There’s no doubt about it: search engine optimization is an essential element to any digital marketing strategy.
While a lot has changed over the last year or so, the need for SEO hasn’t.
But that doesn’t mean you should be using the same tactics and approaches that you did several years ago – nor does it mean that you can simply figure out your SEO as you go.
Because SEO is so complex, mistakes can easily be made. If you want your business to thrive in 2021, you’ll need to prioritize the following essentials.
Follow Google’s Best Practices
With each passing year, Google has improved its ability to provide valuable results to internet users.
That means Google has also gotten better at spotting attempts to cheat the system.
While you might have once achieved success by acquiring spammy backlinks or engaging in keyword stuffing, Google now recognizes that those tactics are underhanded.
If you get caught using them, your site could be penalized. In some cases, it might not appear in search results at all!
That’s why you’ll want to familiarize yourself with Google’s most recent best practices. While the company doesn’t always say outright what’s allowed and what’s not, you can find a wealth of information that will give you a general idea of what not to do.
Google’s biggest concern is to provide relevant and high-quality solutions to web users. If your goals are aligned with Google’s and you follow the playbook (so to speak), you shouldn’t have any issues.
Design Your Site For Mobile Users
Mobile users are more important than ever before. In fact, mobile traffic now makes up more than half of all web traffic on the internet.
If your website provides a poor user experience for mobile users, you’ll have trouble improving your rankings or generating traffic.
Since Google indexes the mobile versions of website pages first, having non-responsive website design could really hurt your brand perception and search position.
In addition, mobile users are typically the most likely to make immediate purchases and to look for results nearby. By failing to appeal to these customers, you’ll miss out on revenue-generating opportunities.
If your site hasn’t been redesigned in several years, it’s time to take a closer look. Run a mobile-friendly test or audit to determine what needs to be fixed and meet with a designer who can improve the customer experience across all devices.
Then, you can optimize your site specifically for mobile users by adding location-centric keywords, writing conversational content, and answering FAQs (which are often pulled into search results when voice search technology is used).
Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Out Help
As a business owner, it’s understandable that you might want to handle everything yourself.
You probably wear a number of different hats already – so what’s one more?
The problem is that SEO is notoriously complex and is ever-changing.
That makes it incredibly difficult for business owners to keep up.
Whether you have a working knowledge of digital marketing principles or you’re completely starting from scratch, it’s going to take substantial time and effort to execute an effective SEO strategy. And when you’re tasked with running a business, it’s no wonder that SEO often goes on the back burner.
Unfortunately, that means you might be inclined to believe SEO simply doesn’t work. But it won’t work if you don’t put the work in.
SEO is one of the most cost-effective ways to generate leads for your business and boost brand awareness. So it’s crucial that you prioritize this area of your marketing strategy.
But what if you’re unable or unwilling to take on that burden yourself?
Luckily, you don’t have to DIY. You can hire additional staff, outsource from a freelancer, or work with a white label reseller to make sure your business gets the attention it deserves.
The past year has been difficult enough for so many business owners. You shouldn’t have to add this massive dish to your already overflowing plate.
You can always add to your SEO knowledge, of course – and that will only make your business stronger. But you don’t have to struggle (and risk making a costly mistake!) in order to promote your business online.
You deserve to have a comprehensive SEO strategy that will help you reach your goals. And in order to do that, you may need a bit of extra help.
Instead of feeling discouraged about that, you can strengthen your business’s ability to compete due to the expertise that these professionals will bring to the table.
To ensure your SEO succeeds in 2021, think beyond DIY and don’t be afraid to seek outside assistance to make your strategy the best it can be.
While there are always new advancements being made in the world of SEO, these three essentials can guide your strategy throughout 2021. With these tips in mind, you’ll have a better idea of where your focus should be and how you can more effectively reach your customers online.
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