5 Things to Know about SEO

Search Engine Optimization is part of the biggest shift in business since the Industrial Revolution. The internet has changed the way we do business. Get started with this checklist of five important but basic aspects of SEO.

Cupcake with candle in shape of number 5

1. You Must Have a Website

Not only do your competitors have a website, but websites improve corporate image and customer confidence. If someone wants to buy the best cupcakes in town, and you only have a Facebook page but your competitor has a website, whose cupcakes seem more legitimate?

A professional quality website is essential to instill confidence in your potential customer. In the modern era first impressions are often made on the Web.

Another thing people don’t often think about is when to start thinking about SEO - you can start now! Plan your SEO before you’ve launched your website.

2. Study Your Market

The words and phrases that people punch into Google are called keywords. To be successful on the web you need to discover exactly what keywords are used in an attempt to find whatever goods or services your business offers and use these words strategically on your website and in the anchor text on inbound links.

Simply put, anchor text is the text that you click on in a link. The link greatest online marketing company ever has the anchor text “greatest online marketing company ever”.

Learn more about keyword research here.

You must know your market. Study the competition to determine what they are doing well and what they are doing not so well. What can you do better?

3. Content Is King

Content is king. Chances are, you’ve heard that many times. From day one, start creating content that solves problems, answers questions, is extremely informative, and is reader friendly. SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization” but never forget that your content should be for the reader first, the search engines second.

Google employs a team of very smart people that work very hard to ensure that their search engine query results are as relevant and useful as possible. Google employs literally hundreds of ranking factors in their search engine algorithm. And recent updates have made it more important than ever to have quality, useful content on your site.

If content creation and blogging overwhelms you, don’t worry: We’ll have tips and tricks coming up in our blog for you to read very soon.

4. Links are Queen

The worldwide web is just that, a web of interconnected sites that spans the entire world. A site without inbound links is a lonely site indeed. Inbound links are an essential ingredient of a well-traveled website, and they are also a primary factor in how well a site ranks in any given Google query result.

Basically, Google calculates your page’s ranking by factoring the number, the quality, and even the text used in the actual links to your website. You obtain good inbound links by posting phenomenal original content that makes people want to link to you. Show your expertise, and make yourself an authority in your area, and quality links will follow.

5. The Social Media Revolution

Social media marketing is its own kind of marketing, but it is also part of SEO. This is where social media marketing and search engine optimization overlap. If people are talking about you on social media sites, they’re more likely to be linking to back to your site, whether through Facebook or their websites. This creates both good links and good publicity.

The rise of the social web means that it is essential to have presence on social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc.), which will also provide excellent links back to your website.

Establishing yourself on social media sites as an authority in your field means knowing which social media sites your business should be using. If your business does a lot of business-to-business work, LinkedIn is great for you; if you’re a business with a physical location in a metropolitan area you should consider being active on Google Places, Foursquare, and so on. Research popular social media sites, know your demographic, create accounts on the appropriate sites and establish relationships now.

Finally, SEO is like a shark, both must continually move forward.  Working on SEO is a must for the long-term health of your business. Designate someone in your company to be responsible for online marketing. It’s not your IT guy, or an intern; maybe you need to consider hiring a specialist? Regardless, SEO needs to become an ongoing facet of your marketing strategy today.

Today, it isn’t whether you should invest in online marketing, it's how you will invest in it most efficiently.

It’s time to start investing intelligently.  

                                           

Eric Wagner

While Eric now focuses on internet marketing, he also has a background in web development. He loves being among the first to find out about new tech—and better yet, being a part of making that tech succeed. Eric is known to be a good listener, seeking to understand how each individual sees the world. He is a harmonizer in group settings, cultivating unity while constructing the overall goal and strategy. When he’s not busy helping i7 clients dominate the online marketplace, Eric enjoys drone videography (he’s got a UAV pilot’s license), woodworking, community service, and all things outdoors.

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Informed about Marketing Trends

CLICK ABOVE
to Get OUR Newsletter!

OUR RECENT POSTS