunction with other long-tail searches to create niche web pages with high authority ranking potential.

8 . Update old content

Even if the majority of your website is fresh and original, you might still have some old content floating around that needs to be replaced.

That’s because Google tends to rank new content more favorably than older posts or pages, giving your newer pieces priority in search results.

9 . Good images are worth a thousand words

Using the best images on your blog can increase user engagement, improve search rankings and boost conversion rates.

But just choosing an image that looks good isn’t enough to get top results, you need to use meaningful, high-quality content that is relevant to both users and Google.

10 . User Experience

Search engine optimization is not a one-time strategy. It’s an ongoing process that includes testing, evaluation and SEO link building.

Make sure you have the proper processes in place before getting started so you don’t waste time trying to optimize your way out of an unsuccessful campaign. For example, make sure your site has fast load times, a simple structure and quality content on each page.

That’s all, and hope you gain benefits from this short article and you can improve your website and rank on Google.

Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.