SEO is a game changer for new businesses as well as existing businesses and more times than not we all want to hit the homeruns. We want domain authority to skyrocket to 20+ in a month, we want to rank #1 for the most relevant keywords, and whatever else we dream of achieving with SEO. However, doing the basics and keeping your strategies up-to-date is half the battle for maintaining visibility and driving traffic to your website. Whether you’ve been in the game for a while or just starting out, here are five quick hacks to help you elevate your SEO and achieve better results.
1. Focus on Info Gain
Yes, word count matters in SEO, however, the depth and quality of the information you provide is far more important. Search engines prioritize content that offers new and valuable insights over lengthy but superficial articles. An example of this would be a well-researched, 1,000-word piece packed with unique information and tips based on that information & research will perform so much better than a 5,000-word article filled with repetitive garbage. When creating content, remember to ask yourself: is this providing value for those reading?
Tips:
- Conduct thorough research to offer fresh perspectives.
- Use data, case studies, and examples to enrich your content.
- Regularly update your articles to maintain relevance and accuracy.
2. Match Search Intent
Search intent is something that’s missed by people when they put together their keyword research. If your content doesn’t align with what your audience or users are looking for, it just won’t perform well. This is the case regardless of how good it looks or how well it might be written. To determine search intent, analyze the top-ranking pages for your target keywords. Look for patterns in the type of content, and structure content according to these parameters.
Tips:
- Identify the primary purpose behind user searches (e.g., seeking information, making a purchase).
- Adjust your content format to match the intent (e.g., how-to guides, product reviews, comparison articles).
- Include keywords naturally and contextually within your content.
3. Use Original Visuals
We all love Shutterstock and similar tools. Stock images are so easy to add to the blog and take no time to create. However, visual content can push your user experience to the next level while also giving your SEO the kick in the butt it needs. As mentioned, stock images are convenient but the issue is that they lack authenticity and can be easily recognized by search engines and readers alike. Put the extra time into creating custom images, infographics, and videos to make your content more engaging and trustworthy.
Tips:
- Create custom graphics that illustrate your points clearly.
- Use screenshots, charts, and graphs to support data and statistics.
- Ensure all visuals are optimized for fast loading speeds and include descriptive alt text.
4. Know Your Competitors
Know thy enemy. That’s what they said in the medieval times and that’s what they say now when we’re outlining the path to success through SEO, haha. Understanding your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses is key to outpacing them on the search engine. Analyze their backlinks, content quality, and user experience to identify areas where you can improve. Tools like SEMRush can provide insights into your competitors’ strategies and from there you know where you can do better.
Tips:
- Conduct a thorough competitive analysis to identify top performers in your niche.
- Evaluate their backlink profiles and seek opportunities for quality link-building.
- Assess their content for gaps and areas where you can provide more value or a unique perspective.
5. Leverage Social Proof
This is probably the most important, but you should be leveraging the crap out of social proof such as testimonials, reviews, case studies, and user-generated content. All of which can enhance your credibility and appeal. Longer engagement time has been seen with adding social proof as well as higher conversion rates. If your pages don’t have social proof, get on it – it’s never too late.
Tips
- Add customer testimonials and reviews to relevant pages.
- Showcase case studies that highlight successful outcomes from using your products or services.
- Encourage and feature user-generated content, such as photos and videos from satisfied customers.
These five hacks can take your SEO from 0 to 5 relatively quickly as you’ll create more effective, engaging, and higher-ranking content. Focus on providing valuable information, aligning with search intent, using original visuals, understanding your competitors, and leveraging social proof to bring out the best of your SEO performance.
