Do-It-Yourself

Ranking well in Google search results can have a significant impact on the success of your business. You can use the services of a search engine optimization company, or if you have time, you can make some changes to the site yourself.

1. Step: Keyword research

What keywords do you think your customers will search for when looking for your products or services? A keyword can be a single word (for example, "optimization"), but it's usually a good idea to use multiple keywords or keyword phrases because they're more specific and relevant to what your customers are looking for (for example, "Search Engine Optimization Australia").

Write as much as you can think of. Brainstorm with the team. Find alternative words. Include geographical terms if they are important to your customers (e.g., "Household in Hornsby"). You can also get ideas from your competitors' websites. Try to make a list of 20-30 key phrases.

Choose two key terms that you think are searched for the most. But remember: the more competition there is for a keyword, the harder it is to rank high. If you want to rank high on Google for the keyword "insurance," you have a long way to go. So try to choose two keywords that are relevant to your business, but not vague or competitive. Ideally, 2-3 words per sentence (e.g., "wedding catering services").

Once you've selected your top two keyword phrases, the next step is to show how you can improve your homepage.

Step 2: Web Copy

Web text refers to all the words or text on your website. Content is the be-all and end-all in the world of search engines. Therefore, keywords should be strategically placed on your web pages so that Google recognizes that your content is highly relevant to your keywords. The more noticeable, the better. (Remember, like search engines, the customer comes first, so your copy should also be easy to read.)

How to increase visibility for any keyword:
- Include keywords in headings. If possible, place them at the beginning of the title.
- Place keywords at the top of the page.
- Write keywords in bold or italics accordingly.
- Instead of linking to another "click here to read more" page, rewrite it and include your keyword. "Read more about SEO Copywriting Services."

It is important that you also include these keywords in your HTML title tag. Use your content management system to make these changes yourself. If you don't know how, ask your web developer to do it for you.

Once you have your homepage set up properly, you should consider adding new content, such as a detailed description of your offer, frequently asked questions, or informative articles about your products and services. (If you don't want to write these yourself, you can find them for free online; search for "article directory").

You should also remember that search engines can only read text, not images. Web developers often embed words into images or use Flash for animations to make the website more visible to visitors. However, this poses a major obstacle for search engines.

Step 3 : Linking

Every link to your website from another website (and not your own website) is viewed by search engines as a vote of popularity for your company and improves your ranking. However, it is not the quantity of links that matters, but rather their quality. Other websites should be relevant to your industry and preferably respected on their own merits. Ten quality links are much more valuable than 500 links from any website. Just as your personal business network has a huge impact on the success of your business, the online network you build on the Internet can also have a significant impact. Review all relevant websites that may link to you, including non-competing companies, industry groups, and organizations. Write each person a friendly email explaining how visitors will benefit from knowing your company and ask them to link to your website. Most people don't respond initially, so a follow-up call is usually required.

How can I track my results? Simply enter your chosen keywords into the search box, record your rankings, and track your Google rankings over the next few months. View your hosting reports to understand what search queries visitors are using to find your site.
The above process can be repeated for each page of the website. Remember to keep updating your content and increasing the number of links to your site.
As your ranking increases, your web traffic will increase accordingly, and the number of sales inquiries will significantly increase. Document your customer requests to measure the success of your marketing efforts.
Remember, if you measure it, you can improve it.