What if I told you there were only two things you needed to understand in order to impact your SEO significantly?

Yes, only two things:

1. Content
2. Links

So, if you thought SEO was complicated, it’s really not. I’m going to break down these two important SEO strategies and help you understand how each one functions. Before long you’ll see how these two factors increase your Google rank and set you up for more customers.

Finding a Balanced Set of Keywords

As you probably already know, keywords are the ‘keys’ that unlock your information to Google users. These are the words or terms that help Google identify what your site is all about.

If Google’s algorithm finds that you have lots of a particular keyword, it will rank you for that search term to help users find you.

Here’s how to master the keyword factor of SEO.

Find Non-Competitive but Relevant Keywords

When you do a keyword analysis, you will be furnished with a long list of keywords. Some of these will be highly searched, while others will be searched less. Some will be highly competitive (meaning your competitors are using them) while others will be less competitive.

Here is an example, low competition and good search volume

The trick is to grab a good set of keywords (about 5 – 8) that are moderately popular search terms, but not overly competitive; and use these in your website content and blogs.

Use Keywords Sparingly

When implementing keywords into your content, don’t overdo it. Keyword stuffing refers to the idea that putting more keywords in your content will help you rank better. This is not the case.

Google will actually penalise you for keyword stuffing. So, add your keywords in a way that sounds and flows naturally within the content.

Find Reasons to Use Keywords

The best way to enhance your SEO is to keep adding content to your site. This gives you a reason to implement more keywords and also shows Google that your site is relevant—because it’s perpetually active.

Keep up your blogging. Blogging let’s you re-emphasize the search terms that will help users find you. If you blog regularly, your Google rank will stay well maintained.

Go Local

Using local keyword terms is a great way to get exposure for customers in your neighborhood. If you run a local business, include local terms in your keyword list, and be sure to use your area name when you do your keyword analysis.

Keep Checking Keyword Popularity and Update Your List

You should do a new keyword analysis at least every three months. See if your terms are still relevant. Are there new phrases being used when searching your industry online?

If you find that new keywords are in order, don’t change your current content. Simply change the keywords you are using for future content.

Yes! Link Building is Still Important

Link building has gotten a bad reputation because of how this SEO factor is being abused. But if done properly, link building is proven to be the most powerful ranking factor of all.

When Google sees links to your website on other authoritative websites, it sees you as more relevant. And relevance equals exposure!

So, what do you need to know about links and link building?

Build Authoritative Links

I have found that marketing is all about networking with people. The social media platforms we have today allow us to make casual business relationships with the kinds of people we want to work with.

Reach out to people in your industry and form relationships with them. Ask them if they’d allow you to do a guest post on their site.

Guest posts are blogs that you write for other websites. Within that blog you will add a link to your company. You just advertised your company to someone else’s audience—and did a solid on your SEO too!

Avoid PBNs

Public Blogging Networks are blogs that exist for the sole purpose of churning out content and Grey Hat link building. Many companies guest-post for PBNs because—for a fee—you can post your blog on their site with a link.

However, because these blogs have such a low (or fake) readership, Google no longer sees links from these sites as authoritative. So, avoid them.

But if you have managed to get some bad backlinks then there is still a way to fix that. Read this guide on how to remove bad backlinks from a website.

Social Media Links

You should have an active link generating process on social media sites. These sites allow you to share your content with the world, so always make it easy for users to read your content by adding a quick access link to that content.

Sharing content on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram does its own marketing, and will benefit you a great deal. But when it comes to SEO, Google will search for engagement on social media channels. So, post content that is engageable, interesting and beneficial to readers.

Keep at it

The secrets to SEO are consistency and patience. Keep at it and you will see a significant increase in your Google rank.

Author: Helvis Smoteks