Google is a part of our everyday lives, there’s no mistaking that fact. Yet, the number of business owners who don’t understand the benefits of search engine optimization (or avoid it entirely) is surprising.

SEO is an organic way of getting traffic to your website. Put even more simply, Google will decide where your website ranks in the search engine result pages (SERP). Therefore, it is crucial to optimize your site for Google.

Not to be afraid, SEO is more than you can do-it-yourself. The DIY approach to SEO only takes a bit of preparation and getting used to it, but is an invaluable learning ability. Basic optimization also contributes to higher traffic, conversion rates and eventually sales.

3 DIY Tips to Optimize your Website for Search Engines

Being able to understand the backend of your website is valuable for any small business owner. The backend of your website will allow you to update content, add new products and blog posts without having to call (and pay) your website developer. Using platforms such as WordPress or SquareSpace allows you to easily edit and update your website accordingly. Once you have spent a couple of hours getting to know the backend of your website, optimizing your website for search should become increasingly easier.

1. Choose Smart Keywords

Keywords should be the first step of your SEO campaign. Use a free keyword tool to generate a list of words that your customers are already typing into Google when they are trying to find a product, service or information that your website holds. Compile a list of 20-30 keywords that you can incorporate into your website’s content in areas that make sense. These keywords are crucial to telling Google what your website is all about.

Long-tail keywords or key-phrases are also a popular way to connect with your customer’s online. Long-tail keywords are a longer and more specific string of words that visitors use when they know exactly what they are looking for. ‘Search engine optimization’ is a keyword that a user might search when looking to discover what SEO is about. However, when looking to implement SEO into their business a user might search ‘how to do SEO myself’ – thus a long-tail keyword.

Know, the number one priority for Google and your customer is well-written content, so just place your keywords and long-tail keywords where they flow with the rest of your content. Bear in mind that you can also integrate these keywords and key-phrases into your URL, names, and meta-tags.

2. Create Fresh Content

Google likes up-to-date content. So, write a blog (once a week, once a month – as often as you can) and incorporate relevant keywords into these posts. Design your website and write your content so that your users have a positive experience on your website. People are attracted to navigate sites that contain the information they are looking for, so make the content on each page enough to get your point across and to suffice your customers need for information. However, don’t overload the page so that it becomes boring. Load up on headers and bullet points as they are easy on the eyes.

Fresh content is also the easiest way to get people to link to your website. The more people that link to your URL on their webpages, the more Google views your site as credible and liked by users and then voila! The more visible your site becomes on Google.

We also recommend to link to your website from your social profiles, post your blog posts to forums where they answer people’s questions and encourage any online press that you get to link to your website.

3. Optimization Your On-Page Elements
On-page optimization is another key piece of the SEO puzzle and it doesn’t have to be difficult.

• • Title your images appropriately, using brief but descriptive file names. Add keywords into image titles only where fitting
  • Each word in your URL should be separated by a dash (-) and you don’t need to include filler words. The proper URL for this post would be (and is) /blog/diy-search-engine-optimization-vancouver
  • Meta-titles and meta-descriptions should be used to describe your page to the user. Add keywords into meta-tags where fitting and ensure that they are the appropriate length – 50-60 characters for the meta-title and 150-160 characters for the meta-description
  • Internally link pages within your website and from your blog posts to related pages. For example, if you discuss the services you sell in on your about page, link to the services page

Hiring an SEO agency is a great choice often, Finsbury Media agency is a great place to begin. Contact us openly for a more in-depth guide.