To boost your organic traffic, having a consistent SEO strategy and adhering to best practices is key. Here are four crucial SEO areas to focus on to improve your rankings and attract more organic traffic to your website:
- Keyword Research: Identify and analyze the search queries your target audience uses to find your content.
- Content Creation and Optimization: Develop high-quality, relevant content optimized to rank well in search engines.
- Technical SEO: Optimize your website’s technical aspects to help search engines crawl and index your site efficiently.
- Link Building: Acquire high-quality backlinks to improve your site’s authority and visibility.
By targeting the search terms your audience uses on Google, you can reach them at the moment they’re searching for something specific without paying for every click.
Getting Started: Three Steps to Increase Organic Traffic
1. Audit Your Website for Technical Issues
Google needs to be able to quickly and easily crawl and index your website’s content. This requires a solid technical foundation. Here’s how to do it:
Web Pages
- Each web page has a unique page title.
- There is a distinct contrast between text and background colors.
- Page content is organized with section headers.
- Lists are properly formatted with headings.
- Web pages can be crawled by screen readers.
Images & Tables
- Images have descriptive alt-text.
- Text-only images are not used.
- Tables have alt-text describing the contents or the data.
Video & Media
- Written transcripts are available for all audio and video content.
- Audio transcripts are available for videos.
- All media have a text description.
- Descriptions contain a way to view or access the written transcript.
- All videos have captions.
- On-page media does not auto-play.
- Media can be stopped, paused, or muted.
Navigation
- All web pages have the same header navigation.
- Your website has breadcrumb navigation.
- Users have access to a clear site map.
- Dropdown functionality is accessible with keyboards.
2. Find Keywords to Drive Your SEO Strategy
Keyword research is essential for identifying topics to write about and publish on your website to drive more organic traffic.
- Use a tool like Semrush’s Keyword Gap to compare your domain with competitors.
- Focus on two categories of keywords: Missing (competitors rank for them, but you don’t) and Weak (competitors rank higher than you).
- Look for keywords with a good combination of high search volume and lower difficulty. Ensure your content satisfies the search intent.
3. Set Up a Google Business Profile (If Applicable)
If your business interacts with customers in person, a Google Business Profile is crucial for local SEO.
- Setting up a profile helps you appear in local search results like Google Map Pack.
- Follow a guide to set up your profile and start attracting local customers.
Checking Organic Traffic
To view organic traffic statistics for your site:
- Use Google Analytics and Google Search Console for free.
- For checking organic traffic to any website, use Semrush’s Organic Research tool.
Why Invest in Organic Traffic?
- Cost-Effective: Organic traffic doesn’t require payment to search engines, unlike PPC advertising.
- Long-Term Benefits: Users frequently visiting your site stay in touch, providing feedback and improving your offerings.
- Better ROI: Organic traffic offers a better return on investment compared to other online marketing forms.
- Boosts Conversion Rates: Frequent user visits imply trust, leading to higher conversion rates.
- Builds Relationships: SEO helps in building long-term relationships with users, establishing brand loyalty.
Strategies to Increase Organic Traffic
- Use People Also Ask Sections: Optimize for questions in the ‘People Also Ask’ section to increase visibility and clicks.
- Analyze Keyword Gaps: Identify and target keywords your competitors are ranking for but you aren’t.
- Update Old Content: Keep your content fresh and relevant by regularly updating it.
- Perform Keyword Research: Continually research and target relevant keywords to drive traffic.
- Leverage Social Media: Use social media platforms to drive traffic and engage with your audience.
By focusing on these areas, you can effectively increase your organic traffic, establish authority in your niche, and build trust with your audience, ultimately leading to more conversions and long-term success.
