SEO.. What is it.. How Do I Do It… and Do I Actually Need It
SEO or Search Engine Optimization… If you’re like most small business owners you’re probably asking yourself what the fu@k is that! Great question! You’ve come to the right blog post. I’m sure as you’ve scrolled through Instagram or TikTok and at some point a video has come across your For You Page telling you how SEO is the magic sauce to get your website ranked on Google and will get you new clients organically (unless that’s just me…I have a weird algorithm don’t judge me.) And as you watch the video they give you some high-level information on SEO that kinda, but kinda doesn’t make sense, and the answer to all your prayers is to pay them money to give you the real inside scoop…Right? Well, that’s lame, so I’m going to break SEO down here for you for free because girl bosses don’t gate keep, and let’s be honest, by the time I finish writing this Google will have changed their algorithm and there will be new SEO stuff to focus on. Ugh exhausting I know, but I’ll stick to the staples.
So What Is SEO?
In its simplest form, SEO is how Google and other search engines understand what your business is and the services you offer. Google is a business like any other, and they want people to rely on their search engines to get what they need. So, Google’s goal when someone searches for a business or service, is to provide them with the best results that align as closely as possible to what that individual is looking for. Therefore, if you have good SEO, when people search for things that align with your business, your website populates in the top Google results. For example, you are a nail salon in Pittsburgh offering Russian Manicures. If you do your SEO properly, when people in Pittsburgh Google search “Russian manicures near me” or “Pittsburgh Russian Manicures” your website will populate in the results, and boom, they end up booking a nail appointment with you.
That’s really great Ellie, but how do I do that?
Great question! This is where things get complicated, but bear with me because I promise I’ll break this down in a digestible way. There’s a lot that goes into SEO and to see the results of your SEO can take time, but I will lay out a few musts:
Time On Google/ Website Engagement: As I said above, Google wants to provide people with the best results that align closely with what someone is searching for. The longer you have been a business on Google and the more people click on your website when searching for services that align with yours, the more Google views your business as a reliable entity and will give you a higher ranking over time.
Keywords: Keywords are those topic words people search to find certain things. Examples of this could be Botox, med spa, hair salon, yoga studio, laser hair removal, facials, Russian manicures, etc. These keywords tell customers what type of business you are and the type of services you offer. When building a website these keywords should be used throughout your headings and your meta descriptions.
Headings: A good website structure has H1 – H3 or even H4 Headings. Think of headings like article, or paragraph titles. They should be short and concise, but include some of those keywords woven throughout. Now Ellie, why can’t I just make a website and throw a bunch of keywords randomly in there to help with SEO? Well, unfortunately, Google is smart and looks for keyword stuffing. As I said above, Google is always working to improve its algorithm and tries to identify ways people are “beating the system” so do it right from the start please.
Meta Descriptions & Title Tags: These things are completed on the backend of your website. If you don’t know what that is, think, the front end is the material and text people can see when they go to your website, your meta descriptions and title tags are the things people don’t see on the site. Meta descriptions are what Google reads to understand your on-page content. To keep it simple, these descriptions should be no more than 160 characters long and have keywords like the ones that exist in your headings. Here’s an example: My H1 header on my website may be “Shaipe: Voted Best Digital Marketing Agency In Pittsburgh'' then my meta tag could be “Voted Pittsburgh’s best digital marketing agency, Shaipe offers website design and digital advertising services for small businesses.” Your Title tag will be similar, but only be about 60 characters long. An example of this would be “Shaipe: Pittsburgh’s Go-To for Web Design and Digital Advertising.”
Now, if you’re a little stuck on what to put for your own meta descriptions and title tags, Google businesses similar to yours that are ranking high on Google. When you look at the Google results you will actually be able to see the title tag information and meta description information. (I’ll attach a pic here for reference because it’s way too confusing to describe here what I’m talking about lol.”)
Another great way to come up with some ideas is to throw it into Chat GPT. Now, a bunch of major SEO Agencies are going to tell you not to do this and that Ai will never be better than a human trained in SEO. Yes, that may be true, but not everyone can drop fat stacks of cash to pay a company for SEO assistance so Chat GPT your life away if you gotta because something in your meta descriptions and title tags is better than nothing. I said what I said it’s a hill I’ll die on.
Blogs & Backlinks: Google, from an SEO perspective, has been putting a lot of emphasis on blogs. Not only does this give you the opportunity to share your expertise and knowledge with your clients it also lets Google know that you know your shit. Write blogs about what people care about. A great way to start is to Google a topic, for example, “Russian manicures” and search for the box with Google’s drop-down questions. (I’ll attach another picture here for reference.)
These questions that Google lists out are the hot topics people are Googling to try to find answers to. Prioritize those. I know a lot of people want to ChatGPT their way through their blogs, but this is that one time I will caution you against this. If you must, use it as a tool, but please add some personal flare to it. Google is trying to recognize Ai-produced blogs, which could actually harm your SEO more than help it.
Backlinks are going to be a great way to add that extra umph to your blogs and how Google views your credibility. Look at it like citing your sources almost. Google wants to know the information being pushed out is accurate and credible to help its consumers find the correct answers they’re looking for. So if you can loop in credible sources like news articles, company websites, other blogs that have similar information, etc, it will really help with your SEO. Additionally, (and even better) if other blogs and companies cite your articles in their blog or on their website then you’re really getting those SEO brownie points from Google.
Google My Business: Google loves a great Google My Business (GMB) Page and so do your customers. Google cross references your GMB with your website to make sure the information matches. Please do a GMB due diligence check to ensure your hours of operation are correct, you have up-to-date pictures, and most importantly you are getting those 5-star reviews. I know no one wants to be that person to beg clients for reviews, but try to find creative ways to obtain them. Offer a discount for first time clients after their appointment if they leave a review on Google or set up an automation that shoots an email out after a purchase to leave a review. Those things can take little to no time but make a huge difference.
Okay so let’s recap!
SEO, it’s a lot…I know. Our brains are hurting…I know. But it is so important to help your business gain visibility in your respected area and in turn, gain new clients organically. Prioritize your Meta descriptions, title tags, blogs, and Google My Business. Most importantly remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Results can take months before you really start climbing the Google charts. Don’t get frustrated and continue putting in the effort, your future business will thank you. And when in doubt, if after reading all this you’re thinking fu@k this I’m not doing that, hit up Shaipe and we can help you out!
For all things technology and business growth, or if you just think we’re cool, follow Shaipe Agency on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website HERE for more articles like this!
For other helpful SEO articles check out some of our favorites!
Kommentit