On-Site Opportunities – How To Optimize Your Content To Rank Higher

In the world of SEO and digital marketing, it is often said that content is king.

You need to publish great content and have compelling on-page SEO via web copy to make your website stand out in the minds of both your existing and potential clients.

But, if the content is king, then one thing you can be sure of is that Search Engine Optimization is queen.

Simply producing amazing content is not enough. You need to optimize your content in the right ways so that it features highly in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).

Below, we put together an actionable list of highly effective on-page SEO techniques that business owners and digital marketing managers can use to ensure that their content ranks well. Getting your business exposure in the search results requires strategy and consistency. So, let’s jump right in and take a closer look at some specific and actionable ways you can use on-page SEO to give your rankings a boost.

Content Optimization Is Essential

Regardless of what topic you are writing about, your content needs to be optimized to ensure that your existing rankings receive a boost with every post you make. Some well-established best practices can help you line up your on-site pages and blog posts content for success with Google’s algorithm.

First, most Local SEO professionals agree that your posts need to be between 450 to two thousand words in length to ensure maximum content optimization. Many studies have been carried out, which seem to confirm this hypothesis. For the best success in the rankings, we recommend avoiding the urge to repeatedly post shorter content so you can check off “publishing” content from your list. Your followers and potential clientele can tell if you are creating content to add value and knowledge or just going through the motions. The extra effort you put into covering a topic in-depth will pay off in the long run.

Second, make sure that your on-page content is substantive and not merely a puff piece. Strive to find interesting topics that are relevant to your audience and your industry. Be sure to go in-depth with your coverage of these topics and become an authority within your niche/industry.

Here at Big Red SEO, we advise our clients to provide real value to the reader to help your on-page SEO’ed content move up in the rankings. To this end, having answers or insights into your audience’s questions and problems will keep your rankings strong. Google’s ranking algorithm is geared towards ranking pages higher in the results that thoroughly answer users’ queries. Keeping this in mind will help you avoid the temptation of writing mediocre content just for the sake of posting something.

Effective And Popular Keywords For Your Industry Are Vital

Finding and using the best keywords to stand out among blog posts or web pages that are like yours can be a challenge, but at Big Red SEO, we are here to help. Remember, your competition is also vigilantly keeping an eye on their keyword use, and you can bet that they are just as motivated to capture your target audience as you are, so it’s essential to have an effective keyword strategy in place.

To stay ahead of the game, it can pay off to continually research the most effective and popular keywords in your industry or niche. (especially if you offer seasonal products and services)

Verify The Potential Volume Of Keywords On Other Sites

While you may be very tempted to look at your competitors’ pages and figure out what words they are using for their on-page SEO strategy, this technique requires some in-depth research to see if any of the keywords they are using are worth their salt in volume traffic.

With every local or national online marketing project, we roll up our sleeves and perform a little reverse engineering on the competition. We see what’s working, what’s not working, and what areas are best to avoid altogether in building their online presence.

Avoid Copying And Pasting Without Research

The reality is that many companies copy and paste the keywords and content style from local competitors as they genuinely don’t know any better. They have the belief that what is on external sites are working as they show up in the rankings. And while they do show up in the top rankings for the keyword phrases typed in, those words may result in low traffic volume. To invest efforts into ranking #1 for keyword phrases that get eight searches or less per month probably won’t get the leads and conversions you’d like.

When we roll up our sleeves and dive into the research, we often find that competitors are often wasting time, money, and receiving little to no traffic or calls for their efforts. If you want to be sure that you get the best results possible, you can leave the competitor analysis to us, Kim and Conor at (402) 522-6468.

Using the right tools, you can optimize your website and blog post content on your own. However, for a truly effective SEO strategy, you need time, knowledge, and patience. If you found yourself asking the question “how do I optimize keywords?” here’s a quick guide to content marketing and keywords specifically;

1. You need to have an idea about what content you need to create
2. You need to ensure it’s relevant to your audience and industry
3. Once that info is gathered, you should use an online tool like Google’s Keyword Planner. This can allow you to search for keywords and calculate how particular keywords might improve your site’s performance
4. Finally, looking at the autocomplete lists in Google’s search (as well as on other popular sites like Amazon) can give you an idea of what popular keywords are being searched for at that moment

The Metaphysics of Meta-Descriptions

Those who lack computer skills may be comfortable with the more qualitative SEO techniques outlined above but be scared off by the more technical means of improving your rankings. However, with our team by your side, there really is no need to worry. While the names meta-description and meta-title (or title tag) may sound ominous, optimizing these things is a straightforward process and can have a big payoff.

Meta-descriptions are one of the many ways that Google and other search engines understand what your site is all about. If you are unfamiliar with the term, you have likely seen and read many meta-descriptions without being aware of it. These are the snippets of text that appear under the title of pages in a search results page. They can give your audience an idea of what to expect when they click on your page.

While Google insists that meta-descriptions are not directly a ranking factor, there is undoubtedly an indirect benefit if you take the time to shine in this area. Users are far more likely to click on your page if you write an attractive meta-description that promises an answer to their problems or insights into their area of interest. By increasing the number of click-throughs you receive via search engine results, you can boost your rankings on that search engine. While we cannot say your click-through rate is a direct ranking factor, we’ve seen it influence the rankings time and time again.

How Do I Create Meta Descriptions With Optimized Keywords

To write an effective meta-description, think about what would convince you to click on an unfamiliar page for the first time. Avoid using passive language and instead be direct with an explicit call-to-action. Most meta-descriptions are around 140 characters though this limit has reached three hundred characters or more during Google Tests. 140 characters are the accepted default for meta description lengths. Try to be concise but use enough text to get your message across effectively.

Creating a meta-description that ties directly into your page and blog posts content is also important. Google is increasingly vigilant against meta-descriptions that do a good job of attracting users, but which have little to nothing to do with what the page is about. Avoid being penalized for using deceptive tactics.

Consistent Effort Pays Off In Online Marketing

At Big Red SEO, we understand how Google’s ranking algorithm may sometimes seem arbitrary, but there is no luck involved in ranking well. Putting in the hard work of optimizing your page and blog posts thinking of each of these on-page Search Engine Optimization points will pay off over time.

Continue to improve your SEO awareness and make sure to go back and optimize your older pages as well.

Updates to Google’s algorithm can change what ranking factors are most important at the moment, and it is vital to stay ahead of your competitors regarding these developments.

We Can Assist Your Site In Moving Up The Rankings

For more help with content optimization, contact Kim or Conor, the online ranking experts at Big Red SEO. With our expertise, experience, and passion for what we do, you can be sure that your on-page SEO’ed content will start climbing the rankings with our help. Give us a call today at (402) 522-6468. Our technical assistance will help your Omaha business take advantage of on-page (onsite) opportunities to optimize your content and start increasing your web ranking position.