A Beginner's Guide to Solar SEO
A Beginner’s Guide to SEO
Struggling to get your website noticed? SEO is your best friend to get your website on the radar of your target audience. Most businesses have an expert run their SEO, but we can help you wield it effectively yourself!
Why SEO?
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, refers to taking advantage of Google’s algorithm for ranking sites in its search engine to match user intent. Through SEO, you can hone in on your target audience to best fit their needs, and rank higher in page listings in the process.
For example, if you search up, “Restaurants near me”, Google will list the sites in order of relevance to your search. Suppose you change the search to “Dog-friendly restaurants near me”. Google will provide you different sites to explore to match your search intent.
How does it work?
Google creates a search index by sending out crawlers, which gather information from all over the web by following hyperlinks within websites. They go in rabbit holes, and add all information found into a search index. This search index is what everyday users search through to find what they want.
They also use a ranking algorithm, which changes hundreds of times per year, but can be harnessed to credit your website as the most relevant site to your target audience.
Optimizing Your Website’s SEO
Master the Content:
Create informative and engaging articles that solve problems and answer user questions. Establish yourself as an authority by creating valuable content like blog posts or videos. Share your knowledge and offer solutions to common problems.
Assimilate Keywords:
Research relevant keywords people use to find businesses like yours. Subtly weave them into your content to help Google understand your website's purpose. Remember, don’t clutter your content with these keywords— find a happy medium that will please Google’s search index. Our experts recommend Ahrefs keywords explorer. If you are looking for a free version with significantly less features that does the job, check out the Google Keyword Planner or even Ubersuggest.
If you use Ahrefs for vetting keywords, we recommend that you use this checklist:
- Is there search demand for this keyword?
Add a filter to ‘phrase match’ for minimum search volume
- Does this keyword have Traffic Potential?
Traffic potential is often more reliable than search volume. Traffic > searches. In order to see traffic potential, hit the SERP (search engine results page) button.
- Business potential?
We recommend ranking the value of a keyword to your business from 1-3. For example, the phrase ‘coffee maker’ may not be high in business potential to a coffee shop because most people searching up ‘coffee maker’ will likely be looking for coffee makers for purchase.
- Search intent matchable?
See the type of site and content angle. Some types of sites include blogs, how to’s, shopping sites, and persuasive media sites.
- How hard is it to rank?
Filter using the “KD”, or Keyword Difficulty Feature, which ranks how hard it is for a keyword to rank on the existing search query. This is a helpful tool because it lets you know whether or not to choose to go after that keyword on your own site.
Tech Up Your Website:
Mobile Friendly:
Ensure your website looks amazing on smartphones and tablets. Most searches happen on phones, so a responsive design is crucial.
Responsiveness:
A slow website frustrates visitors. Optimize your site for fast loading times to keep users happy and engaged.
User-Centric Design:
Structure your website with clear navigation. Google loves well-organized sites with internal linking, making it easy for everyone to find what they need.
Build Backlinks:
Backlinks are where credible pages link to your site. Think of backlinks as votes of confidence from other websites. The more high-quality websites link to yours, the more credible Google sees you.
Earning backlinks takes time, as quality backlinks often require organic relationships to be built with sites you want backlinks from.
Happy Visitors, Happy Google:
Don't underestimate user experience! A website that's easy to navigate and visually appealing keeps visitors engaged. Google prioritizes user happiness, so a website that keeps people clicking is likely to rank higher.
Stay Updated and Track Progress:
SEO is an ongoing process. Google's algorithms constantly evolve, so stay informed about the latest SEO trends. Use free tools like Google Search Console or Google Analytics to monitor your website's performance, identify areas for improvement, and track your ranking progress. We can also help you with this - take a look at what Hyperion offers to learn more about our SEO consultation services.
Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. By consistently creating valuable content, optimizing your website, and building a strong online presence, you'll climb the search engine rankings and attract more visitors to your website. Need help doing this? Contact our team here!
Curious to see the impact SEO can have? Take a look at how we helped a local coffee shop become the top search result for "coffee shops" in their city, right under Starbucks! You can also read how our SEO services increased clientele by 300% for a barber studio - both success stories are featured on our website's case studies page!
