5 Essential Search Engine Optimization Best Practices

skeetSearch engine optimization is often about hitting a moving target like skeet shooting. Google’s recent recent algorithm update once again shuffled the deck a bit, causing some websites to lose their high rankings while others benefitted.

Certainly, it’s essential to stay informed about the changes in the preferences of the major search engines. However, it’s even more important to realize their are certain best practices that never seem to go out of style. Follow these rules and you’ll quite often rise to the top of the rankings.

  1. Develop lots of relevant, high quality content. This one is a no-brainer. If you’re not in the business of providing beneficial content for your readers, then you’ll probably want to re-think your motivation. The important thing to consider is Google’s primary objective is to provide the most relevant information to its users. Many of the “content farm” sites that crank out information have been adversely affected by the recent algorithm update since their content is often high on keywords and low on real insight.
  2. Include supporting content. Readers are looking for more than just the written word. Think about creating podcasts, videos, info graphics, ebooks or other downloadable forms of information. This multimedia preference will only example as mobile devices and tablets gain in popularity.
  3. Avoid re-using other’s content. Well produced, original content will always be the gold standard and it’s important to realize that will always be the case.
  4. Incorporate user generated opinions and content. Social media means collaboration. In fact, most successful digital content is often just one continuous discussion and sharing of ideas. When creating thoughts for your website, think about how you can engage the thoughts and opinions of your readers on a continuing basis.
  5. Increase page load speed. Before you add that next WordPress plugin, consider how much additional time that plugin will take to load, causing your reader to wait. Be sure to test your website load time with a free service such as Pingdom.