Complete SEO Guide for Businesses: Strategies and Advanced Techniques
Did you know that 53% of all website traffic comes from organic search? This means it’s ahead of paid search, social, and direct traffic, making it the largest traffic source. But how do you appear at the top of search results? How do you increase your ROI, generate leads, or establish authority?
This guide delves into how to improve business SEO, why it’s so important, the best SEO tools, and the secrets to successful marketing.
Table of Contents
Seo Guide For Businesses
Websites that rank first on Google get almost a third of the clicks. But what does that mean? The higher you rank, the more clicks you get. This not only creates visibility but it also builds credibility and ensures that you reach the right target audience - all essential for the success of a business. Think about it: when you search for something on Google, who do you trust? Is it the first few results, or is it the 20th? As much as 75% of users don’t scroll past the first page of Google’s search results. Without SEO, it’s like opening a new store in a busy city, but you don’t tell anyone where it is or what you sell. Paid aid advertising’s results are quick, and often robust, however, if you are interested in the long game, or essentially, relationatiop building, and organic trafic individuals or companies can benefit more from a good content marketing strategy!
MotherTyperWhat is SEO and Why is it Important?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) makes content more digestible for search engines. It can boost leads and increase ROI for businesses. The great thing about this approach is that you don’t have to pay for visibility like SEM (Search Engine Marketing).
Without SEO, it’s like opening a new store in a busy city, but you don’t tell anyone where it is or what you sell.
How to Boost SEO: On-Page vs. Off-Page
Increasing organic traffic depends on two key factors: on-page SEO and off-page SEO. Both are important for improving visibility but focus on different aspects of optimization.
On-page SEO refers to what you can directly control on your website, such as keywords, structure, meta description, title tags, URLs, internal linking, and technical SEO. This increases your visibility and ranking in SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages).
1. Keyword Research
This is the process of searching for words and phrases that potential customers are using. It has to be related to your business! Each of them should be placed strategically in your content.
Here’s how to keyword research for businesses in 6 easy steps:
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Brainstorm
Start by asking questions like what do you offer and what problems do you solve. This helps to identify broad keywords. Remember to consider your target audience’s age, region, interests, and needs. -
Utilize Tools
Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush are some of the most popular for keyword research. They show a term’s search volume (how often it was searched) and competition (how many others are using the same keyword). -
Analyze Search Intent
This will help guide the type of content you create (informational, transactional, or navigational). -
Identify Long-Tail Keywords
These keywords usually consist of three or more words and are more specific (“best vegan protein powder for weight loss”). Although the competition is low, the conversion rates are higher! They are great for targeting niche audiences. -
Assess Competitors
Looking at the keywords your competitors are ranking for can give you an idea of what is working in your industry. This is also a great opportunity to look for gaps! -
Prioritize Keywords
Decide which keywords to target first based on search volume, competition, and relevance. A great strategy is to combine highly competitive keywords with easier-to-rank long-tail keywords.
2. Content Optimization
Do you have a list of your keywords ready? Now, you can make your content attractive to search engines and users.
Here are some tips that a search engine optimation agency would recommend:
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Organic Keywords
Integrate keywords naturally by including them in headers, meta descriptions, titles, and other text without imposing them. -
Engaging Headlines
Use attention-grabbing titles that employ keywords and persuade people to click. -
Use Headings and Subheaders
Clear headings (H1, H2, H3) make content easier for people and search engines to read. When appropriate, use pertinent keywords. -
Content-Length
Although there’s no magic number, longer content, such as pieces over 1,000 words, has been shown to perform better [Backlino]. -
Optimize Images
Use descriptive file names and alt text to make images searchable.
3. Title Tags
Title tags are one of the most important elements of on-page SEO, as they tell search engines and users what the page is about. But don’t get title tags and page titles confused!
| Information | Title Tags | Page Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Example | How to Start a Successful Business – Proven Tips & Strategies | Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Own Successful Business |
| What it is | It’s the HMTL element that defines what the webpage is about. | This is the main heading and is usually marked as an H1 tag. |
| Where it’s seen | This appears in the search engine results and the browser tab. | At the very top of the actual webpage. |
| Length | 50-60 characters | It can be longer than the title tag. |
| Purpose | It helps search engines understand what the page is about. | It helps users understand what the page is about when they land on it. |
4. Meta Descriptions
Meta descriptions primarily drive clicks. Strong meta descriptions can increase your click-through rate (CTR), even if they are not a direct ranking factor. Make sure they are concise but informative, and limit them to 160 characters for optimal use.
5. URLs
URLs should be concise but descriptive and have hyphens to separate words (Google reads this as a space). Other important factors include integrating relevant keywords, avoiding unnecessary words, using lowercase letters, and avoiding numbers or special characters.
6. Internal Linking
This on-page SEO technique refers to linking one page of your website to another page on the same website. This improves navigation, which is also essential when it comes to SEO. But there are more benefits to internal linking than you think! They can also help pass link equity (value passed through links), increase page views, and lead to higher conversion rates. When done right, it can also create a logical structure for your website.
The best practices of internal linking include the following:
- Using descriptive anchor text when linking. This means that the text has to clearly describe the page that is linked.
- Linking needs to be relevant! The way you’re adding value to the reader and improving SEO.
- Sticking to a reasonable number of links. Too many links can do two things: overwhelm the reader and dilute the link equity.
- Ensuring all internal links are functional. This is important because you can negatively affect both the user’s experience and SEO. They make it hard for crawlers to crawl the site, often resulting in dead ends [Stan Ventures].
7. Technical SEO
This process involves working on the website’s infrastructure to meet certain requirements like crawlability, indexibility, and overall search rankings. The best approach is to work off a technical SEO checklist. This keeps the information organized and ensures no critical elements are overlooked.
SEO Marketing Services
Think of it as building a website’s reputation and authority outside your site. This does not involve working on the visuals or other SEO elements.
1. Backlink Building
Backlinking involves acquiring hyperlinks or inbound links from other websites that lead to your website. This can give businesses a vote of confidence as it signals to search engines that your content is trustworthy, authoritative, and valuable. Google actually placed backlinking among the top 3 ranking factors [Ahrefs]. But this all depends on three things: how reputable the sources are, how relevant they are, and whether the clickable text describes the linked page accurately.
Here are some link building strategies:
- Write guest posts for authoritative websites in your industry for a backlink.
- Build broken links.
- Create content that outperforms the top-ranking pieces.
- Promote content on social media platforms.
- Track mentions of your brand without links and request that they add one.
2. Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing (SMM) involves promoting your brand, engaging with your audience, and driving website traffic. These platforms typically include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, and Pinterest. This doesn’t directly affect SEO rankings, but it can increase brand visibility and referral traffic.
3. Guest Blogging
This off-page SEO technique involves writing content and publishing articles on other websites that are in the same industry or niche. This is mutually beneficial as the host gains quality content, and you get exposure, authority, and valuable backlinks.
4. Influencer Outreach
Influencer outreach involves working with influential figures in your industry or niche. These influencers have established credibility and followers, meaning that they can be a powerful tool for your businesses. It can amplify your message and even drive traffic!
5. Forum Participation
Forum participation is about engaging with online communities or discussion boards like Quora and Reddit. This technique is often overlooked, but it can be highly effective! Adding valuable insights, answering questions, and sharing expertise can build authority in your needs and subtly promote your website.
6. Directory Submissions
Listing your website in trusted and industry-relevant directories can result in more visibility and credibility. While some directories have become outdated, they still provide valuable backlinks and drive target traffic to your site.
| General Business Directories | Industry-Specific Directories | Local Directories | Niche and Specialized Directories | General Web Directories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google My Business | Avvo | Local.com | Dribble | DMOZ |
| Yelp | Healthgrades | Chamber of Commerce Directories | GitHub | Hotfrog |
7. Content Promotion
Content promotion ensures that your content reaches the right audience, drives traffic, and generates leads. This can be done through leveraging social media, repurposing old content, paid ads, or email campaigns.
The following statistics highlight the effect of each of these:
- Users typically spend 2 hours a day on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which provide ample opportunities for engagement. More than 90% of marketers say social media is crucial for businesses [HubSpot].
- Repurposing content into infographics has been shown to boost traffic by up to 12% [Demand Gen Report]. This format is also 30 times more likely to be read than plain text!
- Paid ads have shown significant returns. Facebook, for instance, has shown a conversion rate of 9.21% across industries [Dashthis].
8. Brand Mentions
Brand mentions are the modern-day word-of-mouth marketing. Every time your brand is mentioned online, whether in a blog, social media post, or review, it leaves an impression that could influence potential customers. As much as 67% of users click on links in branded stories, making this one of the best SEO techniques.
9. Reviews and Testimonials
These are direct customer feedback about products, services, or brands. The difference between the two is visibility. Reviews are typically public (Google, Yelp, etc.), while testimonials are shared on a company’s website or promotional materials. This can build trust, and according to research, 88% of consumers say that they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Search engines value reviews as they contribute to fresh, user-generated content.
Reviews can be linked with local SEO optimization. The more reviews and higher the ratings, the better you rank!
10. Local SEO Strategies
This is a great way to attract more local customers. Think of it as serving locals with your product or service on a silver platter.
Here are some key strategies that SEO specialists often use:
- Optimize Your Google My Business Profile: Google My Business (GMB) allows businesses to manage their online presence on Google Search and Maps. It’s free, too! Completing and optimizing your GMB profile is important as it improves local rankings. Details like business name, address, phone number, website, hours, and photos matter! So make sure that they are all added to your profile.
- Ensure Consistency in NAP Information: NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone Number. This information should be identical across all online platforms and directories. Search engines can get confused when NAP data is inconsistent, which can impact your local SEO ranking.
- Optimize for Local Keywords: Local keywords refer to phrases that include the location of your business. For example, “best nail tech in Johannesburg” or “bakery near me”. This is important because it helps search engines better understand your business’s geographical relevance.
- Local Backlink Building: Just like “regular” backlinks, these local backlinks signal to search engines that your business can be trusted. The difference is that local backlinks improve your credibility locally.
- Mobile SEO Optimization: More than 60% of global web traffic comes from mobile devices. Therefore, Google prioritizes responsive websites that function well on mobile devices, specifically in local search rankings.
- Create Local Content: Local content refers to content relevant to a location or community. It appeals to both local customers and search engines, establishing your authority in a specific region. Writing blog posts and collaborating with local businesses is a great way to do this.
- Optimize Local Landing Pages: These pages are designed for specific locations or areas your business serves. When optimized, they can target multiple regions and improve local visibility across different areas. Some of the best elements to include in local landing pages are location-specific keywords, testimonials, and local images.
- Use Structured Data Markup (Schema): Schema markup is code that can be added to your website. It helps search engines understand your content more clearly and enhances the visibility of your business information in search results. Local businesses may appear at the top of search results along with a map when they use this schema. This attracts more clicks!
11. Participating in Q&A Sites
This can be a very effective off-page SEO technique as it increases brand visibility, builds authority, and generates traffic. Quora, Reddit, and Stack Exchange allow businesses to answer questions relevant to their industry.
A study showed that businesses that participate in Q&A platforms have a significant increase in website visits [Investopedia]. But this is not just an action to increase views temporarily – it can generate long-term traffic.
12. Press Releases
A press release is a written statement that is sent to media outlets, journalists, and other key stakeholders. While this piece doesn’t have to be written by your business, 63% of journalists are more likely to write about your company or product when they receive a press release with an interesting angle. It’s like sending out an invitation to the media about an important event or announcement.
13. Collaborations and Partnerships
| Influencer Outreach A skincare brand reaches out to a beauty influencer and offers a flat fee to promote their new face serum through a post on Instagram. Once the video is approved and posted, they receive their compensation. |
Collaboration and Partnerships A skincare brand partners with an influencer to create a limited-edition skincare line. This goes beyond promoting the product on social media, as the influencer is involved in the design process, product selection, and even marketing strategy. The brand and influencer share the profit from the sales. |
14. Social Bookmarking
This process involves submitting links to your website or content on social media platforms like Reddit, Pinterest, and Dig. It enables users to save and categorize them.
But what does this mean for your business? It can improve your site’s SEO because social bookmarking platforms are often indexed by search engines. This means that these links act as backlinks, improving search rankings. Other benefits include higher engagement, brand exposure, and improved domain authority.
Best SEO Tools for Businesses
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Google Analytics
This is a must-have tool for measuring SEO success. It gives businesses insight into which pages are performing well and where improvements are needed. And it’s free! -
SEMrush
This tool can help businesses track competitors’ performance, discover their strategies, and even find new opportunities. It covers essentials like keyword research, backlink analysis, and site audits. -
Ahrefs
This tool can do an SEO audit for businesses. It also offers keyword research and rank-tracking tools. -
Moz Pro
This company is known for its user-friendly interface, but it offers a range of tools like keyword research, link building, and site speed optimization for SEO. -
Yoast SEO
This plugin is popular among SEO organisations. It helps to optimize content, meta tags and readability – great for on-page SEO tactics. -
SpyFu
This tool is specifically designed to analyze competitors. It shows which keyword your competitors are ranking for and how well they are actually doing. -
Ubersuggest
This tool is ideal for businesses or individuals looking for SEO tips for small businesses. It offers backing data, research, and SEO audits. -
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
This is a website crawler that finds on-page SEO issues like broken links, duplicate content, missing meter descriptions, and other technical issues. It’s another excellent auditing tool! -
Majestic
This tool provides powerful backing analysis’. You can expect detailed data on backlinks, link quality, and anchor text distribution.
Introducing Our Success Stories
We take pride in delivering exceptional results for our clients! From boosting website traffic and improving search rankings to driving meaningful engagement, our tailored strategies have consistently exceeded expectations. Below are some of our most successful achievements that showcase the power of effective SEO and digital marketing. Let these results inspire what we can achieve together!
Pia Vosloo
CEO | Founder of MotherTyper
