One of the biggest challenges in starting a small business is establishing a brand you can call your own. A website is a powerful tool that helps you do just this, but setting up one is just the start of another challenge. You must use SEO so that your pages can get high rankings from the search engines and with increased online visibility, you can establish your brand more effectively.

Ask any digital marketing service agency about how SEO helps new websites and they would give you a long list of answers. Startups and small businesses can gain the much-needed traction when they have an optimized website. But how do you really build an effective one and where does SEO enter the picture? Here’s a list of SEO tips for building a new website.

Choose a good domain name

Start by choosing an effective domain name. It has to be unique, concise, and perfectly suitable for your brand. It also has to provide an idea of what your business is about and what your products or services are. A good domain name should be as short and simple as possible. Infuse an element of “recall” whenever possible.

Other than being the name of your website, domains also serve as a ranking factor. Domain names must make it easier for the search engine bots to know what the site is about. So whenever possible, add a basic keyword you want your site to rank for.

Plan your site structure

Your website must be designed in such a way that the bots can index your pages easily. Arrange your pages according to the information they contain. The secret here is to make it convenient for the visitors to find what they need in the least possible time. When the site architecture and navigation features are well organized for human users, it is also easy for the crawlers to index your site.

To build it yourself or to hire?

If you have a background in content management systems (CMS), then it must be easy for you to build your website. If, on the other hand, you are not that confident with your skills or you simply lack the know-how, you can always hire a developer. The latter option can save time and effort, but it still pays to be part of the building process so that you can get the desired result.

Complete content for important pages

Before launching your website, make sure the main pages have sufficient content. Pay attention to the homepage and other permanent pages such as your “About Us” and “Services” pages. Same goes with your landing pages. Create original content that are keyword-optimized and are of value to the needs and queries of your visitors.  

Update your website

Launching your site is not the end of it. You still have to constantly update it. For instance, you can publish a blog post on a weekly basis. One smart way to do it is by creating in advance a lineup of posts. Your blogs must touch on relevant and timely topics and use the right keywords. Other than being a step that is healthy for your site’s SEO, it is also one way of engaging and providing useful information to your audience.

Know on-page and off-page SEO

Quality and updated content is not the sole saving grace of new websites. There are many on-site and off-site factors that have to be considered as well. Aside from keywords, you must also look into title tags, meta descriptions, images, links, and social media buttons, among others. Off-site SEO can be a complicated aspect for new website owners, but you can always start by implementing a strong on-site SEO strategy, which can help significantly with your off-site SEO later.

Be familiar with analytics

Measuring your site’s performance is just as important as building it. There are many analytics tools you can use to evaluate the success of your website in terms of SEO. Google Analytics, for instance, is one of the most popular tools used by website owners and digital marketers.

These tools provide easy-to-digest data on customer behavior, conversions, and more. Analytics tools help you see where your visitors are located, how much time they spend on your webpages, and how many among them immediately leaves your site (bounce rate). Such information should provide you insights as to what you are doing right or wrong with your website.

Some last words…

SEO can be a complicated subject, especially when it comes to new website owners. It can be overwhelming, but keeping the above-mentioned SEO tips in mind can help you understand the basics of the optimization process.

If things get too complicated, fret not. There are many SEO agencies out there who are more than ready to lend you a hand. Just find a digital marketing agency and talk about your needs and goals.