Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a powerful strategy to make your business much easier to find in the oversaturated market.
But, when it comes to SEO, most businesses would think that the strategy is not only complex but also costly.
For big corporations that use a high-end SEO service, making their website or content sit at the top of the search engine results can be a piece of cake.
But, what about small businesses with a very limited budget? Hiring more people for their marketing team can be pretty financially challenging, let alone investing in a professional SEO strategy.
Thanks to the internet, though. Now small businesses can still implement a high-performing organic SEO campaign without spending a fortune.
Here are some actionable tips on how to boost SEO rank budget-friendly for small businesses.
Tip #1. Research Your Keywords
Keywords are the foundation of any good SEO strategy. If you want your website or blog content to rank well in search engines, you need to use the right keywords throughout your site.
But, how do you know which keywords to use?
The best way to determine the right keywords for your business is to do some research. You can use keyword tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner or SEMrush to find popular keywords related to your industry.
For example, if you want to write content about text animation apps, you can go for potential keywords like “text animation apps,” or “popular free text animation apps for mobile phones” for a longer tail keyword.
Once you have a list of target keywords, make sure to use them throughout your website or blog content. Use them in your titles, meta descriptions, headings, and body copy.
But beware not to overdo it. Using too many keywords on your website can actually hurt your SEO ranking. This practice is called keyword stuffing and it will do more harm than good.
Tip #2. Add Visuals to Your Content
Humans are visual creatures. We are more likely to remember something if it is accompanied by a relevant image.
This is why it’s important to add visuals to your content. Adding images, infographics, and explainer videos to your articles can make them more engaging and easier to understand.
When you provide your readers with content that is easy to retain and easier on the eyes, they tend to spend a longer time on your website.
This way, they increase your dwell time and reduce the bounce rate which is both good for your SEO ranking.
Not to mention that Google’s image search is also a great way to generate traffic to your website.
Tip #3. Optimize Your Website for Search Engines
One of the most important ranking factors in SEO is website optimization.
Your website needs to be well-optimized if you want it to rank higher on search engine results pages. This means that your website should be fast, responsive, and easy to navigate.
To check if your website is optimized for search engines, use the Google PageSpeed Insights tool. This tool will test your website and give you a report on how to improve its speed and usability.
Tip #4. Use Social Media to Your Advantage
With more than 4.6 billion users worldwide, social media are well-known for their capabilities in boosting brand awareness and creating meaningful, casual interactions with customers.
Did you know that they are also a powerful tool that can help you boost your SEO ranking?
By using social media, you can increase the reach of your content and get more people to link to it. The more links you have pointing to your website, the higher your SEO ranking will be.
So, make sure to create social media accounts for your business and share your high-quality content on a regular basis.
Tip #5. Publish High-Quality Content
Content is king in SEO. If you want your website or blog content to rank well in search engines, you have to provide high-quality and relevant content on your website.
Make sure that all of your articles are well written, informative, and interesting to read. And, most importantly, make sure that they are keyword-rich. You can use some content writing tools to make sure that the content you put out is not only engaging but searchable too.
The more high-quality content you publish on your website, the better your chances of ranking higher in search engines.
Tip #6. Use External Links
External links are another powerful tool that you can use to improve your SEO ranking.
When other websites link to your content, it tells Google that your website is authoritative and valuable. As a result, your website will start to rank higher on search engine results pages.
So, make sure to include external links on your website. But, be careful not to overdo it. Only link to websites that are relevant to your industry and have high-quality content.
Tip #7. Start Content Outreach Campaigns
Content outreach is the process of reaching out to other websites and bloggers in your industry and asking them to share your content.
By doing this, you can increase the reach of your content and get more people to see it. This will improve your SEO ranking as well as your website’s traffic levels.
To start a content outreach campaign, you can use tools like BuzzSumo and Pitchbox. These tools will help you find influencers in your industry who are more likely to share your content.
Tip #8. Monitor Your SEO Efforts
Last but not least, it’s important to monitor your SEO efforts to see if they are working.
After all, SEO efforts aren’t all about constantly coming up and implementing strategies and tactics. It’s also about understanding what works for your website and what doesn’t so you can focus on those areas.
The best way to do this is to use Google Analytics. This tool will help you track your website’s traffic levels and see where your visitors are coming from.
You can also use it to track your progress over time and see if your SEO ranking is improving.
Wrapping Up
High-performing SEO strategies don’t have to be all about spending a lot of money and hiring an SEO expert. There are plenty of things that you can do to improve your ranking without breaking the bank.
Of course, those organic ways mentioned above can’t bring you instant results. Remember that SEO is a long-term investment that requires patience and hard work. But, if you are committed and consistent, the results are long-term and definitely helpful for your business longevity and credibility.
Author
Andre Oentoro is the founder of Breadnbeyond, an award-winning explainer video company. He helps businesses increase conversion rates, close more sales, and get positive ROI from explainer videos (in that order).
Twitter: @breadnbeyond
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Andre Oentoro