Everywhere you turn, there seems to be an obsession with link building. You’ll see it especially in new websites in search of top ranking. While links have a direct impact on how well your page ranks, the fixation is unwarranted. There are ways to increase your ranking without stuffing your article or site with links. Here are a few tips:
Raise the Speed of Your Site
Whether you’re downloading a file, making an online purchase, or registering for a service, you’ll be put off by a webpage that takes forever to load. After all, nobody wants to look at a blank screen for five minutes.
If your site is very slow, it tells visitors and search engines that you might not have done your homework in optimising it. Search spiders have a way of detecting slow websites. Some visitors might also opt to give a negative report about these annoying slow-loading pages. Worst of all, Google might even kick you out of the top spot on search engine results pages.
There are tools to test your speed from time to time. Make sure to use them. These tools also indicate areas on the site that you should improve on.
Publish Regular Updates
An active website will always receive favourable ranking because it contains information that is fresh and relevant. Search spiders, just like visitors and customers browsing through your site, want something new with every visit.
Since it is impossible to launch new products every day, blogs have become an important resource of fresh and useful information about brands, products, and services. You can also publish posts on your blog about current trends and topics in your industry.
Search engine spiders will pick up fresh content and reward you with better ranking because it shows you’re contributing good content on the web. Your visitors will also find something new every time they visit. This is a good reason for them to return and it may help to steadily increase your traffic.
Target Long-Tail Keywords
A long-tail keyword is a phrase that captures three or more important search words. Because of the crowded marketplace of ideas and search words, ranking high can be a challenge. So how do you stand out?
Your best option is the long-tail keyword. Instead of just typing in “tennis shoes” as the query, online shoppers might try including qualifiers and brand names, especially if they already have a preference. One example is “best Nike running shoes.” In the same way, content marketers can use long-tail keywords to tailor the information to a specific market segment.
Use the Google Keyword Planner to see how competitive your keyword choices are. Go for competitive ones that will drive traffic. Place the words strategically throughout your pages, from headlines to descriptions. They send a clear message to Google about what you are offering, and this boosts your ranking.
Content still determines your standing with Google and the perception visitors have about your site. While links are important in sharing content from page to page, there are a few other ways to develop useful content.
