url-optimization

URL OPTIMIZATION | 11 BEST PRACTICES FOR AN SEO-FRIENDLY URL

by with No Comment Content SEO

Imagine giving out the wrong address of your house for an important delivery? This is how important URL optimization in SEO is!

Having an SEO-friendly URL is such a huge part of SEO on-page optimization that it can directly affect your blog post ranking. Just like the delivery can be misplaced because of the wrong address, your SEO efforts can also be misplaced because your URL is not properly optimized.

This guide will uncover the best practices for creating an SEO friendly URL.

By the end of this post, you’ll understand the importance of URL optimization and be equipped with actionable strategies to ensure your website’s URLs are on the path to SEO success.

What is a URL?

A URL is an acronym that stands for Uniform Resource Locator.

The unique address identifies a specific resource on the Internet, such as a web page, image, document, or file. 

You can think of your URL as a street address for your website, guiding users to the exact location of each online content you want them to access.

Here’s a breakdown of how URLs work when it comes to blogging and SEO:

  • Each blog post has its unique URL.

This allows readers to link directly to specific posts on your website, share them on social media, and bookmark them for later reference.

  • URLs help organize your blog content.

URLs create a clear structure and hierarchy for your website, making it easier for search engines and users to navigate and find the necessary information.

  • URLs play a role in search engine optimization (SEO).

Search engines use URLs in part to understand the content and even the context of your web pages. Well-structured, optimized, and descriptive URLs can improve your blog’s visibility in search results.

Key parts of a URL

Every URL must have these four parts:

Protocol

The first part of the URL, usually “http://” or “https://,” indicates the protocol used to access the resource (HTTP or HTTPS—which is a secure version). If your website still has an HTTP protocol, it is time to change it.

URL-optimization-best-practices

Photo by srdjan111 on iStock

Domain name 

This is the name or address of your website, such as “[www.sarmlife.com](https://www.sarmlife.com).” In this example, ‘sarmlife’ is the domain name.

Path

This part of your URL specifies the location of the resource within your website’s directory structure, like folders and subfolders. For example, the “/blog/my-first-post” path might indicate a specific blog post within a “blog” folder.

File name

The final part of the URL often includes the name of the actual file, such as “index.html” for a web page or “image.jpg” for an image.

Here are some examples of a full URL:

What is URL optimization?

URL optimization is the process of refining or optimizing your website’s URLs to make them more user-friendly, search engine-friendly, and effective for SEO purposes. 

It involves creating URLs that are clear, concise, descriptive, and relevant to the content of your pages.

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Benefits of URL optimization

Here are some benefits of URL optimization:

Higher SEO Ranking

Imagine your URLs as signposts leading search engines to your content. Optimized URLs, rich with relevant keywords and clear structure, act like bright, informative signs, making it easier for search engines to understand and rank your pages. 

Also, well-optimized URLs are essential for increased user experience on your website. The URLs are easy to remember and track by users.

This results in higher visibility in search results, pushing your content closer to eager readers.

increased-SERP-ranking

Photo by SmileStudioAP on iStock

Increased Click-Through Rate (CTR)

First impressions matter online, and usually, URLs are the first glimpse users get of your content. 

Think of them as headlines on tiny billboards. 

Descriptive, keyword-rich URLs pique curiosity and tell users exactly what they’ll find inside. This encourages clicks, leads more readers to your content, and boosts website traffic.

Keyword Relevance

Keywords are an essential aspect of your content. Using them strategically in your URLs helps to give context to your content and connect your web pages with relevant searches. 

This targeted approach tells search engines you speak the language users are searching for, further boosting your ranking potential.

Efficient Indexing

Search engines constantly crawl the web, indexing pages to create its searchable library. 

Optimized URLs with clear paths and file names act as helpful maps, guiding these crawlers directly to specific content on your website. 

Also, when your URLs are well-structured, they help create a logical hierarchy for your website, making it easier for users and search engines to understand its organization.

This faster and more efficient indexing ensures your pages are promptly indexed and shown in search results.

Canonicalization

Sometimes, the same content may be accessible through multiple URLs, confusing search engines and leaving them unsure which version to prioritize and rank. 

Canonicalization is an aspect of URL optimization that designates the preferred version of these similar URLs and helps search engines eliminate confusion. 

This process prevents duplicate content penalties and ensures your SEO efforts are focused on the right page(s).

Best practices for URL optimization

Here are some of the best practices you need if you want to have an optimized URL structure on your website:

1. Use keywords

As I stated, keywords are vital to your website content, and your URL is not excluded. 

To optimize your URL through the use of keywords, here are some points to note:

  • Strategically include relevant keywords.

Include keywords that accurately reflect the content of the page within the URL. This helps search engines understand the page’s topic and match it to relevant searches.

  • Place keywords early in the URL.

Position the most important keywords toward the beginning of the URL, as search engines tend to give more weight to words that appear earlier.

  • Avoid keyword stuffing.

Use keywords naturally and avoid excessive repetition. Stuffing too many keywords into the URL can appear spammy and may hurt your rankings.

2. Keep it short

One of the significant rules of URL optimization is to keep it short, readable, and memorable. 

Here’s how you can do these three:

  • Aim for conciseness.

Strive for URLs that are around 50-60 characters long. Shorter URLs are easier to read, remember, and share for users and search engines.

  • Focus on essential words.

Include only the most important keywords and remove unnecessary words or phrases.

  • Prioritize clarity over brevity.

While keeping URLs short is essential, don’t sacrifice clarity for length. Ensure the URL still accurately conveys the page’s content.

3. Use hyphens

When creating your URL, you need to separate the words so that they make sense to the person seeing it. Hence, using hyphens to separate the words is essential, making it more readable and easier for search engines to parse.

A mistake bloggers make when trying to separate words in their URLs is using an underscore. While underscores (_) are technically allowed, hyphens are generally preferred for readability and search engine optimization.

4. Avoid special characters

Special characters have no place in your optimized URL. 

Here are some rules to follow regarding these special characters:

  • Stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens.

Use only letters, numbers, and hyphens in your URLs. Avoid special characters like spaces, ampersands (&), question marks (?), exclamation points (!), or other symbols.

  • Ensure compatibility. 

Special characters can cause problems with encoding and compatibility across different browsers and systems.

  • Use lowercase letters.

Use lowercase letters for all URLs to maintain consistency and avoid potential errors.

5. Choose static over dynamic URLs when possible

Dynamic URLs contain variable parameters (e.g., “?id=123”) after a question mark. These URL structures are best when you have constantly changing content and are appropriate for e-commerce websites, forums, personalized content, etc.

These URLs can be less readable and more challenging to remember, so it is essential to use static URLs whenever possible.

Also, static URLs are fixed and unchanging and generally preferred for SEO purposes.

If your website currently uses dynamic URLs, consider restructuring them to create static URLs.

6. Set up URL Canonicalization

Nothing spoils SEO efforts faster than duplicate content, so it is crucial to set up URL canonicalization. 

Here are some quick tips for this:

  • Address duplicate content ASAP.

If the same content is accessible through multiple URLs (e.g., with or without trailing slashes, with different parameters), use canonical tags to indicate the preferred version to search engines.

  • Redirect old URLs.

If you change the structure of your URLs, set up 301 redirects to guide users and search engines to the new locations, preserving link equity and avoiding broken links.

7. Secure with HTTPS

Ensure your URL uses secure HTTPS.

Having an HTTPS protocol in your URL shows you have a secure site, which is essential for SEO because it has been known that search engines and even users prefer secured websites.

To carry out a URL optimization of your website’s links, ensure you:

  • Switch to HTTPS.

Migrate your website from HTTP to HTTPS to ensure secure server and browser communication. This protects sensitive information, builds user trust, and is a ranking signal for search engines like Google.

  • Obtain an SSL/TLS certificate.

Obtain a valid SSL/TLS certificate from a trusted certificate authority (CA) to enable HTTPS for your website.

  • Configure your server.

Set up your web server to use the certificate and redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS.

8. Reflect logical structure

Your URL structure must logically reflect your website’s architecture and hierarchy. Organize your URLs in a logical, hierarchical structure that reflects the website’s content and makes sense to the users.

If your URL is optimized correctly, a user should be able to tell the subdirectories on your website and trace specific directories using the URL.

9. Maintain consistency

Choose a consistent URL format and stick to it throughout your website.

For example, if you want your URLs in lowercase—which is best for SEO—all your website’s URLs must be lowercase.

Also, if you want to give your sub-directories a specific name, make it uniform across all URLs under that sub-directory.

10. Use breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are like trails that tell users where they are on your website and how to get back to where they came from.

Imagine looking at a page about running shoes on a sports website. The breadcrumbs might look like this:

Home > Products > Shoes > Running Shoes

This tells you that you’re currently on the Running Shoes page, located in the Shoes section, a part of the Products section, which can be found on the main Home page.

Implement breadcrumbs to improve navigation and provide additional context within the URL structure.

11. Test and monitor

Constantly check for broken links and 404 errors using tools like Google Search Console. 

You can also track the performance of your URLs in search results and user engagement metrics.

Based on the data and insights you will gather, you can make informed decisions and necessary adjustments to your website’s URL structure.

analytics-backend-testing-screen

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Conclusion

Remember, in the world of SEO, even the seemingly small details matter. By implementing the best practices for URL optimization in SEO that we’ve discussed, you’ll be on your way to creating search engine-friendly URLs and providing a seamless and user-friendly experience. 

So, optimize those URLs, and watch your website climb the ranks of search engine results! Your journey to SEO success starts with these simple yet powerful changes.

How thoroughly do you optimize your URLs?

READ ALSO: 8 free tips to optimize your blog posts for consistent SEO ranking

HOW TO GET GOOGLE FEATURED SNIPPET – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

by with No Comment Blog MarketingContent SEO

Imagine this: You’ve just typed a question into Google, and there, right at the top of the search results, is a concise, information-packed snippet that answers your query. It’s what you were looking for. 

Now, consider this—what if that Google snippet featured your content? 

Getting your website into that coveted featured snippet spot on Google is not just a dream; it’s a reality you can achieve. 

In this post, I’ll show you how to get Google featured snippet using content tips I’ve tried with exceptional results.

But first,

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What are featured snippets? 

According to Google, featured snippets are “answer boxes” that give a short, concise, and descriptive response relevant to a searcher’s query.

The featured snippet is often called position zero because it comes before the traditional first result, and the visual format is also different.

Unlike regular results shown on Google’s search result page, the link to the source page is displayed first before a snippet describing the page, but for posts that make it to the point zero spot, the standard format where the source page link is displayed first is followed.

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Photo by Ahref

Types of featured snippets

In learning how to get Google featured snippets, you first need to know the types of featured snippets so you know how to optimize your content for the different types.

There are five main types of featured snippets:

Definition/Paragraph Snippets

These snippets give simple definitions to words. They can also come as a paragraph snippet containing a short excerpt of the web page relevant to the searcher’s query.

Lists/How To Snippets

These snippets show a short list, such as steps in a process, ingredients in a recipe, or products in a category. These list snippets could be in an ordered or unordered form.

Table Snippets

These snippet types show relevant information in a tabular form for the searcher. It is often used for queries that require comparison or contrast.

Video Snippets

Video snippets are often shown for queries requiring demonstration or when Google concludes that a video format best represents the searcher’s intent. For this type of snippet, Google cuts a section of a YouTube video or any social media video that best answers the query and embeds it as part of the SERP for that query.

PAA Snippets

These are also accordion snippets, shown in the drop-down answer section of the PAA part of the SERP.

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Benefits of appearing in a featured snippet spot

I can’t possibly talk about how to get Google featured snippet without educating you on the benefits.

Here are some benefits of appearing in a featured snippet spot on Google’s search engine result page:

Increased visibility

Appearing in position zero of a search engine result page helps increase the visibility of your website. You can agree that a stage is the best way to get attention, which a featured snippet spot will earn you. 

You will draw attention to your website and content, and people who would not have seen you will have a chance to interact with your content.

Higher click-through rates (CTR)

A featured snippet spot will increase your organic click-through rates mainly because that spot earns your audience’s trust.

When your content appears as a featured snippet—even if you are not known as an authority figure in that niche—the chances of someone clicking on that particular result are higher than 50%.

There is this unsaid belief that if you can appear as the first result in a SERP, your content is top-tier, and whatever you say can be trusted.

Enhanced authority and credibility

When your organic click-through rate increases and you consistently focus on appearing in the featured snippet for niche-relevant queries, you will gain and, most importantly, retain the trust and credibility you have built.

Increased traffic

Appearing in the featured snippet spot will increase your organic CTR and traffic. You get to market your website to a larger audience, and because you took the stage position, you can draw people in.

Hand drawing Web Traffic graph concept with marker on transparent wipe board.
Photo by IvelinRadkov on iStock

Voice search ranking

One significant benefit of the featured snippet spot people don’t often talk about is the possibility of ranking for voice searches. 

The voice assistant often reads out voice search queries, and unlike regular searches, your voice assistant will not go through the SERP and load different web pages to get the answer. 

It will pick from the first result and read it to you as an answer. 

When you are in the featured snippet spot, chances are that the voice assistant will pick your web page, provided that the search results for voice searches use the same search algorithm as regular searches.

Increased SERP position

The more you rank for featured snippets, the more your SERP rankings increase. This is similar to how ranking on the first page helps to increase your visibility, domain authority, and trust.

When you are consistent with the quality of content you deliver to the extent of consistently ranking for featured snippets, Google begins to pay attention to your website as credible, reliable, and relevant.

Due to this, it starts to move your content higher in SERPs for other search queries/keywords.

How to get Google featured snippet for your content

Now that you have gained insight into how beneficial a featured snippet is, here is how to get Google featured snippets:

1. Identify featured snippet opportunities.

You can identify featured snippet opportunities by manually analyzing several keywords. This means you go on Google, type in your keywords list, and see if the SERP shows a featured snippet.

You can also use tools like Ahref or Semrush to help you technically identify featured snippet opportunities online.

I love how Samantha North broke down how she uses Ahref or Semrush to identify featured snippet opportunities she might be missing.

Here’s a breakdown of how to get Google featured snippet opportunities you might be missing out on using Ahref:

  • Identify all the keywords you are ranking for.
    • Go to your Ahref Site Explorer and type in your domain name.
    • Navigate to the ‘Organic Keyword Report’ to get a list of the keywords your site currently ranks for.
    • Click on the ‘SERP features’ filter and select the ‘featured snippet’ option.
    • Click ‘Apply’ to apply the filter to your results.

You will see a list of keywords you currently rank for, and a quote (‘’) sign before the URL indicates that the particular web page is now at position zero.

  • Identify your top 10 keywords.

This step aims to identify your ‘potential’ featured snippet post. It will be easier to get a featured snippet position for your blog posts already ranking on the first page of a SERP than to get a top position for a low-ranking post.

Here’s how you can do that on Ahref:

  • Go to your Site Explorer and type in your domain name.
  • Navigate to the ‘Organic Keywords’ Report to get a list of the keywords your site currently ranks for.
  • Click on the ‘position’ filter and enter ‘1-10.’ 
  • Click ‘Apply’ to apply the filter to your results.
  • Repeat 1 and 2 for your competitors.

Do the same processes for your competitor to compare the results with yours. If their top 10 results are different keywords from yours, you have a content gap you need to close up.

When you can identify their featured snippet post, navigate to the post and analyze the content to find something missing.

  • Create your superior content.

When you finish all the steps, try as much as possible to recreate a similar blog post with the added content.

2. Match user intent.

Understanding the user’s intent is crucial for featured snippet optimization because a featured snippet aims to get the correct answer to the searcher in record time.

Creating relevant content for the searcher will be challenging when you don’t understand the reasoning behind the search.

The way you can match the user intent with your content is to manually analyze the web pages in the featured snippet position as well as the top three results on the SERP. With these, you can meet the expectations of the searcher.

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Photo by FandagoSEO

3. Structure your content.

When creating or optimizing your content for a featured snippet, you must note the type of featured snippet you want to rank for and create your content accordingly.

For example, if the SERP for ‘top-rated movies’ has a table-featured snippet, you should include a table in your content. This means Google believes a table snippet is more beneficial than a list snippet for that particular keyword.

4. Optimize your content structure.

This step has helped me a lot when I tried to rank on the first page of Google, and it has also helped with my content.

Your content structure is crucial, and it will surprise you to discover that little changes like using the proper header tags or short paragraphs in your content can change the trajectory of your ranking.

Optimize your content structure before publishing. Here are some points to note in your content structure:

  • Use the proper header tags.
  • Use short paragraphs.
  • Include question-based keywords in your sub-headings.
  • Reduce your definitions to 45-60 words.
  • Always go straight to the point.
  • Use tables when you can.
  • Use the right heading tags for your listicles.
  • Start your answer with the question to keep context.
  • Use basic HTML tags to format your page.
  • Include keywords in your subheadings.
  • Include a list summary for your listicle posts.

5. Use schema markup.

Using schema markup or structured data can help improve your chances of ranking for featured snippets. Using schema data markup will help search engines understand your post’s content and context.

This can help boost your SERP rankings and position you for a featured snippet spot on Google.

According to AIOSEO, using FAQ, how-to, product, and recipe schema types gives you a higher chance of getting the featured snippet spot.

6. Improve page load speed.

Improving page load speed can help you get a featured snippet spot on Google because faster pages are more likely to be prioritized for featured snippets over slow-loading pages, giving you an advantage. 

Also, faster pages will provide a better user experience, which Google wants. 

Unhappy, sad senior man sitting at office desk with computer with gear icon and progress bar on monitor, holding head in despair, waiting for software update to install or new operating system to load
Photo by Lacheev on iStock

7. Build backlinks from relevant and reputable websites.

While backlinks might not directly impact the ranking for featured snippets, they play a crucial role in overall website SEO and authority. 

Building backlinks from reputable and relevant websites signals to Google that your content is trustworthy and authoritative, which can indirectly increase your chances of earning featured snippets.

Read SARMLife’s guide on link building to understand how to create a quality link profile for your website.

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Photo by Einstein Marketer

FINAL THOUGHTS

The quest for the featured snippet spot may take time and effort, but the rewards for increased visibility, traffic, and authority are worth every step. So, what are you waiting for?

With the right strategies and a commitment to optimizing your content, you can elevate your online presence and offer valuable solutions to your audience.

Are you ready to claim your spot at the top of Google? Start optimizing for featured snippets now!

READ ALSO: THE ULTIMATE PRO GUIDE TO SEO CONTENT WRITING – SARMLife

11 TOP TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR ORGANIC CLICK THROUGH RATE

by with One Comment Blog MarketingDigital Marketing

Are you tired of seeing your web pages buried beneath those of your competitors in search results? 

Do you wish your content could encourage more clicks and drive more organic traffic? 

There’s more to SEO than just being visible online. Let me share a quick story.

I recently did a thorough content analysis of all the blog posts I had on the website, and as much as I was proud of the impressions these posts were garnering, the organic click through rate was lower than I thought.

I noticed I had up to 2K weekly impressions and above on some of my posts but not even up to 10 organic clicks. My average CTR reflected this, making it as low as 0.1%.

Meanwhile, one of my posts had fewer impressions because it was a specific post with a streamlined keyword; however, the average CTR for that particular post was 50%.

At this point, the importance of increasing organic click-through rates struck me; it is the icing on the cake for all your SEO efforts.

It shows that not only is your content visible to those who need it, but they are also moved to click on it and listen to what you have to say.

organic click through rate

Now, I’m utilizing many tips to improve my organic click-through rate, and I daresay that the difference will be more evident in a few months.

In this blog post, I’ll be your guide, sharing a treasure trove of top-notch tips I have used and am currently using to help boost my organic click-through rate (CTR). 

Whether you’re a seasoned SEO professional or just starting your SEO journey, these strategies will help you stand out, captivate your audience, and increase your organic CTR.

What is a click through rate?

A click-through rate is the percentage of the number of people who click on a specific link compared to the number of impressions the link has.

For example, if your post has 1,000 impressions and the number of people who clicked on it is 50, the CTR will be calculated using this formula:

(Clicks ÷ Impressions) × 100

Your CTR = 5%

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What is an organic click through rate?

The difference between your general CTR and your organic CTR is that the organic CTR is based only on organic clicks—clicks that appear organically without any form of paid advertisement.

If 25 of the 50 clicks you received from the example above came from a paid ad, your organic click through rate would be based on the 25 organic clicks over the number of organic impressions.

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Organic click through rate and search engine rankings

There have been some noticeable correlations between search engine rankings and organic click-through rates.

Here’s a breakdown of the organic CTR of different SERP positions according to KeyStar:

  • Google Ad Position #1 – 2.1% CTR
  • Google Ad Position #2 – 1.6% CTR
  • #1 Organic Position – 39.6% CTR
  • #2 Organic Position –  18.4% CTR
  • #3 Organic Position – 10.1% CTR
  • #4 Organic Position –  7.6% CTR

This shows that improving your organic search engine ranking will directly affect your organic click through rates.

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Why do click through rates matter?

There are different reasons why you should work on improving your organic click-through rates for all your blog posts. Whether you do paid advertising or just focus on organic traffic, CTR cuts across both SEO strategies.

Here are some reasons click through rates matter:

A. For organic searches

Indicates relevance and usefulness 

If your web page has a high organic click through rate, it shows your website appears in search results for relevant keywords. It also reflects that your headline and meta description effectively convey the value of your content to your users.

Drives traffic to your website 

The ultimate goal of SEO is to drive traffic to your website. A high organic click through rate means that more people are clicking on your website in search results, which can lead to more conversions and sales.

Helps you understand user intent 

By analyzing your organic CTR for different keywords and comparing it to the CTR of your competitors for the same keyword, you can gain insight into what your users are searching for and how well your website addresses their needs.

B. For paid advertisements

Measures ad performance 

CTR can be used to track the effectiveness of your advertising campaigns. A high CTR indicates that your ads are relevant and engaging to your target audience, while a low CTR suggests that your ads need improvement.

Impacts cost-per-click (CPC) 

Ad platforms like Google Ads often use an auction system to determine which ads are shown and how much advertisers pay for each click. A higher CTR can lead to a lower CPC, as advertisers are willing to pay more for ads that are more likely to generate clicks.

Improved ad rank 

Specific advertising platforms factor click through rates into their ad ranking algorithms. This means that paid ads with a higher CTR are more likely to appear at the top of search results, which can lead to even more clicks.

Factors that can affect your click through rate

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Here are some factors that can affect your click through rate:

  • Your ranking position

As discussed earlier, there is a close relationship between your search engine rankings and click-through rates. Higher-ranking results generally have a higher CTR based on research.

  • The quality of your headline and meta description

Your headline is the first piece of text that a visitor sees. If you have a captivating headline, it increases the chances of someone clicking on your link. 

Also, your meta description—the snippet of text under your website title in search results—should be enticing enough to encourage users to click.

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

  • The presence of rich snippets

Rich snippets are enhanced results that may include additional information, such as star ratings or images. These can make your result stand out and increase its organic click through rate.

  • The search intent

If your website’s keyword and content do not match the user’s search intent, they are less likely to click on it. Hence, knowing and matching users’ search intent for all your content is important.

  • The competitiveness of the keyword

If you rank for a highly competitive keyword, achieving a high organic click through rate will be more difficult because of the increased competition. 

However, with effective on-page and off-page SEO optimization, you can rank high and increase your organic click-through rate.

How to improve your organic click through rate

Here are some of the best tips you can use to increase your organic click through rate for your website:

1. Craft catchy titles and meta descriptions.

Your title and meta description are users’ first impressions of your website in search results. Make them count! 

Craft titles relevant to your target keyword, informative, and compelling. Use strong verbs and action words to encourage users to click. Your titles can also incorporate power words, specific keywords, and a sense of urgency. 

Words like “best,” “ultimate,” “secrets,” or “free” can pique user interest and entice them to click.

Similarly, your meta description should concisely summarize your content, addressing the user’s search query and highlighting what your content entails.

READ MORE: KEYWORD OPTIMIZATION IN SEO: 6 UNIQUE WAYS RANK HIGH

2. Match content to user queries.

Understanding user intent is vital for a high organic click through rate. Analyze your target keywords and ensure your content addresses the questions and information users seek. 

You can match your content to users’ queries by analyzing the top search results using your competitors’ keywords. The top results in the SERP are web pages matching the keywords’ intent.

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3. Use rich snippets for visibility.

Rich snippets are enhanced search results that often include additional information like star ratings, reviews, or images. 

Implementing these to your posts makes your listing more visually appealing and provides more information to users at a glance, potentially increasing the likelihood of them clicking on your website.

4. Create valuable, high-quality content.

Content is king, and it’s even truer for organic click through rate. Invest in creating valuable, high-quality content that genuinely benefits your target audience. 

Offer insightful analysis and unique perspectives, share experiences and practical solutions to the users’ problems. Ensure your content is well-written, informative, and engaging to keep users hooked and encourage them to keep reading.

Also, quality content increases your search engine rankings, and this increase will directly affect your organic click through rate.

5. Make your site mobile-friendly.

Mobile-friendliness is a crucial aspect of improving the organic click through rate. Not only will it help give a good user experience, but it will also help you rank higher in search engine result pages.

With their mobile-first algorithm update, Google favors websites optimized for mobile devices.

Also, users expect websites to load quickly and function flawlessly on mobile devices.

A slow or non-mobile-friendly website will frustrate users and negatively impact your CTR. 

Optimize your website for speed and ensure it has a responsive design that adapts seamlessly to any device.

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6. Add schema markup for better results.

Schema markup is a code snippet embedded in your website that provides search engines with additional information about your content. 

It allows search engines to understand the content of your web page and display richer results, including star ratings, product images, or event details. Enriched results stand out in search listings, grabbing user attention and boosting click-through rates.

7. Optimize images for click-worthiness.

Images are powerful visual elements that can significantly impact click-through rates. With the development and popularity of Google Image Search, you can get organic clicks from the image search pages.

Choose high-quality, relevant images that are visually appealing and accurately represent your content. Optimize image filenames and alt tags with relevant keywords to improve search visibility and entice users to click.

READ MORE: HOW TO DO IMAGE SEO OPTIMIZATION | THE COMPLETE GUIDE

8. Incorporate FAQs to enhance visibility.

Integrating frequently asked questions (FAQs) into your content offers several benefits. 

It directly and promptly addresses user queries, enhancing their search experience. 

Also, Google recognizes FAQs and displays them in rich snippets, elevating your website’s visibility in search results. 

This prominent placement attracts user attention and increases the likelihood of getting organic clicks.

9. Observe industry trends and competitors.

To stay ahead of the game, you must keep up with the latest developments in your industry and the tactics used by your competitors. 

Examine their titles, meta descriptions, social media interactions, and content on their website to find strategies that work well and that you can implement. 

Stay updated on newly updated algorithms and user behavior trends to modify your content appropriately.

READ MORE: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GOOGLE ALGORITHM – SARMLife

10. Encourage social sharing of your content.

Social media provides an effective platform for increasing your content’s visibility and organic traffic. 

Integrate social sharing buttons on your website and content to encourage readers to share with their networks. 

Additionally, engage actively with your social media followers by responding to comments and questions, fostering a sense of community and driving further engagement.

11. Regularly update and refresh old content.

Search engines prefer relevant, up-to-date content. 

Updating your previous content with fresh data, figures, and analysis shows how valuable and current it is. This raises the ranking and visibility of your content by encouraging search engines to recrawl and reindex it. 

Consider repurposing existing content into new formats, such as videos or infographics, to engage new audiences and attract new visitors.

SARMLife - Best SEO Company | Jacksonville, Florida
Photo by webphotographeer on iStock

FINAL THOUGHTS

With these expert tips in your toolkit, you can transform your online visibility and make every click count. 

Remember that patience and persistence are key as you embark on this journey to enhance your organic click-through rate. Track your progress, adapt your strategies, and watch your website ascend the search ranks. 

Your audience is out there waiting to discover your valuable content. So, implement these top tips and unleash the true potential of your online presence. Your journey to a higher organic click-through rate begins now!

Start implementing these top tips today to boost your organic click-through rate.

READ ALSO: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GOOGLE ALGORITHM – SARMLife

15 TOP LANDING PAGE OPTIMIZATION BEST PRACTICES YOU NEED

by with No Comment Content SEO

Landing page optimization (LPO) is the process of improving the performance of your landing page(s). This can increase conversions, such as people making purchases or signing up for your newsletters. 

You can follow several best practices to optimize your landing pages, and this post simplifies them.

Before delving into landing page optimization, you should understand that you can have more than one landing page on your website.

The idea of a landing page is that the page serves a particular purpose (like a lead magnet).

Hence, you can have a landing page focused on people signing up for your newsletter, another landing page for selling one of your courses, and another for scheduling a meeting with you.

No matter how many landing pages you have, the intent remains lead generation.

Landing page optimization best practices for 2024

What is landing page optimization (LPO)?

Landing page optimization involves improving your landing pages to achieve specific conversion goals that align with your overall marketing goals, such as increasing leads, sales, sign-ups, or downloads.

Landing page optimization is all about optimizing your landing pages for users and search engines. It involves optimizing everything from your designs to the functionalities of these landing pages.

Landing Page Optimization on Modern Illustation. with Green Arrow and Hand Drawn Icons Around. Landing Page Optimization Drawn on White Brick Wall. Illustration with Doodle Design Icons. 3D.
Photo by Tashatuvango on iStock

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Why is landing page optimization important?

Landing page optimization is vital because it helps make your marketing efforts effective. 

Here’s a breakdown of how this happens:

1. Higher conversions

Landing page optimization (LPO) is crucial for driving higher conversion rates. Your website visits can become valuable leads and customers when your landing pages are optimized, ultimately increasing your overall success.

2. Improved ROI

When you optimize your landing pages for conversion, the results are directly proportional to your increased return on investment (ROI) for your marketing campaigns. 

By increasing your conversion rates with landing page optimization, you get more out of the money you spend on advertising, social media, and other marketing efforts.

3. Cost-efficiency

Landing page optimization is a cost-effective way to improve your website’s performance. Compared to investing in expensive paid advertising campaigns, LPO helps you achieve better results by optimizing what you already have. 

You can get better financial outcomes by focusing on your existing traffic, creating lead magnets tailored to your traffic profile, and maximizing its potential.

4. Competitive advantage

Only a few people focus on or give enough attention to landing page optimization. Therefore, improving your landing pages can give you the distinct advantage you need to stand out.

5. Enhanced user engagement

A well-optimized landing page is designed to engage users and keep them interested in your offers. 

Clear messaging, enticing visuals, and relevant content can contribute to a positive and engaging experience that will encourage your visitors to explore further and take the desired actions.

3D illustration of pc keyboard with the text Engagement on a key
Photo by hafakot on iStock

6. Tracking campaigns

LPO allows you to track the performance of your marketing campaigns with greater accuracy. 

By analyzing your users’ behavior on each of your landing pages, you can identify the exact campaigns driving the most conversions and optimize your efforts accordingly.

7. Specificity

Unlike your other generic website pages, landing pages are designed for a specific purpose and target audience. 

This enables you to precisely tailor the messages and offers on the landing page to the needs and interests of your visitors, resulting in higher relevance and, ultimately, higher conversion rates. 

Landing page optimization best practices

Here are some of the best practices for landing page optimization you can use:

1. Create a clear and concise message.

Your landing page must have a clear and concise message that immediately communicates the value proposition to the visitor.

Ensure your visitors know what you want them to know, see, or do. The landing page’s purpose should be clear and concise.

2. Use strong visuals.

Of course, we all know that the key to human attention is to captivate, and what better way to do this than with good visuals? 

Visuals are practical tools for capturing attention, communicating information quickly, and increasing the emotional impact of your message. 

Use high-quality images, videos, and infographics relevant to your offer and appeal to your target audience. Also, avoid using stock photos or generic visuals that lack personality.

3. Write compelling copy.

Your landing page should have compelling sales copy, mainly if the page aims to sell.

Write concise copy that speaks directly to your target audience’s needs and desires. 

Use strong verbs and powerful language to highlight the value of your offer. Also, focus on your product or service’s benefits and how they can solve your audience’s problems.

4. Use a solid call to action (CTA). 

Tell your visitors exactly what you want them to do next. Use clear, concise, and action-oriented language for your call-to-action buttons. 

A clear and compelling CTA tells the visitor what to do, whether signing up, purchasing, or downloading something.

Make your CTAs prominent and visually appealing, and place them strategically throughout your landing page.

You also need to make your CTA very compelling to increase the likelihood of the visitor signing up.

5. Test and optimize.

Don’t assume you’ve created the perfect landing page on the first try. Test and optimize everything on your landing page. 

Compare various landing page versions using A/B testing to determine which works better. 

Test different headlines, images, CTAs, and copy variations to find the combination that drives the most conversions.

A/B TEST Laptop on table man work test
Photo by juststock on iStock

6. Use relevant keywords.

Use relevant keywords throughout your landing page content, including the title, headings, and body text. 

This increases the amount of organic traffic and possible conversions to your page by helping search engines understand your content better and rank it higher in search results.

7. Make your landing page mobile-friendly.

The number of people using mobile devices to access the internet is increasing. 

Ensuring your landing page loads quickly and displays properly across all platforms, including tablets and smartphones, is essential. 

A mobile-friendly landing page offers all the benefits that mobile-friendliness gives a website.

A responsive design on your landing page is vital to providing a seamless and user-friendly experience for all visitors, regardless of how they access your page.

8. Use social proof. 

Use case studies, testimonials, and other social proofs to build credibility and trust with prospective customers. 

Showcase positive customer experiences and highlight the benefits others have achieved by using your product or service. 

Social proof can significantly increase conversion rates by promoting inclusivity and reducing doubts.

9. Limit distractions.

If your landing page has many distracting elements, the visitor might get confused about its primary purpose, or they will be distracted and forget what they came to the page to do.

Keep your landing page simple and free of irrelevant elements to avoid diverting visitors’ attention from the primary message and call to action. 

Instead, focus on providing a clear and focused experience that guides visitors toward taking the desired action.

10. Use a landing page builder.

If you want to create and manage landing pages, consider using a builder.  

These tools offer a user-friendly interface, drag-and-drop functionality, and various pre-designed templates to help you build high-converting landing pages without extensive coding knowledge.

This is a better option, especially for a beginner, because it provides an optimized template you can customize.

Check out Zapier’s list of landing page builders you can use.

11. Optimize for speed.

A website’s user experience and conversion rates greatly depend on its speed. Ensure your landing page loads on all devices quickly and effectively. This will prevent visitors from getting frustrated and abandoning your page before taking action.

Loading webpage progress bar, slow internet connection concept
Photo by anyaberkut on iStock

12. Include a lead magnet.

You can include a lead magnet on your landing page to encourage visitors to take your desired action.

For example, you can promise to give them a free ebook if they sign up for your upcoming webinar or offer a free 5-minute consultation if they make a particular sale.

13. Write compelling headlines.

Your headline is the first thing people will see, so make it count. 

Create a headline that catches readers’ attention, piques their interest, and conveys your offer’s value. 

14. Build links to your landing pages.

While optimizing your landing page is crucial, please pay attention to the importance of building links to it. 

Building links to your page increases its visibility and conversion potential by bringing in more targeted traffic. 

You can build links to your landing pages by creating high-quality content, guest blogging on relevant websites, collaborating with partners, promoting on social media, and considering targeted advertising to increase visibility and reach.

14. Don’t forget your ‘Thank you’ page.

The “Thank you” page is sometimes disregarded, but it promotes continued engagement and positive brand perception.  

Express gratitude, provide confirmation, offer next steps, personalize the message, and ensure mobile-friendliness. 

Optimizing your ‘Thank you’ page can turn a one-time interaction into a long-lasting business relationship.

Landing page written in a notebook. SEO concept.
Photo by designer491 on iStock

FINAL THOUGHTS

Any marketing strategy must include landing page optimization. You can make landing pages that are more effective and assist you in reaching your business objectives by following the best practices described in this blog post.

If you are serious about increasing your conversions, you should implement these practices on your landing pages today.

How optimized is your landing page on a scale of 1-10?

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

Actionable-SEO-resolutions-for-2026

9 Detailed SEO Resolutions for 2026: Staying Relevant Online

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.

With AEO, GEO and LLMs changing the way search is being done, you have to tighten your belt to ensure you stay relevant in the coming months.

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 2026 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 2026 because, let’s face it, the digital landscape keeps evolving faster than my morning tea cools down.

new-year-seo-resolutions

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

9 Clear and Actionable SEO Resolutions for 2026

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 2026:

  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. Optimize for Generative Engines
    • Goal: Optimize content for generattive engines like Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude AI, etc.
    • Action Steps: Create a brand entity framework, carry out competitive analysis, leverage UGC, manage online reviews, carry out AI visibility prompt research, optimize your web pages for relevant keywords, align online brand information across all platforms, create structured and detailed blog posts, and track changes.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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-resolutions

Photo by Stephen Phillips – Hostreviews.co.uk on Unsplash

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 2026 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, engaging and overall five-star content.

five-star-quality-content

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

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.

It’s no story that AI models now give preferences to websites that are able to cover topics in detail. Creating quality content will position you as an authority in your niche thereby increasing your topical authority. This makes LLMs love you and you can start seeing your content being referenced across Chatbots.

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.

vieo-creation
Photo by Detail .co on Unsplash

5. Harness the Power of Video:

Video content is all the rage, and it’s not slowing down. This year, one of your SEO resolutions has ro be incorporating 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.

LLMs aren’t just about retrieving information from written content alone. They go across platforms and utilize information from video content as well. With Google limiting LLMs access to their SERPs, your videos can become a source of information.

However, as you create these videos, ensure that you attach necessary information like having a keyword-rich title, a detailed description with timestamps, transcripts and captions, relevant tags and categories, attractive thumbnails, decriptive file name, etc.

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.

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.

HARO-homepage

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.

backend-analytics

Photo by Myriam Jessier on Unsplash

Here are websites to check for monitoring analytics

So, there you have it – your SEO resolutions for 2026.

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.

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

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.

Black Chalkboard with Handwritten Business Concept - Keywords Optimization - on Black Office Desk and Other Office Supplies Around. Top View. 3d Rendering. Toned Image.
Photo by Tashatuvango on iStock

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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Photo by Contentwriters.com 

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.

RELATED POSTS:

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.

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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.

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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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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
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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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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
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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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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. 
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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.

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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