There will never be one perfect search engine optimization solution as long as Google keeps changing its search engine ranking algorithms. However, you can gear your SEO toward the increasingly popular mobile, voice, and contextually relevant searches prompted by the growing use of both smartphones and artificial intelligence devices. Here’s how you can optimize for these kinds of searches.
Before 2013 and the introduction of Google’s Hummingbird algorithm, keyword-rich content ranked well in searches. The new algorithm, however, based search responses on more than keywords. It looked at the whole question or string of search terms in relation to the user’s past search history. It also considered the device used for the search, its location, and the time of day the query was made in order to provide more targeted results. So how can you provide the contextually appropriate answers that Google is looking for?
• Keywords
You need to know what keywords or phrases your ideal clients are using to search for you (or, worse yet, your competition) and then use these in a natural context. Create quality content that answers pressing questions, provides how-tos, and gives them the help and direction they are seeking.
• Links
A 2017 study by Stone Temple Consulting demonstrated that links are still a major ranking factor for Google so use links wisely. You can be penalized for links that don’t fit their algorithm and, as the authors so aptly stated, links will never “rescue poor quality content or cause low relevance content to rank.”
• Meta Descriptions
These short descriptions put your web page in context for Google and help their web crawler better index your site.
• Optimizing for local search
Local search often involves mobile search, voice queries, and requests for contextual information like “near me” or “hours.” We discussed optimizing for voice search in our post “Optimizing For Local Search.”
• Site structure
Well-defined site structure and simple navigation help your viewers and Google’s site crawlers find what they are looking for quickly and easily.
• Structured data
This information aids in indexing your website and making your content readily available for search queries.
• Titles
A good, concise title gives a clear understanding of the content of the entire page. Like a meta description, this helps Google create a meaningful connection for its algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) queries
Your quality content will provide the answers your target audience needs. These SEO building blocks will make sure Google finds and delivers the contextually appropriate answers you have provided. Tate Design SEO experts are waiting to assist you with keyword research, link building, meta description and page title creation, optimizing for local search, site indexing, and data structuring as well as website copywriting.
Call us at 610.725.0702 or e-mail [email protected].
Optimizing For Local Search
