Learn the basics of Search Engine Optimisation

What is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), and why is it so important?

When it comes to websites, ‘SEO’ is the term on everyone’s lips. But what is it, how does it work, and how can we measure its impact?

Perhaps you’re already familiar with the term ‘SEO’ and want to find out more about what’s involved in managing and measuring the SEO on your own site. Perhaps ‘SEO’ is a term entirely new to you, and you’re looking for information which will help to unpack it a bit. Perhaps you’re a small business owner, or someone with a role in marketing, or someone who is starting out in managing websites for clients. Whatever the case, you’ve come to the right place, and our FREE Beginner’s Guide to SEO could be just the resource you need to get started!

Our downloadable guide covers the basic elements of SEO – everything from content planning, ranking factors, and Google Analytics, to site security, design & UX, and social media management – giving you some top tips and the ‘know-how’ you need to get started with website optimisation!

What is SEO?

SEO refers to the things you can do to help make sure Google is putting your site in front of people when they search. Our guide is split into two main focal areas; On-Page SEO and Off-Page SEO, breaking down both sections into smaller chunks that are easy to digest, informative and relevant, regardless of the industry you work in.

Carrying out basic SEO can help to improve your site’s performance and the user experience it offers, which can, ultimately, convert clicks into custom for your business.

On-Page SEO

This is the content you actually see on each webpage, and the practice of optimising your site in order to rank higher in search results.

The first chapter in our guide sheds light on:

Google Analytics

A useful tool giving insight into user behaviour, and a great way to measure the success of your efforts, before and after optimising your site.

Getting Mobile-Friendly

All you need to know about Google’s mobile-first indexing, and why optimising for mobile is so important.

Site Security

Having an SSL certificate is not only vital for combatting data breaches, but it also adds credibility to your site.

Speed Testing

Find out how to audit your site for both desktop and mobile, and the simple steps you can take to increase your speed score.

Design & UX

Design and layout is key to keeping users on your site and ultimately minimising your bounce rate.

Images

From alt tags to image compression, find out what you can be doing to improve your site’s performance.

Copy & Content

Regularly uploading appropriate, keyword-rich content is a sure-fire way to keep Google happy! Whether it’s page content or blog posts, we provide our top content creation tips.

Link building

A great way to keep users on your site, as well as outlining the hierarchy of your website to help Google with indexing.

Page Titles & Descriptions

Influential areas you need to be focussing on when updating and/or adding content to your site.

Off-Page SEO

This is all the stuff that goes on to promote your website in other areas of the internet, such as on social media and through email marketing.

Our second chapter covers:

Setting up Google My Business

A FREE service that is really beneficial to local SEO.

Social Media

Increase your engagement on social media and drive traffic to your website from social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Email Marketing

Reach specific audiences with targeted messages, monthly or quarterly newsletters, or ad-hoc campaigns.

Where next?

The best place to start is with a consideration of your site’s purpose. What has your website been set up to achieve? Are you looking to convert clicks into sales? Are you wanting to encourage people to get in touch, or is your website designed simply to perform as an online brochure, to give browsers more information about your business and/or services?

Either way, the result you’re looking to get out of your site will ultimately inform your SEO strategy, especially in the design stages of putting your site together.

Armed with your goals, a brew, a pen and a notepad, download our FREE Beginner’s Guide to SEO today and get started with your optimising journey!

If time is not of the essence and you’re looking to outsource your marketing, get in touch with the R52 team today. We can carry out a comprehensive site audit to assess the performance of your current site, as well as suggest any web design and development changes that could have a positive impact on your score and search rankings.