Let’s not kid ourselves here, getting a website to the top of google takes time, effort and expertise and don’t think by turning your website live that this will immediately happen. Our team have taken action to help with this, however you can complete a number of simple steps to help improve the visibility of your website on search engines and help you capture more leads in your local area.
Search engines have adapted in recent years to reward website creators for the effort they put into optimising their websites rather than this being based on the level of expertise or budget available. This is great news for you, as with a little bit of effort and research, you can improve your website visibility at no cost and get ahead of your competitors.
Don’t become one of the thousands of websites sitting idle, out of date and never seen.
This article has been put together to some up our recommended steps that are achievable for you, even if you have limited website building experiencing.
Start with the steps below and tackle some of the more complex actions like Google Adwords, Analytics and more when you are ready!
1. Optimise your website pages, title tags and meta descriptions
Within your CMS (Content Management System), you can add a title tag and meta description to each of your website pages. So what is also this about? Well, when a customer sees your website on search engines, they don’t see a page itself, instead a specific page title on your site. Therefore, these are vital. Make sure your page title tags use keywords so search engines know what it's all about. You should also make sure the title is interesting and will grab the users attention.
Meta descriptions on the other hand, are short paragraphs below the title tag that gives the user more information about the page. Take some time to get this right and ensure it really sells what the page is about.
One thing is for sure, a title tag and meta description that is empty won’t do you any favours at all!
2. Register for My Google Business
This is a must and the best thing is, it is completely free! Grab your business listing on Google so your business shows on search and google maps. Your customers can then find you, have easy ways to reach you, can learn about your business as well as leave and view reviews.
For UK Businesses, Click Here to create your FREE business listing and learn more.
3. Always add your website link to campaigns
If you are using a marketing platform like Mailerlite, or just good old fashioned mail shots via your email account, make sure you load these with links to your website. The more clicks on the links and visits to your website, the more credible and interesting your website will appear by search engines, therefore boosting your visibility.
4. Put your website domain in your email signature
Simple, but effective. This is commonly missed by many but can have an impact on driving more traffic to your site and again boosting its credibility. Think of the amount of people you reach on a daily basis by email and many of them you will have personal connection with. Therefore, they are already interested in your offering and highly likely to click your website link.
5. Add your website domain to your social profiles (and anywhere else)
If you are on social media, make sure your website domain is visible and easy to access. You should also add this to any other places where your coaching business is visible. The development of QR codes in recent years has also made marketing materials far more engaging.
Users that click on your website from other websites is also hugely powerful in driving your website visibility and ranking. Once again, search engines will interpret this as your website being interesting and useful.
6. Add file names and alternative tags to your images
You can add images to different places of your Showcase Website which helps to create an engaging experience when users navigate your site. However, it is also important that you give search engines a way of interpreting your images. Search engines can’t see your images but will instead interpret what they are and their meaning using the file name and descriptions. Take some time to go through your media section and add this information:
7. Create a link strategy with other local businesses
Links from one website to another website are hugely powerful, and you should take some time to build relationships with business in your area and make your website link visible on their site, especially when these rank highly and have a large number of website visitors. Without paying through the nose, think about how you can provide some value to other businesses for free, in return for making your website visible on their site, social media profiles or within campaigns.
8. Encourage your customers to leave reviews
This can be daunting but is highly effectively in driving your website visibility. Once you have created a Google My Business listing, you customers can leave reviews. Post the link for reviews on any campaigns you run, within the thank you email on your GLF. Connect system, your email signature as well as personally asking for this from your customers.
As a small business operating in the people business, most will be more than happy to help you out with a positive review and this will help drive trust and visibility through search engines.