Foundational SEO: The Basics of Getting Found Online

There are approximately 200 million active websites on the internet today. Unfortunately, if your website doesn't show up on the first page of search engine results for relevant keywords, there's a good chance no one will ever see it! This is what makes understanding the basics of search engine optimization (SEO) so important. Contact us to learn more about getting your website found online.

While we recommend hiring an Edmonton SEO company, like Smart WSI Marketing, to handle your SEO for you, there are some things you can do on your own to get started. Take a look at these four tips.  

Review Your Website Design 

Proper search engine optimization starts with your website design. If your site isn't fully responsive across different types of devices, including desktop, tablet, and mobile, then the search engines will penalize your site, pushing it down in page rankings. This also makes it likely that you'll miss out on some coveted local SEO advantages, like being placed in Google's snippet box.  

If you don't have great computer skills, consider reaching out to an SEO agency that also specializes in website design. This is the best way to ensure that everything is working as it should, without putting extra stress on your tech skills. 

Optimize Your Site for SEO 

While search engine optimization isn't a quick fix, it's something you'll want to start working on right away. Start by making sure your site naturally contains keywords you want to rank for and that all of your images are named properly.  

However, it's important to understand that SEO is complicated and is usually best left to an SEO expert. To really improve your rankings, consider paying for Edmonton SEO Services. This is an investment that is well worth the cost. 

Take Advantage of Local Search Tools

If local SEO is important to you, then you cannot afford to ignore local search tools like Google My Business, Facebook business pages, and Yelp. Make sure you've claimed your business on all these sites and that the basic information, like your phone number and address, is complete.  

You can build up your local SEO even further by adding images, posting offers, and taking other steps to actively engage with these sites. It takes a bit of time, but it will pay you back tenfold.  

Build Up Your Backlinks

Websites that search engines see as credible will also rank higher. One of the best ways to establish this credibility is to receive quality backlinks. This occurs when a highly rated website shares a link back to your website.  

There are several ways to get backlinks, including entering your information on various directories, being recognized for local awards, and publishing top quality content that other businesses value and want to share.  

Improve Your SEO Today!

These are just a few of the ways that you can improve your local SEO and overall search engine rankings. While they're not necessarily difficult, each does require some time and effort. If you're not confident that you have enough time or expertise, consider outsourcing this critical task! Contact our Edmonton SEO company today to learn more about our services and how we can help your website get the ranking it deserves.

Lynne Motkoski, Digital Marketing Strategist

Specialty: Digital Marketing Strategies
Education: MA Communications & Technology, BComm [U Alberta]

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Lynne is known for her strategic approach to marketing communications, technologies, and lead generation. She has a passion for education, keeping up with current marketing trends and practices, and helping clients keep ahead of their competition.