Most websites consider organic traffic to be the best form of traffic. This is traffic from search engines like Google that comes to your site when someone searches for relevant keywords and your page ranks on the first page of results. Getting organic traffic takes time and consistent effort, but it can help turn casual visitors into loyal customers or subscribers. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss multiple strategies you can employ to help improve your organic search rankings and increase the flow of targeted visitors to your website over time.
Optimize Your Content for Search Engines
One of the most important factors search engines like Google consider when ranking pages is the relevance and quality of the on-page content itself. To help search engines understand what your page is about, you need to optimize your content with target keywords. Some best practices for optimization include:
Use target keywords naturally in your page titles, headings, subheadings, URLs, and body text. Don't over-optimize or stuff keywords. Write between 800-2,000 words of unique, original content per page to give search engines enough context about your topic. Be sure your content is informative, helpful, and answers user questions or solves problems related to your target keywords. This will improve click-through rates from search results. Use targeted keywords in your anchor text when linking internally within your site or externally to other high-quality sites. Optimize images with keyword-rich alt text descriptions to help search engines understand what those images are about. Include targeted keywords in your meta descriptions, which display in search results to entice users to click on your listing. Publish frequently with new, quality content that addresses similar or related topics to your target keywords over time. Check Google Search Console to see which of your existing pages are ranking well for target keywords. See if you can duplicate those efforts on new pages.
Optimize Landing Pages
In addition to optimizing your general website content, consider taking extra care to optimize specific landing pages dedicated solely to rank for high-value target keywords. Landing pages should be highly focused on converting searchers into leads or customers by having a clear call-to-action. Some best practices include:
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-Research your target keyword and write content optimized specifically to answer searches for that term.
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-Include all pertinent on-page SEO elements like relevant meta tags, targeted headings, internal links, etc.
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-Have a clear value proposition or problem/solution statement related to that keyword.
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-Include compelling images, diagrams or rich media related to that keyword's meaning.
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-Add plenty of targeted semantic internal links from that landing page to other relevant pages on your site to pass "link juice."
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-Include highly visible calls-to-action to prompt searchers to subscribe, download an asset, call, etc.
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-Use A/B testing to refine copy, design and CTA elements that maximize conversion rates.
By laser-focusing landing pages on single keywords, you can potentially outrank your competitors for those terms over time through higher rankings and better conversion rates.
Create Quality Backlink Profile
Getting relevant inbound links from popular, high-quality sites is another factor search engines strongly consider in determining rankings. Here are some best practices:
Use search reports to find already popular industry sites linking to your competitors and seek links from those same sites if warranted. Create valuable, consumable content others will want to link to like guides, curated research, case studies and infographics. Issue well-written press releases to online publications on industry news and promote your content. Build relationships in social circles by offering industry expertise and seldom directly promoting your site. This leads to natural introductions. Create a thoughtful link-building outreach strategy versus blasting the same general pitch to hundreds of sites blindly. Negotiate links in bio or resource pages whenever guest posting if possible versus only main article links. Carefully monitor links portfolio to remove any unnatural or poor quality links which could jeopardize search rankings. Participate constructively in industry forums and answer questions regarding your expertise without overt self-promotion.
The goal is earning relevant, authority site links catalyzed by valuable content versus shallow guest posting link farms that can backfire. Focusing primarily on quality ensures sustainable search ranking increases.
Optimize Mobile Experience
Today over half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices like smartphones. Recognizing this, search engines strongly consider a site's mobile-friendliness when ranking pages. Key best practices include:
Use responsive website design templates that adapt content layouts across different screen widths. Keep content above the fold visible without scrolling down for mobile users. Optimize images, load times, and page weights for mobile so pages load fast. Use mobile url structures like /mobile/ instead of redirecting. This signals search engines. Add structured data markup like JSON-LD to indicate mobile optimization. Consider a progressive web app (PWA) template for high performance cross-device browsing. Address any Google Mobile Usability issues reported in Search Console and fix problems. Check pages on different devices using Google's mobile-friendly test tool. Balance desktop and mobile search intent with separate on-page optimizations where needed. Rising SEO value placed on excellent mobile browsing will amplify organic search gains from an optimized mobile website experience.
Strengthen Your Site Structure
The internal links tying all your web pages together also influence search algorithms when determining topical relevance and importance. Well-planned site architecture helps crawlers easily access content. Best practices include:
Use an information architecture map to logically organize page groups and individual page topics. Create a consistent, hierarchical navigation system to quickly access all important sections. Employ XML sitemaps to transparently disclose all indexed pages and help search bots thoroughly crawl. Internally link new pages to related, existing high-authority pages to build their topical relevance. Use an editorial calendar to regularly publish freshest grouped content under related parent directories. Carefully rewrite page URLs to represent important on-page keywords versus long numeric codes. Appropriately categorize and tag/index content to structure categorically related pages together better. Monitor site speed and page load health factors affecting organic rankings positively. A coherent, thoughtful site infrastructure boosts not just usability but focused search engine crawling as well for max organic exposure.
Technical SEO Audit and Configuration
While on-page optimization forms the backbone, technical site variables also affect how search engines perceive and engage with websites. Important technical SEO factors to assess include:
Server response speeds and page load times which must remain fast to rank well. Eliminating technical errors blocking search engine crawlers' access like lacking sitemap.xml files. HTTPS security implementation for search algorithm trust and rankings benefits. Proper H1-H6 tag implementation for internal linking and content skimming. No duplicated page content issues like canonical links or rel="prev/next" errors. XML sitemap validity, accessibility and change frequency management in Search Console. Robots.txt file configured correctly to allowsearch bots to crawl desired folders. Eliminating duplicate meta descriptions or title tags within search snippets. Mobile usability and load speeds conforming to Google's core Web vitals. No Javascript/Flash obstacles blocking key content from being indexed. Comprehensive technical auditing ensures problematic glitches negatively impacting organic visibility are addressed proactively.
Monitor Keyword Rankings and Performance
One of the best ways to continually optimize SEO efforts is by closely tracking chosen target keywords in search engines and your website analytics. Monitoring tools provide insights into:
Current organic keyword rankings and traffic trends over monthly periods in Google Search Console. Keyword difficulty levels to set expectations and refine target opportunities accordingly. New keywords with rising search volumes to focus additional content/link-building efforts on. Pages and content generating most targeted organic traffic to duplicate successes. Landing page performance metrics like time on site, bounce rates help strengthen conversion factors. Top referral search queries directing organic searchers to problematic error pages needing fixes. International keyword rank tracking gives clues to expanding search presence globally long term. Armed with actionableSearch Console and analytics insights, smarter optimization decisions are possible monthly to maximize organic search growth.
Invest in Link Building Strategically
While high-authority inbound links signal relevance to search algorithms over time, remember link building must align with long-term business goals:
Set annual link building goals based on search volume and commercial opportunity of target keywords. Continuously create high-quality, sharable assets appealing broadly to different types of sites indirectly tied to target keywords. Guest post judiciously, securing bio backlinks as well whenever possible versus only article links. Establish branded link building and exponential growth through regular or sponsored publications in high authority directories. Leverage social influence by participating constructively across social platforms in industry discussions. Build relationships proactively within industry circles to tap existing goodwill for stakeholder introductions. Clearly measure link building ROI in metrics like organic traffic or leads generated to continually optimize strategies.