Don’t believe the experts who tell you that SEO is an arcane art requiring years of experience and resources that are out of your grasp.
Sure, some of the tactics employed by SEO companies do require all of that and more, but it doesn’t mean SEO on a small (or non-existent) budget isn’t possible.
There are so many ways that Google and other search engines decide where your website ranks. Some of them are so easy to tap into, you’ll wonder why you never thought to do it before.
Here are our top three ways to kick your website into gear, without spending a dollar:
- Improve your website’s user experience:
If there’s one thing Google loves, it’s keeping users’ glues to their screens. Your website should be a place that nobody wants to leave, at least until they transact with you.
This tip is probably the simplest of all, but the hardest to do right. If your website is easy and enjoyable to use, more users stay longer and Google rewards you for this.
Is your landing page a place that invites curiosity and prompts action? Does your website lead users naturally through the products and services you provide? Can potential customers enter into a transaction quickly and effortlessly when they’ve made a decision?
Ask yourself these questions and adjust your site accordingly, then sit back and reap the benefits.
- Fix or remove any broken links or multimedia assets:
This follows on from our first point but warrants further explanation because it’s an absolute deal-breaker. Customers notice even the smallest problems with a website, and it creates an unconscious bias against what you have on offer.
Poorly functioning site assets are a growing problem as many websites age. So, if something doesn’t work and you can’t reasonably fix it, bin it.
- Get your Google My Business profile up and running:
It’s rare that anyone gives something away for free, but Google My Business is as close to an exception to this rule as you can get.
Setting up a My Business profile lets you provide relevant information to Google so they can list your business by its location.
Think of it as a free invitation to show up in more relevant local searches by potential customers in your area and what’s not to love about free publicity?