Search Engine Optimisation or SEO, is the process of optimising your website and its content in such a way that your site ranks higher in search result pages also called SERPs. A well-designed SEO strategy will ensure your ranking for relevant keywords hence, potential customers will find your content easily. While SEO takes time, there are a few effective methods to speed up the results. From choosing the right keywords to optimising on-page elements like titles, meta descriptions, and images, every little step is important in improving your Google ranking. The same can be said for working with an experienced SEO agency, like SEO Agency Manchester, which will bring valued expertise to boost your website's visibility and make sure you're always using the most current and effective SEO techniques to see results faster.

Keyword Research

Keyword research is the first and most crucial step in improving your Google ranking. It's the only way to enlighten you on what your target audience is searching for, thus you can modulate your content in the best possible way to meet their requirements. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or WordStream's free keyword tool can be helpful when searching for high-volume search keywords and low-competition ones. When selecting keywords, consider both short-tail keywords (generic terms) and long-tail keywords (more specific phrases). Long-tail keywords often have lower competition and are easier to rank for, especially for new websites. Additionally, be sure to assess the search intent behind the keywords, which will ensure you’re addressing the right user needs.

Create High-Quality content 

Google's algorithm prefers content that is informative, relevant and of high quality. To be on top of the ranking, your content has to address the questions that users seek, be useful, and be engaging. Therefore, detailed long-form content (1,500+ words) tends to rank higher because it gives more value to the readers. Use your target keywords naturally in the text of your content, but do not overdo it Google will penalise sites for over-optimisation. In that spirit, focus on creating user-centric content that answers the intent behind the keyword search.

Optimise On-Page Elements

After creating your content, the next step will be optimising on-page SEO elements for your content to be crawled and understood easily by search engines.

• Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: 

These tell the users and search engines what a page is about. Try to get your target keyword into the title tag, and make sure your meta description is under 160 characters and enticing.

• Header Tags: 

Structure your content with header tags, beginning with H1. The primary keyword should be in the H1 tag; sub-categorise the content with the use of H2 and H3 tags.

• Image Alt Text: Since Google can't read images, it's better to describe them with alt text. It helps search engines understand the context of an image and can be useful in ranking in image search results.

Internal Linking: 

Provide users and search engines with the opportunity to find more of your content by linking to other relevant pages on your site. A minimum of at least three per page is a good starting point.

Mobile Optimisation

Since 96 per cent of mobile users depend on Google to find what they are looking for, you'll want to make sure you have a mobile-friendly website. Since Google adopted a mobile-first index, this pointhas becomes even more important. That means Google now indexes and evaluates the mobile, versus desktop, version of a website. If your website isn't optimised for mobile, that can hurt your rank in Google search results. GoogleMobile-Friendlyy Test Test your website's mobile-friendliness with Google's Mobile-Friendly Test. It will scan the mobile version of your site and tell you if there are any potential issues. Use that feedback to improve your mobile website and ranking in search results.

Focus on Building Backlinks

One of the key ranking factors in SEO is backlinks. When high-authority websites link to your content, it is an obvious signal to Google that the content is reliable and helpful. Not all backlinks are equal in value, though; hence, quality matters over quantity. So, point your guns at getting backlinks from reputable and relevant websites.

Optimise for User Experience (UX)

User experience is becoming more vital for SEO. Google tries to give the best results to users, including fast-loading sites, easy navigation and most importantly, useful content. Some ways to improve UX include:

• Clear and intuitive navigation.
• Clean, organised website design.
• Reducing pop-ups and intrusive ads.
• Make sure your website is easy to read and mobile-friendly.

Power of Local SEO

Local SEO is the optimisation process for businesses to reach audiences in certain geographic areas within search engines like Google. Although it has similarities with organic SEO, it does contain distinct elements. If your business is location-based, this can greatly improve your Google ranking. Claim and optimise your Google My Business profile with your business name, address, phone number (NAP), website, and hours. Collect good customer reviews and get listed in local directories to better your local search visibility.