Short on SEO Dollars? Simple Things You Can Do to Make a Difference

Try these simple tips that will give you an edge over many of your competitors and help to get your site ranked on Google – WITHOUT spending money on ads.

1. Understand the Power of Keywords

When it comes to getting ranked on Google, keywords are everything.  You need to be very clear about the keywords that your potential customers will type in, when doing a search.  If you are a typical local business, you will need plenty of ‘local’ keywords on your site.

2. Instal a Blog

A blog is a very powerful adjunct to your website.  They cost nothing to set up, and are easy to use.  Write a keyword targetted blog post a week.  The keyword should appear in the headline, and the sub heading, as well as the body copy.  The best blog is a WordPress blog.

3. Backlinks

If you have other sites, make sure you link back to your main site.  You should also get listings in local or industry directories.  This will give you more valuable backlinks, which will encourage Google to move you up the ranks.

4. Add Images

Adding images to your blog posts will give you more ‘google oomph’, providing you name those images properly – make sure you include keywords in your description, title and alternative text.

5. Use Social Media

Social media can be used to drive people to your site, and give you more back links.

6. Sitemaps

Sitemaps help the search engines find your pages, but also make it easy for visitors to find their way around – they’re more likely to stay on your site longer too!