11 SEO Best Practices to Boost Ranking in 2022
Did you know that according to recent studies, 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search results? That means if your website isn’t ranking on the first page, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity for organic traffic.
The good news is, there are things you can do to improve your ranking. In this article, we’ll share 11 SEO best practices that will help boost your ranking in 2022.
Best Practice #1: Use Keywords Strategically
If you want your website to rank for certain keywords, you need to use them strategically throughout your site. This means using them in your title tags, meta descriptions, H1 tags, and throughout the body of your content.
Don’t stuff your keywords in an attempt to game the system – this will only hurt your ranking. Use them naturally and sparingly, sticking to a more natural feel. Not sure how many times to use a keyword? A good rule of thumb is to keep your keyword density around 1-2%.
Best Practice #2: Optimize Your Title Tags
Your title tags are one of the most important on-page factors for SEO. This is what appears in the search results as your link, so you want to make sure it’s catchy and includes your target keywords.
Aim for 50-60 characters in your title tags, and don’t forget to include your brand name as well. If you want a little extra help, try using a tool like Yoast SEO which will analyze your title tags and give you feedback on whether they’re optimized.
Best Practice #3: Write Unique & Compelling Meta Descriptions
Your meta descriptions are the short snippets that appear under your title tags in the search results. These are important because they give searchers an idea of what your website is about and can help convince them to click through to your site.
When writing meta descriptions, aim for 155-160 characters and include your target keywords. But don’t stuff your keywords – again, this will only hurt your ranking. Write compelling, interesting descriptions that will make searchers want to learn more about what you have to offer.
Best Practice #4: Create Compelling Content
If you want people to stick around your website and continue reading, you need to create compelling content. This means writing content that is interesting, informative, and engaging.
To write compelling content, start by coming up with a list of topics your audience would be interested in. Then, do some keyword research to find out what people are searching for related to those topics. Once you have a list of keywords, you can start writing your content, making sure to include those keywords throughout.
Remember to keep your readers in mind – the goal is to write content that they will find interesting and useful. If you do that, they’ll be more likely to stick around and continue reading, which will help improve your ranking.
Best Practice #5: Optimize Your Images
Images are an important part of any website, but did you know that they can also help with your SEO? When you optimize your images, you’re more likely to rank higher in image search results, which can bring more traffic to your site.
There are a few things you need to do to optimize your images:
- Use descriptive filenames
- Include keywords in your alt text
- Choose the right file format (JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics)
- Compress your images to reduce file size
Best Practice #6: Use Internal Links
Internal links are links from one page on your website to another. They help users navigate your site and can also help improve your SEO.
When you use internal links, be sure to use keywords as the anchor text (the text that’s linked). This will help improve your ranking for those keywords. Just don’t overdo it – too many links can look spammy and hurt your ranking.
Best Practice #7: Add External Links
In addition to internal links, you should also be sure to add external links to high-quality websites. This helps improve your credibility in the eyes of Google and can also help you rank higher for certain keywords.
When adding external links, be sure to use keyword-rich anchor text. And only link to websites that you trust – linking to low-quality websites can hurt your ranking.
Best Practice #8: Use Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool provided by Google that can help you with your SEO. It provides data and insights about how your website is performing in search results, which can help you identify areas for improvement.
It can also help you track your progress over time and see the impact of your SEO efforts. If you’re not already using Google Search Console, be sure to sign up and start taking advantage of all it has to offer.
Best Practice #9: Monitor Your Progress & Keep Up with Trends
Another best practice is to monitor your progress and keep up with trends. This means regularly checking your website’s performance in the search results and making changes as needed.
It also means staying up-to-date on the latest SEO news and trends. Google is constantly changing its algorithm, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest SEO best practices. A good way to do this is to sign up for an SEO newsletter or blog.
Best Practice #10: Keep Your Website Up-To-Date
If you want your website to perform well in the search results, you need to keep it up-to-date. This means regularly adding new content, updating old content, and ensuring all your pages are working properly.
If you have a blog, be sure to add new blog posts on a regular basis. And if you have any outdated or broken pages, be sure to fix them as soon as possible. Outdated and broken pages can hurt your ranking and drive users away from your site.
Best Practice #11: Work with an SEO Agency
If you want to take your SEO to the next level, you may want to consider working with an SEO agency. An SEO agency can help you with everything from keyword research to link building to content creation.
Working with an SEO agency can be a big investment, but it can be worth it if you’re serious about improving your ranking. If you don’t have the budget to work with an agency, there are a number of free and paid SEO tools that can help you with your SEO efforts.
Conclusion
SEO is a complex and ever-changing field, but there are a few best practices that can help you boost your ranking. By optimizing your website for search engines, you can increase your visibility, drive more traffic to your site, and improve your bottom line. So, if you’re serious about improving your SEO, be sure to implement these best practices.
Purchase E-Commerce Management – A Simplified Guide to Manage Your Online Store Successfully. And follow MonicaFaye on Instagram for more FREE tips.