What is SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimization, and it refers to any optimizations done to a website in order to help it rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). SEO is an essential part of any website because it brings in organic traffic and helps people searching for the types of services you provide find your business.
What Parts of My Website Impact SEO?
Many people with a surface-level understanding of SEO think the only thing that impacts it is whether or not a website is using the correct keywords, but there are actually a ton of different website elements that affect SEO. This includes:
- Written content
- Design
- Page-load speed
- Images
- Videos
- Links
Common Mistakes That Bring Down SEO
Not Enough Content
A big part of what Google looks for when ranking your website is whether you have enough relevant information on your site. If you barely have any content, Google is going to notice that and penalize you for it by placing you lower in the rankings. One of the first things you should do to address your SEO is evaluate the content on your website and think about whether you have enough information to answer your potential customers’ most common questions. Make sure that you have pages that outline your services, give valuable information, and explain what sets your business apart.
Duplicate Content
A common mistake we see is people adding the exact same content to multiple pages in an attempt to improve SEO. Duplicate content is actually just as bad as having no content on your website and will result in lower rankings. Make sure that whenever you add content to your site, it is worded differently from the rest of your site. Even if you want the same basic information on two separate pages, simply taking the time to reword it so that it is not exactly the same will go a long way in helping your SEO.
Keyword Stuffing
What’s worse than not having enough keywords on your site? Having too many. When first learning SEO, many people dive into their website’s content and add in their target keywords everywhere they possibly can, and then wonder why their search engine ranking gets worse instead of better. The reason for this is that search engines not only look for keywords, but they look for keywords in place that make sense. Additionally, if a customer is reading your website and has a bad experience because your content is stuffed full of keywords that don’t flow, you’re unlikely to get any business from that person. It is important to use your keywords, but it is just as important to use them correctly; make sure that your keywords flow with the sentence and make sense in that context.
No Alt Text
The more accessible your website is, the better it will rank. Alt text is a big part of this. Alt text – the text accompanying images to let those with impaired vision know what is in the images – is often forgotten and many websites do not have any alt text at all. Go through your website and make sure that every image has descriptive alt text and you will see your SEO improve.
SEO is a complicated beast, and it takes a lot of time, skill, and effort to get your website ranking where you want it. We’re here to help if you don’t want to do all the heavy lifting. Get in touch today for a free SEO consultation.
