You Can Do It! Designing an SEO-Friendly Website with Google Appeal

Getting your website published for the first time is a milestone for your business. It is relatively simple to do, and it can be incredibly rewarding to see your company launch to the public. Making that website an active part of your sales funnel is a little more complex, however.

Many companies choose to turn to an SEO agency to create the perfect SEO-friendly website. This is a tried and tested method of ensuring that your digital storefront has that all-important Google appeal.

Did you know, though, that you can start to make your website search optimized yourself with a few simple techniques?

Let’s begin!

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

What Is SEO?

SEO, or search engine optimization, is about getting your website ranked highly on search engine results pages. It is extremely important, as most users will not look past the first one or two pages of results. Your ranking is determined by a search engine algorithm, which ‘crawls’ your pages and indexes them.

To make sure your web pages ‘speak’ to the algorithms in the correct language, you need to use optimization techniques. These let the search engine know what your business is all about and what you want to be listed for. This is then compared to other pages that are indexed as your competitors for search terms, and you are ranked.

Why Is SEO So Important?

As mentioned, most web users will simply not bother clicking past the first page or two of a search result. In actual fact, the vast majority of users only click on one of the first two or three results. As more and more people turn to Google to find what they are looking for, the importance of SEO increases.

Essentially, if your site isn’t ranking highly for keywords associated with your business, you are missing potential customers. Even worse, those customers are going to your competitors who have been investing in SEO tactics.

SEO is also important in terms of the visitor experience. High-quality keyword research and optimization will mean that your business only shows up when it is relevant. That means that the visitors you get are almost pre-qualified – they searched for the service or products that you provide. This will reduce your website bounce rate and increase your perceived authority and ‘usefulness’.

What Do SEO Specialists Actually Do?

The work of an SEO specialist can largely be split into two categories. First, they address on-page SEO, which is all of the elements of your website and content. Second, they look at  off-page SEO, which is how other websites link to and reference yours.

Most high-quality specialists look at both of these areas. Your on-page SEO is all about the user experience and the relevance of your site to certain keywords. Those keywords are the exact search terms that users type into a search – the results should show your company.

Other elements of on-page SEO include page load speeds, mobile friendliness, and using different media formats (with the appropriate tags).

On the other side of the equation, your off-page SEO includes building up a library of links. Links (or backlinks) are when another site mentions yours or your business and provides a hyperlink. These can be generated when you list yourself in a business directory, or on social media.

Another good way of getting links is by simply asking your suppliers and partners for an exchange. After all, they have their own SEO to worry about and will need the links just as much as you.

What Services Does an SEO Agency Offer?

Everything an SEO agency does should be geared towards one goal – improving your search engine ranking position. Search algorithms use many factors to index content, and there are a number of ways agencies help.

When it comes to your website, you need an agency that has a range of skills and experiences. These should include the technical aspects of SEO (making the site run well) alongside the more content-focused work.

When you choose your SEO agency, be sure to understand what they can actually do. Some agencies are specialists who only deal with the technical side. Others might have particular expertise in working with e-commerce or SaaS companies.

Engage with the company that best fits your specific requirements and has experience in what you need.

What Are the Advantages of Using an SEO Agency?

The advantages of using an SEO agency are the same as any external skill that you might outsource. Just as you would use realtors to find a property, and lawyers to draw up contracts, you are accessing skill sets. That means that you do not have to take the time to learn how to handle SEO or implement a strategy.

Of course, you could hire someone internally to take care of your SEO. That works for some massive multinationals, who prefer to keep everything in-house. However, that comes with an element of risk – are they as good as they say?

An SEO agency alleviates these problems. You can see their track record of success and the types of clients and issues they have dealt with. Someone will always be available to take care of your SEO if a change needs to be made. Importantly, you will have an external team of experts that is accountable for the success of your digital marketing.

Summing Up

For more information on building fantastic SEO-friendly websites, get in touch with the team at Digital Authority Partners. Our award-winning experts have helped to optimize the digital footprint of clients in a range of sectors. We work across the full SEO and digital marketing discipline and have an impressive track record of helping businesses grow.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you next.