Digital world – The art of SEO

People are not looking for you in the Yellow Pages any more. Google has become ingrained in everyday life, so having a functioning website has become a more important part of running a business than ever before.

But what business owners don’t realise, or are only just starting to realise, is that having a website up is only half the battle. You have to make sure your website is working for you and not against you. That is why you hear the term SEO – Search Engine Optimisation. SEO is the art of making sure that your website is found and ranks high in search engine results.Take the time to find out what your customers are looking for and tailor your website to those keywords. Of course there is heavy competition in getting your SEO working for you and it isn’t one of those things you just do once. It is ongoing and there are many elements to it so it’s something you need to invest in it over time to really make it work for you.Here are some quick tips to help you  get your website working for you:

– Answer questions that your customers ask you. If they are asking you in person they will be searching online as well.
– Make sure you update your website regulary. Add a blog and update it with news,  new products and local events. Google loves fresh content and this helps you rank higher.
– Directories help your website to be found. Directories aren’t dead. The more places you have your website online, the more Google sees your business as being an authority and you will rank higher in search results.
– Ask bloggers or online magazines to feature you or your business.
– Use your social media to drive traffic to your website. Google loves to see you using Social Media as this is fresh content.
Your website isn’t something you just put up and forget. Think of it as your bricks and mortar shop which needs marketing and traction as if it were a real place.