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Are you a small business looking for ways to grow your business? Result Driven SEO has put together an infographic with 8 SEO basics to help you out.
1. Plan with Small Business SEO Keyword Research
Know what your customers are searching for. Google Keyword Planner is a free tool. SEMrush will find keywords your competitors are using.
Target local keywords specific to your business. Example: a removalist in Sydney, but main service area is North Sydney. Key phrases such as: ‘removalist north sydney’ are more relevant than ‘removalists sydney.’
2. Stand Out with OnSite SEO
Create unique page titles, meta descriptions, URLs and content. Creating additional pages can help target new keywords and send signals to search engines.
Example: If your removal service only serves North Sydney, use a key phrase such as ‘Removalist North Sydney’ on your home page.
3. Local SEO with Google+
Create a Google+ business profile here: www.google.com/+/business/
Complete unique keyword rich descriptions for each business location.
SEO benefit: Your business will appear in search results for local keyword searches.
4. Blog
Write compelling content that your audience will read and share. Use images, video, tips, news and more. A ‘longtail’ keyword approach can work well.
Example: a post titled ‘North Sydney Removal Service Review’ with a customer testimonial. Describe action your business took and the outcome. Testimonials are great to show off your business and build trust.
Post Ideas: Answer questions and offer solutions. Create check-lists. Offer free information and knowledge from your field of expertise.
SEO benefit: Every new blog post created is an opportunity to be found in search engines.
5. Diversify Your Small Business SEO Marketing
Reviews, social media, PPC, email, guest blogging, display ads, remarketing, forums, Facebook, Yelp – can all drive traffic and leads. Social media, blogging and forum participation in your niche are free. Test different channels within budget to see what works.
SEO benefit: A diverse marketing plan can compliment your SEO through traffic, links and branding.
6. Encourage Action!
Make sure your site visitors are taking the action you want them to. Want a site visitor to call you? Tell them. Tell them why they should first.
Example: A finance company wanting people to set an appointment. Use a call to action where visitors will see it: “Call (phone number) to book an appointment with our Finance Manager. 20 years experience to help guide you in securing finance.”
7. Efficient Small Business SEO with a CMS
A Content Management System (CMS) is an efficient way to publish content and manage SEO. It’s easy to set up a site using a CMS such as WordPress.
SEO benefit: Plug-ins such as Yoast allow control of on-page SEO. It will tell you how well your pages are optimised. Super Cache is another plug-in which helps pages load faster. Page speed is known to influence site rankings.
8. Go Mobile
Responsive web design fits mobiles, tablets and desktops. Keep your mobile / desktop sites on a single domain. Many CMS’s now offer free responsive templates.
SEO benefit: A responsive design is preferred by Google over a mobile domain (m.example.com). It will allow you to focus on a single site rather than 2.
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