Essential Site-Level SEO for Success
On-Site SEO
Note: this is part 6 of a multi-part series of SEO ranking boosters
Here’s a breakdown of crucial SEO factors you can influence directly on your website to improve search rankings:
Content: The Cornerstone
- Valuable & Unique: Focus on content that offers fresh insights and solves user problems. Google penalizes thin content, especially on affiliate sites.
Trustworthiness & Transparency
- Contact Us: Make it easy for users and search engines to find clear and consistent contact information (matching your WHOIS info) to build trust.
- Domain Trust: Establish trust signals through high-quality content and user engagement.
Structure & Navigation
- Site Architecture: Organize your content logically (e.g., silo structure) to help search engines understand your website and for users to navigate easily.
- Sitemap (Optional): While not essential anymore, a sitemap can still aid search engine indexing.
Performance & Availability
- Uptime is Key: Minimize downtime from maintenance or server issues to avoid hurting rankings and potential deindexing.
- Mobile-First: Ensure a flawless experience on mobile devices, as Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites.
Technical Considerations
- Secure Your Site: Implement an SSL certificate (HTTPS) for a slight ranking boost and enhanced user trust.
- Core Web Vitals: Focus on optimizing Core Web Vitals (loading speed, responsiveness, visual stability) for a significant ranking boost.
Additional Ranking Signals
- Freshness: Regularly update your site with new, valuable content.
- Server Location: Consider server location for geo-specific targeting (important for local SEO).
- E-A-T: Strive for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, especially for sites with YMYL content (Your Money, Your Life).
- User Reviews: Encourage positive reviews and address negative ones to build a strong online reputation.
Remember, SEO is an ongoing process. By implementing these factors, you can strengthen your website’s foundation and improve its search visibility.