SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES

Search Engine Optimization could be explained as a systematic approach of writing a specific content in line with a formatted structure to optimise the details of the content on search engine(s) through the use of keywords or key phrase.

The premise still stands that CONTENT IS KING. You cannot beat the race of being an authority in your chosen niche without constantly giving out valuable contents to your target audience. Customers naturally navigate towards those that provide them value consistently. However, what is the point when you write such a wonderful content that cannot be found by strangers surfing the internet across the globe? This is where the term “Search Engine Optimization” has come to play.

One of the major benefits of online platform is that it gives us access to reaching a wider network globally. Once your content is properly structured, following the guidelines of Search Engine Optimization, you are assured that somebody searching for a professional or an authority in your niche would easily stumble on your content and with the proper Call-To-Action; reach out to you. Hence, you no longer write for people within your network but attract strangers globally.

So in this blog, I want to unveil 11 major rules I follow for any Search Engine Optimization project. This is usually accomplished using a plugin called YOAST on a Word Press Website.

RULE 1

TEXT LENGTH

When you write a blog content, it is important to make sure the text length is at least 1000 words. This proves to the algorithm that a proper research work has been done before writing and not just social media posts with few words. However, one must avoid undue repetition in a bid to increasing the text length of your blog. This can affect the organic Search Engine Optimization of your platform.

RULE 2

SEO TITLE WIDTH

Before you start writing your content, you must consciously decide the keyword you want it to rank for. Keyword refers to the words or phrase that people type on the search engine to find certain products or services. These keywords could be short tail or long tail.

So, when choosing SEO title for your content, the width must not be too short. For instance, if your target key phrase is Website Design, rather than making your title ‘website design’, you could make your title ‘Website Design: 5 key features a website must possess in 2021’.

RULE 3

IMAGE ALT ATTRIBUTES

Another important factor of Search Engine Optimization is the image aIt attribute. It is also important to optimize your graphic assets on search engines by saving your featured image or graphics for the post with the key phrase used to rank the post.

RULE 4

KEY PHRASE LENGTH

Like I said earlier about keywords that they could be short tail (e.g Web designer) or long tail (e.g, web designer in Lagos). This rule suggest that your key phrase length should be appropriate for the search engine algorithm. Rather than use “Website” you could use “Website designer or website designer in Lagos”.

RULE 5

KEYPHRASE IN INTRODUCTION

It is important to make sure your key phrase appears in your introductory text during the first part of your write up.

RULE 6

KEY PHRASE DISTRIBUTION

This tool measures the density of your key phrase in the whole content. It also helps suggest how many times your keyword should appear in your post. This would prevent being penalized by Google crawler.

RULE 7

META DESCRIPTION LENGTH

The meta description length should not be more than 150 words so that it can be visible when people take a cursory look at the content on a web platform.

RULE 8

KEY PHRASE IN META DESCRIPTION

As much as the meta description is useful for search engine optimization, it is recommended that your targeted key phrase must appear in your meta description.

RULE 9

KEY PHRASE IN TITLE

It is recommended that the key phrase must appear in the title of your blog in order to optimize your content on search engines.

RULE 10

INTERNAL LINKS

Internal links helps to connect your previous contents in reference to other contents on the same website. For instance, when I am writing about digital marketing and I mention Search Engine Optimization; because I have written a content on Search Engine Optimization, I could put an internal link on it as a reference should in case the reader needs further details on the subject. Internal links help readers to stay more on the site hereby reducing the bounce rate.

RULE 11

OUTBOUND LINKS

It is also recommended to have some links that direct people to other valuable resource centers online. Most time, I used outbound link to direct traffic to other web platforms that I manage, so that some traffic coming to my page can also get to know more about the brand.

MY FINAL CONCLUSION ON SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION

Although, there’s no silver bullet to ranking contents on search engines. Some people prefer to go through the black hat method bypassing algorithm to push their platform to the first page of Google, only to get caught up later and be banned.

Some prefer to play by the rules to gradually grow their platform to be a resource Centre where people surfing the internet can find valuable information.

It is also important to note that your content can appear on the first page of Google through Google paid Advertising known as Google AdWords. With this method, as far as you have enough fund in your account to to bid for key phrases and pay per click, you will constantly get traffic to your website as you remain on the top of the page.

However, the organic version of Search Engine Optimization involves activities that make it easier for strangers to find your content online using specific key phrases.

While using this plugin, you may likely come across some other recommendation(s) that you have to note. It is important to follow the rules in order to optimize your content to attract other readers.

Once these rules are followed, then, it is time to start pushing some amount of traffic to the page to increase visibility.

Need a sample of a content I ranked recently to Google first page?

Search for this key phrase ‘’Digital Lamp Post in Abuja”

Need practical training on how to use the plugin to rank content? Click HERE to reach out to me.