1. Keywords, keywords, keywords.
Making sure your content is engaging with your users is one of the most important things you can do. However, if you’re not using the right keywords, search engines are not going to find you. Using tools such as Google analytics, you can gain insights into what your users are searching, and easily implement this into every aspect of your site.
2. Internal page linking.
All websites have both internal and external links. Internal links connect your internal pages to other internal pages. Linking does more than just help the user navigate your page. It actually helps Google figure out how relevant your site is, how it works, and how valuable it is to the person searching. Setting a linking strategy is both incredibly important, and also dynamic. Updating links regularly can help keep your site relevant.
3. Consider the user-experience.
Great UX should not be overlooked. In fact, they both share the same underlying principle. To find the right content for the right user. There are the basics of the user experience, such as simple site layout and domain name, and then more advanced UX elements, such as website speed and responsiveness. Make sure you’re spending the time to understand what affects your google ranking, and how it can be improved, simply through UX.
4. Device compatibility.
Ensuring your site is a great experience on mobile, table and web is a crucial part of SEO in 2020. Google announced in 2015 that mobile search has surpassed desktop based searching, worldwide. Now more than ever, businesses must have cross-compatibility, for all potential devices. Google has responded to the changing tides, by creating a mobile-first algorithm, which means mobile priority. Factoring in mobile keywords and mobile friendly design when building your site will ensure you continue to rank highly, even as the market continues to shift.
5. Caption your images.
People can see your images, but Google cannot. However, what Google can do, is read your image tags to ensure appropriate images are displayed in the search results. It can seem like a small and insignificant aspect of SEO, but every little piece of information counts.
6. All content is not created equal.
Regular, high-quality content will attract more people than erratic, low-quality posts. Ensure you’re creating content that serves the users. Despite featuring on this list, your main focus for content should be your users, not SEO. Funnily enough, Google realises this, and high quality content is rewarded. Tips here include; keeping it unique and not plastering it all over the web.
7. Create everything for the user, not search engines.
I know, it seems contrary to this list. However, the key to great SEO is much more simple than people think. If you always keep user experience front and centre when you are creating your site, you’re well on your way to a successfully optimised site.