Feeling like you should own that top spot on Google for your chosen keyword, but your competitor is the one shining? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Here’s your guide to SEO success with the powerful tips.
1. Without Landing Pages, You Won’t See Visitor Growth
A common mistake many website owners make is trying to optimize their homepage for many keywords. The result? Your site becomes a jack of all trades but master of none, and search engines struggle to understand what your page is really about.
Without focused landing pages, you’ll likely get buried under more relevant, specialized pages from competitors.
Tip: Create landing pages tailored to specific topics or keywords. A landing page is like a spotlight. It focuses on one topic, helping Google and visitors see the value of your content. Optimize each landing page for one primary keyword and make it the best resource available on that topic. This way, you cater to both search engines and users
Example: Imagine you run a travel agency specializing in eco-tourism.
Each page focuses on one specific type of trip, helping potential customers find exactly what they’re looking for.
With this strategy, you’re more likely to rank highly for multiple keywords, such as "sustainable African safari tours."
2. Focus on Long-Tail Keywords
Everyone wants to rank for popular keywords like "shoes" or "insurance." However, these keywords are very competitive. Large brands with big budgets often dominate them. If you’re targeting these terms, you’re setting yourself up for frustration.
Tip: Long-tail keywords—phrases with three or more words—are your best friend. They might have lower search volumes. However, they usually have less competition and higher conversion rates. This is because they target users with specific needs. Long-tail keywords like "affordable running shoes for wide feet" are easier to rank for and attract visitors who are ready to take action.
Example: Let’s say you own a bakery. Instead of trying to rank for "cakes," aim for "custom wedding cakes in New York" or "gluten-free birthday cakes in Boston." These phrases draw in people who are looking for your services. This boosts your chances of ranking higher and turning visitors into customers.
Pro Tip: Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic, or SEO platforms like SEMrush. These can help you find long-tail keywords that have low competition. A little research goes a long way in uncovering hidden opportunities.
3. Relevance Is Everything
Even if you manage to attract visitors to your page, your job isn’t done. If your content doesn’t meet their needs, they will return to the search results. This tells Google that your page isn’t relevant. Over time, this hurts your rankings.
Tip: Focus on relevance. Understand your audience’s needs and create content that directly answers their questions or solves their problems. Relevance isn’t just about keywords—it’s about intent. If someone searches for "how to care for succulents," they don’t want to read about cacti or general gardening tips. Give them exactly what they’re looking for.
Example: You run an online store selling home office furniture. For the keyword "best office chairs for back pain," a good page should have specific product recommendations. It should include detailed reviews and tips for choosing ergonomic chairs. It should not just be a generic list of chairs. Add images, videos, and testimonials to make your page the go-to resource for anyone researching this topic.
4. Entice Visitors with Catchy Meta Titles and Descriptions
Your meta title and description are often the first things people see when your page appears in search results. A boring or vague meta title can cause potential visitors to scroll past your site, even if you rank well.
Tip: Think of your meta title and description as a mini billboard. Use compelling language to grab attention and make users want to click. Include numbers, questions, or emotional triggers to create curiosity and urgency. Treat your meta title like a headline and your meta description like a pitch—be clear, concise, and engaging.
Examples of Meta Titles:
"5 Secrets to Ranking Higher on Google (That Actually Work!)"
"Struggling with SEO? Here’s How to Boost Your Rankings Today"
"The Ultimate Guide to Google Rankings – Free Tips Inside!"
Pro Tip: Test different formats for your titles and descriptions. Tools like Google Ads’ preview tool or SEO software can show you how your meta details will appear in search results.
5. Start with Keyword Research
One of the biggest challenges in SEO is knowing where to start. Without a clear list of keywords, you’ll waste time and energy creating content that doesn’t drive traffic. Worse, you might end up targeting keywords with too much competition or too little search volume.
Tip: Keyword research is the foundation of your SEO strategy. Begin by thinking of words your audience might use. Then, grow your list with tools like Google Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic, or SEMrush. Focus on a mix of high-intent, low-competition keywords and long-tail phrases to cover all your bases.
Example: If you’re a fitness coach, you might start with broad terms like "home workouts." Through research, you can find specific opportunities. For example, "15-minute workouts for busy moms" or "beginner strength training with no equipment." These specific terms give you a better shot at ranking while targeting highly motivated users.
6. Don’t Copy Content from Other Websites
Copying content from other websites may seem like an easy way to get more visibility. However, it is a trap that can hurt your rankings. Google is highly adept at identifying the original source of content. Duplicate content not only fails to help your site but can also lead to penalties, causing your pages to vanish from search results. Even if your competitor steals your content, rest assured that Google typically rewards the original author and filters out the copycats.
If you want to use information from another source, make sure most of your content is original. Aim for at least 51% original work. Google prefers unique, valuable content. You can test your content’s uniqueness using tools like Copyscape.com.
Example: Let’s say you run a health and wellness blog, and you want to write about the benefits of yoga. Instead of copying an article from the internet, share your own views. You can talk about personal experiences, success stories, or unique interviews with yoga practitioners.
For instance, add sections like “How Yoga Helped Me Overcome Anxiety” or “Top 5 Poses Recommended by Professional Instructors.” This makes your article stand out and provides fresh value to readers.
7. Use a Responsive Theme
In today’s mobile-first world, having a responsive website isn’t optional—it’s essential. A responsive theme ensures your site looks great and functions well on any device, whether it’s a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
Platforms like WordPress make it easy to find professional, mobile-friendly themes on marketplaces like Themeforest. A good theme isn’t just about looks; it also impacts your site’s loading speed and user experience. Slow-loading or poorly designed sites can drive visitors away and hurt your rankings.
Tip:To ensure your site is technically sound, use tools like GTmetrix or Pingdom Tools to test page speed and performance. Google’s PageSpeed Insights is another invaluable tool for evaluating your site against Core Web Vitals, which are essential metrics for speed and usability.
Example:Imagine you own an online store selling artisanal crafts. You invest in a responsive theme, ensuring that your beautiful handmade items look stunning whether viewed on a phone or a laptop. By using PageSpeed Insights, you discover that your homepage images are too large and slow to load. After optimizing the images with tools like Imagify, your page loads in under two seconds. The result? A better user experience, reduced bounce rate, and improved Google rankings.
8. Leverage the Yoast SEO Plugin
If you’re using WordPress, the Yoast SEO plugin is a must-have for optimizing your website. This tool makes tasks easier. It helps improve meta titles and descriptions. It also creates XML sitemaps. Plus, it adds Open Graph tags for better sharing on social media.
Yoast also allows you to edit your robots.txt file, which controls which pages search engines can crawl. This is useful for keeping sensitive or irrelevant pages out of search results. Additionally, the .htaccess file can be managed to redirect old URLs or enhance caching for faster load times.
Tip: By fine-tuning these settings, you can make your site more search-engine-friendly and improve its overall performance.
Example:You run a real estate blog and notice that your listings page isn’t performing well on Google. With Yoast, you change the meta title to: “Top Real Estate Listings in San Francisco – Updated Weekly.” You also add a strong meta description that highlights new and exclusive properties. You also use Yoast to create an XML sitemap, making it easier for Google to index your pages. Over the next few weeks, you see a steady increase in traffic from search engines.
9. Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) Plugin
Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) standard is designed to make mobile pages load lightning-fast. With an AMP plugin, your WordPress site can generate simplified, ultra-fast versions of your pages for mobile users. Fast-loading pages aren’t just great for user experience—they also give you a ranking advantage in mobile search results.
Tip: However, keep in mind that AMP pages have a streamlined design and may not include all the elements of your standard site. This tradeoff is often worth it for pages like blogs, articles, and other content-heavy sections.
Example:You run a news site that covers tech trends.
By enabling the AMP plugin, your articles load instantly for mobile visitors. Imagine someone searching for “latest AI breakthroughs” on their phone.
Your AMP-enabled page appears at the top of their results, and because it loads almost immediately, they’re more likely to stay, read, and share your content.
This enhances engagement and drives more traffic over time.
10. Use Royalty-Free Images
Adding eye-catching images to your website is a great way to engage visitors and enhance your content. However, using images without proper licensing can lead to legal trouble. Thankfully, there are several resources and tools to help you find royalty-free images. A popular WordPress plugin, Pixabay Images, allows you to quickly add beautiful, license-free pictures to your site.
In addition to royalty-free sources like Unsplash, Pexels, and FlatIcon, consider using original photos and videos. Original visuals add a personal touch. They also help you appear higher in Google Images and YouTube searches.
Tip: Videos are particularly powerful. Embedding videos on your website increases visitor engagement and boosts the time they spend on your pages. For example, a company like Wehkamp uses tutorial videos such as “How to Tie a Tie” to promote their products. By providing helpful content, they keep visitors on their site longer while showcasing their offerings.
Example: Imagine running a travel blog. Instead of just using stock images, you upload photos from your trips and embed videos with tips for budget traveling.
One video shows your adventure on a shoestring budget, which keeps viewers engaged and increases their likelihood of sharing your page.
For your featured image, make sure it is at least 1200 pixels wide. This helps your content show up in Google Discover and reach more people.
11. Optimize Your Site Speed with Caching
Website speed is critical for user experience and SEO rankings. A cache plugin can significantly boost your site's speed by creating static versions of your pages that load almost instantly for visitors. Think of it as having snacks ready-to-go at a vending machine rather than waiting for a fresh order to be prepared.
One of the best cache plugins is WP Rocket, which offers a host of features for around €33. It not only improves load times but also provides tools to optimize images, manage lazy loading, and reduce server requests.
Tip: Slow sites can frustrate visitors and lead to high bounce rates. Tools like GTmetrix or Google’s PageSpeed Insights can help you identify and fix speed-related issues. For example, large images often slow down websites. Using WP Rocket or tools like Imagify, you can compress images without losing quality.
Example: Let’s say you own an online store for handmade crafts.
Your site has been loading slowly, and visitors often leave before browsing your products.
After installing WP Rocket, you notice a dramatic improvement: your site loads in under two seconds.
Visitors stay longer, browse more pages, and complete more purchases.
12/Additional Free Tools for SEO
To further enhance your SEO efforts, these free tools can provide invaluable insights:
Ubersuggest: Analyze search volume, keyword competition, and even get related keyword suggestions to expand your content strategy.
Example: Enter "handmade jewelry" to discover additional search terms like "eco-friendly jewelry" or "unique handmade earrings."
Sitechecker: Quickly audit your website to find SEO issues and improvement areas.
Example: Input your site’s URL and get actionable tips, such as fixing slow-loading pages or optimizing meta descriptions.
Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test: See how well your site performs on mobile devices and make necessary adjustments.
Example: If the test shows your menu buttons are too small, you can adjust them to improve mobile navigation.
Keywords Everywhere (Chrome Extension): View search volumes, related keywords, and pay-per-click costs directly in Google search results.
Example: While searching for “DIY crafts,” the extension suggests long-tail keywords like “easy DIY crafts for beginners” or “DIY crafts for kids.”
Screaming Frog: Identify broken links or 404 errors that can harm your SEO. The free version of this tool is enough for smaller websites.
Example: Discover that an old blog post has dead links, fix them, and improve your site’s user experience and search rankings.
13. Start with Link Building
Great content is the foundation of SEO, but backlinks from authoritative websites can significantly enhance your search engine rankings. A solid link-building strategy involves acquiring links from high-quality sources that signal to Google your website’s relevance and credibility.
Begin by assessing your Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) using tools like Moz’s free version. These scores (ranging from 0 to 100) indicate how well your domain or individual pages are likely to perform in search results. If your scores are lower than your competitors’, it’s time to focus on link building.
Seek out websites relevant to your niche or industry that might find your content valuable. Sharing your content with these platforms, especially if it’s unique and engaging, increases the chances they’ll link back to you.
Tip: start with simple steps like sharing your content on social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest) and submitting your site to directory websites such as Telefoonboek.nl, Yelp.nl, and Startpagina.nl. Having a presence on these sites helps improve visibility and attracts diverse backlinks.
Example: Imagine you run a fitness blog. You write an in-depth guide about “Best Home Workouts for Beginners” and share it with local gyms, fitness influencers, and community wellness forums. Some of them feature your guide on their websites, linking back to your blog. Over time, your DA and rankings improve, bringing in more organic traffic.
What to Avoid in Link Building:
Buying links or exchanging them with unreliable websites.
Engaging in one-time link-building efforts; a consistent strategy works better.
Ignoring outbound links. Linking to high-quality sources improves your credibility too.
For advanced insights, explore tools like the Backlink Explorer from SE Ranking to assess potential link opportunities.
14. Monitor Search Console Regularly
Google Search Console is an essential tool to track your website’s performance in search results. By analyzing the “Performance” section, you can see the average position of keywords your site ranks for. If you notice certain keywords slipping in rankings, this might indicate that the content on your page needs updating.
Tip: Keeping your pages relevant and fresh is crucial. When content becomes outdated, competitors with newer, more relevant articles can outrank you. Regularly check your best pages. Add new information and remove old details. Make sure the content matches current trends.
Example: Suppose your blog post “How to Schedule Instagram Posts” ranked third on Google but recently dropped to fifth.
After analyzing Search Console data, you update the post by including the latest tools and strategies for 2024. The revised post climbs back to the top three, restoring your traffic levels.
Regular maintenance of your landing pages can keep them competitive. Use Search Console insights to identify opportunities for optimization and track your progress over time.
15. Build E-A-T Pages (Expertise, Authority & Trust)
Transparency is key, both for users and for Google. Websites that prioritize Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T) are more likely to perform well in search rankings. This is especially important for sites providing medical, financial, or professional advice.
Add essential pages such as “About Us,” “Contact,” “Privacy Policy,” “Terms of Service,” and “FAQs.” If you have a webshop, include clear return policies, shipping details, and safety guidelines for your products. These pages show visitors—and Google—that your website operates transparently and professionally.
Tip: content should be linked to real people. Attach the author’s name, photo, and credentials to articles. A short bio showcasing their expertise builds trust and improves personal branding.
Example: Let’s say you own a legal consultation website. On your team page, you include photos and short bios of your legal experts, detailing their qualifications and experience. Blog posts feature their bylines, linking to their profiles. This transparency reassures users of the credibility of your advice and builds trust.
Similarly, a well-written FAQ page can address common customer concerns, reducing bounce rates while showcasing your authority in your niche.
Pro Tip: If you sell products, adding instructional videos or testimonials can further solidify your trustworthiness. For example, a webshop for eco-friendly cleaning products could include user reviews alongside videos demonstrating how the products work.
16. Don’t Forget Technical SEO
Technical SEO ensures that your website is structured and functions in a way that search engines can easily crawl, index, and rank it. Ignoring this aspect can undermine even the best content and backlinks.
Start with a technical SEO checklist:
Website Speed
Compress images to reduce their size without compromising quality.
Use caching tools like WP Rocket (see Tip 11).
Robots.txt File
Ensure the file exists and correctly defines which parts of the website should or shouldn’t be indexed. Avoid using “disallow all.”
Canonical Tags
Prevent duplicate content issues by setting canonical URLs to point to the main version of a page.
Sitemap
Include an XML sitemap in your website and submit it to Google Search Console. This helps search engines index your content effectively.
SSL Certificate
Websites should be secure (https). Use free certificates like Let’s Encrypt if your hosting provider supports them.
Broken Links
Regularly scan for broken internal and external links using tools like Broken Link Checker.
Heading Tags
Ensure your content uses proper heading structure: one H1 per page, followed by H2 and H3 for subheadings.
Multilingual Websites
Use the hreflang attribute in the source code to target users in specific languages and regions.
Microdata and Schema.org
Add structured data to your site to enhance search visibility. For example, product pages can use the “Product” schema to display price and availability directly in search results.
SEO Audit
Use tools like SE Ranking to identify technical issues and areas for improvement.
Tip: If technical SEO sounds overwhelming, consider hiring an expert for a one-time audit. Specialized agencies like Stormachtig can assist with setup and troubleshooting.
17. Leverage Machine Learning & AI
AI tools like ChatGPT are transforming SEO strategies by generating content, conducting keyword research, and analyzing competitors. While AI can save time, it’s important not to rely on it exclusively.
How to Use AI Effectively:
Use AI to draft content, but edit it to ensure accuracy, tone, and engagement.
Blend AI-generated text with human-written content to create authentic and natural-sounding articles.
Regularly verify AI outputs to correct inaccuracies.
Tools to Enhance AI Use:
AI Content Detector: Analyze texts to ensure they appear human-written.
Keyword Insights by TikTok: Explore trending search terms specific to the platform.
Example: Ask ChatGPT to generate ideas for blog topics or meta descriptions. After refining the results, integrate them into your content strategy for better efficiency and performance.
Remember, Google prioritizes content written by humans for humans. Use AI as a tool, not a replacement for creativity and expertise.
18. Think Beyond Google
Search behavior is evolving, with platforms like TikTok gaining popularity among younger audiences for searches related to trends, recipes, and tutorials. Diversifying your presence on other platforms can boost visibility and engagement.
Steps to Expand Beyond Google:
TikTok SEO
Use TikTok’s Keyword Insights to identify popular search terms.
Optimize your content with relevant hashtags and engaging visuals.
Other Search Engines
Optimize for Bing by uploading your sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools. Since DuckDuckGo uses Bing’s engine, you’ll cover both platforms simultaneously.
Monitor ChatGPT Search (introduced in 2024) and explore ways to train the tool to reference your site’s content.
Example: Suppose you run a travel blog. Create short TikTok videos highlighting “Top Destinations for 2024” and share them using trending hashtags. Meanwhile, optimize your blog for Bing and submit it to Bing Webmaster Tools for better indexing.
Expanding your reach beyond Google ensures you stay visible in a rapidly changing digital landscape, opening up new opportunities for traffic and growth.
19 – IndexNow is the future
How do you notify search engines that a new page is live on your website? Traditionally, this is done through a sitemap—a sort of table of contents that search engines can read. However, there’s a smarter way: using IndexNow.
IndexNow is often available as a plugin for your website. When changes are made—such as adding a new page or updating content—IndexNow instantly sends a signal to search engines like Bing and Yandex. This allows search engines to index your content immediately, ensuring that your new updates are quickly visible in search results.
Tip: Install the IndexNow plugin on your CMS (such as WordPress) to automate this process. Also, ensure your sitemap is still up to date for search engines that don’t yet support IndexNow, like Google.
Example: Imagine you’ve added a blog post about “Top SEO Trends for 2024.” Without IndexNow, it may take days for Bing or Yandex to index your new post. With IndexNow, this can happen within minutes, giving you a competitive edge in visibility.
20 – Optimize for Voice Search
With the rise of voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, voice search is becoming a key element in SEO. People are increasingly using natural language to ask questions, and voice queries often differ from traditional typed searches.
How to optimize for voice search?
Use conversational, question-based language in your content. People are more likely to say, “How do I bake a chocolate cake?” than to type “chocolate cake recipe.”
Add an FAQ section to your website to address common questions directly.
Focus on local SEO, as many voice searches are location-based, such as “Where’s the nearest Italian restaurant?”
Optimize your site for mobile since most voice searches are performed on smartphones.
Implement structured data markup to help search engines understand your content better.
Tip: Ensure your content provides clear, concise answers to common questions, preferably within the first 100 words of a page or section.
Example: If your site targets the keyword “best running shoes,” create a blog post titled “What Are the Best Running Shoes for Beginners?” Include a concise answer at the top, followed by a more detailed explanation. This structure increases the likelihood of your content being featured in voice search results or a Google snippet.
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