9 Detailed SEO Resolutions for 2024: Boosting Your Online Visibility

by with No Comment Content SEO

It’s the season of firecrackers, excitement is in the air, and you are reading this because one of your New Year SEO Resolutions is to improve the visibility of your business website.

So as you embark on another exciting year, let’s have a heart-to-heart about something crucial: your online presence. Yep, it’s time to talk SEO resolutions for 2024 because, let’s face it, the digital landscape keeps evolving faster than my morning tea cools down.

So, grab your favorite brew, and let’s dive into nine SEO resolutions to supercharge your website and conquer the online world.

Yep, it's time to talk SEO resolutions for 2024 because, let's face it, the digital landscape keeps evolving faster than my morning tea cools down.

9 SEO Resolutions for 2024

1. Set Clear SEO Goals:

First things first, get intentional about what you want to achieve. Whether it’s climbing the search rankings, boosting organic traffic, or increasing conversions, setting clear SEO goals will guide your efforts and keep you on track throughout the year.

Let’s dive into an example of a fictional business, say, a boutique coffee shop named “BeanBliss Café.”

SEO Goals for BeanBliss Café in 2024:

  1. Increase Organic Traffic by 30%:
    • Goal: Achieve a 30% increase in organic website traffic by the end of 2024.
    • Action Steps: Implement targeted keyword optimization, create regular blog content, create/optimize Google My Business Page, implement technical & local SEO, and leverage social media to drive traffic to the website.
  2. Boost Local Visibility:
    • Goal: Improve local search rankings to appear in the top three positions for relevant keywords in our city.
    • Action Steps: Optimize Google My Business profile, encourage customer reviews, and ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across online platforms.
  3. Enhance Mobile-Friendly Experience:
    • Goal: Achieve a mobile-friendliness score of 90 or above on Google’s mobile-friendly test.
    • Action Steps: Optimize website design for mobile users, improve page load speed, and ensure all content is easily accessible on various devices.
  4. Increase Average Session Duration:
    • Goal: Extend the average session duration on the website to 2 minutes.
    • Action Steps: Develop engaging content, incorporate multimedia elements, and improve website navigation to encourage users to explore more pages.
  5. Generate 20% More Online Reservations:
    • Goal: Increase the number of online reservations by 20% through organic search.
    • Action Steps: Optimize website content for reservation-related keywords, implement a clear and user-friendly booking system, and promote online reservations through targeted campaigns.
  6. Secure Featured Snippets for Key Queries:
    • Goal: Attain featured snippets for at least three key queries related to our specialty coffee offerings.
    • Action Steps: Identify high-potential queries, create comprehensive content that directly answers these questions, and use structured data markup to enhance visibility.
  7. Improve Backlink Profile:
    • Goal: Acquire 15 high-quality backlinks from reputable local and industry-related websites.
    • Action Steps: Develop shareable and link-worthy content, outreach to local influencers and businesses for collaborations, and participate in relevant industry forums and discussions.
  8. Reduce Bounce Rate to Below 40%:
    • Goal: Decrease the website bounce rate to below 40%.
    • Action Steps: Improve website design for better user experience, enhance content relevance, and implement compelling calls-to-action to keep visitors engaged.
  9. Optimize for Local Keywords:
    • Goal: Rank on the first page for local keywords such as “best coffee shop in [City],” “artisanal coffee [City],” etc.
    • Action Steps: Conduct local keyword research, optimize on-page content, and consistently create location-specific content.
  10. Track and Report Progress Monthly:
    • Goal: Establish a monthly reporting routine to track key SEO metrics and adjust strategies accordingly.
    • Action Steps: Set up Google Analytics, track keyword rankings, monitor conversion rates, and generate a monthly SEO performance report.
SEO goals for new year SEO resolutions

These goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), providing a clear roadmap for BeanBliss Café to enhance its online visibility and drive business through strategic SEO efforts.

2. Prioritize Mobile Optimization:

I know, I know. You’ve been hearing about the importance of mobile-friendly websites for ages. But 2024 is the year you make it a top priority as one of your SEO resolutions

With more users accessing websites on mobile devices, ensuring a seamless and responsive mobile experience is non-negotiable.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help improve mobile optimization:

  1. Responsive Design:
    • Ensure your website has a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes. This ensures a seamless and user-friendly experience across various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
  2. Mobile-Friendly Testing:
    • Use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to evaluate how well your site performs on mobile devices. Address any issues or recommendations provided by the test to enhance mobile compatibility.
  3. Optimize Page Load Speed:
    • Mobile users value speed. Compress images, leverage browser caching, and minimize HTTP requests to improve page load speed. Google’s PageSpeed Insights can provide insights and suggestions for optimization.
  4. Prioritize Critical Content:
    • Identify and prioritize essential content for mobile users. Ensure that crucial information, such as contact details, services, and calls-to-action, is easily accessible without excessive scrolling.
  5. Simplify Navigation:
    • Streamline your website’s navigation for smaller screens. Use a clear and concise menu, and consider implementing a “hamburger” menu for a more compact and user-friendly navigation experience.
  6. Optimize Images and Media:
    • Compress images and use the appropriate file formats to reduce the file size without compromising quality. Opt for responsive images that adjust based on the user’s device, preventing unnecessary data consumption.
  7. Readable Fonts and Font Sizes:
    • Choose readable fonts and ensure font sizes are appropriate for mobile screens. Avoid small fonts that may require users to zoom in to read content.
  8. Touch-Friendly Elements:
    • Make sure buttons, links, and interactive elements are touch-friendly. Ensure they are adequately spaced and sized to accommodate touch gestures, preventing accidental clicks and frustration.
  9. Limit Pop-Ups and Interstitials:
    • While pop-ups and interstitials may work well on desktops, they can be disruptive on mobile devices. If used, ensure they are unobtrusive and don’t hinder the user experience.
  10. Implement Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP):
    • Consider implementing AMP, a web component framework developed by Google to create fast-loading mobile web pages. AMP can enhance mobile speed and improve search engine visibility.
  11. Test Cross-Browser Compatibility:
    • Test your website on various mobile browsers to ensure consistent performance. Different browsers may interpret your website’s code differently, so it’s crucial to verify compatibility.
  12. Use Mobile-Friendly Plugins and Tools:
    • If your website is built on a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, use mobile-friendly plugins and tools to simplify the optimization process. These tools can automate certain aspects of mobile optimization.
  13. Monitor and Analyze Mobile Performance:
    • Regularly monitor your website’s mobile performance using analytics tools. Track metrics like bounce rate, average session duration, and conversions specifically for mobile users. Use this data to make informed improvements.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly enhance the mobile optimization of your website, providing a seamless and enjoyable experience for mobile users and positively impacting search engine rankings.

3. Dive Deep into Content Quality:

Quality over quantity, my friend! Another addition to your SEO Resolutions this year is focusing on creating valuable, relevant, and engaging content. It’s not just about keywords; it’s about providing information that your audience craves. Regularly updating your blog, FAQs, and product/service pages will keep the content fresh and enticing.

4. Master Featured Snippets:

Ever noticed those nifty snippets at the top of search results? They’re a gold mine for visibility. Make it one of your SEO resolutions to understand your audience’s questions and create content that snags those coveted featured snippets. It’s like winning the SEO jackpot!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to mastering featured snippets:

1. Know Your Audience’s Questions:

Alright, first things first. Imagine you’re your own customer. What questions would you ask about your products or services? Got them? Great! Now, those are the queries you want to target for featured snippets. It’s all about being the go-to source for your audience’s burning questions.

2. Craft Content That Answers Directly:

When creating content, be direct and to the point. Imagine you’re answering a friend’s question over coffee—clear, concise, and helpful. Google loves it when you provide direct answers, and that’s your ticket to snippet stardom.

3. Utilize Headers and Subheadings:

Headers and subheadings aren’t just for aesthetics; they’re your secret weapon for featured snippets. Break down your content into digestible sections, making it easy for both users and search engines to find the specific information they’re after.

4. Aim for the “Snippet-Worthy” Length:

Think of it like this: Google has a 320-character limit for these snippets, and you want to stay within that limit. Keep your answers succinct, but make sure they’re informative enough to satisfy your audience. It’s a bit like nailing the perfect elevator pitch!

5. Address Various Aspects of a Question:

Sometimes a question has multiple angles. Cover all bases within your content. This not only increases your chances of snagging that featured snippet but also positions you as the comprehensive source for that particular query.

6. Use Lists and Tables:

Imagine you’re telling someone about the “Top 5 Benefits” or the “Comparison Between X and Y.” Lists and tables make information easy to consume and are more likely to be featured. It’s like serving bite-sized info for Google to showcase.

7. Implement FAQ Pages:

Create a dedicated FAQ page on your website. Populate it with commonly asked questions related to your business or industry. Google often pulls from FAQ pages for featured snippets, giving you a prime opportunity to shine.

8. Leverage Structured Data Markup:

Getting a bit technical here, but don’t worry—it’s not rocket science. Implement structured data markup (Schema.org) on your website. It helps search engines better understand your content, increasing the chances of your info landing in a featured snippet.

9. Regularly Update and Refresh Content:

Google loves fresh content. Keep your answers up-to-date and relevant. If there are new developments or trends in your industry, make sure your content reflects that. It’s like giving your answers a little facelift.

10. Monitor and Tweak as Needed:

Keep an eye on your performance. If you’re not snagging those snippets, analyze what’s working and what isn’t. Tweak your content strategy accordingly. It’s a bit like fine-tuning a recipe until it’s just right.

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5. Harness the Power of Video:

Video content is all the rage, and it’s not slowing down. This year, incorporate more videos into your content strategy. Whether it’s product demos, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or customer testimonials, videos can captivate your audience and boost your SEO game.

6. Build Backlinks Strategically:

Ah, the ever-elusive backlinks. Make a pact with a fellow business owner this new year to seek quality over quantity as one of your SEO resolutions.

Building a network of high-authority backlinks can significantly boost your website’s credibility in the eyes of search engines. Guest posting, collaborations, and good ol’ networking can go a long way.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to building strategic backlinks:

1. Know Your Backlink Landscape:

Alright, before we dive in, let’s scope out the competition. Who’s linking to them? What kind of content is getting love? Tools like Moz or Ahrefs are your trusty sidekicks here. Understand the landscape, and we’re off to a good start.

2. Create Link-Worthy Content:

Picture this: You’re at a party, and everyone wants to hang out with the person with the most interesting stories. The same goes for content. Create stuff that’s so good that people can’t help but link to it. It could be in-depth guides, unique research, or even some kick-butt infographics.

3. Reach Out to Your Tribe:

Your network is gold. Reach out to friends, colleagues, or industry buddies. Ask for their thoughts on your content, and if they find it valuable, they might just give you that coveted link. It’s like getting a thumbs-up from the cool kids.

4. Guest Post Like a Pro:

Imagine you’re crashing at a friend’s place for a weekend. Guest posting is a bit like that—you’re visiting someone else’s space. Find reputable websites in your niche, pitch them killer ideas, and showcase your expertise. It’s a win-win—you get exposure, and they get awesome content.

5. Broken Link Building Magic:

This one’s a bit sneaky but totally legit. Find broken links on websites in your niche, reach out to the site owner, and suggest your content as a replacement. It’s like being the hero who fixes a leaky faucet. Everyone appreciates that!

6. Participate in Online Communities:

Think of online communities as digital neighborhoods. Engage in forums, social media groups, or Q&A sites related to your industry. Share your knowledge, be genuinely helpful, and drop a link when it adds value to the conversation. It’s like making friends at a neighborhood barbecue.

7. Build Relationships, Not Just Links:

Relationships matter. Connect with influencers and thought leaders in your field. Engage with their content, share your insights, and build genuine connections. It’s not just about links; it’s about being part of a community.

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8. Leverage HARO (Help a Reporter Out):

Reporters are like treasure hunters, and you’ve got the treasure—your expertise. Sign up for HARO, respond to relevant queries, and if your insights make the cut, you score a sweet backlink. It’s like being the go-to expert in a breaking news story.

9. Create Shareable Infographics:

People love visuals, right? Create shareable infographics related to your industry. They’re like the flashy flyers that everyone wants to pass around. Infographics can attract links like bees to honey.

10. Monitor Your Backlink Profile:

Lastly, keep tabs on your backlink profile. Tools like Google Search Console or backlink checkers can help you see who’s linking to you. If you spot any shady links, do a bit of spring cleaning. Quality over quantity, always.

7. Stay Updated on Algorithm Changes:

Another addition to your SEO resolutions, my friend.

SEO algorithms are like that friend who always surprises you. To stay on the winning side, commit to keeping a close eye on algorithm updates. Whether it’s Google, Bing, or any other search engine, being in the know will help us adapt and thrive.

Here are websites to check for SEO Updates

  1. Search Engine Journal
  2. Search Engine Roundtable
  3. Search Engine Land

8. Enhance User Experience:

User experience is not just a buzzword; it’s a game-changer. In the New Year, audit your website’s navigation, load speed, and overall user interface.

A seamless and enjoyable user experience not only keeps visitors around but also signals to search engines that your site is top-notch.

9. Monitor Analytics Like a Pro:

Numbers don’t lie, and your website analytics are a treasure trove of insights. This year, one of your SEO resolutions should be to commit to regularly monitoring your analytics. From traffic sources to bounce rates, understanding these metrics will guide your SEO strategy and highlight areas for improvement.

Here are websites to check for monitoring analytics

So, there you have it – your SEO resolutions for 2024.

Here’s to a year of climbing search rankings, captivating your audience, and making your online presence shine.

What other SEO Resolutions do you have for the New Year?

READ ALSO: 5 Unique Tips to Maximize your Guest Blogging efforts

KEYWORD OPTIMIZATION IN SEO: 6 UNIQUE WAYS TO RANK HIGH

by with No Comment Content SEO
Understand keyword optimization for SEO with tried and tested methods. Keywords serve as the backbone of all SEO efforts and strategies. 

Keywords serve as the backbone of all SEO efforts and strategies. 

Like most other search engines, Google constantly strives to bring content the searcher wants to them, and your job as a blogger is to present such content by writing content as closely related to what the searcher will likely search. 

Keywords can be regarded as the most critical element in search engine optimization (SEO) as search engines crawl your page, searching for these keywords to ensure your content is relevant to the searcher’s query.

Placing your keywords in the correct quantity and the proper manner is crucial to a website’s ranking.

This task may seem daunting and almost impossible, especially for someone new to the SEO space. So, in this blog post, you will understand keyword optimization in SEO with tried and tested methods of using it.

What exactly are keywords in SEO?

Keywords are the words, clauses, and phrases searchers enter into search queries on which they want to see content.

For your website, keywords are the main ideas of your content. They are the things that all the paragraphs, images, and illustrations should boil down to.

Also, keywords are phrases and words placed strategically in your content to remain relevant to the searcher’s query, keep their attention, and prompt Google to deem your content a viable answer to their search queries.

Types of keywords

Concerning length and relevance, 3 (three) types of keywords are used in SEO.

Of course, there are other types of keywords; however, these are terms you will likely come across early on in your SEO journey:

1. Short-tail keywords

These, also known as generic keywords, are concise phrases of one or two words. They are popular, broad search terms that generate significant traffic but face high competition. An excellent example would be the term “Men’s Shoes.”

2. Long-tail keywords

Long tail keywords are specific phrases with lower competition and lower search traffic. Due to their specificity, they often yield higher conversion rates. These are typically the longest keywords, tailored to specific audiences or topics. “Black and White Comfortable Men’s Shoes” is a long-tail keyword.

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3. Medium-tail keywords

These keywords fall between short-tail and long-tail keywords. They have moderate traffic volume but offer better conversion rates and less competition than other keywords. “Comfortable Men’s Shoes” is an example.

RELATED POSTS:

What is keyword optimization?

Keyword optimization is the process of identifying and selecting the right keywords in your content so that your target audience can find your pages more easily in search engine results. 

It means identifying common phrases and clauses searchers type into search queries and forming your content to match those keywords. In keyword optimization, you analyze the best possible keyword for the content you wish to create and work those keywords into your ideas to appear as relevant to the search query as possible.

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Why is keyword optimization relevant to your blog?

Keywords are vital because they link the content people want and the content you create. And, importantly, proper keyword optimization:

1. Drives organic traffic to your website

Searchers will likely click on headlines and websites that display keywords that correlate to their search queries. You also increase your likelihood of ranking higher on SERPs, which enhances your chances of organic traffic.

2. Reduces bounce rate

With proper keyword optimization, the searchers will find your website relevant to their search queries and be less likely to leave your website as soon as they enter it (bounce).

3. Competitive advantage

In the SEO world, everything is subject to comparison; your goal in SEO is to rank HIGHER than your competitors. A website with proper keyword optimization has an advantage over its competitors because it can get more traffic.

Keyword research

Keyword research is simply gathering information from available registries on the right keywords for your content, how well they do on search engines, rank difficulty, and content from other sources regarding the same or similar keywords. 

Keyword research helps you understand your audience better so you can write content they want to read.

If you’re thinking of all the stress involved in research, there are tools to help you. Keyword research tools show you data concerning the keywords you want to use so you can avoid common pitfalls, such as writing content on topics with high-ranking difficulties or writing good content people do not search for.

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Keyword optimization and research tools 

There are several options regarding the keyword research and optimization tools to use for your SEO journey. Here is a list of trusted and known keyword research tools:

How to use keyword optimization in SEO

i. Find keywords for your site.

The first step in keyword optimization is to conduct your keyword research. Know what the searchers want and conform to that.

You can use keyword tools to find and incorporate keywords that fit your goals into your writing. Begin by brainstorming a list of keywords and phrases associated with the content and then systematically enter each keyword into a search or tool.

Also, keep notes of all the analytics you get from your brainstorming session and use them to further your SEO goals.

ii. Map your keywords.

Keyword mapping is simply mapping your keywords!!!

After you’ve done your keyword research and have all your data, consider where all the keywords will go while writing. Think of it like drawing a map; you don’t want to keep all your keywords in one place and then have a lack of them in other spaces.

Keyword mapping ensures your user’s interest is still piqued throughout your entire post, not just at certain points.

iii. Avoid keyword stuffing.

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It is vital in keyword optimization to think of quality over quantity.

It is more important that the keywords you use are relevant to your content.

It may be tempting to discover keywords with high search volumes and want to place many on your site. However, most search engines have learned to adapt to this and do not rank websites with excessive and unnecessary use of irrelevant keywords.

iv. Don’t forget your target. 

As previously discussed, understanding your target audience is pivotal in optimization. 

Consider a scenario where you’ve diligently optimized a webpage, striving to secure a high-ranking position in search results, only to realize that the people searching for the terms in your content seek something entirely different.

Two potential consequences may unfold when you fail to reach your intended audience.

Firstly, many individuals outside your target demographic might stumble upon your page, discover it doesn’t align with their interests or needs, and promptly exit, potentially avoiding your site as a future resource and negatively impacting your site by increasing its bounce rate.

Secondly, your intended audience might never come across your site in search results.

It’s crucial to weed out keywords that attract the wrong audience to your site and instead incorporate the search terms that resonate with your target audience’s preferences and interests.

v. Target popular keywords.

When a keyword enjoys high popularity, indicating a significant volume of searches, it can drive substantial traffic to your website if you attain a high ranking. 

To maximize website traffic, focus on optimizing for highly searched keywords. However, note that as a keyword’s popularity increases, so does the level of competition, making it more challenging to secure a high ranking.

vi. Target less competitive keywords.

On the flip side, while it might appear counterintuitive to target less popular keywords, this approach is often the most effective for new websites.

Competing with well-established websites that have already gained trust and authority for trendy keywords in competitive industries can be highly challenging. 

Therefore, newer websites often find tremendous success by optimizing less popular and less competitive keywords or by enhancing their keywords with modifiers, such as thematic or geo-targeted modifiers, to create mid to long-tail keywords.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, search engine keyword optimization remains a cornerstone of success. 

Understanding the intricacies of keyword research, implementation, and monitoring can help propel your website to new heights in search engine rankings. 

But remember, it’s not a one-and-done task; it requires continuous effort and adaptation to perfect it.

How often do you optimize your keywords, and how does it help you?

READ ALSO: HOW TO WRITE META DESCRIPTIONS FOR SEO + FREE …

INTERNAL LINKING FOR SEO – 9 BEST PRACTICES AND TIPS

by with No Comment Blog MarketingBloggingContent SEO
Learn the world of internal linking and some of the best practices and tips to effectively utilize internal linking for SEO.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is constantly evolving; more information about how to rank on search engines, ranking factors, and more SEO experts are available, but despite this, one strategy that is often overlooked is internal linking. 

While much attention is given to external links, internal linking is vital in enhancing your website’s visibility and user experience. 

This blog post will explain the world of internal linking and show you some of the best practices and tips to effectively utilize internal linking for SEO.

What Is Internal Linking?

Internal linking for SEO is the practice of linking to other pages on your website. It assists users in navigating your website and locating the information they seek. 

This practice also helps search engines understand your website’s navigational structure and the relationships between different pages.

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Benefits of Internal Linking for SEO

a. Improved SEO Rankings

When you link to important pages on your website from other pages, you tell search engines these pages are important, which can help to improve the rankings of these pages in SERPs.

b. Enhanced User Experience

Internal linking also contributes to a better user experience on your website. 

Imagine being able to read related posts or be guided to a similar post with a single click.

With this, the dwell time for users will likely increase because they will spend more time engaging with your content if they can easily navigate to the pages they want.

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c. Decreased Bounce Rate

The bounce rate for a website is the number of users who leave the site immediately after loading or viewing a single page. 

If your bounce rate is high, it can mean that users are not finding what they are looking for on your website. 

Internal linking can decrease the bounce rate by making it easier for users to find the additional information they seek and navigate to other pages on your website.

d. Better Indexing of Content

Bots, or web crawlers, are automated robotic systems search engines use to crawl and index web pages.

These bots follow links registered on your sitemap to find new pages. 

Well-structured internal linking makes it easier for search engine bots to discover and index your website’s pages, increasing your website’s visibility in search results.

Best Practices for Internal Linking for SEO

Here are some practices I utilize when doing internal linking for SEO:

1. Choosing the Right Anchor Text

Anchor text is the visible text or word to which a link is attached. 

Your choice of anchor text is important because it helps search engines understand the context of the linked page and the relationship between the referring and linked pages.

Here are some tips for choosing the right anchor text:

  • Use relevant and descriptive anchor text. Your anchor text should be relevant to the link page.
  • Avoid generic anchor texts like “click here” or “learn more.”
  • Use a variety of anchor texts. Avoid using the exact anchor text for multiple links.
  • Use long-tail anchor text.

Long-tail anchor text is more specific and descriptive than short-tail anchor text. For example, instead of linking to a page with the anchor text “click here,” you could use the anchor text “best practices for internal linking.”

2. Correct Placement of Internal Links

You can place internal links anywhere on a page, but they are most effective when placed in the body of the text because search engines give more weight to links placed in the body than links placed in the header, footer, or sidebar.

Here are some excellent places to place internal links:

  • In the body of the text, where they are relevant and contextual.
  • In the introduction and conclusion of a post or article.
  • In the image’s alt text.
  • In the captions of images and videos.
  • In the related posts section.
  • In the author’s bio.

Placing your internal links in the body of your texts indicates they are contextually relevant to your content and not just a random link.

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3. Link to important pages

You should link to the relevant pages on your website. Linking to irrelevant pages can confuse search engines and users.

When linking to internal pages, consider the following:

  • Link to pages that are relevant to the current page.
  • Link to pages that are important to your website.
  • Link to pages you want users to visit.

For example, if you are writing a blog post about “best practices for internal linking,” you could link to other blog posts on your website about topics related to linking, SEO best practices, and other points mentioned in your content (if you have a blog post relevant to them). 

You could also link to your homepage and your contact page.

4. Linking from High-Traffic Pages

Linking from high-traffic pages can pass SEO authority to other pages on your website. This practice can improve the rankings of these pages in search results.

To identify your high-traffic pages, you can use Google Analytics. Once you have identified them, you can start linking from them to other pages on your website and even create sections in your high-traffic posts that deliberately link to other posts you want.

Here are some tips for linking from high-traffic pages:

  • Link to relevant pages.
  • Link to pages you want to promote.
  • Use a variety of anchor texts.
  • Avoid overlinking.

Avoid overlinking so Google and other search engines do not flag your content. 

Remember to maintain a balance between internal and external links in each of your posts.

5. Avoiding Overuse

Avoid overuse of internal links, as search engines see this as spammy. 

A good rule of thumb is to link to a page only if it is relevant to the page you are on.

6. Nofollow vs. Dofollow Links

There are two types of internal links: nofollow and dofollow. 

Nofollow links tell the search engines not to follow or pass SEO authority to the linked page, while dofollow links tell search engines which linked page they should pass SEO authority to.

Use nofollow links for links you do not want search engines to follow, such as paid advertising or social media pages. Use dofollow links to direct visitors to important pages you want to index and rank.

7. Being Mobile-Friendly

When creating internal links, you should ensure the links are mobile-friendly. 

The links should be easy to click on and navigate on mobile devices. You should also avoid using pop-ups or overlays for internal links, as these can be disruptive to users.

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8. Using XML Sitemaps

An XML sitemap is a file that lists all of your website’s pages. XML sitemaps can assist search engines in discovering and indexing the pages on your website. 

You can use a plugin or an online tool to create an XML sitemap for the pages on your site. Once you have created your XML sitemap, submit it to Google Search Console.

The sitemaps help in validating your internal links.

9. Regular Auditing and Maintenance

It is important to regularly audit your internal linking structure to ensure it is still effective. This includes checking for broken links, orphan pages, and duplicate content.

Several link checker tools can help you audit your internal linking structure. Link checker tools can identify broken links, orphan pages, and duplicate content.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Internal linking for SEO is a powerful yet often underestimated strategy that can give your website the competitive edge it needs. When you link your pages, you optimize your website for search engines and enhance the overall user experience.

Regularly audit and update your internal linking strategy to adapt to new SEO updates and user preferences. 

With the right approach to internal linking, you’ll see improvements in your website’s rankings and provide valuable, engaging content to your audience.

Do you often link to other pages on your website?

READ ALSO: 9 TOP WAYS TO BUILD QUALITY BACKLINKS FOR SEO IN 2024

HOW TO QUICKLY IMPROVE PAGE SPEED FOR YOUR WEBSITE – SARMLife

by with No Comment Blog MarketingDigital Marketing
To improve page speed for your website, one of the first steps is to consider the type of content you have and how you can reduce its size.

To improve page speed for your website, one of the first steps is to consider the type of content you have and how you can reduce its size.

The page speed of your website affects your bounce rates, average time per session, conversion rate, and, ultimately, your position in SERPs. Hence, your website speed is a crucial aspect of any SEO strategy.

In this post, I’ll show you how you can quickly improve page speed for your website for more traffic and increased growth.

How Page Speed Affects SEO

a. Direct ranking factor

Google has confirmed that page speed is a direct ranking factor for mobile and desktop searches, meaning faster pages tend to rank higher in search results. Google wants to provide its users with the best possible experience, and faster pages are generally more user-friendly.

b. Better user experience

Users are more likely to stay on a website that loads quickly. Slow-loading pages can lead to frustration and increase bounce rates. A study by Google found that the average user will wait only three seconds for a page to fully load before leaving.

Concept of improving website loading speed
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c. Mobile optimization

More people are using their mobile devices to access the Internet. Google has prioritized mobile indexing, which means your website’s mobile version is the primary version that Google considers when ranking your pages. 

This makes it even more important to have a fast-loading mobile website because mobile users have less patience; they want it fast and quick.

d. Page indexing

Google uses bots to crawl the internet and index websites, and they can only crawl a limited number of pages per day. If your website is slow, it may take longer for Google bots to index your pages. 

It might lead to a longer time for your new pages to appear in search results.

e. Lower ranking for competitive keywords

If you are competing for competitive keywords, a slow page speed can put you at a disadvantage. Even a slight difference in page speed can make a big difference in rankings.

f. Featured snippets and rich results

Featured snippets and rich results are special snippets of information that appear at the top of search results. Google is more likely to display featured snippets and rich results from websites with fast page speeds.

g. Conversion rate

Page speed can also affect your conversion rate. A study by Amazon found that every 100ms increase in page load time resulted in a 1% decrease in conversion rate.

h. Local SEO

Google considers page speed when ranking local businesses in search results. A fast page speed can give you an advantage over your competitors in local search results.

i. Mobile-first indexing

As mentioned earlier, Google has prioritized mobile indexing. When ranking your pages, Google now considers your website’s mobile version the primary version, making it more important to have a fast-loading website and optimize it for mobile devices.

RELATED POSTS:

How to Improve Page Speed for Your Website

Now that you have a good grasp of how page speed affects the health of your website, here are some ways you can improve the page speed of your website:

1. Optimize images.

Images and most media are often one of the largest components of a web page, so optimizing them can significantly impact page speed. 

Here are a few tips for optimizing your images:

i. Use efficient image formats.

WebP is a newer image format that can significantly reduce file size without sacrificing quality. 

If your website supports WebP, you should use it for all your images. JPEG is another good option for most images, but use PNG for images with text or transparent backgrounds.

ii. Resize your images to the appropriate size.

There is no need to upload a 3000px wide image if it will only be displayed at 500px wide. 

Resize your images to the appropriate size before uploading them to your website.

iii. Compress your images.

Many image compression tools are available that can reduce the file size of your images. Some popular image compression tools include TinyPNG, Smush.it, and ImageOptim.

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Photo by Justin Morgan on Unsplash

2. Enable browser caching.

Browser caching allows the browser to store copies of your website’s files locally. The browser does not have to download the files from your server whenever a visitor visits your website.

Here are some tips for enabling browser caching:

i. Set expiration headers.

Expiration headers tell the browser how long to cache your website’s files. You can set expiration headers for individual files or entire directories.

ii. Use a caching plugin.

If you are using a CMS like WordPress or Drupal, there are plugins available to help you enable browser caching.

iii. Use a CDN. 

A CDN (content delivery network) can help deliver your website’s files quickly and efficiently to visitors. CDNs are networks of servers that distribute data from a source to users within proximity.

For example, a blogger in San Francisco can use a CDN in Africa to quickly load their web pages for people accessing the website from Africa. Instead of loading directly from San Francisco, they load from the CDN server in Africa.

3. Minimize HTTP requests.

Every time a browser loads a web page, it has to send a separate HTTP request for each file. This can add up, especially for pages with many images or other resources.

To improve page speed for your website, you have to reduce these requests by:

i. Combining CSS and JavaScript files

If you have multiple CSS and JavaScript files, you can combine them into fewer files. This strategy will reduce the number of HTTP requests the browser has to make.

ii. Using a CSS preprocessor

A CSS preprocessor can help you write more efficient and organized CSS, leading to fewer CSS files and HTTP requests.

iii. Using a CDN

A CDN can reduce the number of HTTP requests by delivering your website’s files from multiple servers worldwide.

To effectively use a content delivery network (CDN), you have to make sure that:

  • You choose a CDN that is reliable and has a good track record.
  • Your CDN supports your needed features, such as WebP and HTTP/2.
  • You configure your CDN to deliver your website’s files from the server closest to your visitors.

These steps will enable the best possible use of your CDN.

Screen of flutter application developing code. Lines of code on computer screen abstract
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4. Enable GZIP compression.

GZIP compression is a technique that reduces the size of web page resources such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It works by compressing these files before sending them over the Internet, resulting in faster loading times for your website.

To enable GZIP compression, you will need to configure your web server. 

For example, to enable GZIP compression on Apache, you would add some code lines to your .htaccess file:

According to HubSpot, here’s the code you need to add to enable GZIP compression for all HTML, XML, CSS, JavaScript, and font files:

<IfModule mod_deflate.c>

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/javascript

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/rss+xml

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/vnd.ms-fontobject

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font-opentype

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font-otf

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font-truetype

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font-ttf

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-javascript

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/xhtml+xml

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/xml

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE font/opentype

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE font/otf

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE font/ttf

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE image/svg+xml

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE image/x-icon

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/css

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/html

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/javascript

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/plain

         AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/xml

</IfModule>

Most web servers support GZIP compression by default, but you may need to check your documentation to see how to enable it.

Once you’ve enabled GZIP compression, your web server will automatically compress all supported files before sending them to users’ browsers. 

This strategy can reduce the size of your web pages by almost 70%, resulting in significant speed improvements.

5. Minimize render-blocking resources.

Render-blocking resources are CSS and JavaScript files that prevent the browser from rendering the page content until it has been fully downloaded and processed. 

To minimize render-blocking resources, you can try the following:

i. Load CSS files in the head of the HTML document.

This will allow the browser to start rendering the page content sooner.

ii. Load JavaScript files asynchronously.

Loading JavaScript files at different times will allow the browser to render the page content without waiting for all the JavaScript files to load.

iii. Combine CSS and JavaScript files.

If you have multiple CSS and JavaScript files, you can combine them into a single file. It will reduce the number of HTTP requests made by the browser.

iv. Defer non-critical CSS and JavaScript files.

If you have CSS and JavaScript files that are not critical for rendering the page, you can defer them until after the page has loaded. This will allow the browser to start rendering the page sooner.

v. Use inline CSS and JavaScript.

You can also use inline CSS and JavaScript to avoid render-blocking. However, this is only recommended for a small amount of CSS and JavaScript, as it can make your code more difficult to maintain.

Many plugins and tools are available to help you minimize render-blocking resources. 

For example, the WP Smush plugin for WordPress can combine and minify CSS and JavaScript files.

6. Use lazy loading.

Lazy loading is a technique that defers the loading of images and other embedded resources until they are needed. 

This can improve page load times by preventing the browser from waiting for all the resources to load before rendering the page.

You can use a JavaScript library such as lazysizes.js to implement lazy loading. 

This library will automatically defer loading images and other embedded resources until needed.

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Photo by Chromium blog

7. Optimize server response time.

Server response time is the time it takes for your web server to generate and send a response to a user’s request. 

Server response time can be affected by several factors, including:

  • your web server configuration,
  • the number of concurrent users,
  • the complexity of your web pages, etc.

Here are some things you can do to optimize server response time:

  • Use a caching plugin to store static resources locally on the user’s browser.
  • Use a content delivery network (CDN).
  • Optimize your database queries.
  • Optimize your server configurations.
  • Use a lightweight web server.

8. Reduce redirects.

​​Redirects occur when a user visits one URL but is automatically sent to another URL. 

Redirects can cause pages to load more slowly, especially if multiple redirects are in a chain.

To reduce redirects, you should:

  • Use canonical URLs to tell Google which URL is the preferred version of a page.
  • Eliminate unnecessary redirects from your website.
  • Fix any broken redirects.

9. Minimize third-party scripts.

Third-party scripts are loaded from other websites, such as social media widgets and analytics scripts. 

Third-party scripts can slow down your website because your browser needs to download and execute them before your page can load.

To minimize third-party scripts, you should:

  • Only use third-party scripts that are essential to your website.
  • Load third-party scripts asynchronously so they don’t block the rendering of your page.
  • Use a content delivery network (CDN) to serve third-party scripts.

10. Prioritize critical rendering path.

The critical rendering path is the sequence of resources that must be loaded and executed for a web page to start rendering. 

By prioritizing the critical rendering path, you can ensure that the most important parts of your page load quickly.

To prioritize the critical rendering path, you should:

  • Inline critical CSS in your HTML.
  • Defer non-critical CSS and JavaScript.
  • Use lazy loading for images.

11. Optimize above-the-fold content.

Above-the-fold content is the content that is visible to the user without having to scroll down. 

By optimizing above-the-fold content, you can ensure that users have a good first impression of your website and that they can start interacting with your content as quickly as possible.

To optimize above-the-fold content, you should:

  • Keep the amount of above-the-fold content to a minimum.
  • Use clear and concise fonts.
  • Use a readable font size.
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Photo by semrush

FINAL THOUGHTS

Following the tips in this blog post can help to improve your website’s page speed quickly, leading to a better user experience, higher conversion rates, and improved search engine rankings.

Optimize your images, reduce HTTP requests, enable browser caching, and use a content delivery network (CDN) to improve your page speed. 

Suppose you need help figuring out how to start and where to start. In that case, several tools and plugins are available to help you optimize your website’s page speed, like Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool, to test your page speed and get personalized recommendations for improvement.

How often do you notice a decrease in your site’s page speed? And how do you improve it?

READ ALSO: 8 Easy Ways You Can Improve Core Web Vitals of Any Site – SARMLife

A SIMPLIFIED SUMMARY OF 2024 GOOGLE’S RECENT SEO UPDATES – SARMLife

by with No Comment Content SEO
However, by understanding the basics of Google’s recent SEO updates, you can ensure your website is well-positioned to rank well in search results.

Google is constantly updating its search algorithm to improve the quality of its search results, making it difficult for website owners to keep up with the latest trends and best practices. 

However, by understanding the basics of Google’s recent SEO updates, you can ensure your website is well-positioned to rank well in search results.

In this blog post, I’ll update you on these recent SEO updates and why they are important.

You’ll also see the most recent SEO updates from Google, how these updates impact SEO, and what you, as a website owner and SEO professional, can do to adapt to these updates.

Types of major updates made by Google

Google makes several major and minor updates yearly, and Google has been able to categorize its major updates into these different types:

  • Core Updates help rank websites that are more relevant and helpful to users higher in search results. Google’s core updates are released more frequently and usually reflect some changes in ranking signals.
  • Spam Updates help remove spammy websites from search results. These updates are usually more targeted at specific spammy techniques that are becoming popular, like when link stuffing was rampant, and Google had to release a spam update to address it.
  • Helpful Content Updates are used to rank websites that produce high-quality content that is helpful to users higher in search results.
  • Product Reviews Update can help to rank product reviews that are more helpful and informative higher in search results.
  • Page Experience Update ranks websites with a good user experience, such as fast loading times and mobile-friendly design, higher in search results.

In addition to these major updates, Google makes many smaller changes to its search algorithm throughout the year. 

These minor changes are typically not announced publicly, but they can still significantly impact website rankings.

Why are SEO updates being made constantly?

SEO Word gram
Photo by Merakist on Unsplash

As a blogger or SEO expert, these changes can become burdensome to the extent of asking what the purpose is.

Here are some major reasons updates are being made constantly:

  • To improve the quality of search results

Google aims to provide users with the most relevant and high-quality search results. By updating its algorithm, Google can improve the accuracy of its search results and make it easier for users to find the information they seek.

  • To keep up with the changing web

The web constantly evolves, and new websites and content are always created. Hence, Google updates its algorithm to ensure it can index and rank this new content effectively.

  • To combat spam

Spammers are constantly developing new techniques to manipulate Google’s search results. Google needs to update its algorithm to stay one step ahead of spammers and ensure that spammy websites do not pollute their results.

  • To improve the user experience

Google wants to provide users with the best possible search experience. By updating its algorithm, Google can improve the relevance of its search results, make it easier for users to find the information they seek, and reduce the time it takes for pages to load.

RELATED POSTS:

Google’s recent SEO updates

November 2023 Core Update

This last core update is the fourth core update in 2023, and it closely follows the release in November, which is a rare thing for Google to do. 

The Google November 2023 Core Update is notable for its speed and volatility, with some websites seeing significant ranking fluctuations in a short period.

Like the other core updates, the November update aimed to improve the relevance and quality of search results. 

According to Google, the update is an improvement to a different core system than the October update, but the overall guidance for core updates remained the same.

Websites focusing on creating high-quality content were not negatively affected by the update. However, some websites that the October update had positively impacted experienced some negative effects.

If your website experienced some negative effects from the update, you should focus on improving its content and overall quality.

Glasses, reflection code and business man with software engineer information technology and coding research for web and html analytics. Hacker IT developer geek reading data for online system update
Photo by Kobus Louw on iStock

October 2023 Core Update

The October 2023 Core Update is the third core update of the year, following the March and August Core Updates. Google announced the update on October 5 and completed it within 13 days and 23 hours.

The October 2023 Core Update is expected to impact website rankings significantly, so SEO professionals must be aware of it and make any necessary website changes.

What to Expect from the October 2023 Core Update

Google has not released any specific information about the October 2023 Core Update, but based on previous core updates, we can expect it to focus on the following areas:

  • Content quality: 

Google will continue prioritizing websites with high-quality, informative, and relevant content for users’ search queries.

  • User experience: 

Google will also prioritize websites that provide a good user experience, including page loading speed, mobile-friendliness, and security.

  • Relevance: 

Google will keep prioritizing websites that are relevant to users’ search queries. This means websites should focus on creating content targeted to their specific audience that addresses their users’ needs.

How to Prepare for the October 2023 Core Update

Google has only disclosed a little. However, some general trends have been observed. 

For example, websites that provide high-quality, informative content and a good user experience seem to have performed well in the update.

SEO professionals can focus on the following to improve their website’s performance in the October 2023 Core Update and future core updates:

  • Create high-quality, informative content that is relevant to users’ search queries.
  • Improve the user experience on their website, including factors like page loading speed, mobile-friendliness, and security.
  • Avoid spammy practices, such as keyword stuffing and link-building schemes.
  • Review your previous content and re-optimize.

October 2023 Spam Update

The October 2023 Spam Update was a significant algorithm update designed to target and remove spammy websites from search results. Google announced this update on October 4, 2023, and began rolling it out on the same day. Google completed the rollout on October 10, 2023.

The October 2023 Spam Update targeted a wide range of spammy tactics, including:

  • Cloaking: Cloaking is a technique where a website presents different content to users and search engines. For example, a website might cloak low-quality content to search engines to rank higher in search results.
  • Hacked content: Hacked content is content that has been added to a website without the owner’s knowledge or consent. Hackers often add spammy links or content to hacked websites to redirect users to malicious websites or promote their products or services.
  • Auto-generated content: Auto-generated content is content created using software algorithms. Auto-generated content is often low-quality and uninformative and often used to spam search results.
  • Scraped content: Scraped content is content that has been copied from another website without permission. Scraped content is often low-quality and unoriginal and often used to spam search results.

The October 2023 Spam Update also targeted spammy behavior in specific languages, including Turkish, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Hindi, Chinese, and others.

The October 2023 Spam Update had a significant impact on many websites. Some websites using spammy tactics saw their rankings drop significantly due to the update. 

Other websites that followed Google’s guidelines saw their rankings improve.

SEO professionals should be aware of the October 2023 Spam Update and should take steps to avoid using spammy tactics on their websites. 

If your website was affected by the spam update, Google recommends reviewing its spam policies to ensure you have not violated any.

September 2023 Helpful Content Update

The September 2023 Helpful Content Update is a significant algorithm update from Google designed to reward websites with high-quality content that is helpful and informative to users. 

This update aims to make it easier for users to find the information they seek by promoting websites that are providing value to users rather than websites that are simply trying to rank well in search results.

Google has identified several factors it considers when determining whether or not a website is producing helpful content; these factors include:

  • The quality and expertise of the content: Google wants to see content written by experts based on factual information.
  • The originality of the content: Google wants unique content, not a copy of what other websites have.
  • The usefulness of the content: Google wants to see helpful and informative content that will benefit users.
  • The purpose of the content: Google also wants content created to help users rather than content created primarily for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes.

Websites that produce helpful content are more likely to rank higher in search results. Conversely, websites that are found to be creating unhelpful content may see their rankings decline.

August 2023 Broad Core Update

The August 2023 Broad Core Update was a major algorithm update from Google that impacted websites across all niches. It was the second broad core update of the year, following the May 2023 Core Update.

Google did not release specific details about what changed in the August 2023 Broad Core Update, but SEO professionals reported seeing a wide range of ranking movements. Some websites saw their rankings improve significantly, while others saw their rankings decline.

The August 2023 Broad Core Update has been focused on improving the quality of search results for medical and health-related queries. However, it is important to note that this update potentially impacted all websites.

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April 2023 Reviews Update

The April 2023 Reviews Update was a significant update to Google’s algorithm focused on improving the quality of reviews in search results. 

The update affected websites that publish reviews of products, services, destinations, media, and other topics.

Google also announced that the April 2023 Reviews Update would incorporate the extra “E” into the acronym for its quality guidelines, which is now “E-E-A-T” (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). 

This means Google now considers the reviewer’s experience when evaluating the quality of a review.

Google released that this update utilizes some signals to evaluate and determine if what is being reviewed has been handled, tested, and used.

These signals include:

  • Visual evidence: This signal includes images or videos that show the reviewer is using the product.
  • Audio: This signal might not apply to all products besides those requiring audio as a sign of authenticity.
  • Links to evidence of experience: This implies having links to prove an experience with the product if needed.
  • Quantitative measurements: This concerns the performance measurement of what is being reviewed.

The April 2023 Reviews Update significantly impacted many websites that publish reviews.

March 2023 Core Update

The March 2023 Core Update was a major algorithm update from Google released on March 15, 2023. It was the first broad core update of the year and the first one in over six months.

Core updates are Google’s largest and most comprehensive algorithm updates. They are designed to improve the overall quality of search results by rewarding websites that are high-quality, informative, and relevant to users’ search queries.

The March 2023 Core Update was reported to be one of the more volatile core updates in recent memory, with many websites experiencing significant ranking fluctuations. 

However, as with all core updates, the overall goal of the update was to improve the quality of search results and provide a better user experience.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the March 2023 Core Update:

  • Google is still prioritizing E-E-A-T. 

E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Google has long stated that E-E-A-T is a critical factor in its ranking algorithm, and the March 2023 Core Update further emphasized its importance.

  • High-quality content is still king. 

Google will always prioritize websites with high-quality content. 

  • User experience matters. 

Google wants to provide users with the best possible search experience. This includes factors such as page loading speed, mobile-friendliness, and ease of use. The update rewarded websites that provided a good user experience.

  • Spammy websites were penalized. 

Google is constantly working to improve its ability to detect and penalize spammy websites. Websites that engaged in spammy practices were penalized by the update.

Overall, the March 2023 Core Update was a significant algorithm update that impacted many websites.

February 2023 Product Reviews Update

The February 2023 Product Reviews Update was a broad core update to Google’s search algorithm specifically focused on improving the quality of product reviews in search results. 

The update was released on February 21, 2023, and took approximately two weeks to roll out fully.

Google’s definition of a high-quality product review includes the following factors:

  • Expertise: The reviewer should have expertise in the product or the category they are reviewing.
  • Trustworthiness: The reviewer should be trustworthy and unbiased.
  • Completeness: The review should be comprehensive and informative.
  • Originality: The review should be original and not copied.

Google also updated its guidance on product reviews. The guidance now has new ranking signals that will be used to evaluate product review content. 

These ranking signals include:

  • The reviewer’s expertise: 

Google will consider the reviewer’s expertise in the product or category of products that they are reviewing. This can be determined by factors such as the reviewer’s education, experience, and reputation.

  • Trustworthiness:

Google will consider the trustworthiness of the reviewer and the review itself. Factors such as the reviewer’s disclosure of any conflicts of interest, the accuracy of the information in the review, and the reviewer’s overall reputation play a huge role.

  • The quality of the content: 

Google will consider the quality of the review content itself determined by factors like the completeness of the review, the originality of the content, and the helpfulness of the review to users.

However, you should consider an observation made by Mordy Oberstein in an article where he noticed a pattern in some individual performances on Google’s SERP after this update was rolled out.

According to him, Google prioritized reviews where the reviewer had experienced the product first-hand rather than those who wrote their reviews in generic tones.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Google’s recent SEO updates have focused on improving search results’ quality and rewarding websites that provide helpful content to users. 

If you want your website to stay competitive in search, follow these updates closely and focus on creating high-quality content relevant to your target audience.

In addition, follow industry experts to ensure you’re always aware of the latest changes to Google’s SEO algorithms and how they may impact your website.

If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest Google SEO updates, I recommend following the Google Search Central blog and the Google Search Central Twitter account.

How do you currently keep up-to-date with industry news and SEO updates?

READ ALSO: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOOGLE ANALYTICS 4 – SARMLife

8 EASY WAYS YOU CAN IMPROVE CORE WEB VITALS OF ANY SITE

by with No Comment Blog MarketingDigital Marketing
The good news is there are easy and actionable ways to improve Core Web Vitals for your website and ensure it’s not only user-friendly but also favored by search engines.

Regarding how Google ranks websites, various lists and schools of thought exist. 

However, all SEO experts can agree that Core Web Vitals play a significant role in Google’s ranking system.

Core Web vitals are a set of crucial performance metrics defined by Google and have become a game-changer in the SEO world. When the Core Web Vitals of your website are low, it reduces your ranking.

The good news is there are easy and actionable ways to improve Core Web Vitals for your website and ensure it’s not only user-friendly but also favored by search engines.

What Are Core Web Vitals?

Core Web Vitals are a set of factors that measure critical aspects of your website relevant to accessing a positive user experience.

It evaluates a website’s actual user experience regarding visual stability, interaction, and loading speed, influencing a page’s position in search results.

As crucial as Core Web Vitals are to SEO, it is important to note that it is just one of the several other important ranking factors Google has.

So, focusing on ONLY your Core Web Vitals will not automatically push you to the top of SERPs.

However, you need to combine several SEO strategies to get on the top page of Google. 

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RELATED POSTS:

Why Core Web Vitals Matter to SEO

The primary importance of optimizing your Core Web Vitals will be to improve your SEO score and rankings in SERPs. 

However, there are other benefits of improving Core Web Vitals relative to this importance. They include:

Improved user experience

The metrics that indicate a good Core Web Vital are closely related to metrics focusing on user experiences. 

When you improve your Core Web Vitals, you also invest in a positive user experience on your website, which is an influential ranking factor.

Higher page rankings

Of course, Google will favor a site with good Core Web Vitals.

Users anticipate being taken to a website that loads rapidly, keeps a consistent layout, and reacts to their interactions immediately when they click on a search result. 

Google ensures users have a seamless and positive browsing experience by prioritizing websites that excel in these areas.

Mobile search performance 

Working on your Core Web Vitals is vital for outstanding mobile search performance. It means that your website will do well in mobile searches.

SERP special feature eligibility

Improving your Core Web Vitals can lead to inclusion in special search features like featured snippets, voice search results, image packs, knowledge packs, etc.

The websites featured in these special spots are fully optimized with updated and relevant content and good website performance.

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Competitive edge

A good Core Web Vital performance will give you a competitive edge over other websites in your niche because you are more likely to rank for mobile results, be included in voice search results, show up in special features on a search engine result page, and so many other benefits.

More page views

When a page loads quickly, is responsive to user input, and has great UX design, users will likely stay on the page longer. 

This increases the likelihood of reading more content, clicking on more links, and engaging with the page in other ways, increasing your page views.

Core Web Vital Metrics

1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

LCP is the time it takes for the largest content element on a page to load. This metric is important because it reflects the perceived loading performance of a page. When a page loads quickly, it gives users a sense that it is responsive and ready to interact.

improve core web vitals of your site by checking your largest contentful paint
Photo by accesto

A good LCP is below 2.5 seconds. If a page has a high LCP, it means the largest content element takes too long to load, making the page feel slow and unresponsive to users.

2. First Input Delay (FID)

FID is the time it takes for a user to interact with a page for the first time, such as clicking on a specific link or tapping a button. This metric measures the responsiveness of a page. When a page is responsive, it is ready to respond to user input quickly, making it feel more fluid and interactive.

A good FID is below 100 milliseconds. If a page has a high FID, it means the browser takes too long to respond to user input.

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3. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

CLS measures the amount of movement of the main content on a page after it has started loading. It measures the visual stability of a page. When a page is visually stable, it means its layout does not shift after it has started loading, making the page more consistent and predictable for users.

A good CLS is below 0.1. If a page has a high CLS, it means the layout shifts too much after loading, making the page feel unstable and jarring for users.

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Photo by Quattr

These metrics are summarized in the table below:

MetricDescriptionTarget
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)The time it takes for the largest content element on a page to loadBelow 2.5 seconds
First Input Delay (FID)The time it takes for a user to first interact with a pageBelow 100 milliseconds
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)The amount of movement of the main content on a page after it has started loadingBelow 0.1 second

Easy Ways to Improve Core Web Vitals

1. Optimize images and videos.

Optimizing images and videos is crucial for improving Core Web Vitals, particularly Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), the time it takes for the largest content element on a page to load. 

Since images and videos often constitute a significant portion of a page’s content, optimizing them can substantially enhance page load speed and the overall user experience. 

Here’s a checklist for optimizing images and videos for better Core Web Vitals:

  • Choose the proper image format.
  • Compress images.
  • Resize images to fit.
  • Utilize lazy loading.
  • Employ image sprites
  • Optimize video formats and dimensions.
  • Compress videos.
  • Transcode videos for different devices.
  • Utilize video hosting services.
  • Implement video preloading.

Images and videos can be a significant source of page load time, so optimizing them for size and quality is essential.

2. Minimize server response time.

Server response time is the time it takes for servers to respond to requests from the user’s browser. 

This can be affected by several factors, such as the amount of traffic on the server and the efficiency of the server software. 

Minimizing server response time is crucial for improving Core Web Vitals, particularly Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and First Input Delay (FID).

Here are some actionable steps to minimize server response time:

  • Choose a reliable hosting provider.
  • Utilize a content delivery network (CDN).
  • Optimize database queries.
  • Implement caching mechanisms.
  • Minimize unnecessary code execution.
  • Regularly monitor server performance.
  • Update server software and firmware.

These strategies help you minimize the server response time, contributing to improved Core Web Vitals scores, a better user experience, and potentially higher search engine rankings.

3. Optimize your web fonts.

Web fonts can enhance a web page’s visual appeal and overall aesthetic. However, they can also contribute to slower page loading, resulting in a negative user experience. 

By optimizing your web fonts and how they are loaded, you can improve Core Web Vitals and enhance your website’s performance.

Here are some effective strategies for efficiently loading web fonts:

  • Subset your fonts.
  • Use a font-weight stack.
  • Use a font hosting service.
  • Prioritize font loading.
  • Optimize font file formats.
  • Preload your fonts.
  • Utilize font embedding.
  • Manage font variations.
  • Monitor and optimize font performance.

These tips can help you effectively load web fonts without compromising the visual appeal of your website while improving Core Web Vitals and overall page performance.

4. Minimize JavaScript execution time.

Minimizing JavaScript execution time is crucial for enhancing Core Web Vitals and delivering a seamless user experience. 

JavaScript is a powerful scripting language that adds interactivity and dynamic elements to web pages. 

However, excessive or inefficient JavaScript usage can significantly impact page load times and overall performance. 

Here are some steps to minimize JavaScript execution time and improve Core Web Vitals:

  • Identify and prioritize critical JavaScript.
  • Defer and async loading.
  • Minify JavaScript.
  • Bundle multiple JavaScript files. 
  • Utilize web workers.
  • Avoid unnecessary DOM manipulations.
  • Utilize caching. 
  • Regularly optimize JavaScript. 
SARMLife - Best SEO Company | Jacksonville, Florida
Photo by Joan Gamell on Unsplash

5. Prioritize interactive elements.

Interactive elements on your website, like buttons and links, are necessary for a positive user experience. 

They enable users to engage with a website and perform desired actions. 

Ensuring that interactive elements load and respond promptly can help create a more engaging and enjoyable experience for your website visitors. 

Here are some ways to prioritize interactive elements and improve Core Web Vitals:

  • Identify and prioritize your key interactive elements.
  • Optimize interactive element loading.
  • Reduce JavaScript execution time.
  • Utilize CSS custom properties.
  • Monitor and optimize interactive element performance.
  • Prioritize interactive elements in mobile responsiveness.
  • Leverage browser APIs.
  • Perform A/B testing for different approaches.

Prioritizing interactive elements is crucial for optimizing Core Web Vitals, particularly First Input Delay (FID).

6. Eliminate render-blocking resources.

Eliminating render-blocking resources is a crucial step towards improving Core Web Vitals, as it directly impacts a web page’s loading performance and perceived responsiveness. 

Render-blocking resources on your website prevent the browser from rendering/displaying the page until fully loaded. This can include CSS stylesheets, JavaScript files, and images.

Here are some effective strategies to eliminate render-blocking resources and enhance Core Web Vitals:

  • Inline critical CSS.
  • Defer non-critical CSS.
  • Use asynchronous JavaScript.
  • Minimize JavaScript.
  • Use a CDN.
  • Optimize images.
  • Prioritize critical resources.
  • Utilize browser caching.

These steps will enhance the loading performance of your web pages, directly affect the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and First Input Delay (FID) units of your website, and ultimately lead to a better user experience, increased engagement, and improved SEO rankings.

7. Manage content stability.

Content stability refers to how much the content on a page shifts or moves after it has started loading. 

This can be due to several factors, such as images loading late, CSS animations, or JavaScript that changes the page layout.

Content shifts can be a bad user experience, making it difficult for users to read and navigate the page. They can also make the page feel “jumpy” or unstable.

To improve content stability, follow these essential tips:

  • Use responsive designs.
  • Avoid excessive use of CSS animations.
  • Use preloading for images and videos.
  • Use a font-loading strategy.
  • Test your page on different browsers and devices.

By following these tips, you can improve content stability on your pages and provide a better user experience for your visitors.

8. Avoid intrusive interstitials.

Avoiding intrusive interstitials is crucial for enhancing Core Web Vitals and providing a positive user experience. Intrusive interstitials are pop-ups or overlays that appear over the content of a page, often obstructing the user’s view of the website’s primary content. 

They can be disruptive and annoying, leading to user frustration and a decreased willingness to engage with the website. Also, intrusive interstitials can negatively impact page load times and interactivity, diminishing user experience.

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Use considerate pop-ups: If you must use pop-ups, make them non-intrusive, easily closable, and relevant to the user’s context.
  • Prioritize user experience: Evaluate the necessity of each interstitial and consider alternative ways to convey the message.
  • Provide clear opt-out options: Allow users to close or opt out of interstitials easily to avoid frustration.
  • Limit frequency and timing: Avoid bombarding users with multiple interstitials at once or inopportune times.
  • Consider user preferences: Respect user preferences for interstitial blocking and provide clear privacy controls.

Minimizing these disruptions can enhance user engagement, improve SEO performance, and ultimately achieve your business goals.

Overwhelmed person receiving dozens of e-mails on GDRP regulations, GDPR and data safety concept
Photo by Darwel on iStock

FINAL THOUGHTS

You can easily improve the Core Web Vitals of your website by following the tips in this blog post.

This will help to improve your website’s SEO performance and make it more user-friendly. As a result, you will attract more visitors and improve your conversion rate.

Remember, Core Web Vitals are an ever-evolving area of SEO. As search engines like Google release new algorithm updates, staying up-to-date on the latest best practices for optimizing these metrics is important.

How do you optimize your website for optimal user experience?

READ ALSO: LATEST ON-PAGE SEO PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS

MOBILE SEO BEST PRACTICES TO OPTIMIZE YOUR WEBSITE – SARMLife

by with No Comment Blog MarketingContent SEO

In 2014, Google announced it would give websites the ‘mobile-friendly’ label and possibly make mobile-friendliness a ranking factor. Since then, mobile optimization has been an essential part of SEO. 

As crucial as mobile SEO is, some website owners are still not getting it right with their optimization. There are essential mobile SEO best practices you must follow. For example, mobile SEO strategies for regular blog websites differ slightly from mobile SEO practices for e-commerce websites.

In this blog post, I will show you how to optimize your website for mobile devices while still maintaining a balance with other devices like desktops and tablets.

As crucial as mobile SEO is, some website owners are still not getting it right with their optimization. There are essential mobile SEO best practices you must follow.

What is mobile SEO optimization?

Mobile SEO optimization is the entire process of optimizing your website to improve its performance in mobile search results. 

It includes ensuring your website is easy to use and navigate on mobile devices and that your content and technical elements are optimized for mobile search engines.

Mobile SEO optimization is important because more people use their smartphones and tablets to access the Internet. 

Also, mobile search accounts for over half of all internet search traffic, so if you haven’t optimized your website for mobile, you are missing out on many potential visitors.

RELATED POSTS:

Why is mobile SEO optimization important for SEO?

i. Mobile-first indexing

Google now uses the mobile version of a website to index and rank, including desktop searches; this is why it’s called mobile FIRST indexing. This means it is more important than ever to ensure your website is mobile-friendly.

SARMLife - Best SEO Company | Jacksonville, Florida

ii. Improved search engine rankings

When your website is optimized for mobile, it will likely rank higher in search results, both on mobile and desktop devices, because Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its rankings.

iii. Increased traffic

When your website is mobile-friendly, it will be more accessible to a broader range of users.

iv. Improved user experience

Improved user experience is essential for any website, but it is crucial for mobile websites. Mobile users have smaller screens and shorter attention spans, so it is important to make your website easy to use on mobile devices.

SARMLife - Best SEO Company | Jacksonville, Florida
Photo by Faizur Rehman on Unsplash

v. Reduced bounce rate

Reduced bounce rate measures how many users leave your website after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate indicates your website is not providing a better user experience. Mobile optimization can reduce your bounce rate by making your website more user-friendly on mobile devices.

vi. Increased conversions

Increased conversions are the ultimate goal of any website. Mobile optimization can increase conversions by making it easier for users to find the necessary information and take the desired action.

vii. Local searches

Local searches are more likely to be conducted on mobile devices, which means that if you are a local business, mobile optimization is essential for appearing in local search results.

For example, a local restaurant that optimizes its website for mobile will likely appear in search results when a potential customer searches for “restaurants near me” on their smartphone.

Internet browser search bar with magnifier on computer screen with text Search
Photo by igoriss on iStock

Mobile SEO best practices

Here are some of the best practices for mobile optimization:

1. Use responsive web design.

Responsive web design (RWD) is an approach that makes websites look good and function well on all devices, regardless of screen size. It is important for mobile SEO because it ensures your website will be easy to use and navigate for mobile users.

Here are some benefits of using RWD for mobile SEO:

Improved user experience: 

RWD websites are easier to use and navigate on mobile devices because the content and design adapt to the screen size. Mobile users won’t have to zoom in and out or scroll horizontally to view your website.

Improved search rankings: 

Mobile-friendly websites are given priority when it comes to ranking. This goes for Google and other search engines. If your website is responsive, you’ll rank higher in mobile search results.

Increased traffic: 

By making your website responsive, you’re ensuring it’s accessible to a broader range of users.

To implement RWD for your website, you need to use a responsive theme, or you outsource a web developer to create a custom responsive design. 

Once your website is responsive, you’ll need to test it using several mobile devices to confirm it looks good and functions well on all of them.

SARMLife - Best SEO Company | Jacksonville, Florida
Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash

2. Optimize your page speed.

The time it takes for a web page to load is called page speed. It is an important factor in mobile SEO because mobile users have shorter attention spans than desktop users. If your website takes too long to load, mobile users will likely bounce back to the search results.

There are many things you can do to optimize your page speed for mobile SEO, including:

Optimize your images: 

Resize and compress your images for mobile devices. It will help to reduce the size of your web pages and improve their loading speed.

Use a content delivery network (CDN): 

A CDN is defined as a network of servers that delivers the content of your website to users using the closest server to them. This can help to improve your website’s loading speed for mobile users all over the world.

Minify your code: 

Minifying your code involves removing unnecessary whitespace and comments from your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. This can reduce the size of your web pages and improve their loading speed.

Enable browser caching: 

Browser caching allows users’ browsers to store copies of your website’s files on their devices. It means when users return to your website, their browsers won’t have to download the files again, improving the loading speed of your website.

Use a lightweight theme or template: 

If you are using WordPress or another CMS platform, choose a theme or template that is designed for mobile and is lightweight and fast-loading.

You can use Google PageSpeed Insights to test your website’s loading speed and identify improvement areas.

3. Use mobile-friendly navigation.

Mobile-friendly navigation is a critical component of mobile SEO. Mobile users have smaller screens and shorter attention spans than desktop users, so it is crucial to make your website easy to navigate on mobile devices.

Here are some tips for creating mobile-friendly navigation:

Use a hamburger menu: 

A hamburger menu is a small icon with three horizontal lines. When users tap the hamburger menu, it reveals a list of navigation options. Hamburger menus are an excellent way to save space on mobile screens.

Use large fonts and buttons: 

Ensure your navigation fonts are large enough to be tapped with a finger rather than having to zoom in first.

Use clear and concise labels:

Avoid using jargon or technical terms in your navigation labels. Use clear and concise language that users can easily understand.

Use a consistent navigation structure: 

Keep your navigation structure consistent throughout your website. It will make navigation easier for mobile users.

Test your navigation on real devices:

Once you have created your mobile navigation, test it on real mobile devices to ensure it is easy to use.

4. Optimize images and media.

Optimizing images and media is an integral part of mobile SEO. 

Mobile devices generally have small screens and slow internet connections compared to desktop computers, so your images and media should load quickly and look good on mobile devices.

Here are some tips for optimizing images and media for mobile SEO:

Resize images: 

Resize your images to the appropriate dimensions for mobile devices. This will help to reduce the size of your web pages and improve their loading speed.

Compress images: 

Compress your images using a lossless compression format that allows them to retain their quality after compression, such as PNG or JPEG 2000.

Use lazy loading: 

Lazy loading is a technique used to delay the loading of images until they are needed. It can help to improve the loading speed of your web pages, especially for pages with several images.

Use responsive videos: 

Responsive videos automatically resize to fit the device’s screen they are viewed on. This ensures your videos look good and function well on all devices.

5. Use structured data.

Structured data is a way of marking up your website content so that search engines can better understand it. Structured data can provide information about your website’s content, such as the type of content, the author, the publication date, and more.

Search engines use structured data to improve the accuracy and relevance of their search results. This means that if you use structured data on your website, you’re more likely to rank higher in mobile search results.

You can also use structured data to generate rich snippets, which can make your website’s search results more appealing to mobile users and encourage them to click on your website. 

Rich snippets are enhanced search results with additional information, such as star ratings, reviews, and event listings. 

6. Include jump links.

Jump links allow users to jump to a specific section of your web page. They are also known as anchor links or table of contents links.

They are typically placed at the top of a page and are often used on long pages to help users quickly find the information they seek.

Jump links are an essential mobile SEO best practice because they can improve the user experience for mobile users. 

To implement page jump links on your website, you can use the following HTML code:

<a id=“section-1”></a>

<h1>Section 1</h1>

<a id=“section-2”></a>

<h1>Section 2</h1>

<a id=“section-3”></a>

<h1>Section 3</h1>

You can then create links to these sections from anywhere on your page using the following HTML code:

<a href= “#section-1”>Section 1</a>

<a href=“#section-2”>Section 2</a>

<a href= “#section-3”>Section 3</a>

You can also use JavaScript to create jump links. This can be useful to create more dynamic and interactive jump links.

Here are some tips for using jump links for mobile SEO:

  • Use clear and concise labels for your jump links. It will help mobile users to understand what each link will take them to.
  • Place your jump links in a prominent location at the top of your page so mobile users can find them effortlessly.
  • Use a consistent style for your jump links to show your website as professional and polished.

Once you have created your jump links, test them on real mobile devices to ensure they are easy to use.

Here’s SARMLife’s Table of Content with Page Jump Links

SARMLife - Best SEO Company | Jacksonville, Florida

7. Use mobile-friendly pop-ups.

Pop-ups are an effective way to capture email addresses, promote special offers, and generate leads. However, it’s best to use mobile-friendly pop-ups optimized for mobile devices.

Mobile-friendly pop-ups are designed to look good and function well on mobile devices. They are typically smaller and simpler than desktop pop-ups, and they are easy to close with a single tap.

Here are two major reasons for using mobile-friendly pop-ups for mobile SEO optimization:

Improved user experience: 

Mobile-friendly pop-ups are less intrusive and annoying than traditional pop-ups. This is important for mobile users, who have smaller screens and shorter attention spans.

Increased conversions: 

Mobile-friendly pop-ups can be just as effective as desktop pop-ups at converting users. Some studies have shown that mobile-friendly pop-ups can be even more effective than desktop pop-ups.

8. Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP).

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) is an open-source initiative that aims to create web pages that load quickly on mobile devices. It provides a better user experience for mobile users, increasing engagement and conversions.

AMP pages use a stripped-down version of HTML and CSS, as well as several other optimizations, to load significantly faster than traditional web pages.

Google now gives preference to AMP pages in its mobile search results. If your website has AMP pages, it increases your chance of ranking higher in mobile search results.

9. Avoid Flash.

Flash is a multimedia platform for creating animations, videos, and interactive content. 

However, many mobile devices do not support Flash, so it is best to avoid using it on your website to improve your mobile SEO.

Several alternatives to Flash include HTML5 and CSS3. 

If you have Flash content on your website, consider using a fallback option for mobile users. This could be a simple text-based explanation of the content or a link to a non-Flash version.

10. Test across devices.

Once you have made changes to your website to improve its mobile SEO, you should test it across various mobile devices to ensure it looks good and functions well on all devices. 

You can use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to test your website.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Regarding your website’s responsiveness, Google expects an optimal website where users across different devices can have a smooth experience. 

Google’s primary focus is on user experience, and all other direct or indirect factors that affect this smooth experience, as seen in all recent Google algorithm updates.

Hence, the importance of understanding all mobile SEO best practices and implementing them cannot be over-emphasized. 

Optimizing your website for mobile devices is another way to improve the user experience metrics on your website because, when you optimize for mobile devices, you indirectly optimize for mobile speed. It can also impact the bounce rate of your website and the average time per session.

What other mobile SEO best practices do you implement on your website?

READ ALSO: How to quickly improve your website loading speed (Coming soon)

7 FOOLPROOF WAYS TO INCREASE DOMAIN AUTHORITY ON SEARCH ENGINES – SARMLife

by with No Comment Blog MarketingDigital Marketing
I’ll show you (7) tried and tested ways to increase domain authority and adequately understand what it is, how it works, and how to make it work for you.

The English language defines authority as having legitimate power or influence over something. 

In other words, it means earning the right to have dominion over something or someone. 

This term also applies to the SEO world because websites with a reputation for good, trustworthy, and reliable content are held in high esteem and ranked higher than the rest.

In SEO, this term is ‘Domain Authority (DA).’ 

A well-known and well-published website like “The Wall Street Journal” or “The Times” will most likely get higher rankings when they write and publish content on the Internet, as opposed to a freelance writer just starting their blogging journey.

In this blog post, I’ll show you (7) tried and tested ways to increase your domain authority and adequately understand what it is, how it works, and how to make it work for you.

What Is Domain Authority?

It is vital to understand what domain authority (DA) is and isn’t to know how to increase domain authority for your website.

DA is a metric developed by the Seattle-based software company “Moz” that reflects the likelihood and dominance of a website on search engine result pages (SERPs).

In simpler terms, it is a scoring system to show how high or low a website will likely rank as an answer to a user’s query.

Domain authority, however, is not a metric Google uses to determine a website’s SERP ranking. It works independently of Google rankings and does not interact with SERPs in any way. 

Google does not consider domain authority when ranking websites, whereas Moz shows how well your website will likely rank on search engines based on your SEO efforts.

How Is Domain Authority Calculated? 

Tools like Moz and Ahrefs calculate DA by combining multiple factors, including link profile, referring domains, content quality, and so on, into a single domain authority score. 

This score can be used for competitive analysis or tracking a website’s “ranking strength” over time. 

However, it is important to note that domain authority is calculated relative to other websites in the same niche.

For example, suppose a food blogging website suddenly gains many backlinks or becomes more popular with searchers due to external factors that cause its domain authority to rise. In that case, it will likely cause a decline in the domain authority of other food blogging websites that revolve around the same content.

How to Check Your Website’s Domain Authority

Moz allows you to conduct a limited number of monthly free domain authority queries. Its free tool shows the DA level, number of links, and top pages for the site.

To start, type in your domain name. You’ll then be prompted to make a free account. Once you’re done, click on the activation email to get started.

When checking your website’s domain authority using tools on the web, there are different tools to use to check your DA, and the results from each one may vary.

Now that you know how domain authority is calculated, you may wish to determine your website’s score using any of these tools. Still, it is crucial to consider the following factors when choosing a tool to check your DA score:

  • Index size: How many URLs are contained within the software’s index?
  • Frequency of index crawling: How often is the index refreshed?
  • Correlation with actual rankings: Does a higher domain score equate to better rankings?

What Is a Good Domain Authority Score, and What Isn’t?

The truth is that the answer to this question is relative.

It is easy to think of DA as a grade from 1 to 100, and it may seem reasonable to aim for the highest score possible. Still, as mentioned before, domain authority measures your “rankability,” so you need a score higher than your competitors.

For example, a 78 DA score may not hold weight in a niche where the average DA score is 86, but a score of 35 may be celebrated in a space where the average DA is 20. So, when checking your DA, always compare it with your competitors.

Why Is Domain Authority Important?

According to Wildfireconcepts, a recent study found that domain ratings and keyword rankings are closely linked, proving that domain authority can be helpful when estimating if a website will appear in SERPs.

Understanding your site’s organic traffic and how likely it will rank in SERPs makes you more equipped to build your brand and create an engaging website. It also shows areas where your SEO efforts are lacking and what you can do to improve them.

Regularly checking your DA is an excellent way to monitor the effect of your other SEO efforts and ensure you are heading in the right direction.

How to Increase Domain Authority on Search Engines

SARMLife - Best SEO Company | Jacksonville, Florida
Photo by Sorabloggingtips.com

There are several ways to increase DA, but here are seven (7)  tried, tested, and foolproof methods to increase your domain authority:

1. Acquire high-quality backlinks.

Your link profile is the most crucial metric for your domain authority. If your website has a strong link profile, it is likely to get a higher DA score than one that doesn’t. 

A website is said to have a good link profile when:

  • It has incoming links (backlinks) from high-authority websites.
  • Incoming links are from related websites.
  • It doesn’t have low-quality links.
  • It has links from several unique domains.

There are several ways you can strengthen your link profile by getting backlinks. First, you can look at your top referral sources and find similar sites for backlink opportunities.

You could also contact businesses with websites posting content similar to yours to build relationships with them and encourage mutual linking to each other’s content for mutual benefit.

READ MORE: Link Building for SEO: The Ultimate Guide + Email Template

2. Write good, quality content. 

While domain authority is not necessarily part of the usual SEO strategies, it still relies on the same fundamentals as the others to rate websites.

Writing content that is accurate, current, easy to understand, and relevant is a surefire way to build your credibility online, which may, in turn, lead to other blog posts linking back to you for their readers to get more insight into what they’re writing about; this upgrades your link profile and domain authority.

Also, correctly formatting and optimizing your content are helpful tips to keep in mind. 

The list below helps to have your website properly indexed and generally makes your work seem more appealing to the searcher, which is the primary goal of SEO:

3. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly.

One of the factors to consider when calculating domain authority (DA) is your site’s structure and mobile friendliness.

If your website is optimized for mobile devices, Google and other search engines can easily crawl and index it.

In fact, with Google’s new mobile-first indexing policy, having a mobile-friendly website is no longer an option but a mandatory task to achieve your SEO dreams.

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Photo by Searchenginejournal.com

4. Become an industry expert/authority.

You can strengthen your brand identity by boosting your reputation as an expert in your niche. This strategy will help increase traffic and the number of external links. 

By becoming known in the real world, people respect you and your brand and will prefer your content over others, increasing your CTR, domain authority, and, ultimately, your rankings on SERPs.

5. Technical SEO.

Once you get your technical SEO right in the early stages of your blog, you won’t have to bother about it again.

However, bad technical SEO, or one that isn’t correctly done, can harm your domain authority and ranking.

Here are a couple of things you can do to improve your technical SEO:

Utilizing these few tips will help maximize your domain authority.

6. Audit your site and remove harmful links.

Regarding SEO generally, link building is an essential strategy because your domain authority, ranking potential, and sustainability depend on the strength of your link profile.

However, as important as it is, having many low-quality and spammy links can do more harm than good to any website. It is better to have fewer good links than numerous harmful ones.

Google practically analyzes every link from and to your website, and having links from a spammy website can reduce your domain authority or, in a worst-case scenario, get you penalized by Google.

You should check your website for harmful links and eliminate them immediately. 

You can use several SEO tools to check for harmful links. The first step is to analyze your website’s link profile.

If you cannot remove the links, you can disavow or ignore them, which means that web crawlers won’t consider unnatural or spammy backlinks when indexing your website.

7. Improve your internal links.

Another way to increase your domain authority is to improve your internal link structure. You can keep your visitors engaged by providing links to other informative web pages on your site.

In addition to helping index your pages, internal links facilitate search engine bots’ crawling of your website.

An additional benefit of having a well-thought-out internal link structure is the flow of link juice between pages.

Link juice refers to the SEO value of a page passed to other web pages. It validates your website for the search engines, as more links pointing toward a page show that it’s trustworthy. 

All of these add up to increase your site’s domain authority.

Several SEO plugins are available to help with these strategies, like keyword research, link building, mobile friendliness, etc.

For instance, the Link Assistant addon from AIOSEO will automatically create an internal link report for your website and recommend relevant pages you can link to. 

SARMLife - Best SEO Company | Jacksonville, Florida
Photo by Aioseo .com

FINAL THOUGHTS

Now that you understand how domain authority works, its effect on your website, and how to calculate and improve yours, you can use this knowledge to take your SEO strategies to a different level.

Domain authority can be challenging to understand initially, but keeping it in mind when going about your other SEO activities is foolproof to increase your ranking and your website’s exposure to searchers.

CTA: What is your current domain authority? What steps will you take to improve it?

READ ALSO: 9 TOP WAYS TO BUILD QUALITY BACKLINKS FOR SEO IN 2024

9 TOP WAYS TO BUILD QUALITY BACKLINKS FOR SEO IN 2024

by with No Comment Blog MarketingContent SEO
This blog post will show you how to build quality backlinks even if you don’t have much SEO experience and also emphasize strategies that will increase your backlink profile and SERP position.

Everyone who knows something about SEO can understand the difference between plain and quality backlinks and why it is essential to focus on selecting and building an effective backlink strategy for your website.

This blog post will show you how to build quality backlinks even if you don’t have much SEO experience and also emphasize strategies that will increase your backlink profile and SERP position.

Let’s get right down to it.

What are backlinks?

Backlinks are called ‘inbound links,’ ‘incoming links,’ ‘external links,’ and so on. They are hyperlinks from another website, connecting to a page on your website through an anchor text.

When determining a page’s prominence, search engines use measurement metrics, and the website’s backlink profile is highly considered. 

The quantity and quality of backlinks that point to a website are important ranking signals for most search engines, including Google.

RELATED POSTS:

Backlinks. Direction sign and miniature human figures on a white background.
Photo by tumsasedgars on iStock

What makes a quality backlink?

There are different factors to consider when determining if a backlink is good quality. These are the features that differentiate a regular backlink from a quality one.

They are:

  • Relevance: The link should be related to your content.
  • Authority: It should come from a respected source.
  • Trustworthiness: From a reliable and trustworthy website.
  • Natural: Earned naturally, not bought or forced.
  • Diverse: From different types of websites.
  • Editorial: placed by editors or authors.
  • Contextual: Makes sense in the content.
  • Follow Link: Preferably a follow link for SEO.
  • Traffic Potential: Can bring visitors to your site.
  • Low Spam: Avoid links from spammy sites.
  • Anchor Text: The clickable text should make sense.
  • Consistent: Build them over time steadily.

How to build quality backlinks to your website in 2024

1. Identify relevant websites.

The first and most crucial step is identifying relevant websites if you want to build quality backlinks.

Relevant websites are websites in the same niche or industry as yours and with a similar target audience. 

When you get a backlink from a relevant website, it tells Google that your website is also relevant to that topic and is a trusted source of information.

There are a few different ways to identify relevant websites for link building:

Search engines

Search engines like Google can help you find websites that rank for keywords related to your niche.

For example, a simple search like ‘SEO blogs’ if you are in the SEO industry can give you more than enough relevant websites.

However, focus on lesser known websites to increase your backlink chances.

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SARMLife - Best SEO Company | Jacksonville, Florida

Industry directories

Many industry directories list websites by niche. These directories can be a great way to find relevant websites you may not have found otherwise.

SARMLife - Best SEO Company | Jacksonville, Florida

Social media

Using social media sites like Twitter and LinkedIn, you can look for relevant websites, bloggers, and influencers in your industry.

Competitor analysis

Look at your competitors’ backlink profiles to see which websites link to them. These websites are likely to be relevant to your business as well.

Here are some additional tips for identifying relevant websites:

  • Consider the website’s topic and niche. Is it similar to yours?
  • Look at the website’s target audience. Are they the same as yours?
  • Check the website’s quality and authority. Is it well-designed and informative? Does it have a good reputation?
  • Review the website’s backlink profile. Does it have backlinks from other high-quality websites?

Once you have compiled a list of relevant websites, contact the site’s owners and editors. This strategy increases the likelihood that they will link to your website.

2. Create valuable content.

Another way to build quality backlinks is to invest in quality content creation. 

When you create informative, engaging, and valuable content, other websites are likelier to link to it than ‘ordinary’ content because they want to provide visitors with the best possible resources.

Here are some tips to consider when creating valuable content:

  • Write about topics that are important to your target audience. 

What are they interested in? What problems do they have? Write content to help them solve their problems or learn more about the topics they care about.

  • Do your research.

Your content must be accurate and up-to-date. Be sure to reference your sources so that readers can learn more about the subjects you are covering.

  • Write in a clear and concise style.

Do not use technical terms or jargon that your audience might not understand.

  • Make your content visually appealing.

Make your content more engaging by breaking up the text with pictures, videos, and infographics.

  • Promote your content.

Share your content on social media, other websites, relevant online communities, and forums. Ask other bloggers and industry influencers to share your content by contacting them.

  • Create different types of content.

Create content such as blog posts, articles, infographics, and videos. This will give you a more comprehensive range of content to promote and help you find websites that are interested in linking to it.

  • Make sure your content is search engine-friendly. 

It will help people find your content when they search for relevant keywords.

3. Network with bloggers and website owners.

When you contact other website owners and bloggers in your industry, you can build relationships with them. 

Here are some tips for building backlinks through outreach and networking:

  • Identify relevant websites and bloggers. 

Make a list of websites and bloggers in your industry relevant to your target audience and likely to oblige your request.

  • Personalize your messages. 

Personalize your messages when you contact website owners and bloggers via email or direct messages on social media. 

Address them by name and reference something specific about their website or blog.

  • Offer value. 

Don’t just ask for a backlink; instead, suggest a backlink as a reward for a favor you are willing to offer them. Offer to guest blog for them, share their content on your social media channels, or promote their products or services to your audience.

  • Be persistent. 

Keep going even if you don’t hear back from everyone you contact. Just keep following up and building relationships.

  • Create link roundups or request to be in one. 

Link roundups are blog posts that list links to other websites and articles on a specific topic. 

You can create link roundups to which the websites mentioned will link back. Or, you can reach out to other bloggers in your industry and ask them to include your website in their link roundups.

4. Guest post.

Guest posting is one of the best ways to build quality backlinks, mainly when writing for relevant websites with a significant audience in your niche. 

When you guest post, you write an article for another website in your industry. 

It is a great way to get your content in front of a new audience and build relationships with other website owners.

To build backlinks through guest posting, you need to follow these steps:

  • Identify relevant websites.

Make a list of websites in your industry that are relevant to your target audience. You can find relevant websites by using search engines, industry directories, and social media.

  • Target high-quality websites.

When you’re guest posting, focus on targeting high-quality websites with a good reputation. This strategy will help you build more valuable backlinks.

  • Research the websites.

Once you have a list of relevant websites, take some time to research them. Read their content, see what topics they cover, and identify the authors who write for them.

  • Pitch your guest post ideas.

Pitch topics relevant to the website’s audience that you can provide value on.

  • Write a high-quality guest post.

Writing a high-quality article is crucial once your guest post pitch is accepted. Make sure your article is well-written, informative, and engaging.

  • Include a link back to your website.

Include a link to your website in the author bio of any guest posts you write. It is a crucial step for building backlinks through guest posting.

  • Write high-quality content.

The quality of your guest post is essential in determining whether it will be accepted and published. Your guest posts must be well-written, informative, and engaging.

  • Promote your guest posts.

Once your guest post has been posted, share it on your website and social media. It will help you get more exposure for your content and build more backlinks.

While you want to guest post for relevant websites in your niche, you can also focus on reaching out to prominent bloggers to either guest post on your website, collaborate on a post, or create a crowdsourced blog post with experts in your industry.

5. Broken link building.

Broken link building is a link-building strategy that entails locating broken links on other websites and notifying the owners. 

They might agree to replace the broken link with a link to your website if you can offer a working link to a resource of a similar nature on your website.

To build quality backlinks using broken link building, you can follow these steps:

  • Find broken links.

You can use various tools to find broken links on other websites, such as Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and SEMrush.

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  • Identify relevant websites.

Once you have a list of broken links, you need to identify the websites they are on. The websites should be relevant to your industry and have a good reputation.

  • Reach out to the website owners.

Once you have a list of relevant websites with broken links, you need to contact the website owners and let them know about the broken links. Personalize your messages and offer to provide a working link to a similar resource on your website.

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  • Follow up.

If you are still waiting to hear back from a website owner, follow up with them. You might need to send a few emails before they respond.

  • Be polite and professional.

When you’re reaching out to website owners, be polite and professional. Address them by name and explain why you’re contacting them.

  • Make it easy for them to fix the broken link. 

When you offer a working link to a similar resource on your website, make it easy for the website owner to fix the broken link. You can do this by providing them with the exact URL of the resource on your website.

Broken link building is an efficient method for obtaining high-quality backlinks from other websites because it demonstrates your interest in the content and your keen eye, increasing your credibility with the website owner.

6. Directory listings.

Directory listings are an excellent way to develop quality backlinks, particularly for local businesses. 

Directories are websites that list businesses in a particular industry or location. When you create a listing in a directory, you typically need to provide your website address. It is a great way to get backlinks from high-quality websites.

To build quality backlinks using directory listings, you can follow these steps:

  • Identify relevant directories.

Make a list of directories that are relevant to your industry and location. You can find directories by searching online or asking other businesses in your industry for recommendations.

  • Create listings in the directories.

Once you have a list of relevant directories, create listings in each directory. Also, include your website address in your listing.

  • Optimize your listings.

Once you have created listings in the directories, optimize them. This means including relevant keywords in your listing and ensuring your listing is complete and accurate.

  • Submit your listings.

Once you have optimized your listings, submit them to the directories. Some directories may review your listings before publication, while others may publish your listings immediately.

  • Be complete and accurate.

When creating directory listings, include complete and accurate information about your business. This includes your business name and address, phone number, website address, and email address.

  • Use relevant keywords.

When optimizing your directory listings, use relevant keywords. It will help people find your listings when they search for those keywords.

  • Monitor your listings.

Once you have submitted your directory listings, monitor them. Your listings must be accurate and up-to-date.

Directory listings are a way to build high-quality backlinks because they practically put you out there and increase your chances of being mentioned in a roundup post. It could be a post of local businesses in a specific area or a roundup post of your type of service in a geographic location.

7. Press releases.

Press releases are a great way to get your company in the news and build backlinks simultaneously. 

When you write a press release, you announce a newsworthy event by your business or website, such as a new product launch, a partnership, or an award. 

You then distribute the press release to journalists or help a reporter using platforms like HARO.

Journalists may write about your press release if it is engaging and well-written, exposing you to a new audience and generating backlinks to your website.

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8. Local SEO strategies.

To build quality backlinks using local SEO strategies, you need to focus on getting backlinks from websites that are relevant to your local area. 

This includes websites such as:

  • Local news organizations
  • Local chambers of commerce and business associations
  • Local government websites
  • Local universities and colleges
  • Local tourism websites
  • Local directories and listing websites

You can build backlinks from these websites using a variety of strategies, such as:

  • Guest blogging:

Write guest blog posts for local websites and blogs. In your author bio, mention your website with a link. 

  • Local citations: 

List your website in all relevant local directories and listings websites, like Google Business Profile, Yelp, and Yellow Pages.

  • Local events and sponsorships: 

Sponsor local events and charities. It is a great way to get your name out there and build relationships with local businesses.

  • Local outreach: 

Contact other local businesses and ask if they want to link to your website. You can also offer to link to their website in return.

When constructing backlinks using local SEO strategies, it is crucial to concentrate on obtaining backlinks from websites with a solid reputation and relevance to your local area.

Here are some additional pointers for building high-quality backlinks while utilizing local SEO techniques:

  • Optimize your website for local search. 

This includes incorporating relevant keywords into your website’s title, meta descriptions, and header tags. Your Google Business Profile should be complete and up-to-date.

  • Get involved in your local community. 

Attend local events, join local business associations, and support local charities. This strategy is a great way to build relationships with local businesses and get your name out there.

  • Create high-quality, locally relevant content. 

This could include blog posts, articles, infographics, or videos. When you produce high-quality content, other websites are likelier to link to it.

9. Ask for mentions.

Google has stated that social media relevance is not a ranking factor; however, some noticeable trends in social media mentions and SERP rankings indicate this might be a good use.

Having your business mentioned across the web, including on social media platforms, can signal search engines like Google that your website is relevant in your niche.

To build quality backlinks by “asking for mentions,” you need to:

  • Focus on high-quality websites and influencers. 

Not all websites and influencers are created equal. Target high-quality websites and influencers with a good reputation when asking for mentions. It will help you build more valuable backlinks.

  • Research the websites and influencers. 

Once you have a list of relevant websites and influencers, take some time to research them. Read their content, see what topics they cover, and identify the authors who write for them.

  • Reach out to the websites and influencers. 

Personalize your messages and explain why mentioning your website or product would be valuable to them and their audience.

  • Make it easy for them to mention you. 

You can do this by providing them with a link to your website and a brief product or service description.

  • Don’t be pushy. 

When you ask for a mention, it’s important to remember that you’re asking for a favor. Don’t be pushy or demanding. If a website or influencer says no, don’t take it personally.

  • Be patient. 

Building backlinks through the “ask for mentions” method can take time. Keep going even if you don’t see results immediately. Just keep reaching out to websites and influencers and building strategic relationships.

Here are some specific examples of when to ask for mentions:

  1. If you have a new product or service, contact relevant bloggers and influencers and ask them to review it. In exchange, you can offer to send them a free sample or to give them exclusive access to your product or service.
  1. If you have published a new blog post or article, contact other bloggers and influencers in your industry and ask them to share it. You can also reach out to websites that compile lists of the best blog posts or articles on a particular topic.
  1. If you have been featured on another website or publication, you can ask your audience to share the news. You can also contact other websites and publications and ask them to mention your feature.

Asking for mentions is a great way to build quality backlinks, but doing it professionally and respectfully for the websites and influencers you’re contacting is essential. 

Backlinks - conceptual text with wooden cubes. 3D rendering on red background.
Photo by bo feng on iStock

FINAL THOUGHTS

When deciding on the exact strategy to build high-quality backlinks, it is crucial to understand that what works for one website may not work for all websites.

Link building is not a one-size-fits-all process. Hence, it is crucial to understand how a website works and conduct proper research before deciding on any link-building strategy. Niche, website structure, and marketing strategy can affect your link-building success rate.

What link-building strategy have you used before, and how well did it work for you?

READ ALSO: Link Building for SEO: The Ultimate Guide + Email Template

HOW TO WRITE META DESCRIPTIONS FOR SEO + FREE TEMPLATES

by with No Comment BloggingContent SEO
If you are still interested in learning how to craft attractive & write meta descriptions for your website, this is your cue to stay and read on.

Are you looking to increase your click-through rates on your website? Do you feel your headline isn’t enough? Meta descriptions are the solution for you!

Some people may think writing meta descriptions for SEO is a useless and time-wasting task because Google often replaces manually written meta descriptions with automated ones generated from your content when presenting search results to users.

So why do you need to learn how to write meta descriptions?

Well, there is no such thing as too much SEO. 

If you’re trying to build your online presence on search engines, you should be willing to exploit all avenues to increase your ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs) and direct more traffic to your website.

There have been constant updates in Google’s search technology, including how meta descriptions appear in different search queries; what happens when Google goes with your meta description instead of one generated from your content? You’re left with no meta description, significantly reducing your chances of searchers going to your website for answers to their queries.

If you are still interested in learning how to craft attractive meta descriptions for your website, this is your cue to stay and read on.

What Are Meta Descriptions?

Meta descriptions are summaries or snippets that provide insight into a web page’s content. 

They typically appear in search engine results pages (SERPs) beneath the page’s title and URL. These meta descriptions give users a preview of what they can expect to find on the linked page and play a crucial role in attracting clicks from search engine users.

Do you still need clarification?

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See that tiny body of text under the URL and title; that’s a meta description!

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Why Have a Meta Description on Your Posts?

There are different benefits of having a meta description for your posts. Here are some reasons you need to have a meta description:

a. Improved search engine visibility 

An engaging and relevant meta description can entice users to click on your link, increasing your click-through rate (CTR). Meta descriptions can include keywords related to your content.

Search engines often highlight these keywords in the search results, making your listing more attractive to users searching for specific terms. 

Think of your meta descriptions as the welcome sign to your website, almost like a shop’s front door; people see them first on search engines, so make them catchy!

b. Increased click-through rate (CTR)

Click-through rate is one of the most important metrics to monitor, and an increase in this leads to more traffic for your website, which is the goal of any website. Meta descriptions are a great way to raise your click-through rate by grabbing your reader’s attention on SERPs.

c. Enhanced user experience 

Meta descriptions help readers quickly assess whether your page has the information they want, improving the overall user experience. When users find your content relevant to their search query through an eye-catching meta description, they are more likely to stay on your page, reducing the bounce rate (the percentage of users who leave your site immediately after arriving). 

What Makes a Great Meta Description?

a. Length and character limit

Like many other search engines, Google typically displays meta-descriptions between 150 and 160 characters, including spaces in search results. However, it’s important to note that search engines may truncate longer descriptions, so it’s best to aim for 155 characters.

b. Keyword placement 

Include relevant keywords that users are likely to search for. Place important keywords toward the beginning of the meta-description, but avoid keyword stuffing, as it can negatively affect your SEO. Doing keyword research on platforms such as Ubersuggest may help when trying to put keywords into your meta descriptions.

c. Clarity and relevance 

An excellent meta description is concise. It should provide a clear and brief summary of what the page is about, allowing users to understand its content quickly.

Avoid using technical jargon or industry-specific terms that might confuse users. Use language that the average person can easily comprehend.

Also, ensure the meta-description aligns with the user’s search intent. Your description should hint at informative content if a user seeks information. If they seek a product, emphasize its features and benefits.

Great meta descriptions strike a balance between clarity and relevance. Clarity ensures that users understand what the page is about, while relevance ensures they find the information or solutions they want.

d. Call to action (CTA)

A CTA provides clear instructions to the user on what to do next. It can guide them toward the desired action, whether clicking on the link, signing up, making a purchase, or any other action you want them to take on your website.

A well-crafted CTA can make your meta description more engaging and persuasive. It encourages users to interact with your content, increasing the likelihood of a click-through. Using words like “Now,” “Today,” or “Limited time offer” in your CTA can create a sense of urgency, motivating users to take immediate action.

Ensure your CTA is directly related to the content and purpose of the page. Misleading CTAs can lead to high bounce rates and damage your website’s credibility.

How to Write Meta Descriptions for SEO

a. Research your keyword. 

Keyword research is the backbone of any SEO strategy. Researching what your readers are most likely to type in a search engine’s search bar using tools such as Ubersuggest, Google Trends, Google Search Console, AnswerThePublic, etc., is crucial to forming a good and attractive meta description.

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Knowing what your readers will most likely want and putting it front and center for them to see in your meta description will increase your website’s traffic for that particular query. 

However, it can be highly detrimental to include keywords unrelated to a potential user search query as they may interpret it as you do not have content on your website relevant to what they want.

b. Use action-oriented language (use active voice).

Using action-oriented language in an active voice is an excellent approach for meta descriptions. It can make your meta descriptions more interactive and encourage users to take whatever action your website wants them to. 

When creating action-oriented meta descriptions in an active voice, focus on verbs and phrases that drive users to take specific actions. 

Ensure the language aligns with the content and purpose of the linked page, and keep the descriptions concise within the character limit to maximize their impact on search engine results.

c. Evoke curiosity.

Although your meta description gives a brief insight into your website’s description, don’t forget that the primary goal of a meta description is to get the searcher to click on your URL and consume your content. Curiosity plays a role here.

Eliciting curiosity in your meta descriptions is a powerful strategy to entice users to click on your search results. When users are curious about what lies behind the link, they are more likely to click through to your page. 

Here are some tips for crafting meta descriptions that evoke curiosity:

I. Make it a question format. 

For example, “How do you write a meta description?” Or “Do you want to know the secret to financial success?”

ii. Give a hint of what the page entails.

Let your readers know what your page is about. For example, “Find out the simple hack to increase your website traffic” or “Discover the trick that will elevate your productivity.”

iii. Use captivating language.

Use descriptive and intriguing language that makes your readers want to know more. For example, “Explore the amazing world of ancient civilizations.”

iv. Emphasize the unusual or unique.

Try to capitalize on unexpected and unique things about your content. What makes your content stand out? Why should your readers click on your content and stay glued to it?

d. Avoid using clickbait.

It’s important to avoid using clickbait tactics in your meta-descriptions. Clickbait may initially attract clicks, but it often leads to a poor user experience and can damage your website’s credibility. 

Here are some guidelines on how to create compelling meta-descriptions without using clickbait:

i. Be accurate and honest.

Ensure your meta description accurately represents the content of the linked page. Don’t promise something the page doesn’t deliver.

ii. Avoid exaggeration.

Refrain from using exaggerated or hyperbolic language that misrepresents the content. Maintain a realistic tone.

iii. Don’t mislead.

Avoid misleading users with false claims or sensational statements. Honesty is vital to building trust with your audience.

e. Do A/B testing for your meta descriptions.

A/B testing, or split testing, is an effective way to optimize your meta descriptions for improved click-through rates (CTR) and user engagement.

A/B testing for meta descriptions can help you adjust your messaging to better resonate with your target audience. It allows you to make data-driven decisions to improve user engagement and ultimately drive better results for your website.

A/B testing for meta-descriptions involves creating two or more variations of a meta-description for a specific web page and comparing their performance to determine which one is more effective regarding click-through rates (CTR) and other relevant metrics.

Meta Descriptions Templates 

Here are some examples and templates of meta descriptions for different types of content:

– For a Blog Post

“Discover expert tips that work for improving your SEO strategy in our latest blog post.”

“Learn how to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookies just like your mum with our step-by-step guide.”

– For a Product Page

“Dazzle your friends, shop the latest collection of stylish sneakers for ultimate comfort and style.”

“Upgrade your home theater experience with our high-definition 4K TV deals that take viewing to a whole new level.”

– For an About Page

“Learn about our company’s mission to provide sustainable solutions for a greener future for future generations.”

“Meet our dedicated team of professionals committed to helping you achieve your success.”

– For an Event Page

“Join us for an unforgettable night of live music and entertainment at our annual event of the year.”

“Be the first to get your tickets now for the must-attend tech conference of the year.”

– For a Service Page

“Our professional plumbing services ensure your home’s water systems run smoothly.”

“Experience top-notch car detailing services for a showroom-worthy vehicle.”

– For an E-commerce Category Page

“Explore a wide range of our new outdoor gear for your next adventure in one place.”

“Find the perfect gifts for your loved ones on any occasion in our diverse gift ideas collection.” 

You can edit and swap the above examples as needed for your website SEO, but remember to stick to the guidelines above.

Common Mistakes When Writing Meta Descriptions

a. Stuffing keywords

Website or blog managers stuff many relevant keywords into their meta description to appear relevant to the searchers’ query. The downside is that it may make your website seem spammy. Instead, use keywords naturally and create a meaningful description that entices users to click.

b. Duplicating meta descriptions

Each page on your website should have a unique meta-description. Using the same description for multiple pages can confuse search engines and users.

c. Ignoring character limits

Search engines typically display meta descriptions in search results with a specific character limit (usually around 150-160 characters). 

If your meta description exceeds this limit, it will be trimmed, and users will see an incomplete or disjointed description, making your website appear unprofessional and less trustworthy.

On mobile devices, character limits are even more critical because screen space is limited. Ignoring character limits can lead to severe truncation issues on smaller screens, affecting the mobile user experience.

It’s crucial to adhere to character limits to ensure your meta descriptions are compelling and provide a positive user experience.

Keeping your descriptions concise, within the recommended limit, and well-structured will help you convey the most relevant information to users and improve your website’s performance in search engine results.

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Photo by stuartmiles99 on iStock

FINAL THOUGHTS

Writing compelling and eye-catching meta-descriptions is vital for anyone looking to boost their website’s visibility in search engine results and attract more organic traffic. 

By avoiding common pitfalls such as stuffing keywords, duplicating meta descriptions, and ignoring character limits, you can create meta descriptions that entice searchers, improve your site’s click-through rates, and reduce bounce rates.

Remember that meta-descriptions are a technical SEO element and your virtual elevator pitch to potential visitors. Each click and visitor could turn into a customer or a client, so ensure you go all in with it. 

And there’s no such thing as too much SEO, so go ahead and revisit your website’s meta descriptions, make the necessary improvements, and watch your click-through rates rise.

The power to boost your site’s visibility is in your hands. Seize the opportunity and make every meta description count!

How often do you optimize your meta descriptions for SEO?

READ ALSO: 14 Powerful Tips on How to Write a Blog Post that Engages – SARMLife