4 tips to ensure your business' SEO success

Why preparation is the key to success

With 60% of all travel site searches starting from a mobile device last year there's no doubt that search plays an important role in how travellers decide where they stay, what they buy and what they do when they get there. Ranking well in google SERPs (Search Engine Results Page) is becoming ever more important.

SEO takes knowledge, time and preparation. The problem is when companies start their SEO, they often have overlooked the preparation stage.  This stage is as vital for success as the other two. 

So these 4 tips are based on preparing for your SEO work:-

 

1.  Set your goals and objectives

This isn't just about SEO, this is about your website's overall goals and objectives. It's easy to skip this step but please don't... you'll thank me for it in the end!

So, what are the goals of your website? 

In order to make your life easier, be specific. For instance goals such as 'Get more bookings" are vague.  I always base my goals on the Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based theory.

Goals such as “increase bookings to the destination by 30% in one year,” or “increase sales of weekday bookings by 20% in one year,” are based on this method and make it easier for you to implement not only your SEO marketing but your digital marketing plan as a whole.

 

2.  Put measurements in place

Now that you know what you want, do you know how you are going to measure that? 

There are lots of ways you can measure success or failure (depending on what platforms you are using) but the easiest and cheapest is Google Analytics.

If you're not already set-up, do so now.  This will allow you to not only check up on how your organic search is going but other channels too. (direct, referral, email, social). 

Next step is to make sure your Goals are set up in Google Analytics so that you can analyse how your website is doing, and whether your heading in the right direction.

 

3.  Decide who your target market is

Not everyone is your customer. No matter how much you want them to be. You need to decide who your target market is. If you don't know, here's some questions to ask yourself.

Demographics

  • Age Group
  • Gender 
  • Location 
  • Marital/Family Status
  • Income Level
  • Education Level
  • Occupation

Personas

  • Personality types
  • Attitudes
  • Values
  • Hobbies
  • Lifestyles

By completing this tip, this will help you with all of your digital marketing, not just your SEO.

4.  SEO Elements are editable and changeable

Last tip and you are nearly ready.  You just need to make sure you can actually change SEO elements on your website. Go into your website CRM and check you can edit/change the following on page SEO elements:

  • Meta-descriptions

  • Page title

  • Image alt text

  • H1 tags.

Now you know how to change these elements you're ready to get started on your SEO Plan and Strategy. 

Share Your Thoughts In The Comments Below

  • Have any of the tips helped you start to think about preparing for your SEO work this year?
  • Do you think any of these tips are more difficult than another?