Welcome, SEO extraordinaires-to-be! I’m Melanie, a digital native who has taken on the task of learning all things websites. Diving headfirst into the exciting world of Search Engine Optimisation, better known as SEO, can be intimidating. I’m here to simplify these tasks and make them more achievable for businesses with a digital presence. You might be wondering, "Why should I care about SEO?" Well, strap yourself in because we're about to uncover the secrets of SEO and how it can transform your website into an online powerhouse.
Google is ever-growing, and with the algorithm constantly evolving it can be hard to keep up. Google considers over 200 factors when crawling your website. Some of the high impact ways to improve your SEO include relevant keyword research, fast page speed, easy usability, and good image optimisation
Keyword Research: Unlocking the Treasure Trove of the Web
Imagine stepping into the shoes of your target audience and understanding exactly what they're searching for. That's where keyword research comes into play! By discovering the most relevant and popular keywords and phrases that your customers are using, you can optimise your website's content to attract the right visitors. Keeping in mind that what you think is a common keyword or phase in your business mightn't be the terms that your users or target audience are using.
Tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ubersuggest can assist you in finding those magical words that bring traffic and conversions to your virtual doorstep.
Page Speed: The Fast Lane to Success
In the fast-paced digital realm, patience is a virtue few possess. A slow-loading website can be a real buzzkill, leading visitors to go find a website that loads faster. Even more important than a user’s patience is Google’s algorithm - if your web page takes more than 5 seconds to load, it sends a signal to Google to flag it’s not a great experience. That's why optimising your page speed is crucial! Invest in a reliable hosting provider, compress images, minify CSS and JavaScript files, and leverage browser caching. If you aren't confident about making these changes I would recommend getting a developer to assist you to make these code changes. These simple tweaks can dramatically enhance your website's performance and keep your visitors engaged, encouraging them to explore and convert.
Usability: The User is King (or Queen)!
Imagine walking into a cluttered store, struggling to find what you need amidst the chaos. Frustrating, right? Well, the same applies to your website. User experience (UX) and usability play a pivotal role in captivating your audience. Ensure your website is easy to navigate, with clear calls-to-action, intuitive menus, and logical page hierarchy. Optimise your content for readability and ensure mobile responsiveness. When users feel comfortable and find what they need effortlessly, they're more likely to stick around and, convert.
People want what they want and they want it NOW! Make it easy for your users to find what they’re looking for.
Image Optimisation: A Picture Says a Thousand Words
Visual content speaks volumes, captivating your audience and conveying your brand's message. However, large image files can slow down your website and leave visitors waiting for content. This is where image optimisation comes in. Optimisation includes
compressing your images without sacrificing quality, using the appropriate file formats (personally, I recommend WebP), and add descriptive alt tags for accessibility and SEO purposes. By optimising your images, you'll strike the perfect balance between aesthetics and performance, creating an immersive experience for all your visitors, Google bots or humans!
If you think of your website like an empty bucket, every time you upload an image to your site you are throwing a rock in your bucket. Images that are resized and compressed are like pebbles, while big file-size images are heavy rocks. Each upload is making your website bucket heavier for Google, taking up more space and taking longer to load.
You've now unlocked a few secrets of SEO and are armed with knowledge that will transform your website's performance. Remember, keyword research helps you understand your audience, page speed keeps visitors engaged, usability puts the user first, and image optimisation enhances the visual journey. Implement these essential strategies across your website, and watch your online presence soar to new heights!
Make the most of your online by using Google Ads and Search Engine Optimisation.
If you get stuck or need a hand reach out to our team, it can take time to learn a new skill but you’re in luck. We ARE the experts, this is what we do, and we’re here for you.
Enjoy the world of SEO.
