Beginner’s Guide to SEO for Daycare Centers

Search engine optimization is an acronym that everyone seems to know, but very few fully understand. Before we get down to telling you what it is, you should know that it has the power to completely transform digital marketing for daycare centers, drive traffic to your website, and establish your place as the go-to daycare in town.

Once you’ve taken in the SEO basics for beginners, you’ll be prepared with the knowledge you need to improve your rankings. However, if you feel like you need a helping hand from an expert, our daycare SEO agency is always on hand to assist.

Want to learn more about the Digital Authority Partners approach to SEO? Watch this video!

What Is SEO?

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the art of creating or improving web pages with the aim of ranking higher in search engine results.

Sounds incredibly simple – doesn’t it? Actually, there are many best practices to follow to claim those top spots. Search engines operate on complicated algorithms that dictate who ranks where organically.

No matter what you type into Google, the algorithm goes to work, sourcing the most relevant pages based on your search. So, when you search for quick recipe ideas or pizza takeout near me, it’s a combination of the algorithm and the SEO work those websites have done that presents their content to you.

How to Rank in Google?

Google likes to keep the inner workings of its algorithm under wraps, stopping people from taking advantage of it and enabling the best and most appropriate websites to rank organically. However, over the years, best practices have revealed themselves, and we know enough to understand what it takes for a website to rank well in search.

There are a few basics that most people will be able to implement themselves and a range of optimization tactics that require some technical knowledge and the assistance of experts.

SEO can be segmented into three important sections, each vital for digital daycare marketing: technical SEO, on-page SEO, and local SEO.

On-Page SEO

Speak to clients and give them content to engage with

     1. Keyword Optimized Content

One of the things that makes the best daycare websites stand out is their keyword optimization. Firstly, you need to get to know your audience, what they’re searching for, and how your competitors are performing.

Using a tool like Semrush or Ahrefs, you’ll be able to conduct a thorough analysis of your own website and competitors'. These tools will tell you what keywords you rank for, how high you appear, and how much search volume each keyword gets – you’ll also be able to do the same for your competitors. On top of this, you can find keyword suggestions by searching for terms relevant to your daycare center.

Once you’ve compiled a list of keywords you want to rank for, it’s time to include them in your content. Choose a few for each page of your website, and include them naturally. Don’t overpack content, making it unreadable – remember user experience is everything. Also, put them in titles, headings, and subheadings wherever you can.

Technical SEO

The importance of user experience

Over the years, the Google algorithm has become more sophisticated. Back in the day, packing your content with keywords would have taken you to the top of the rankings. Now, it’s all about user experience. A great way to do this is using internal linking, your navigation bar, and a planned journey to guide users through your website.

     1. Page Loading Speeds

Google deems websites that load quickly to be more user-friendly and ranks them higher. In an era where users are used to having access to the information they need instantly, you need a website that loads quickly – if not, people will leave before they’ve seen what you have to offer.

     2. Mobile Responsiveness

In 2021, 51.4% of website traffic was on mobile – designing your website mobile-friendly is a must. A poor mobile experience means over half of people will not enjoy your website. Additionally, many websites are now ranked solely on the mobile version of their website. You have no control over this, and if your website is one of the chosen few and it isn’t mobile-optimized, you risk not appearing in any searches at all.

Local SEO

Don’t forget your customers are local

Aside from traditional organic SEO, Google has now emphasized local SEO because around 50% of searches are for local products or services. Additionally, 78% of people who search for something nearby visit the business within a day. Local SEO and traditional SEO are differentiated by where you see the search results. If applicable, local search results appear at the top of a SERP (search engine results page) with three pins on a map and a see more button below. So, how do you rank locally?

     1. Create a Google Business Profile

A Google Business (formerly Google My Business) listing is the first thing you must do. Verify you own the business and its location, then complete as many fields as possible within your profile information. There are over 200 fields you can complete – while you don’t need to use all of them, it is recommended to provide information for as many as possible – the more you complete, the higher your ranking will be.

     2. Generate Reviews

Google loves when other people recommend your business. Encouraging existing clients to leave positive reviews will help you climb local rankings. Additionally, the frequency and quality of reviews matter too. It is great for your ranking if you can acquire detailed reviews regularly.

In Summary

Nowadays, SEO is much more than daycare website content, but it isn’t hard to make a big impact relatively quickly. If you begin implementing some of the optimization tips we’ve mentioned above, you’ll see SEO and local rankings improve and traffic to your website increase. Remember, SEO is only half the battle. Once a user lands on your website, you need to give them the information they need and encourage a conversion – don’t let all your hard SEO improvements go to waste because you’ve forgotten to optimize your landing pages for conversion.

If you need assistance with anything daycare SEO-related, our esteemed SEO agency will always be on hand to provide expert advice and guidance.