Trying to keep up with the evolving algorithms of search engines can take a toll on your content marketing strategy. Top search engines such as Google, for instance, uses over 200 ranking factors to determine the search engine results pages (SERPs). These may seem a lot to keep up with, but they are essential in ensuring that your pages rank top on the SERPs.
Luckily, you don’t have to sweat every ranking factor to appear first on results pages. With a few strategies, you can optimize your content for search engines and rank favorably at the top.
Below are the top ten content marketing tips that will help you crush SERPs in 2019.
1. Have Mobile-Responsive Content
Many users of search engines use smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices to access the Internet. If your site isn’t optimized for these devices, it will load slowly and have poor visuals. As search engines crawl your pages, they will note these problems and rank you further down the SERPs. Optimize your website design and layout to make sure that it is adaptive to both desktop and mobile devices. Scale your images using a responsive design that will favor mobile users. Sites that are optimized for mobile users always rank better on SERPs.
2. Handle Technical SEO Aspects
By now you probably know the basics of SEO such as creating content, using keywords, and so on. However, there are other technical aspects of SEO that play a critical role in determining your site’s ranking. If there are errors or issues, they can hurt your SEO and cause search engine crawlers to rank your site poorly. Some of these issues may require you to employ the services of an expert. They include:
- Errors in robot.txt
- Issues with site indexing
- Duplicate title tags and meta description
- Broken links
Regularly audit your website to look for these and other technical issues which could affect your site’s ranking on search engines.
3. Embrace Artificial Technology
Since its introduction, artificial intelligence has been a trending topic in digital marketing. AI is a powerful technology that you can use to research keywords, plan blog posts, review analyses, and assess data reports. All these are essential in creating content that will rank top on search engine results pages. Artificial intelligence also features a predictive technology that you can use to determine the search patterns of your target demographic and provide content that aligns to their needs.
4. Understand User Intent
User intent is essential in content marketing and search engine optimization. If you don’t know what the user’s intent is when typing search terms, you won’t provide content that answers their question. Artificial intelligence is an amazing technology that you can utilize in 2019 to understand user content and make sure that your website and landing pages are consistent with what is ranking. You don’t just want your page to rank top for certain keywords – you want to make sure that it also answers the user’s question. This way, they will find value on your site and convert.
5. Check Website Speed
Website speed is another factor that you need to look out for as you work on your content marketing strategy in 2019. Slow sites and sites that have media that takes forever to load will not be ranking top on search engines in 2019. Even if such pages were to rank top, users tend o move on from sites that take long to load, and this increases the site’s bounce rate. Check your website’s speed and optimize your layout and content to improve it.
6. Optimize User Experience
User experience is what will distinguish between a one-time visitor and a returning visitor. When users find valuable content on your website, they will be more likely to come back and convert. High conversion rates show that your site is valuable to users, and crawlers will rank it favorably. Optimize user experience by doing the following:
- Provide meaningful and informative content
- Create an appealing layout
- Ease navigation through your site
- Use design elements that evoke appreciation
- Provide value to the user
Work with a reputable agency such as Minneapolis SEO – Premier SEO Ninjas so that they can help you to optimize your site for search engines and create content that will add great value to your target demographic.
7. Build Links
You cannot ignore the importance of link building in content marketing and search engine optimization. Backlinks from high authority sites increase the authenticity of your site. They don’t just drive more traffic to your website. They improve your ranking on SERPs. You can build links through guest posting, mentions by brands, influencers, and high-authority sites. Also, don’t forget to take advantage of internal links within your website as well.
8. Monitor Analytics
Analytics is an important aspect of a content marketing strategy. It helps you to monitor metrics and determine the performance of your site. Remember, some of the key indicators that you use to monitor site performance are also used by search engines to determine rankings. These include sessions, repeat visitors, CTR, links, average session time, and many more. Constantly monitor these metrics to make sure that your site is performing optimally.
9. Claim GMB Listing
Google My Business listing gives clients an inside look into your business. By displaying your business location and services, you can rank top for location-specific searches. Therefore, if you haven’t yet claimed your GMB listing, do it as soon as possible. Remember to provide all pertinent information, including opening and closing hours, directions, a short bio of the business, and so on.
10. Provide Fresh Content
Websites that are constantly updating their content have a better chance of ranking top on SERPs. Provide fresh content for your website to show that it is always active. If you have old content, update it to improve its relevance. Content marketing is a continuous task, and only businesses that stay on top of their game stand a chance to rank top three on SERPs.
Final Thoughts
The secret to figuring out how to rank in SERPs does not lie in chasing after them to discover what factors they use to rank websites. It is about building a website and creating content that meets the above requirements. Remember, search engines are constantly changing their strategies and ranking factors. If your site is mobile friendly, has fresh and meaningful content that’s created with user intent in mind, loads fast, and is well-designed, it will receive favorable rankings. Besides ranking top, your site will also see higher conversion rates which will translate into increased ROI for your business.
