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engine optimisation (SEO) to help search
engines find and rank their web pages,
so consumers can find them more easily.
The majority of Internet searches (80%)
is done via Google, as a result most
SEO tips you’ll come across are geared
toward getting noticed and ranked by
Google.
There are a lot of SEO courses, and
articles online, and there is always
something new added to process. Try
not to get overwhelmed, you don’t need
to use them all. There are a few basic
principles, which will help you to improve
your search ranking straight away…
1. KEYWORDS
Make sure that you use the correct
type of keywords on your website;
Google’s Keyword Planner will help.
Use keywords in articles, page titles,
headlines, image names, and in your
menu. Try not to overuse keywords
though or it might think you’re trying
to cheat the system. Instead, consider
using variations of the same word and
add a blog that you can post relevant
information to (including keywords of
course). Try to make posts at least once
a month, to make sure information is up
to date, and add links to external sites
(more in point 3).
2. META DESCRIPTION
This is a short snippet of information
that summarises a webpage’s content.
Its main purpose is to get a click on
your link so sales phrases with a call
to action like ‘learn more about our
services’, ‘get a quote’, or ‘call for a free
consultation’ encourage this. Search
engines – such as Google – show the
meta description in search results mostly
when the searched-for phrase (typed
in by the consumer) is contained in the
description, so try to think about what
someone would be searching for; such
as ‘locksmith in London’ or ‘change lock
in Manchester’. Try to keep it under 150
characters, to make sure that Google
and other search engines can display it
correctly. Also, make sure that your meta
description is unique, as Google may
penalise you for copying a competitor.
If you can, write a meta description for
each page of your website; at the very
least, your home page needs a correct
meta description.
Here is an example of APECS meta
description.
3. OUTGOING LINKS
All search engines like to see links to
other authoritative sites, as well as links
within your own site to more of your
own content. Make sure that you add
links to MLA website and the APECS
website for better Google ranking.
Also add social share buttons under
each post in your blog to will help with
Google ranking and your own online
promotion.
4. INCOMING LINKS
These are links to your website
from other sites. If you have social
media already, then definitely add
more links on your Facebook, Twitter
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Sponsored by Lockex 2018 - Security & Fire Safety
and Instagram that take people back
to your website. Having other quality
sites linking to your content also goes
a long way to improving your ranking
so consider digital newspapers in your
area, Trustpilot, or any other platforms,
where people could add reviews on
your business. Make sure that you only
link well-known websites when leaving
links to your page, because Google will
judge your website by the quality of the
incoming and outgoing links.
5. MOBILE FRIENDLY
So many people will be searching
for a locksmith on their mobile phones
or tablets. What’s more, Google has
included mobile-friendly as one of the
aspects it looks for when ranking a site.
Check if your website is mobile friendly
here: https://search.google.com/test/
mobile-friendly
For additional information on SEO
and marketing ideas, check out
APECS website https://apecs.co.uk/
MarketingTools and www.youtube.
com/user/GoogleWebmasterHelp.
Coming up next time:
DIY social media tools for locksmiths.