Discovering that your website is listed first on Google Search for the products or services your organization offers is the dream of every business owner and marketer, but this is no easy task. In order to be #1, you must first understand that Google’s primary objective is to provide searchers with the best user-experience possible by delivering quality content that is highly relevant to their search queries. As a result, the only way Google will allow your website to reach the coveted first position, is if it helps them achieve this objective.
Follow these five steps to start improving your rankings in Google now:
Step 1: Target a Niche
The first step in implementing a successful search engine optimization (SEO) strategy that will drive your website to the #1 position in Google is to clearly identify and target a niche. If you’re like most businesses, you offer multiple products or services to different customer segments. So, identify the specific product or service you wish to promote, and the specific customer segment you wish to promote it to. Targeting a niche reduces your competition and also results in higher quality traffic to your website.
For example, let’s say you own a law practice in Tampa, FL. You likely want people who are searching for a lawyer in Tampa to find your website. In this scenario, not only are you competing against every other law firm in Tampa, but everyone who searches for a lawyer in Tampa is not necessarily interested in the specific practice area(s) you offer. So, in order to reduce your competition and increase the quality of visitors, you must narrow the focus of your SEO strategy to targeting people in Tampa who are in need of the specific practice area(s) your firm offers. If your firm specializes in multiple practice areas, focus initially on one or two areas that are the most profitable, or least competitive. Note that the logic in this example can be applied to any business, not just law firms.
Step 2: Select The Right Keywords
After you have identified your niche, the next step is to select relevant keywords. Your choice of keywords can have a significant impact on the success of your SEO strategy. This step requires research. Some key points that should be taken into consideration while researching and making your keyword selections are:
How competitive are the keywords?
How often are those keywords searched?
How relevant are the keywords to the customer segment you’re targeting?
How relevant are the keywords to your product or service offering?
If you are unsure which keywords you should target, we suggest reaching out to an SEO company in Tampa for professional assistance. Keep in mind that SEO is dynamic, so you should be prepared to evaluate and modify your keywords over time.
Step 4: Create Engaging Content
Once you have identified your niche and selected relevant keywords, it’s time to create engaging content using those keywords. Remember, Google’s primary goal is to provide the best user-experience possible to searchers. Therefore, in addition to relevancy, Google measures site engagement to determine if your website is providing their searchers with relevant and useful content. If your site engages visitors, this means they are finding the content it provides to be of value, which helps Google achieve its primary objective. As a result, Google will attribute more authority to your website and rankings will increase.
It is also important to continuously add fresh, engaging content to your website and give both searchers and Google a reason to keep coming back. Not only does this make your website a valuable resource for potential customers, but it let’s Google know that your website is an authoritative resource for your niche.
Step 5: Measure and Improve
The final step is to measure the results of your work and make improvements. Are your keyword selections generating the right kind of traffic? Are visitors engaging with your content? Is your website generating conversions? A successful SEO strategy requires constant analysis and improvement. The job is never done, because Google is always evolving and so are your competitors.
Follow these five steps, and you can greatly increase your chances of finding your website in the top position on Google.
