Whether you are outsourcing SEO to a reputed firm in Chicago or intend to do some experiments on your own, the following tips will sure give you a better idea on how to proceed:
- SEO results cannot be achieved instantaneously; the work done today may take weeks or even months (in some cases) to show noticeable results
- There is no one-for-all SEO strategy; an SEO strategy that worked well for one website may not produce the same results for another website
- On-page as well as off-page SEO is necessary; achieving results with just one of the two is not possible
- If your small business website is brand new, you will need to have a great deal of patience; it will take some time before the results pour in
- Do not let yourself believe that an SEO campaign will have a finishing date; it is an ongoing process
- Be careful of Google’s algorithm updates; you don’t want to be implementing SEO techniques that are no longer relevant or worse, invite penalties
- Start using Google Webmaster Tools and Google Analytics from the very first week
- Do not ignore Google Plus; having a business page on G+ is an absolute must
- If you want results quickly and are certain that the returns for targeted traffic will match up the investments, consider PPC campaigns alongside SEO
- On a fundamental level, focus on creating content for human readers and not search engines
- NEVER copy content from other websites; you can at most have it rewritten by expert content writers
- Start a blog; having a blog is one of the best ways to update your website on a regular basis
- Socialize on the Internet; start contributing content to other blogs, websites, forums, etc.; focus on adding genuine value to these websites for better online presence
- Each page should have a keyword optimized Title and Meta Description
- Do not hesitate to copy keyword ideas from competitor websites if the need be
- Start creating content that’s optimized for long-tail keywords; embed more questions within your content
- At any cost, avoid keyword stuffing and link purchases; link building should always be done at a steady, natural pace
- Make sure the contact information is uniform on all online channels including your official website, Google Plus page, Facebook page, etc.
- Get your small business listed in all popular directories and classifieds; write catchy descriptions to attract targeted traffic to your website
Last but not the least, contact an experienced SEO consultant and seek advice on how to achieve lasting SEO results.