This month, we all took part in a national tradition whether we wanted to or not… Daylight Savings. During the early morning hours, time shifted backwards an entire hour, giving us a little more sleep and little more daylight… unless, of course, you were one of the hundreds of thousands who forgot to change the clocks until you arrived an hour early for something. So in keeping with the “falling back” motif, I figured this week would be a good time to “fall back” to some of the fundamentals of SEO and website building.
Why, you ask?
Well, we spend a lot of time digging into the latest and greatest SEO innovations, as it seems like something is changing every week… probably because it is. But the fundamentals of SEO have remained rock solid, despite the latest algorithm or spider-bot coming out of Google headquarters.
It’s always a good idea to go back to the basics every so often, just to make sure we’re building our virtual house on a solid foundation.
-
Optimize for Mobile
There’s no excuse anymore for a website that doesn’t have a mobile version or isn’t optimized for mobile users. Making sure your site is easily navigated by a user with a smart phone should always be step #1.
-
Make It Easy To Navigate
The easier your site is to get around, the better search engines (and visitors) will reward you. Regularly take a step back and ask yourself “If this weren’t my site and I didn’t know every corner by heart… would I be able to find what I’m looking for?”
-
Descriptions, Descriptions, Descriptions
Take every opportunity on every page to insert descriptive content. Make sure everyone knows exactly why every page on your site exists, from the home page to the About Us section. Any WordPress field that allows descriptions (like descriptions of images, for example), fill’em. You’re just giving Google a lot more to find.
-
Updated Content
Keep your content fresh. It’s a lot easier to work with returning customers than it is to constantly be seeking new ones… AND search results with a recent date are a lot more appealing.
-
Social Media Presence
Get a Facebook page, and regularly update that Facebook page. Use it to communicate back and forth with customers—make them understand your site is
-
Shared Links
The more links to your site exist on other sites, the bigger search engines assume you are.
Remember, it never hurts to fall back to the fundamentals.
It’s great to keep up with the latest and greatest, but fundamentals of SEO will always be the most important.
Questions? Ready to Get Started?
If you have questions or would like to get started, please give us a call at (312) 834-7787 or visit our website to request a free quote and consultation.