1. Relevant Keywords
Think about this way: When someone goes to a search engine looking for the services you offer or products you sell, what will he or she search for? Whatever the answer is, those are the terms you need to work into your website. Some of the best places to use keywords are headlines, headings, subheadings, and the first and the last paragraphs of posts. Don’t overdo keyword placement either. Your writing should sound natural, not like it’s being written to trick a computer program.
2. Images They Can Understand
Search engines use complex algorithms to determine which content most closely aligns with a user’s search query—but even with their formulas, search engines can’t see pictures the way people do. That’s why all your images should have relevant ALT and TITLE attributes defined, to let search engines know what users are seeing. To make this process simple, download an app like SEO Friendly Images or All in One SEO Pack. Then, be sure to name your files with descriptive terms that relate to what users might search for to find them.
3. Speed
Search engines like websites that load quickly. When someone comes to your site, how quickly does the text load? Are there any stalls before images appear? One good way to test your site is through Google's Page Insights. This tool will evaluate your URL and then provide suggestions for improving speed.
RELATED CLASS: Tomorrow's SEO: 9 Critical SEO Skills You Need to Succeed
4. Meta Descriptions
Meta descriptions are less about being picked up by search engines and more about being noticed by Web users once you are. When someone searches for terms related to your industry and your site comes up, the meta description is what will appear below your link. It gives users a clue as to what they’ll find by clicking through to your site.
5. Internal Links
Internal links are links on your site pointing to other content on your site. They build relevance for search, but also they help your readers find additional, valuable content throughout your pages. These are most helpful when they use keywords (rather than words like “this link” or “here”).
RELATED CLASS: Mobile SEO: 5 Things You Need to Know
6. External Links
External links are links on your site pointing to content off your site. For the best SEO power, you must use these sparingly—don’t link to any and everything. Your ThoughtsWhat do you think about these qualities as compared to your website? Do they describe your content? If not, what needs to change?
Learn how to build and design your website with SEO in mind.
Watch Incorporating Good SEO into Web Designs, and make sure you avoid common design pitfalls that can hinder your search engine rankings. Learn how to see what search engine bots see when they crawl your website, and how to work around design challenges to balance design and SEO. Watch it now with a FREE trial to the Online Marketing Institute. Get instant access now.