In today's competitive digital landscape, standing out from the crowd on the World Wide Web is more important than ever. Understanding 2023 Best Practices for Organic SEO Traffic will give you the advantage if you want your business to thrive online.
It's essential to differentiate yourself and ensure your website ranks high in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). With Google still dominating the search engine market share at over 92 percent, appearing on the first page of Google search results is paramount since the majority of users rarely venture beyond that initial page.
But the question is, does your business appear on the first page of a search through organic SEO efforts, or are you relying on Google ads? Approximately nine out of ten first-page results are organic, driven by strong Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices.
However, SEO is an ever-evolving field, with Google's algorithms constantly changing. Keeping up with these changes can be a full-time job. Fortunately, there are ways to improve your organic SEO rankings without increasing your advertising budget. Here are 10 tried-and-true tips to boost your website's organic search ranking in 2023:
The foundation of SEO success is to maintain a sharp focus on keywords. Each page of your website should center around one or two keywords that resonate with Google users' search queries. These keywords should be thoughtfully integrated into the content, either as a singular core term or as a long-tail keyword that precisely addresses specific user queries. Ensure that each page includes a mix of these keywords and their synonyms, making up no more than 3 percent of the page's text.
For example, if your business is a wedding venue company, you might target keywords like "wedding venue Nashville" for your homepage. Other pages could focus on different keywords like "farmhouse weddings" or "outdoor events venue." This strategic keyword placement enhances your visibility in search results with a local focus.
Or your business specializes in material handling. In that case, you might want to target keywords such as "industrial material handling solutions" for your homepage. Other pages can be optimized for keywords like "warehouse equipment suppliers" or "efficient material handling systems." This strategic use of keywords will significantly boost your visibility in search results, helping potential clients find your material handling services more easily.
Whenever a user searches for a topic on Google, websites appear in search results with brief descriptions called meta descriptions. Without a manually provided meta description, Google might generate one using content from your site, potentially missing important keywords. To have control over this description and ensure it contains your desired keywords and your business name, use a free plugin like Yoast SEO. A well-optimized meta-description is crucial for organic search results.
Even if your business aims for a national or international reach, don't underestimate the importance of displaying your business address, phone number, and email on your website. Google's algorithms favor local businesses, giving them more prominence in search results. By including your location, you increase your chances of appearing on the first page when users search for businesses in your area. This also fosters trust, as clients can identify with your physical presence.
Ensure that every page of your website includes the primary keyword in its title. This applies to both the "slug" (the page's URL) and the content on the page. The keyword should also be a part of the slug. For your main page, use your business name as the slug to capitalize on Google's preference for keywords in titles.
Think of your webpages as chapters in a book, with each chapter having a title emphasized with an H1 tag. Google looks for consistency and structure in your website, so it's essential to use only one H1 tag per page, and it should contain your primary keyword.
Fast-loading websites are favored by both users and Google. Since approximately 60 percent of web traffic comes from mobile devices, your site's mobile responsiveness significantly impacts SEO. Google now prioritizes mobile site speed over desktop speed when ranking sites. Therefore, optimize your site for mobile devices to improve search rankings.
A clear website structure is essential for both user navigation and SEO. While Google's algorithms are smart, it's best to provide a guide in the form of a sitemap. Most web developers can create one easily, especially if you're using WordPress. Several plugins can help generate and update your sitemap to ensure Google doesn't miss any changes to your site's structure.
If you're considering a website redesign, remember to check for broken internal and external links. Ensure that all links connect to the right destinations to prevent user frustration. Use 301 redirects to guide old clients who might have bookmarked pages on your old site to the new and improved version.
To enhance accessibility and SEO, provide alt text for images on your website. Alt text helps screen-reading programs describe images to visually impaired users. It's also an opportunity to include relevant keywords, which can improve both the page and image rankings.
Breadcrumbs, the navigation path displayed at the top of each interior page (e.g., "My Business > Services"), aid both users and Google in understanding your site's structure. While they may seem intrusive from a design perspective, implementing breadcrumbs can lead to higher search rankings for both your interior pages and your homepage.
Implementing these 2023 best practices for organic SEO traffic will lead to improved search rankings for your website. At NAVARRO CREATIVE GROUP, our expertise and data-driven strategies will ensure that your digital marketing efforts yield significant results, helping your business thrive in the digital landscape. If you need assistance or support with website improvement and redesign, don't hesitate to contact us.
