The Power of SEO: How to Attract Customers Online
The Internet has been proven to be more than just a phase. It provides unlimited access to information, tools, and resources for virtually any subject of interest. This can feel a bit intimidating for business owners who are in a competitive industry, and that’s completely valid. Amidst the hundreds of advertisements, trends, viral videos, and dominating personalities, there’s still a way to have an advantage. If you’re wondering how to attract customers online, you’re in the right place.
The truth is, these businesses aren’t just magically getting all the leads in their area, they’re using an algorithm to rank higher on search engines. When a business’s website shows up on the first page of a general Google or Bing search, their conversion rates are much higher. This digital path offers a way for every business to receive even more leads without having to leave the office. So, how is this done? Through Search Engine Optimization!
What is Search Engine Optimization?
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is a process a business undergoes to increase their visibility on search engines. This process makes their website organically rank higher than they usually would on searches that are relevant to their business. There are three types of SEO: on-page, off-page, and technical. Technical is more behind the scenes, implementations done by IT or web developers and maintainers. On-page and off-page are exactly as they sound, one focuses on SEO on a website and the other focuses on SEO done outside of a website. SEO is constantly evolving so there are always new techniques to further improve your website’s visibility if you’re interested. When you take the time to refine a website’s content to SEO standards, you will see the results (literally).
This might sound time consuming or even tedious, but it’s actually a lot simpler than one might think. Here are some natural ways to improve your website’s visibility through SEO:
1. Make your Website User-Friendly
Whether you designed it yourself or hired a team to create your website, you want to make sure it follows some simple guidelines. For starters, you want to have properly working links that will direct your visitors to other pages. Next, you want to make the flow of the website very self-explanatory. The easier to understand, the better. Finally, make sure the average human who has no knowledge of your business or the industry would be able to navigate through your website with little to no issues. This can be done through usability testing or simply finding someone who fits the criteria and asking them for feedback.
2. Identify Keywords
This might take a little digging, but there are many websites out there to help! Keywords are focus words or phrases that people search for. If you find relevant keywords to your brand, you can add those words to the content on your website. This will help better align your company with those searching for what you’re offering. You can add keywords to the headings of pages on your site, and in certain areas of your blog posts to rank higher on search engines. Another recommendation is to check keywords your competitors may be using so you can incorporate them in your page and potentially rank higher than your competition.
When it comes to keywords, there are two routes to take. The shorter the keyword, the more competition a company tends to have on search engines. Should you choose regular keywords, you’ll want to make sure your website really embodies the other SEO techniques. Long tail keywords are longer but allow those searching for more descriptive keywords to find you. For example, “window company” would be a regular keyword because that’s a general search most homeowners may make. “Triple pane glass window company” might make a more refined search that would have far less competitors because those companies who included “triple pane glass” in their keyword phrase will rank higher than those who simply put “window company” as their focus keyword. This is one of the simplest yet effective suggestions of how to attract customers online.
3. Optimize Images
Alt text is a written word, phrase, or sentence that is displayed in place of the image it’s describing. This usually comes into effect when an image is unable to fully load on a user’s computer or phone. The more accurately you describe each image, the more likely you are to move up the ranks in SEO. This also allows those searching for similar images to your alt text to be directed to your website. To add alt text to an image, simply click on the image you uploaded to your website and then look for the “Alt Text” section. It’s important to be succinct with your descriptions, so you can omit common words like “the” or “a” to get the point across.
Images are a very effective way to break up word-heavy content. They add a “pop” to a website and can help viewers to better understand what your business is all about. It’s also important to stay relevant with your images, and not to recycle the same few images over and over again. Refreshing your gallery can help your business maintain an up-to-date appearance which is what all consumers are attracted to.
4. Backlinking
Another component of how to attract customers online is having links that direct users back to your website. This is done organically, and also builds a brand’s credibility. There are many approaches to backlinking, and we’ll go into further detail in another article. One way to start getting backlinks is to reach out to relevant websites that may be able refer to your business in an upcoming blog or somewhere on their website. If you sponsor any events or companies, this is another great opportunity to simply ask for your website to be hyperlinked to your logo they often display online. It’s important to make sure the link to your website is hyperlinked, meaning a user can click on the link and automatically land on your website. Otherwise, this won’t help your SEO. Many companies find success in offering products to review in exchange for a link back to their website. There are many companies out there, but don’t underestimate the power of reaching out to smaller bloggers online. The more popular the website the more valuable the link, but small backlinks absolutely add up!
These are a few surefire ways you can start increasing your online presence today. If you’re looking for more specifics on each SEO technique, check in with us weekly! As we continue to find ways to improve the connection between businesses and their consumers, we’re happy to share what we learn with you too.