There have been heaps of changes on google over the last year, so here are 4 website areas to focus on to ensure you will generate traffic and achieve a decent ranking.
Content
1. Great Content
Make sure it has real value for the reader – we want the visitor to read and stay “on page/site’ as long as possible, we do not want them to “bounce” therefore:
- The longer the better (1,000 words is ideal)
- The more informative the better (Genuine reader value)
- Interaction – provide tools and links to 3rd party references
(Google notices individual page metrics and ranks appropriately)
2. Keyword research – Focus on topics
Whilst using keywords is still critical – topics are becoming more important – so write “How tos (How to Sharpen a knife? etc)
3. Naturally used keywords
Write normally – NOT FOR SEARCH ENGINES – Google can now identify badly written pages and poor visitor metrics.
On-page Tagging
1. Useful page titles
Make it easy for readers to understand the content – your titles should be original and useful. Of course try and include a keyword, but remember the reader.
2. Tagging
DO not keyword stuff your pages – so yes include your target keyword or phrase in the H1 do not do it ad infinitum in all tags.
3. Keyword in page URL
Of course if you can easily do it add your keyword in your url but do not do it over and over again
Speed/Responsive
1. Page load time
Google is really targeting page load time – so get someone to have a good look (or do it yourself – try tools.pingdom.com and gtmetrix) it is FUNDAMENTAL and of course it keeps visitors happy
2. Mobile Device (Responsive) websites
Everyone is getting used to using their mobile devices online – your site MUST be up to it – no 2 fingered zooming – areas to target:
- Speed
- Viewport – what they customer sees
- Dedicated fucntionality perhaps
Links
1. Link Building/Guest posting
Do this with integrity – do not create content that is riddled with links – Google is picking up on this. Better to:
- Create great content and articles for quality blogs
- Share your ideas and refer to thought leaders to back up your opinions
- Motivate links to the article via content rather than forcing them into the content
2. Internal links
Make sure you are linking to and from your own content – AS LONG AS IT IS RELEVANT – and of course useful.
Conclusion
When you research and write with the visitor/reader in mind it is difficult to be faulted for too much – keeping your nose clean is a great strategy to stop getting penalised and to persuade google to rank you.
