Not showing up where you want to in search results? Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your rankings. We have identified seven things you can do to improve your website ranking in Google’s organic search results.
1. Create a Google My Business Account
Have you ever searched for a business in Google and had a little directory listing pop up on the right-hand side? This listing is pulled from Google My Business. Google My Business is an online listing where you can confirm your company’s location on Google Maps, update contact information in Google search results and so much more. To optimize how your company’s profile, you will need to claim or create your listing.
2. Update Your Meta Data
Metadata refers to the HTML tags used in code to communicate information about particular pages on your website to search engines and users. Two of the most important meta tags for SEO are the meta page title and meta description. Make sure every single page on your website has a unique meta page title and meta description. To get the most out of your metadata, check out our blog on Writing Amazing Meta Tags for SEO.
3. Go Responsive
By now, the majority of websites are responsive (optimized for multiple devices). If your website is older and you are still not ready for a full redesign, you must at least make it mobile-friendly. If your website is not mobile-friendly, then it will rank lower in mobile search results, greatly hindering your organic traffic. If there is one thing you take away from this blog, it’s that responsive design is a necessity.
4. Increase Content Pages to 250+ Words
Yes, the web design world is visually obsessed, and for good reason. However, content is still king. This doesn’t mean it’s time to put your unpublished novel on the homepage of your business site. The key is using the right amount of content in the right way. Your pages should have at least 250 words in order to be indexed by Google. The goal is to find that perfect balance between content and imagery. This can be achieved with bullet points, brief paragraphs and long scrolling pages.
5. Test Website Speed
Did you know that a “1 second delay in page response can result in a 7% reduction in conversions” (Kissmetrics)? For every additional second it takes your website to load, you risk losing more customers. Test your site speed for free using this tool. If your website takes more than 4 seconds to load, contact your developer about diagnosing the problem.
6. Fix Broken Links
Links can break for a number of reasons but the most common culprit is very simple: change. Perhaps you linked to an external website a couple years ago that no longer exists. Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing your previously viable link is now broken without running diagnostic tools.. Additionally, if you redesigned your website but kept old content and links, it is necessary to set up 301 redirects so that your internal links do not break. Have your digital marketing team check your website to quickly see which links need to be fixed.
7. Add Alt Text to Images
Similar to links, the easiest way to identify images with missing alt text is by running a diagnostic program. “Alt text” refers to the HTML attributes behind an image. This description tells viewers the nature or contents of an image. Alt text is necessary for all images on your website. This text appears when an image won’t load and also helps your images show up in search results.
We understand that search engine optimization can be an overwhelming and time-consuming process, but it has become increasingly important. If you need assistance with improving your search engine rankings, contact Informatics, Inc. today. Our digital marketing team is ready to wield the power of search and increase rankings for your business.
