Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – there’s that term again. SEO has been around for almost as long as the internet and is a crucial aspect of digital marketing.
Since the early days, businesses have used SEO to reach new audiences, drive traffic and growth, and spread knowledge.
But how has SEO changed since the times of keyword stuffing and filling every page with backlinks?
SEO has gradually become a more sophisticated and technical practice informed by user behavior. Today, we utilize both on-page and off-page optimization techniques to ensure high rankings for quality websites.
You’re probably wondering – what are these on- and off-page SEO techniques we’re talking about and how can they be used to benefit your business? All your questions will be answered in today’s blog post.
Keep reading!
A Closer Look at On-Page SEO
On-page SEO includes all the ways on-site techniques can be used to get a webpage to rank well. With the use of content and technical elements, you can improve the quality of a page. And the more on-page SEO used, the more relevant traffic you’ll get to your website.
There are numerous technical aspects that can be optimized with on-page SEO to boost your page ranking, including:
- Headings
- Title tags
- URL structure
- Alt text for images
- Internal links
- Meta descriptions
- Site speed
- Responsive design
On-Page SEO and the Role of Content
While the technical aspects of on-page SEO are important, one of the more crucial elements is content. After all, content is ultimately what brings traffic to your website.
However, not just any content will get the job done. Today, people are looking for interesting, relevant, engaging, and informative content. People are looking for answers to their questions and solutions to their problems. In order to drive traffic to your website, people must want to consume the content you’ve created.
Content can come in a variety of types, including:
- Web page copy
- Blogs
- Infographics
- Podcasts
- Videos
- Whitepapers
- Interviews
- Research
- Studies
- Reviews
- Instructional articles
- Quizzes and polls
Let’s Talk Off-Page SEO
Now let’s take a closer look at off-page SEO and its role in your overall SEO strategy.
Just like keyword stuffing used to be a go-to practice, so too was the overuse of backlinks in an effort to increase page ranking. If you aren’t familiar with backlinks, they are links from one website to a page on another website. Google and other major search engines consider backlinks as “votes” for a specific page.
However, search engines have become wiser, and filling your website with irrelevant backlinks won’t get you very far in terms of ranking.
Although search engines take into account both the quality and number of backlinks – quality always trumpsquantity.
The key takeaway here is that while backlinks are an integral part of off-page SEO, a single, high-quality backlink from an authoritative website is worth much more than 10 or even 100 low-quality links.
Link building isn’t the easiest task, and if you’re new to backlinks, you may want to consider the help of a professional digital marketing agency. If so, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Other Off-Page SEO Practices
While quality backlinks are the backbone of an off-page SEO strategy, there are other techniques that can help boost site authority and encourage more links.
Local SEO
Adding your business to local listings and online directories, like Google My Business, Yelp, and more is a great way to maximize your SEO strategy. It’s important to make sure your information is accurate across all platforms, including your name, address, and phone number. Inconsistencies in information can make you lose credibility and lead to confusion.
Participate in Discussions
Another great way to engage in off-page SEO is by participating in online discussions and answering questions. This can be done on professional forums, Q & A sites, etc. Not only is this an effective off-page SEO technique but it also helps increase trust and brand recognition.
Wrap Up
SEO practices are evolving all the time as online consumer behavior changes. Right now, the best approach to SEO is having a solid strategy that addresses both on- and off-page elements.
When it comes to on-page, the main concerns are quality content and ensuring the technical aspects of your website have been optimized for keywords, efficiency, and speed.
And for off-page, the most important thing is to encourage quality backlinks from authoritative sites as this will guarantee search engines see your site as important and relevant. Remember, high-quality backlinks are how you’ll get rewarded with a higher rank.
Need help with your SEO strategy? Don’t hesitate to reach out – that’s what we’re here for!
Well, that’s it for today, and as always, thanks for stopping by!