SEO 101 : Fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization

Helping entrepreneurs get ranked on Google through SEO

We understand it may seem daunting or even intimidating to get your website ranked on Page 1 of Google, but it’s not impossible, otherwise no one would be able to do it, right? The fact is it takes time and lot of hard work, but it is definitely achievable.

The Science Behind SEO

There is actually a science to getting a site ranked on SEO, because there are so many variables that determine a website’s ranking, and it’s important to use them in the correct formula. Doing too much of something can also hurt your efforts. In SEO 101 (#SEOforBeginners #SEOcliffnotes), we'll focus specifically on the number one search engine in the world – Google.

Think of Google like a mountain. Just what does it take to get ranked, or reach the top page of Google?

First the site should be well designed so the Google bots can easily “crawl” it. That means your webpages should be properly indexed. If they’re not, or if they have broken links, that will hurt your chances to get ranked. You can also check how your site is performing on Google by using Google’s Search Console.

Next, it is extremely important to have detailed, relevant content. This means content which users will find very helpful and informative. Good content helps establish “relevancy”, a key metric in ranking, and that makes a site more “authoritative”, another valuable variable in Google’s ranking algorithm.

Stun Your Readers

Be original, show off your style, educate, and tell your story.

It is believed that as many as 200 factors play a role in the ranking of a website, but naturally some are much more important than others. We highlight the key items for you here.

Many amateur site developers hype using lots of keywords. While keywords can be helpful in achieving ranking, quality written content is much more valuable. It’s equally important to understand that incorrectly using too many keywords in the wrong places on a webpage can actually hurt your ranking, not help it, so if you hire a professional, please make sure they are aware of this.

Backlinks are extremely important, and this step can take a lot of time and hard work. Simply put, backlinks are “votes” or “points” given to your site by other websites on the Internet, but these votes shouldn’t just come from any site, otherwise it can also hurt your ranking. It’s important to have backlinks from reputable, authoritative sites, and they should be relevant to your product or service. This increases your site’s authoritative value, and thus your overall ranking on Google. Think of it like a popularity contest. If an influencer is linked to you or votes for you, that carries a lot more weight than someone who is not as recognized, correct?

Most Votes Win This Race #getlotsofvotes

Vote for me!

Google My Business (GMB) is a must for sites wishing to be found on Google. GMB is a free tool for businesses to manage their online presence throughout Google. The data entered is verified and will help customers understand your business, even find you when searching on Google Maps.

Customers will also want to buy your product or service if they see positive feedback from others who have already purchased it, so Google Reviews are super important. This is something you should absolutely focus on. The total number of reviews will greatly help with your Google ranking.

One more thing which you can do to help your site rank better is making sure it is designed to be mobile-friendly. Majority of the searches performed on Google today are from mobile phones, so Google places an even greater weight on this ranking. In fact, there has been talk that if sites are not designed to be mobile-friendly, it may not be possible for the site to rank near the top.

There are many other factors to consider in optimizing a website such as Meta Tags, Title Tags, Anchor Text, Heading Tags, Citations, Image Optimization, etc. You should also use tools such as Google Analytics to track website traffic and measure client conversions.

Equip Yourself With All Available Tools

Use all tools to reach the top of the mountain (Page 1 on Google)

As you can see, there are a few basic steps business owners can take to help their site become ranked on Google, and for many people that will be enough if they are operating in an industry which is not super competitive. Unfortunately, most business owners have competition, and lots of it. If you're a busy entrepreneur and don't have the time to invest in learning a whole new skillset, you can always hire SEO professionals (#MediaBuzzPros).

After all, time is money! We believe busy business owners should focus their time and energy doing what they do best, running and growing their companies. Bring on an SEO professional to be your sherpa and help you reach the top! They're worth their weight in gold! 😉