Improve SEO: optimize your website for Google and the visitor

Are you missing out on thousands of visitors because your website cannot be found by your target audience? That’s end of story when you get started with the SEO improve. Optimize your website. More relevant visitors generate more sales. Take control now (with my SEO course, for example), without the help of an SEO specialist or a specialized SEO agency.

Online findability is crucial. Your target audience searches for answers through Google. Supply the correct answers. You make sure you understand the search intent of your target audience. Capitalize on it by working with a search engine optimization specialist!

Improve SEO for online findability

Improve your online findability today to attract relevant visitors by getting started with SEO outsourcing. More relevant visitors generate more sales. There are three elements of your website that optimize to generate more relevant visitors. Content, technology and link building.

What components weigh into SEO improvement?

There are a number of components of SEO that weigh heavily in the final ranking in Google. So improving these SEO components also means improving your ranking in Google.

1. SEO content: this covers the web copy that has been written.
2. Technical SEO: This is really about the back end of the website. Secretly, this also affects the user experience on the website.
3. Link building: this is obtaining link entries on the web towards your website.

In a full SEO campaign, I get to work on all facets of SEO. From writing quality content to making technical improvements. The very combination creates an amplified effect toward Google.

Improving SEO: quality content wins the race

Winning pages that are also readable: how do you do it? The first step is to know your target audience well. Understand the underlying search intent of a query.

Once you have mapped out what the search intent is, capitalize on this through high-quality content.

The pillars of SEO content:

• Stay unique: Google appreciates it when you write relevant and unique content. By writing quality content, you improve your online findability.
• Create quality landing pages: how do you write pages that visitors want to stay on for a long time?
• Readability: keep your content readable. Your visitor wants to scan through the text and take in all the relevant information. Optimize your headers, writing style and tone of content.

Improving SEO: technical SEO

Get the technical errors out of your website today! Don’t stand in the way of the growth of your business and optimize your site’s SEO technique.

Consider your website’s loading speed, structure and sitemaps. Whereas content determines the symbolic direction of your SEO, technical optimization is its foundation.

The pillars of the technical side of SEO:

• Structured data: optimizing all types of snippets and schema formatting.
• SEO structure: the structure of your website should be excellent. Otherwise, you can forget about ranking high in Google. How do you structure?
• Load speed: to improve the searcher’s user experience, your website must load quickly.

Improving SEO: structural link building

Create awareness in your online niche. An SEO specialist does this through link building (off-page SEO). Backlinks are links that redirect to your website. The authority and relevance of this website is important. The website “leaks” value to your website.

The pillars of link building:

• How do you obtain relevant referrals from quality websites? Beware of swapping links! Google punishes this.
• Get websites to link to your content: claim your industry’s expert status!
• There are several statistics that indicate the value of Web sites. Use this one.

Improving SEO: 20 quick tips

Fast results in organic search results? It sounds crazy, but it is possible. Don’t expect miracles within a day, but initial results within several weeks/months is not unusual.

#1 Website speed. Mainly the LCP and FCP components have a great impact on the complete findability of the website.

#2 Improve the CLS. An improved CLS prevents the image from shifting before the visitor clicks anywhere on the website. This adds to the user experience.

#3 Improve mobile friendliness. A good experience on mobile contributes to good results in Google.

#4 Targeted content. Written for the visitor, not for Google.

#5 Improve website structure. Website structure is the foundation of good findability.

#6 Create silos in the website structure. These silos help to fully inform visitors on the website.

#7 Connect the website with internal links. The right internal links ensure the flow of SEO power.

#8 Use appropriate anchor texts. These anchor texts determine the relevance signal of the internal link.

#9 Provide an accessible website. An accessible website contributes to the user experience of all visitors.

#10 Ensure proper semantics. Proper semantics of headers ensures that even the visually impaired can correctly access the headers.

#11 Install the Google Search Console. This can provide the insights needed in the short term for a good outcome.

#12 Install Google Analytics. This platform provides not only SEO insights, but also insights in areas such as social media or direct times.

#13 Do keyword research. This research provides you with the right insights to set up landing pages accordingly.

#14 Establish a content strategy. You can use this strategy over the following months to consistently put the right content online.

#15 Start blogging. Start blogging today and benefit immediately. Google will index the new articles quickly with which you achieve new positions.

#16 Improve social media. Write frequent quality updates on social media and ensure as much interaction with the account/website as possible.

#17 Improve existing content. From the keyword research, it may be determined that existing pages need to be improved. Ensure consistent quality throughout the site.

#18 Improve website authority. Improving website authority contributes (even in the short term) to improved rankings within Google.

#19 Collect reviews. Even the negative reviews that are handled well can contribute to improved SEO.

#20 Obtain relevant link entries. Getting relevant link entries also shows Google that the website is being used as a resource.

How do I improve my website for SEO?

Create a positive user experience for your visitors. Google wants to deliver the most relevant information to the searcher. Write unique and quality content. Make sure every aspect is optimized in such a way that the user experience for the visitor is excellent. There are a number of aspects you can get started on right away.

You need to optimize these elements of your website:

• Set good permalinks: concise and powerful.
• Enter a focus keyword that gives a good representation of your content.
• Concretize the meta description.
• Use proper header tags.
• Add alt attributes to your image.

Once you have optimized these elements, the real work begins. Make sure your website stays current and relevant to your target audience.

How do I improve my SEO through WordPress?

SEO for WordPress is a question I am often asked. The WordPress Yoast SEO plugin is free and helps you optimize your website for Google. What are specific things that can be automated for WordPress?

1. Internal links can be set up automatically using the Internal Link Juicer plugin.
2. With Yoast SEO, the entire structured data of the website can be set. Use this to display the desired information already on the search results page.
3. With a plugin like RankMath, on-page SEO can be set up in a single view (this can also be automated).
4. With handy page builders, creating new landing pages is increasingly easy to do yourself.

Tips for improving SEO for an online store

Optimizing your web shop ensures relevant organic traffic. More relevant visitors generate more sales.

Pay attention to the following points when optimizing your shop for SEO:

• Add value for your visitors with your content.
• Structure ensures that your webshop becomes user-friendly for the visitor and for Google.
• Create unique content tailored to your target audience’s search intent.
• Meta title and description, headers and keyphrases must match.

key systems that are essential in establishing a successful SEO strategy. Using Google Search Console, Google My Business and Google Analytics, you can gather key insights, monitor your website, troubleshoot technical issues, increase your local visibility and evaluate website performance.

Together, these systems form a powerful toolkit to support your SEO efforts and strengthen your online presence. Let’s discover together how these systems can help you achieve your SEO goals.

Improving the first steps of SEO

Here’s a sample checklist for the first phase of SEO improve, including priority, time frame to pick up and a brief 2-sentence explanation. Keep in mind that the actual priority and length of time depends on the specific situation and goals of the SEO journey.

Priority	Task	Time to pick up	Explanation
High	Keyword research	1-2 weeks	Identify relevant keywords and search terms for website and content optimization(1).
High	Technical audit	1-2 weeks	Check the website for technical problems that may affect performance and indexing.
High	On-page optimization	2-4 weeks	Optimize the meta tags, URLs, headings and content of key pages for keywords and readability(2).
High	Content Strategy	2-4 weeks	Develop a plan for creating and optimizing valuable and relevant content for the target audience(3).
Average	Competitive Analysis	1-2 weeks	Analyze competitors’ strategies and performance to gain insights and identify opportunities.
Average	Google Search Console setup	1-2 days	Verify and configure your website in the Google Search Console for data and optimization purposes(4).
Average	Google Analytics setup	1-2 days	Create a Google Analytics account and implement tracking code on your website for data collection.
Low	Backlink Analysis	1-2 weeks	Assess existing backlinks to your Web site and identify opportunities for quality link building(5).
Low	Social media integration	1-2 days	Link your website to relevant social media accounts and implement social share buttons for better visibility and shareability.
Low	Mobile optimization	1-2 weeks	Make sure your website works well and is optimized for mobile devices and responsive design(6).

Keep in mind that this checklist is only an example and priorities and timeframes may vary based on the specific needs and circumstances of the SEO journey. It is also important to pursue consistency and continuous optimization throughout the SEO process.

The biggest pitfalls of getting started

Here is a table of the biggest pitfalls when starting an SEO journey, including a brief bit of explanation for each point:

Pitfall	Explanation
Lack of clear objectives	Without clear goals, it is difficult to measure and adjust the progress and success of the SEO process.
Insufficient keyword research	Ignoring or limiting keyword research can lead to targeting the wrong or less relevant search terms, thereby missing potential opportunities.
Ignoring technical problems	Failure to address technical issues, such as slow load times, faulty URL structures or content blocked for search engines, can hamper website indexing and visibility.
Poor on-page optimization	Paying insufficient attention to on-page optimization, such as optimizing meta tags, headlines and content, can negatively affect search engine rankings and visibility.
Low quality content	Producing low-quality content with no real value to users can lead to lower rankings and a poor user experience.
Ignoring local SEO factors	When it comes to a local business, ignoring local SEO factors, such as optimizing Google My Business, local citations and reviews, can limit local visibility.
Excessive focus on search engines	Focusing too much on search engines and ignoring the needs and experience of users can ultimately reduce the effectiveness of SEO.
No monitoring and adjustment	Failure to monitor performance, analyze data and take corrective action can limit the effectiveness of the SEO pathway and miss opportunities for improvement.

Avoiding these pitfalls is essential to having a successful SEO journey. It is important to take a strategic approach, pay attention to the technical and content aspects of SEO, be user-centric and continuously monitor and optimize.

What SEO tools matter in the initial setup?

When setting up an SEO strategy, the following SEO tools are important:

1. Google Search Console: Google Search Console is an essential tool for monitoring and optimizing your website’s presence in Google’s search results. It allows you to verify your website, check indexing, view crawl statistics, receive notifications about technical problems and more. It provides valuable insights and data that can help you improve your website’s visibility in search engines.
2. Google My Business: Google My Business is a platform that allows you to create and manage your business listing on Google. By entering your business details, opening hours, photos, reviews and other relevant information, you can increase your local visibility and be better found in Google Maps and local search results. It is especially important for companies with physical locations or a local service area.
3. Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a powerful tool for collecting and analyzing data about user traffic and behavior on your website. It provides detailed statistics and reports that give you insight into things like traffic sources, page views, bounce rate, conversions and more. By implementing Google Analytics, you can measure the performance of your website, evaluate the effectiveness of your SEO efforts and gain valuable insights to further refine your strategy.

These systems are the basis for collecting important data and optimizing your website for search engines. By setting them up and using them correctly, you can gain valuable information and better understand how your website is performing in search results.

Verifying the Google Search Console

To verify and set up the Google Search Console, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Google Search Console website (search.google.com/search-console) and sign in with your Google account. If you don’t already have a Google account, create one.
2. Click the “Add a Property” (or “Add Property” if the interface is in English) button in the top bar of the Search Console.
3. Enter your website’s URL in the field and click “Add Property.” Make sure you enter the exact URL that matches the website you want to verify.
4. Now you need to verify your ownership. There are several verification methods available, and you can choose the one that suits you best.
   • Recommended method: HTML tag verification. Click on “HTML tag” and you will see a meta tag to add to the -section of your website. Copy the meta tag.
   • Other verification methods: Other methods are also available, such as uploading an HTML file to your website, verification through Google Analytics or through your domain provider. Choose the method you prefer and follow the instructions given.
5. After you have chosen and implemented the verification method, return to the Search Console and click “Verify.” Google will attempt to access the authentication information provided and confirm whether you own the website.
6. If verification is successful, your property will be added to Search Console and you can begin using the various features and reports.

Keep in mind that the verification process may vary slightly depending on updates from Google and changes to the Search Console interface. Follow the on-screen instructions carefully and refer to the Google Search Console documentation for specific guidance if you encounter problems.

Set up Google My Company

To set up Google My Company and create your business listing on Google, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Google My Business website (business.google.com) and log in with your Google account. If you don’t already have a Google account, create one.
2. Click the “Start Now” or “Add Business” button to begin creating your business listing.
3. Enter the name of your company. If an entry already exists, it may be displayed as you type and you can try to claim it.
4. Select the category that best fits your business. This helps Google classify and associate your business with relevant searches.
5. Choose whether you have a physical location where customers can visit you, or whether you serve a service area without a specific location. If you have a physical location, enter the address. If you have a service area, enter the relevant regions.
6. Provide your contact information, such as your phone number and website.
7. Verify your business. Depending on the verification options available and the nature of your business, you can choose postal verification, telephone verification or e-mail verification. Follow the instructions to complete the verification process.
8. After your business is verified, you can add additional information, such as your business hours, photos, a description of your business and other details useful to your customers.
9. Explore the features and capabilities of Google My Company, such as managing reviews, publishing posts and viewing statistics. This allows you to optimize your online presence and better connect with your target audience.

Note that the exact steps and features of Google My Company may change over time. Be sure to follow Google’s guidelines and instructions and consult available resources for the most up-to-date information.

Installing Google Analytics

To set up Google Analytics and collect data on user traffic and behavior on your website, follow these steps:

1. Create a Google Analytics account:
   • Go to the Google Analytics website (analytics.google.com) and sign in with your Google account. If you don’t already have a Google account, create one.
   • Click the “Sign Up” button and follow the instructions to sign up for Google Analytics.
   • You will be asked to enter an account name and provide your website details.
2. Create a property (website) in Google Analytics:
   • After you’re signed in, click the “Administrator” button in the lower-left corner of the Google Analytics dashboard.
   • Click the “Create Account” drop-down menu and select “New Property.”
   • Enter the name of your website, the URL and select the industry in which you operate.
   • Click “Retrieve Tracking ID” to get your tracking ID and tracking code.
3. Implement tracking code on your website:
   • Copy the tracking code you were given.
   • Place the tracking code just before the closing tag of each page of your website.
   • This can be done by pasting the code directly into your website’s HTML source code or by using a tag manager such as Google Tag Manager.
4. Verify that the tracking code is implemented correctly:
   • Go back to your Google Analytics account and click the “Administrator” button.
   • Click on “Property Settings” and scroll down to the “Tracking Info” section.
   • Click on “Tracking Code” and then on “Status.” You should see that the status is “Data being received.”
5. Waiting for data:
   • It may take some time before Google Analytics starts collecting data and generating reports. Be patient and check your Analytics account regularly to see if data is available.

Note that this is a general guide and the exact steps and interface of Google Analytics may change over time. Consult Google Analytics’ documentation and resources for the most recent and detailed instructions.

Monthly SEO improvements

Tracking and improving a website’s SEO is an ongoing process that involves monitoring performance, analyzing the results, and making changes based on this analysis. Here are some steps you could take monthly to improve your website’s SEO:

1. Month 1 – Keyword research & competitive analysis: Start with a thorough keyword research to see which keywords are relevant to your website and which are still missing from your content. Also, do a competitive analysis to see how your competitors are performing on these keywords.
2. Month 2 – Content Creation & Optimization: Based on your keyword research, create new content and optimize existing content. Make sure your content is valuable and informative to the user, and well optimized for relevant keywords.
3. Month 3 – Technical SEO audit: Conduct a technical SEO audit to identify any technical issues that may be affecting the performance of your website. This includes things like page speed, mobile usability, and crawlability.
4. Month 4 – Link Building: Work on building high-quality backlinks to your website. This can be done by building relationships with other websites, guest blogging, and creating shareable content.
5. Month 5 – Local SEO (if relevant): If you are a local business, work on improving your local SEO. This includes things like optimizing your Google My Business page and collecting local reviews.
6. Month 6 – user experience (UX) optimization: Work on improving the user experience on your website. This includes things like improving site navigation, creating an intuitive interface, and reducing page load time.
7. Month 7 – social media integration: Integrate your SEO efforts with your social media strategy. Although social media signals do not directly affect SEO, they can help drive more traffic to your website and increase visibility.
8. Month 8 – analysis & adjustment: Evaluate the results of your SEO efforts and adjust your strategy based on this analysis. Use tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console to gain insight into how users interact with your website and how your website performs in search engines.
9. Month 9 and beyond – repeat: SEO is an ongoing process. Keep monitoring your website, creating new content, fixing technical problems, link building, improving UX, and adjusting your strategy based on your analysis.

Keep in mind that the timing and order of these steps may vary depending on the specific needs and goals of your website. It is important to be flexible and adjust your strategy based on the results of your efforts.

Improve international SEO

Improving international SEO(read my full article here) is a crucial part of any global marketing strategy. It ensures that your website is visible and understandable to users and search engines in different countries and languages. Here are some tips to improve international SEO:

1. Use hreflang tags: these tags help Google understand what language you use on a specific page, so the search engine can show the right version to the right users. They are particularly useful if you have multiple pages with similar content in different languages.
2. Ensure correct language and country versions: make sure your content is accurately translated and localized for each specific market. A simple Google Translate will not suffice; you have to take into account cultural nuances, regional terminology and keywords.
3. Use an international URL structure: this helps search engines and users identify which country and language a particular page is intended for. This can include subdomains, subfolders or ccTLDs (country-specific domains).
4. Localize your SEO: Do keyword research for each specific market to understand how users search in that region. Keywords can vary between regions, even if they speak the same language.
5. International Linkbuilding: try to get backlinks from websites relevant to your target market in each specific region. This helps increase your website’s authority in that region.
6. Local Business Listings: make use of local business listings and directories in each country in which you operate. This can help improve your visibility in local search results.
7. Technical SEO: Make sure your website loads quickly, is mobile-friendly, and has a clear site structure. This is important for all SEO, but especially if you manage different language and country versions of your website.
8. Local Legislation: make sure you are aware of and comply with all local laws and regulations, especially around privacy and data protection.
9. Use Google Search Console: You can use Google Search Console to target your site to specific countries, and to detect any crawl or indexing errors.
10. Global Meta tags: use the meta content-language tag to specify the language of your page. This helps search engines determine what language your content is written in.

By applying these strategies, you can ensure that your website is properly displayed and ranked for international users, which can ultimately lead to higher traffic volumes and better conversion rates.

Conclusion

When setting up an SEO journey, several systems are crucial to optimizing your website and making it more findable. Google Search Console allows you to monitor your website, troubleshoot technical issues and gain insight into the indexing of your pages. With Google My Business, you can increase your local visibility and be better found in Google Maps and local search results. Google Analytics provides valuable data on user traffic and behavior, allowing you to measure your website’s performance and evaluate your SEO efforts.

By using these systems, you can gain important insights, address technical issues, strengthen your local presence and measure the effectiveness of your SEO strategy. They are the backbone of a successful SEO journey and help you optimize your website for better visibility and results.

So, if you’re serious about improving your SEO , make sure you have these systems in your toolbox and take full advantage of them. By setting them up and using them correctly, you can walk the road to SEO success more efficiently and grow your website. Get started and make the most of these valuable tools for an effective SEO strategy.

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