Did you know that Google processes 40,000 searches a second?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) takes advantage of this search engine traffic.
Any business owner can implement SEO to improve online visibility and drive visitors to their site. An effective SEO campaign can even boost conversions and profit margins! It’s possible to tackle SEO yourself or hire a professional. If you’re ready for an optimization campaign but are strapped for cash, have no fear. In this post, we discuss affordable SEO services. With these tips in mind, you can draw visitors to your site at little to no cost. Read on for some insight!
1. Improve On-Page SEO
Google assesses multiple factors when ranking content. One of the most foundational ranking factors is your site’s on-page SEO. This refers to the actual optimization of individual pages, designed to help content rank highly in the SERPs. This nuts-and-bolts aspect of SEO is essential for any optimization campaign. What’s more, you can do it without spending a penny.
Refer to Google’s SEO Starter Guide as you improve your on-page SEO.
In the meantime, be sure you’re following best practices for on-page SEO. These include knitting keywords into page titles, which should be concise and informative. Write snappy page descriptions that also incorporate keywords. Make sure you are creating URLs for pages that are readable and summarize what each page is about. Lastly, be careful of overstuffing keywords into your content. Search terms should appear naturally throughout every page. It’s also wise to have your keywords appear at least once in a page’s intro, conclusion, and secondary headers.
2. Implement Responsive Web Design
Google will soon be implementing mobile-first indexing. This means it will look at the mobile version of sites when ranking content. This change has everything to do with the number of mobile users out there. Studies indicate that at least 77% of American adults have a smartphone. If you aren’t catering to your mobile audience, you may be missing out on valuable traffic. Make sure your site has a responsive design. This means your content will be flexible, adapting to fit any screen size. Responsively designed websites can be accessed and enjoyed from any device, without sacrificing on resolution or quality. Your site may already have a responsive design. If not, it’s often free and easy to implement with a simple plugin.
3. Create the Right Content
Content really is everything when it comes to SEO. In its guidelines for creating a Google-friendly site, Google emphasizes the importance of valuable content. Specifically, it tells site owners to give customers the information they are seeking. What does this mean? The actual quality of your content can influence rankings! Make sure you are creating the right content. The right content is to the point. It is also well-organized, well-written, and designed with visitors in mind. What’s more, if you are publishing regular articles, watch your length.
Most high-ranking posts are longer than 500 words. In fact, many push 2,000 words. Consider starting a blog on your website. Create relevant content your visitors are likely to be interested in and make sure your posts are long-form (rather than short-form). You can generate your own valuable content in-house and often only at the cost of your own time. It’s also possible to hire a freelance blogger or content developer at a budget-friendly price.
4. Boost Loading Speeds
One of the biggest things holding business owners back from high Google rankings is page speed. Avoid the SEO mistake of a slow-loading site by ensuring your content is loading lightning fast. Google prioritizes user experience when ranking sites. Most users aren’t likely to wait around for a site to load. In fact, if your site takes longer than three seconds to load its content, you may be sending visitors away before they get to a landing page.
How can you boost page-loading speed? Start with your web host. You may be able to upgrade existing hosting services to guarantee faster speeds. This is especially the case if you are currently using shared hosting. If you have built your site on a platform like WordPress, make sure you’re compressing your images and content before going live. This can enable easier (and faster) loading. You can compress images and content by using a simple (and free) plugin! Most importantly, keep tabs on your site’s loading speed. Google Analytics can provide this information for free.
5. Use Local SEO
If you operate a local business of any kind, be sure you are implementing local SEO. Local SEO involves optimizing your content for location-based keywords. For example, you may use keywords like “boutique clothing store in Los Angeles” or “best Pennsylvania car insurance” to optimize your site. Prospective customers searching for these terms will thus be more likely to find your site and your services.
An effective local SEO campaign should involve some serious keyword research. You can use a tool like Google’s Keyword Planner to do this. It should also involve online review management. This means registering your business with Google My Business. Doing so creates a Google listing, a small virtual card that appears to the right of search results. Listings provide specific information about hours, contact details, and services. They also enable Google reviews. Reviews are powerful when it comes to driving site traffic and leveraging SEO. Be sure to register with other platforms like Yelp or Trip Advisor for this reason.
Affordable SEO Services
It is possible to implement SEO on a budget, no matter your industry. Make sure your on-page SEO is meeting Google’s standards. Incorporate local SEO if you operate a community-based business. Don’t forget about page loading speeds, which are essential to Google rankings. The same goes for mobile-friendly elements of your site. Generate consistent, high-quality content. When in doubt, write articles that are long-form, rather than short-form. All of these tips are either cost-free or inexpensive additions to your existing digital marketing efforts.
Still looking for affordable SEO services? We can help. Learn more about our cost-effective SEO services by starting a conversation with us now!