DIY SEO – Simple Ways to Rank in Google That You Can Do Yourself with Kelsey Flannery

A Comprehensive Guide to DIY SEO

Do you want to boost your website's visibility, attract more organic traffic, and grow your business without breaking the bank? Search engine optimization (SEO) is your answer, and you can absolutely do it yourself! In this comprehensive guide, you will learn how to master DIY SEO strategies, drive valuable search traffic, and achieve higher rankings in Google.

Why Should You Embrace DIY SEO?

Search traffic is highly valuable. When you rank high in Google, you attract people actively searching for what your business offers. By implementing effective DIY SEO strategies, you increase leads and sales. You do not need to rely solely on expensive marketing campaigns. You gain more control over your online presence and build a sustainable strategy for long-term growth.

DIY SEO: Laying the Foundation for Success

To succeed with DIY SEO, you must understand and implement key strategies.

Keyword Research: Uncover the Language of Your Audience

Keywords form the bedrock of any successful DIY SEO effort. You must identify the terms your target audience uses when searching for your products, services, or information.

How to Brainstorm High-Impact Keywords

• Listen to your customers: Pay close attention to the words and questions your customers use. This will help you understand how they think and search.
• Analyze your competitors: Identify the keywords your competitors target. This can provide valuable insights and ideas for your own strategy. However, avoid obsessing over them.
• Use Google Search suggestions: As you type into Google Search, note the suggested terms that appear. Google provides these suggestions based on what people search for.
• Explore "People Also Ask": After performing a Google search, scroll down to the "People Also Ask" section. This reveals questions related to your keyword, offering additional content opportunities.

Types of Keywords for a Robust DIY SEO Strategy

• Industry keywords: Use top-level professional terms commonly associated with your industry.
• Audience keywords: Use the specific words your target audience uses.
• Long-tail keywords: Target longer, more specific phrases or questions. These attract a highly targeted audience, even with lower search volumes. For example, instead of "weight loss," target "weight loss programs for women over 40".

Keyword Difficulty and Search Volume: Making Informed Decisions

• Keyword difficulty: Understand that highly competitive keywords, like "weight loss," require more effort to rank for.
• Search volume: Consider the number of searches per month for a keyword. Balance higher search volume with specificity to attract relevant traffic.

Free Keyword Research Tools for Effective DIY SEO

• Ubersuggest: Use this tool by Neil Patel to gather keyword data and generate ideas.
• Google Ads Keyword Planner: Even without running Google Ads, this tool provides insights into search volume, competition, and cost-per-click estimates.
• Google Trends: Compare the popularity of different keywords to see which terms people search more often. For example, compare "house cleaning" and "home cleaning".

On-Page Optimization: What to Do With Your Keywords

Once you identify your keywords, strategically incorporate them into your website content.

Strategic Keyword Placement for Maximum SEO Impact

• Title tag: Craft a compelling title tag that includes your keyword, business name, and geographic area. This is the link displayed on Google search results.
• Meta description: Write a concise, keyword-rich description of your page's content. This appears under the title tag on Google search results.
• Headline: Use your keyword in the title of your page or blog post to signal relevance to search engines.
• Content: Naturally incorporate your keyword throughout the body of your content. Aim for a keyword density of around 1%. For example, include the keyword once for every 100 words of text.
• Alt tags: Rename your images with relevant keywords and your business name. This helps Google understand the image content and improves your chances of ranking in image search.

How Long Should Your Content Be for DIY SEO?

Aim for a mix of content lengths, with blog posts ranging from 500 to 1,000 words. Breaking longer posts into multiple shorter posts allows you to create more focused content.

Always include at least one image in each blog post, and make sure to rename each image with a descriptive alt tag.

Off-Page Optimization: Amplify Your Website's Authority

Off-page optimization involves activities outside your website to build your site's authority and credibility.

Backlinking: Building Relationships and Trust for DIY SEO

• Internal backlinks: Link to other relevant pages within your website. This improves user navigation and helps Google understand your site's structure.
• External backlinks: Link to credible external websites as sources or references. Building relationships with other websites can lead to valuable backlinks to your site, boosting your authority.

Each page on your website should have at least one incoming and one outgoing backlink.

Technical SEO: Ensure a Smooth User Experience

Technical SEO focuses on optimizing your website's infrastructure to ensure search engines can easily crawl and index your content.

Page Speed: Prioritize a Fast Website for DIY SEO

• Optimize images: Compress images to reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality.
• Leverage browser caching: Implement browser caching to store static resources locally, reducing load times for returning visitors.
• Minimize HTTP requests: Reduce the number of HTTP requests by combining files, using CSS sprites, and optimizing code.
• Use a content delivery network (CDN): CDNs distribute your website's content across multiple servers, ensuring faster load times globally.

Mobile-Friendliness: Adapt to the Mobile World

Ensure your website is fully mobile-friendly. With most web traffic coming from mobile devices, a responsive design is crucial.

Website Age and Activity: Build Trust Over Time

Maintain an active online presence by regularly updating your website with fresh, relevant content. This signals to Google that your business is active and credible.

Monitoring and Adaptation: Stay Ahead of the Curve

SEO is an ongoing process. You should continuously monitor your performance and adapt your strategies as needed.

Google Analytics: Track User Behavior for DIY SEO Insights

Use Google Analytics to track key metrics, including mobile usage, time on page, and bounce rate. This data will provide insights into user interactions and helps you identify areas for improvement.

Combat "No-Click" Searches: Provide Engaging Content

Address "no-click" searches by ensuring your website provides useful, engaging content that keeps visitors on your page. Add videos or other interactive elements to encourage user engagement.

Final Thoughts: Empowering Your Business with DIY SEO

By implementing these DIY SEO strategies, you can take control of your online presence, attract more organic traffic, and achieve sustainable growth for your business. Embrace the power of DIY SEO and unlock your website's full potential!