Having a website isn’t just about design and content—how you show up on search engines can significantly impact your brand’s visibility and growth. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a passionate blogger, or simply curious about improving your online presence, this guide is tailored for you. Dive into the basics of DIY Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) with our bullet list of actions to help get you seen.
1. Keyword Research:
- Identify industry-relevant keywords using tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs.
- Analyze search intent: informational, navigational, transactional, or commercial.
- Focus on long-tail keywords for niche targeting.
- Pick keywords that are in the vocabulary of your customer. How they describe your products and services, or the problem your product or service solves might bee different to the keywords/phrases you have identified.
2. On-Page SEO:
- Title Tags: Include primary keyword; keep under 60 characters.
- Meta Descriptions: Descriptive, include main keyword; under 160 characters.
- Header Tags: Structure content with H1 (main title), followed by H2, H3, etc.
- URL Structure: Use short, descriptive URLs with keywords.
- Internal Linking: Connect related pages/posts within your site.
- Image Optimisation: Use ALT tags, reduce file size, and use descriptive file names.
3. Content Creation:
- Produce high-quality, unique content regularly.
- Target your audience’s questions and needs.
- Implement keywords naturally; avoid keyword stuffing.
- Include multimedia (videos, images, infographics).
4. Technical SEO:
- Mobile Optimisation: Ensure site is mobile-responsive.
- Site Speed: Improve loading times using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.
- XML Sitemap: Create and submit to Google Search Console.
- Robots.txt: Ensure search engines can crawl your site.
- SSL: Use HTTPS for security and trust.
5. Off-Page SEO:
- Backlinks: Build high-quality, authoritative links.
- Guest Posting: Write articles for reputable sites in your industry.
- Social Signals: Encourage social shares and interactions.
- Local SEO: Optimise Google My Business listing, gather reviews, and build local citations.
6. User Experience (UX):
- Improve site navigation.
- Reduce bounce rate by offering engaging content and clear CTAs.
- Ensure a clean and intuitive design.
7. Analyze & Adjust:
- Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
- Regularly check keyword rankings.
- Monitor site traffic, bounce rate, and conversion rates.
- Make necessary adjustments based on data.
SEO is a long-term strategy. Consistency, patience, and continuous optimisation are key.
