How To Improve SEO With These 7 Strategies

by Jeremy Tang

Frustrated with your website lurking in the shadows of page two (or, dare we say, three) in search results? Let’s change that. Here are seven SEO strategies that are like turning on the brightest spotlight on your website. In this guide, we’ll cover understanding customer needs and keywords, strategic keyword placement, creating relevant content, and optimizing various on-page elements.

Table Of Contents:

A Journey Through Time

Looking back over a decade in digital marketing, I’ve witnessed the evolution of SEO from a rudimentary tool to a sophisticated strategy. This journey hasn’t just been about keeping up with trends; it’s been a constant learning curve, understanding that SEO requires adaptability and foresight. 

 

From the early days of keyword stuffing to the nuanced era of semantic search and AI integration, each phase has brought its challenges and lessons. I remember the initial skepticism when Google first rolled out its Panda update; it was a wake-up call to the industry about the importance of quality content. Fast forward to today, the internet is chock full of “do this, try that” advice, but how much of it truly makes a difference?

 

 Look no further. At Area Ten, we’ve been fine-tuning SEO strategies for businesses since 2014 and have grown into a team of over 130 seasoned professionals, so we know a thing or two about this field.

 

We’ll give you seven proven strategies to catapult your online presence, so continue scrolling.

What’s the purpose of SEO?

 

Search engine optimization, or SEO is the process of enhancing your website’s discoverability in search engine results. 

 

You want to ensure that search engines like Google and Bing can easily find the information you publish on your website and rank it effectively against similar sites. The ultimate goal of SEO optimization is for your links to appear at the top of the results page for specific keywords that resonate with your business and your audience.

 

Here’s a simple yet profound concept to understand SEO better: it’s a large-scale question and answer game. It begins by deciphering the questions your potential customers input into search engines. Then, with this insight, you must provide precise, comprehensive answers. The more questions your website can answer, the more organic traffic comes in, which in turn amplifies brand awareness, generates leads and boosts sales.

 

Simple, isn’t it? But how can you turn this SEO knowledge into real results for your website’s performance?

How to improve your website for better rankings

#1: Understand what keywords your users are searching for

The key to propelling your website’s performance sky-high begins with an in-depth understanding of your customers. For instance, finding where they are in their purchasing journey will help you on which keywords resonate with them and what type of content will meet their specific needs:

 

  1. Awareness: Here, potential customers experience the first flicker of a need. They turn to broad search terms to explore options, like “loans.” In response, your content should serve as a valuable resource, offering clarity and direction in their initial search.
  2. Consideration: As their understanding crystallizes, their searches become more specific. Instead of head terms, they may be leaning closer to using long tail keywords. Long tail keywords are specific, often multi-word phrases with lower search volumes but higher potential for conversion, like “loans in Denver.” Your SEO strategy must pivot too, matching their search refinement with equally specific content.
  3. Purchase: This is where choices narrow down to specifics. A user might search directly for “apply for a loan today.” Your content here needs to stand out, making a compelling case for why your service is the answer they’ve been seeking.
  4. Retention: Post-purchase, the goal is to keep customers engaged and satisfied. Creating content for keywords relating to this, like “managing loan repayments,” helps in maintaining a lasting customer relationship.
  5. Advocacy: In this final stage, happy customers become brand ambassadors. Showcases success stories and encourages reviews to satisfy searches like “best loan experience.”

 

But beyond the purchasing journey, a couple of aspects can help you further understand your customers. One of which is their demographics. How old are they? What’s their income level? Where do they live? 

 

Additional tips:

  • Choose keywords that resonate not only with popularity but with your business’s essence. What would a customer type into a search bar to find your services? Your keyword strategy should reflect this. 
  • Embrace the power of semantic search by including related keywords and topics. This helps search engines understand the context of your content, improving the chances of ranking for related queries.
  • Take cues from your competitors’ keyword strategies too. Analyzing the keywords they rank for can provide valuable insights into what might elevate your own website’s SEO performance.

#2: Provide relevant content

You already have your keywords. You also know where to place them. Now, it’s time to weave them into your content. But before you start, it’s essential to understand how Google evaluates and ranks content. 

 

Google’s algorithms go beyond identifying if your webpage contains the keywords your users are searching for. They seek signs of content that are genuinely helpful to searchers. The E-E-A-T principle—experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness—also becomes crucial here. 

 

Here’s how to maximize it:

 

  • Experience: Showcase real-life experiences that enhance the relatability and authenticity of your content.
  • Expertise: Highlight your knowledge and proficiency in your field, demonstrating why your content should be trusted.
  • Authoritativeness: Establish your website as a leading source of information in your niche.
  • Trustworthiness: Build a reputation for accuracy and reliability in every piece of content you publish.

#3: Perform Ongoing Updates to Old Content

Updating your content regularly is crucial. Fresh content signals to Google that your website is active and relevant, which can positively impact your search rankings. 

  • Content Audit and Analysis: Regularly conduct a thorough content audit. Identify which pages are performing well, which are outdated, and which can be improved. Use analytics to understand user engagement and identify trends in what your audience finds most valuable.
  • Leverage User-Generated Content: Incorporate customer success stories, reviews, or user-generated content. This not only keeps your site fresh but also builds community and trust among your audience.
  • Repurpose and Cross-Promote: Turn your updated content into new formats, like infographics, podcasts, or social media posts, to reach a wider audience. Cross-promotion across various channels can increase visibility and drive traffic back to your site.

#4: Optimize other on-page elements

Content and keywords aren’t the only factors search engines use to rank your website. You also need to optimize for other on-page elements. 

Think of your website as a meticulously organized library. Just as a library is designed for easy navigation and access to information, your webpage should be optimized for both user experience and search engine visibility. Here’s how:

  • Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: These HTML elements are crucial for SEO and user experience. Incorporate your primary keyword into the title tag and meta description in a way that’s compelling and informative for users. This not only boosts SEO but also increases click-through rates from search engine results pages.
  • URLs: Structure your URLs to be clear and concise, including relevant keywords where appropriate. This enhances user understanding and provides search engines with more context about the content of the page. 
  • Headers and Subheaders: Utilize H1, H2, H3 tags effectively by incorporating keywords in a way that structures and organizes your content logically for readers and search engines.
  • Optimize Image Alt Text: Image alt text is akin to a descriptive narration of a visual element in a book for those who can’t see it. Ensure every image on your site has descriptive, keyword-rich alt text that aids in both accessibility and search engine comprehension.
  • Utilize Internal Links: Internal links are the references and citations within a book, guiding readers to related information. They improve navigation, distribute page authority, and enhance user experience. You should link relevant pages together to create a cohesive and informative user journey.

#5: Optimize technical elements

Ranking high involves delving into more than just the visible content of your page but mastering the architecture of your website. Technical SEO, though it might account for less than 20% of overall SEO performance, is crucial, and neglecting it can significantly impede your site’s ability to rank well.

Here’s how to optimize these crucial elements:

 

  • Creating an XML Sitemap: Consider this as your website’s blueprint for search engines. An up-to-date XML sitemap helps search engines navigate your website structure and index your pages more effectively. Submit this sitemap to search engines for better indexing.
  • Implementing Structured Data: Structured data provides a clear guide to search engines about what your content entails. Use schema markup tools to annotate your content, helping search engines present it in a more user-friendly way in SERPs.
  • Use robot.txt files: Think of your robots.txt file as a traffic controller for search engines, guiding them on what pages to index and what to avoid. Regularly review and update your robots.txt files, ensuring they accurately reflect the current structure of your site.
  • Eliminating Duplicate Content: Duplicate content can confuse search engines and weaken your SEO efforts. Utilize canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page, clarifying the original source to search engines.

#6: Provide a great user experience

 

Google’s core ranking systems increasingly favor websites that offer an exceptional page experience. To ensure your site meets these criteria, consider the following aspects:

 

  • Core Web Vitals: These are akin to a website’s vital signs, providing key metrics on health and usability. They encompass load speed, interactivity, and visual stability. Excelling in these areas means your site is not just user-friendly but also positioned favorably in search engine perception.
  • Secure Browsing: Ensuring your pages are served securely is paramount. It’s about protecting user data and fostering trust, which search engines value greatly.
  • Ad Balance: Your content should be the star of the show, not overshadowed by excessive ads. 
  • Mobile Optimization: Optimizing for mobile users is essential. In fact, over 60% of organic searches are now coming from mobile devices. You should deliver a stellar site experience on different smartphones and tablets and consider aspects like design, structure, and page speed.

 

#7: Adapt to the latest SEO trends

Search engines like Google frequently update their algorithms to refine the quality of search results. These updates can significantly impact your website rankings and online visibility if you fail to comply. To keep your site ranking high, it’s crucial to regularly update your knowledge on what search engines currently emphasize when ranking web pages and implementing them.

 

Finally, you should be open to embracing new trends and technologies, such as:

 

  • Voice Search Optimization: With the growing popularity of voice search through smart speakers and personal assistants, optimizing for long tail, conversational keywords is imperative.
  • Image Search: Optimizing images on your website for search engines is essential since visual searches are becoming more prevalent. This includes using descriptive file names and alt text, ensuring images are indexed and appear in relevant image search results.
  • Artificial Intelligence: AI tools can offer innovative approaches to content analysis and optimization. Still, it’s important to use these tools with care. Not all AI tools are beneficial in an SEO context. Popular platforms like ChatGPT can increase the risk of content duplication, as many users might employ them for similar purposes, potentially creating SEO challenges. 

 

You don’t have to do SEO alone

 

Improving your SEO can be daunting. While we laid out the foundation for the best practices, we understand that the real challenge occurs when implementing them. For instance, optimizing your website’s technical elements may necessitate advanced strategies only a technical SEO agency can provide.

 

However, the good news is that you don’t have to navigate this path alone. The key is to find a partner, an organic SEO agency, that has the ability to offer a complete solution: provide data-driven recommendations and execute these to turn them into tangible results.

 

This is what we do at Area Ten. Since 2014, we’ve been the trusted partner for start-ups and industry leaders globally. Our approach challenges the norm, leveraging innovative systems and proprietary technology to start delivering results in just six weeks.

 

Our team, composed of SEO experts with nothing short of a decade of experience, works directly with you. We’ve assisted hundreds of businesses in establishing authority, earning trust, and scaling through search. 

 

But don’t just take our word for it. Let the numbers speak for themselves. Our proprietary technology, CMAX™, is processing traffic for 60 million visitors a month within just 2.5 years of its launch. 

 

Here’s how:

 

Scaling your traffic with programmatic SEO

 

Focusing solely on highly competitive keywords—the head terms—is a common practice for many. Yet, the untapped potential lies in long tail keywords, which comprise 90% of search opportunities. 

 

Even Amazon knows this. Over 46% of their organic performance stems from their long tail pages. These are specifically designed outside their regular site architecture to target distinct keywords, demonstrating the immense value and impact of long tail terms.

 

At Area Ten, with our Full Body SEO approach, we target both sides of the SEO coin.

 

But while it’s possible to create content for thousands of long tail search terms manually, it requires excessive time, effort, and money. This is where programmatic SEO becomes helpful, as it leverages AI to mass-produce content.

 

We’ve embraced the power of programmatic SEO with CMAX. Traditional programmatic SEO solutions often produce generic, static content through basic tools like ChatGPT or article spinners. This approach can lead to content that’s misaligned with your brand’s voice, lacks compliance with legal requirements, and misses the mark in smart interlinking.

 

CMAX stands apart by generating tens of thousands of unique content pieces that align with your brand’s voice and meet legal standards.

 

Moreover, our system dynamically identifies relevant content and builds cross-links that further enhance your SEO performance. Most notably, CMAX is designed to actively monitor and adapt to search engine algorithm changes, ensuring your content remains relevant and optimized post-deployment.

Case Studies

Enhancing local SEO for a premium meat and cheese provider in New Zealand

 

A prominent quality meat and cheese seller in New Zealand faced a challenge in capturing the attention of homeowners and restaurants in the new locations they can deliver to. Their in-house marketing team couldn’t keep up with the demand for creating content for these locations.

 

Our human copywriters started our campaign. They developed localized content templates in close collaboration with the client, ensuring each piece adhered to their brand tone. 

 

Then, using these approved copies as training data, CMAX created hundreds of hyper-specific local content pieces, significantly enhancing the client’s website relevance and increasing their visibility across various locations.

 

This led to a notable 27.2% increase in organic traffic in just seven weeks, highlighting the effectiveness of our collaborative approach.

 

Listen to what their head of business expansion has to say about our approach:

 

“We were facing quite a challenge in breaking into new markets. We even tried spending on Google Ads, but the sky-high costs weren’t sustainable, and the results were lacking. Fortunately, I decided to try Area Ten’s SEO Fast Track

 

What stood out for us was the analytical approach they took. They provided a detailed analysis, highlighting key SEO opportunities and potential quick wins. It felt like we were finally given a clear, actionable plan for our expansion. Now, we have a solid foundation to build on, and when we’re ready to fully deploy SEO strategies, Area Ten will be our go-to partner.”

 

Revitalizing product visibility for a fuse manufacturer in Singapore

 

A leading fuse manufacturing company in Singapore observed disparities in traffic among their extensive product range. They wanted to amplify their content for those products with low engagement rates and make them visible to companies in need of them.

 

Our team of writers first crafted templates that adhered to the client’s brand, legal, and industry standards. These templates served as the foundation for CMAX, which then generated thousands of SEO-optimized content for each of its product pages. 

 

The content was seamlessly integrated into their CMSs using our asynchronous JavaScript, which had a very minimal impact on their site’s load times.

 

As a result, the manufacturer saw a significant 35.3% increase in organic traffic for the targeted products within a three-month period.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can AI-generated content actually rank?

 

The effectiveness of AI-generated content in search engine rankings is not a straightforward matter; it significantly depends on the application of the technology. While Google’s algorithms aim to recognise and reward high-quality content through criteria like Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness, and Experience (E-E-A-T), the production method alone does not guarantee success. 

 

The value of AI as a tool lies in how it’s used—its output reflects the input and guidance it receives. 

Our approach has shown that combining AI with human expertise offers the most beneficial results. 

 

Although we utilise AI to assist in content creation, we maintain the crucial element of human oversight. Even in cases where we generate content programmatically, including thousands of articles, the process is underpinned by training data meticulously crafted by expert copywriters. This hybrid model ensures our content remains relevant, engaging, and, most importantly, effective in search engine rankings.

 

Should SEO be considered a performance channel?

 

Absolutely. And at Area Ten, we advocate this. SEO should be a prominent part of your analytics report. 

 

SEO should be a prominent feature of your analytics report, essential for tracking its performance alongside other channels. Particularly, it’s important to highlight its capacity to generate incremental revenue. 

 

It’s worth noting that our SEO programs consistently outperform paid search by at least 30%, offering greater scale and efficiency in driving revenue. 

 

How much content can I deploy when starting with Area Ten’s programmatic SEO?

 

We recommend starting with no more than 5,000 unique pages unless your site already has substantial authority. This allows us to assess Google’s response to the increase in your pages. Once we understand this response, then we can progressively increase the number of programmatic content we can deploy.

 

What You’ve Learned: Key Takeaways from the Article

We’ve delved into various strategies that enhance your website’s visibility and ranking. Here are the key takeaways:

 

  • Understanding SEO’s Purpose: SEO is about enhancing your website’s discoverability and ranking effectively against similar sites on SERPs.
  • Keyword Optimization: Strategic incorporation and balancing of both head and long tail keywords are essential for effective SEO.
  • Content Relevance: Producing quality, relevant content that aligns with Google’s E-E-A-T principle ensures both user satisfaction and search engine recognition.
  • Page Optimization: Focusing on key elements like header tags, meta descriptions, and structured data markup is critical for SEO.
  • Technical SEO: Ensuring technical elements like XML sitemaps are optimized can make pages more discoverable.
  • Great User Experience: Emphasizing aspects like Core Web Vitals, secure browsing, and mobile optimization improves user experience and SEO.
  • Staying Updated: Keeping abreast of the latest SEO trends and algorithm updates is vital.

Actionable Advice

Consider the following actionable advice to translate these insights into practical steps for enhancing your website’s SEO:

 

  • Audit Your Website: Regularly evaluate your website’s SEO performance, focusing on areas such as keyword effectiveness, content relevance, and user experience. Identify areas that need improvement and make adjustments accordingly.
  • Embrace AI with Caution: Seek out AI tools and technologies that are not easily accessible to your competitors to ensure your approach remains unique and effective.
  • Monitor and Optimize Technical SEO: Regularly check and update your website’s technical aspects, including sitemaps, site architecture, and URL structures.
  • Focus on Mobile Experience: Optimize your website for mobile users, ensuring fast loading times and easy navigation.
  • Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes, adapting your strategy accordingly.
  • Seek Expertise: Consider partnering with SEO experts who can provide tailored solutions and leverage advanced technologies for enhanced results.

The Bonus 8th Strategy

 

We’ve given you a list of effective approaches to improving your site’s SEO, but remember that it’s an ongoing journey, not a one-time task. The final strategy we want to leave you with is to engage with a reliable SEO agency that can not only provide expert analysis and reveal quick wins but also professionally execute these strategies for you so you can stay ahead and stay winning.

 

At Area Ten, we’re redefining the SEO landscape. Our proprietary CMAX platform and Full Body SEO strategy target a vast array of search opportunities, both head and long tail keywords, ensuring your brand stands out in the digital world. 

 

We’re a digital marketing agency that believes in 100% solutions and 0% excuses, driving tangible business outcomes and liberating your business for unprecedented growth. Our SEO solutions, live chat, and Paid Media Management services are crafted to expand your SEO at an unprecedented scale, starting to deliver results in just six weeks.

 

If you don’t act now, you may not just miss out on growth but also hold your business back.

 

Own a website? Get your FREE SEO Fast Track with us.

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