Search Engine Optimization

2. Optimizing Your Website for Searchability

To start this second section off, we will tie in video content creation, more aptly known as Video SEO.

Video SEO has historically been tied to YouTube. Thus, when reading through this section, this may be biased towards YouTube’s algorithms versus just Google, Yahoo, Bing, or any other search engine since there is currently no real competition compared to YouTube’s pre-recorded video uploads.

Being that this is the case, there is one significant change coming to YouTube. YouTube will be taking away the “dislike,” or “thumb’s down” button from all videos (as reported by TechCrunch). Rest assured, this has already been tested throughout 2021 and continues to be in testing. So until further notice, as of November 2021, there are still “dislikes” showing up on YouTube videos.

Otherwise, from this new development, the usual list of Video SEO still applies (for now), which includes the following:

• Define your message or goal in the video.
• Add a Call to Action (CTA) to your video.
• Create brand awareness through link-building and social media sharing
• Utilize “Rich Snippets” to increase visibility on Google.

For a more in-depth look at these four tips, please go check out our friends at The Official SpyFu Blog (click here to view the original post that inspired us too)!

Another method to optimize your website on any major search engine is to make it “mobile-friendly.” Being mobile-friendly has been part of Google’s search engine criteria since 2015(*). Since then, businesses have found many ways to optimize their website for desktop and mobile visitors. Being mobile-friendly is one of the central points to running a successful website.

For review purposes, here are some points to achieving a mobile-friendly website:

• Having a reliable website hosting service like WordPress, HostGator, GoDaddy, or Wix.
• Testing your pre-existing webpage to see if you need a more reliable hosting provider.
• Redesign any ads you may have on your site that may not be optimized for mobile users.
• Turning on your accelerated mobile pages (AMP) feature.
• Having a mobile app created to coincide with your website.

For more in-depth information on the above information, please check out dreamhost.com’s post, which inspired us to bring it to your attention!

Moving on, optimizing your material online to be voice search enabled is the future of all content moving forward.

What this looks like is essentially creating your keywords, or even headlines, to sound more “natural” or “conversational.”

As reported by bright local, back in 2018, 58% of consumers have used the voice options on their devices in the last 12 months. Furthermore, 46% of voice search users have been shown to look up local businesses – daily! That’s a large group of people to consider if you have an online business and are looking to capitalize on their behavioral patterns!

Whether it’s the mother looking for a unique birthday gift or a single man trying to find a good dinner spot for his date, optimizing your online material to be more easily found online by potential customers is a great way to bring more traffic to your website.

If you need further assistance with your SEO or SEM strategy, we can help provide results! Click here to contact us.

We look forward to a very successful partnership!

–Matt Walker
Managing Director of Rally Digital