In the digital realm, visibility is key to attracting and retaining your target audience. One of the most effective ways to achieve this visibility is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO encompasses a myriad of techniques aimed at improving a website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) for certain keywords. As a website owner and partnering with Pagecog as your developer, understanding and implementing SEO strategies is crucial for online success.

The Pagecog team handled most of this for you, and our partner marketing company revised, but we set out the essentials of online marketing and SEO for your benefit.

Understanding the Basics

• Keywords: At the core of SEO are keywords. These are the words and phrases that potential customers type into search engines. Identifying the right keywords for your business and incorporating them into your website’s content is fundamental for SEO success. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can be invaluable in this process.
• On-Page SEO: This entails optimizing individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic. Elements to focus on include the title tag, meta description, headers, and the URL structure. Additionally, providing quality content that incorporates your target keywords is crucial.
• Off-Page SEO: Off-page SEO involves actions taken outside of your own website to impact your rankings within the SERP. This includes strategies like backlinking from other reputable websites, social media marketing, and influencer collaborations.
• Technical SEO: This area focuses on improving the backend structure and foundation of your website. Elements like site speed, mobile optimization, and secure connections (SSL certificates) play a significant role in technical SEO.
• Domain Names: Newly registered domain names start at zero and usually aren’t indexed by Google for months – sometimes up to a year. Our partner company DomainGenius provides a way to acquire great and existing domains.

Analyzing and Monitoring Your SEO Strategies

• SEO Analytics: Utilizing platforms like Google Analytics and SEMrush can provide invaluable insights into your website’s performance. These tools can help you understand your audience better, identify which keywords are driving traffic, and ascertain the effectiveness of your SEO strategies. Pagecog sets up each of our sites with both tools.
• Regular Audits: Conducting regular SEO audits can help identify areas of improvement. Tools like Ahrefs provide comprehensive audit reports that can guide optimization efforts. Pagecog utilizes the Ahrefs API as part of out data suite and emails you a report each month.

Adhering to Best Practices

• Staying Updated: SEO is a constantly evolving field. Staying updated with the latest algorithm changes and SEO practices is essential. Following reputable SEO blogs like Moz Blog and Search Engine Journal can help keep you informed.
• Avoiding Black Hat Techniques: Employing deceptive or manipulative SEO tactics, known as Black Hat SEO, can result in penalties from search engines. Adhering to ethical White Hat SEO practices is imperative for long-term success.
• Avoid Shady Operators: The SEO industry is ridden with shady operators who promise the world and deliver nothing. We have heard many first-hand stories of businesses taken for tens of thousands of dollars with nothing in return. Pagecog sets your site up to rank well in terms of structure, but our partner company revised as experts at white-hate and above-board online marketing techniques that are proprietary to them and best-in-class.