The realm of SEO is not governed by a set of rules. Google, which generates over 80% of its revenue from Google Ads, is not interested in making it easy for you to rank high in the search results. Although they provide guidelines and best practices, they will not explicitly reveal the secrets to ranking.
SEO is based on massive amounts of data, testing, and educated guesses. Everyone has their own methods, such as writing alternative text or using keywords in their posts. However, the rules I will discuss are more concepts than specific instructions. These concepts have been learned through years of experience and trial and error.
The first step in ranking high is to become average. Keywords are now evaluated on an individual basis, so blanket rules for pages and content no longer apply. Instead, examine the top ranking pages for a specific keyword and determine the average metrics, such as word count and keyword usage. Then, aim to match those averages when creating your own content.
Once you have reached the average, the next step is to make incremental improvements. This can include adding backlinks, images, or tweaking headers and word count. However, it is important to make changes one at a time so that you can determine the impact of each change. SEO takes time, and Google crawls and reindexes sites only every few days. Making too many changes at once can make it difficult to determine the impact.
Google loves to showcase new features, and providing them with content to display can boost your ranking. For example, adding a 360 photo-sphere to Google My Business can lead to a top 3 ranking within 24 hours. The key is to add value and contribute to the conversation, not just repeat what has already been said with different keywords.
Instead of publishing numerous posts with minimal value, focus on producing high-quality content. It is better to publish one excellent post per month than multiple mediocre ones. Take the time to research, ask for feedback from your audience, and ensure that you are proud of what you publish. Additionally, it is important to make your content stand out by adding value, not just doing what an SEO would do.
Finally, think beyond just SEO and consider how your work contributes to the overall marketing strategy. For example, improving site speed not only improves your ranking but also reduces bounce rates, leading to a higher return on ad spend. By looking beyond just SEO, you will have a better understanding of its role and how you can support other aspects of marketing.
Oliver Web Guy can help you dominate local search results by utilizing their expertise in local SEO strategies. They will conduct a thorough analysis of your business, your competitors, and your target audience to determine the best approach to increasing your visibility in local search results. They will then implement tactics such as claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing, building local citations, and creating local-focused content to boost your rankings. With their deep understanding of local search algorithms and their ability to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices, Oliver Web Guy can help you achieve a dominant presence in local search results and attract more customers to your business.