How to Boost Search Engine Optimization in 2017

In light of Google’s move towards preferring a mobile first index and its updates to the algorithm, we recommend the following reactions to improve efforts around search engine optimization:

Test UX

We have already covered the five web design mistakes to avoid in 2017. Online experiences begin with search, so test your site’s link on Google’s Test My Site and fix any broken links so as to minimize duplicate content and dead pages. Revisit every page of content to ensure that readers and search engines can see your site, checking on its willingness to allow bots to crawl it. Schedule weekly and monthly live tests with your team, jot down the issue and set deadlines for their resolution. Just like Google Plus, Google prefers sites that use its products and projects. Start experimenting with Google’s AMP.

Add Value

Assess the content on your site to determine what has added value and seek to update it for the visitors that convert towards your end goals the most. This can be on your landing page, blog or store. Look at keyword exploring tools to determine the search topics that resonate with your category to determine which you are answering. Add more if need be and map an editorial calendar for the year, taking into account evergreen content and topical ones too. Visit analytics to determine the time of day and days your site is frequented the most to match served content to visitors. Deviate from your niche whenever you can to test for new audiences.

Quality Content

Dive into analytics to determine the popular pages on your site, the query analysis of how they reach you and track their origin. Research keywords to learn what else you could be writing about that adds credibility to your site. Optimize your site’s visual content for search as well by adding metadata and keywords in the backend panel associated with the image. Be sure to use ImageRaider to find those that are using your visual content without consent and report them. For videos, write up a transcript to simplify a search engine’s ability to discover it and don’t put all your eggs in the YouTube basket – host the video on your site too.

Remember to schedule weekly and monthly meetings with cross functional teams to test the positive impact of these changes and focus on constructive conversations geared towards problem-solving rather than identification.

If you would like to learn more about the steps you need to take to improve your site’s search engine optimization, feel free to email me on [email protected]