The Best SEO Strategy for 2021

If you’re reading this page, you probably already know how critically important Search Engine Optimisation is.

But many business owners are less aware that search engines are constantly changing the algorithms that decide which websites get shown at the top.

As Google and Bing seek to constantly improve the search results, your company’s SEO strategy might be obsolete sooner than you’d hope.

Don’t let your search results slip away and your website traffic dwindle. Stay up-to-date on what SEO strategy makes sense for 2021. 

Use our effective SEO tips to drive the long-term viability of your business.

Create for Real Customers

The way search engines order their results pages is determined by algorithms. But that doesn’t mean you should write like a robot to capture attention. 

Underhanded SEO techniques like keyword stuffing might have produced some results in the past. However, the latest algorithms that underpin search engines are remarkably effective at detecting spam and punishing websites that attempt to cheat the system.

Instead of putting your online presence at risk, focus on creating SEO-driven content that is still highly engaging for real customers to consume. 

Although this content might implement SEO standards like crystal-clear formatting and targeted keywords that algorithms notice, the words on the page must still compel your customer to take action.

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Editorial credit: WDnet Creation / Shutterstock.com

Research Targeted Keywords

Speaking of targeted keywords, this SEO tool remains a crucial part of a robust search engine optimisation strategy.

By developing your own list of keywords that reflect how your target market uses a search engine, implementing these terms into your SEO strategy ensures you climb the SERP.

There are many in-depth SEO tools for the job, including Google’s Keyword Tool, Ahrefs and SEMRush. These will help you identify the most effective short- and long-tail keywords that can be used to shape your content. 

As you select the most relevant keywords for your business based on search volume and competition, this aspect of your SEO strategy attracts relevant customers searching for a product or service like yours.

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Image Credit: Google keywords tool

User Experience Matters

If you want your SEO-driven content to get customers to take action, you can’t ignore the importance of user experience (UX). For those who aren’t aware, this is essentially how easy or enjoyable customers find it to interact with your website. 

If someone comes from a search engine to your website – but then they get slammed by annoying pop-ups or a confusing site structure, you can bet they will quickly click away.

As part of a compelling SEO strategy, your website needs to be as pleasant and intuitive to use as possible. This way, your customer will effortlessly move through to the payment page and complete the process.

Establishing high-quality backlinks remains one of the key factors for SEO in 2021. This is because Google perceives other websites linking to your content as a stamp of approval, helping them provide users with better search results.

Yet getting external websites to link to your content is easier said than done. You’re going to need exceptional industry-specific content that rises above the competition. This way, like-minded companies will discover your content and share it with their audiences.

This SEO tip also involves attracting mentions from influencers and industry figures who overlap with your target market. Alongside backlinks from friends and colleagues, kickstarting your link building profile is within reach.

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Fast Websites Boost Results

Browsing a website that loads text and images super slowly is a massive pain for customers. In fact, 70% of consumers say page speed impacts how willing they are to purchase from a specific website. 

As Google also considers page speed a vital metric for ranking websites, making sure your content loads within three seconds is essential to your company’s search engine optimisation.

The changes that make the biggest difference to a website are unique in every case. But you should always aim to delete outdated plugins, minimise code and compress images. 

Alongside a raft of other factors, your customers will experience a seamless browsing experience as they click from one page to the next.

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Optimise the Technical Details

Most people familiar with SEO know about on-page factors like content quality, keywords, categories and more. 

Alongside elements like page speed, making the right technical SEO changes can also dramatically improve your rankings.

For instance, adding structured data markups to your website helps search engines know what content is being displayed. This will help your content reach more relevant users.

You can also create what’s known as an XML sitemap. This special file ensures search engines understand which pages on your website are most important. 

This technical SEO tip means this content is indexed on Google even when no internal links are pointing towards them.

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Update Old Content

If you’re creating loads of new blogs, guides and feature articles every week, some of this content is bound to lose usefulness over time. 

However, this doesn’t mean they have to be thrown on the scrap pile forever. Instead, many of these articles can be refreshed with new content that gives you a time-saving SEO boost.

Whether your target market has changed over time or you want to share the latest industry stats, updating articles with recent information will earn your website backlinks and social media shares.

Take a look through your archives and determine which content can be repurposed to improve your search engine optimisation standards today.

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Appeal to Mobile Customers

Depending on your industry, the majority of your customers are likely visiting your website on their smartphones. 

This means you have to make sure your online presence also features mobile SEO techniques that deliver a great browsing experience.

Naturally, mobile customers are looking at your website on smaller screens. This means your page navigation and formatting has to be carefully considered to ensure users don’t get frustrated and leave. 

With a mobile-responsive version of your desktop website, you can create an SEO strategy that ensures customers browse your content both at home and on the move.

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According to Google, 20% of queries made in the app are completed using voice search. Although this might come as a surprise, what’s clear is that voice search continues to grow in popularity all the time. 

If you’re looking to create an SEO strategy that incorporates the cutting-edge of search technology, optimising your website for voice search is a feature that must be considered. However, you must remember that people speak and type with subtle but critical differences. 

For instance, users who utilise voice search are far more likely to pose their query as a question. This means long-tail and conversational keywords can be particularly productive when planning an effective SEO strategy.

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Chat to the Experts

Every SEO strategy must be personalised to your company’s needs and objectives. By using the latest search engine optimisation techniques, you’re ensuring your business achieves the highest rankings and reaches the most customers. 

With the digital marketing experts at First Page Australia specialising in tailored SEO campaigns that drive towards our client’s goals, we can create an SEO strategy that sees your website generate huge traffic and conversions.

Having led thousands of highly profitable campaigns for local and international businesses across virtually every industry, you can trust our team to deliver top-notch results. Chat with our digital marketers today to find out how we’ll create a winning SEO strategy.

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