Does your blog have low traffic? This is a common problem among blogs.
There are many reasons why this might be happening, but the most likely reason is that people cannot find it when they search for something on Google.
SEO is a great way to increase traffic to your blog…
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What is SEO and How Does It Work?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. This technique makes it easier for people to find you when they search for something on Google or other search engines like Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo.
SEO can be tricky but here’s how you can increase website traffic using this effective method.
There are various types of SEO that you can use to increase traffic to your blog.
Search Engine Optimization is a good way to increase blog traffic because it’s scalable, has lasting benefits and you can see results even though it takes time before you start seeing an increase in website traffic.
Types of Search Engine Optimization
There are 4 key types of SEO: On-Page SEO, Off-Page SEO, Technical SEO, and Local SEO.
On-Pages SEO
On-page SEO is the process of optimizing your website pages for Google and other search engines.
It covers everything from the title of your article to the images on your website.
On-Page Optimization on a particular page/post includes,
- Optimizing the Title Tag
- Optimizing the Meta Description
- Optimizing the Heading Tags
- Optimizing the Image Alt Tags
- Optimizing the Content
- Linking to Authority Sites
Title tags and meta descriptions are what show up on a search engine results page (SERP).
They are the first thing a visitor will see and is a major factor in why visitors click on one search result over another.
Off-Page SEO
Off-page SEO is the process of optimizing your website outside of your own website.
This includes things like link building, social media, and directory submissions.
- Off-Page Optimization for a website includes,
- Building links back to your site
- Creating social media profiles
- Submitting your website to directories
- Guest blogging
Technical SEO
Technical SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that Google and other search engines can easily crawl and index your content.
This includes things like ensuring your website is mobile-friendly and has a fast loading time.
Technical SEO optimization for a website includes,
- Ensuring the website is mobile-friendly
- Optimizing images
- Reducing HTTP requests
- Minifying JavaScript and CSS files
- Enabling browser caching
- Configuring a 301 redirect
Local SEO
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website for local search.
This includes things like including your city and state in your website title, adding a Google My Business listing, and adding schema markup to your website.
Local SEO optimization for a website includes,
- Including your city and state in your website title
- Adding a Google My Business listing
- Adding schema markup to your website
If you’re looking for ways to increase website traffic using SEO, start by optimizing your pages for keywords that are relevant to your business.
Next, start building links back to your site from authority sites.
Finally, make sure your website is mobile-friendly and has a fast loading time. These are just a few of the many ways you can increase website traffic using SEO.
Following these techniques will help your site rank on search engines like Google which makes it easier for people to find you.
SEO also improves click-through rates (CTRs) and organic search traffic, both of which are beneficial to your business.
Common Mistakes Made by Bloggers That Hurt Your Site Rank:-
One of the most common mistakes made by bloggers when it comes to SEO is not optimizing their website for search engines.
Another mistake is not building enough links to their site, both internal links & external links.
Also, not using the correct keywords in on-page optimization can also hurt your site’s rank.
Last, but not least, making sure your website is mobile-friendly is another important step in optimizing your site for search engines.
The importance of Keyword Research:
Before you start any SEO campaign, it’s important to do keyword research.
Keyword research is the process of finding keywords that people are searching for on Google and other search engines.
The goal of keyword research is to find keywords that have low competition and high search volume.
You can use tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner, Google Trends, and Keyword Tool to find the most popular keywords related to your industry.
Taking Action on Your Research
After you’ve done your research, it’s time to take action. You can use a tool like SEMrush or Ahrefs to see how many people are searching for a particular keyword in a month.
How To Use?
Keyword research is a part of on-page optimization…
On-page optimization includes optimizing the title tag, meta description, heading tags, images, and URL for a website.
You can use the keywords you find in your research to optimize these elements on your website.
SEO is a long-term investment and it may take some time before you see results. However, if you stick to a plan and are consistent with your efforts, you will see an increase in website traffic over time.
The importance of Backlinks:
Backlinks are links coming into your website from other websites.
Links help increase your site’s authority which, in turn, increases the chances of people finding you organically when they search for related keywords on Google and other search engines.
Ways to gain backlinks:
- Create content that is so good, people will want to share it with their friends.
- Post links in relevant subreddits or forums.
- Comment on other blog posts and link back to your site.
- Submit guest posts for blogs within your industry.
- Use social media to increase awareness of your website.
DO NOT buy links. Google penalizes websites that engage in this practice.
How to optimize your content for search engines?
The first step is to choose a good topic for your blog post. Think about what kind of content you can create that people will want to read.
Then, think about the keywords you want to target with your blog post. You should make sure they are relevant to your industry and include them in…
- Your title tags
- Your meta descriptions
- Your heading tags
- Images on the page
- The URL for the page
You should also make sure you include those keywords in your article naturally. Don’t stuff them in using a keyword generator.
Finally, make sure you use a plugin like Yoast to check if your content is properly optimized.
Tools to help you with Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
There are both Free & Paid tools to increase website traffic using SEO. These tools can help you with on-page optimization, backlink acquisition, and competitor analysis.
Free vs Paid SEO Tools
The difference between free and paid tools comes down to what you can get out of them.
Free SEO tools don’t cost anything but they have limitations. Some of them are quite basic and don’t offer a lot of features.
Paid SEO tools offer more features that can boost your website’s traffic. They also offer more accurate information about your website and your competitors.
Which one you choose depends on your budget and what you need to increase website traffic using SEO.
Tools that help in Search Engine Optimization (Free):
- Google Keyword Planner
- Google Trends
- Google Search Console
- Google Analytics
- Wordstream
- H-Supertools
- Yoast SEO (WordPress Plugin)
- Moz Open Site Explorer
Tools that help in Search Engine Optimization (Paid):
- Ahrefs
- SEMrush
- KW Finder
- Ubersuggest
- Moz
- Raven Tools
- SERPed.net
Tools that help in Search Engine Optimization (Chrome Extension)
- Whatsmyserp
- SEOquake
- Mozbar
Resources for Increasing Website Traffic with SEO
- Search Engine Land
- Unbounce Blog
- Moz Blog
Conclusion
To increase website traffic, you have to increase your organic traffic. You can do this by optimizing your content for search engines.
This means that you should choose a good topic, include keywords naturally in the text, and use SEO plugins to check if everything is optimized properly.
You can increase traffic to your blog organically by creating great content that people will want to share with their friends online.
As well, increase your backlink acquisition by building links to your website and using social media to increase awareness of your blog. Do not buy links because Google penalizes websites that engage in this practice.
Also, you need to keep in mind that SEO is a long-term investment, so be patient and stick to a plan to see results. Start today!