The world of SEO can be confusing. But equally hard to ignore is the fact that some organizations prefer to maintain a certain mystique around the process, particularly when they’re charging around $5000 a month. But while the specifics of SEO are continually shifting, the fundamentals have always remained the same. As a team of SEO consultants in Vancouver, we’re listed some of the fundamentals of a good campaign.

1) Publish new content

When it comes to searching for specific keywords, Google wants to make sure the recommendations it provides are relevant and up to date. That means that after the main pages of your website are optimized with keyword-rich content, Google expects you to keep adding relevant content to your website. Continually adding content signals that the site is being cared for and updated. This is the main reason that many websites even have blogs—it’s an easy way to add content. We’ve found about two blogs per month, about 300-400 words each, is generally adequate in competitive niches.

2) Speed counts

SEO guru Neil Patel advises removing anything that slows down your website. This is not always possible if you’re showing off a photography portfolio or various projects, but it when it comes to SEO, consultants in Vancouver primarily agree that making your website as fast as possible is in your best interest. In fact, data from Strange Loop shows that a 1-second delay in page load time can yield a 7% loss in conversions. Fixing a slow website may require hiring website programmers to audit and enhance your speed. So, how do you know if you’re possibly being penalized? Google has a handy tool that lets you check your website speed and assigns a grade.

3) Link to the winners

As SEO consultants in Vancouver,  we often run across clients who explicitly refuse to link content to other blogs, because it could potentially take people away from their website. However, linking to recognized, high-traffic (popular) websites with similar content helps Google understand your niche. It helps define you by your network, and it remains a pillar of SEO strategy.

4) Measure and monitor

Ultimately, no matter what you do, you need to make sure your efforts—self-made or paid for—are working. Otherwise, what’s the point? Most companies will provide clients with a comprehensive and straightforward report. But there are lots of tools, both free and paid for, that you can use. At the very least, you should have Google Analytics installed on their websites to measure the ebb and flow of traffic. Google Search Console is a bit trickier, but it provides detailed information about issues that inhibit your keyword rank.

5) Get social

Most people don’t realize that social media is an integral part of a successful SEO strategy. It’s easy to dismiss social media as irrelevant, particularly if you don’t see it generating leads and inquiries. However, platforms like Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram contribute to the overall impact of your SEO strategy. Several case studies  detail the impact social shares, likes, tweets and pins have on search engine rankings. If you want to reach page one for your keywords, social accounts help, even if you only use them once or twice a week.

6) Be mobile

This is a bit trickier. Mobile browsing (people who look at the Internet using phones and tablets) is on the rise. If your website isn’t compatible with phones and tablets, it’s not going rank competitively against one that it is. The good news is that most web design and development companies are aware of the demands and expectations these days and will at least design a website that’s mobile compatible. However, if you’re expecting a lot of traffic online, you might want to request a site that mobile optimized. This is a pared down version of the main website that’s designed to work on phones and tablets, which different dimensions compared to desktops and laptops.

In the age of information, placement of your website on Google can drastically impact the success of your business, but SEO is not a short-term strategy. For long term success, it has to be done carefully and accurately. On average, it takes our SEO clients about three months before the benefits of a campaign start to show. Remain persistent. Keep creating and posting new content that’s relevant and interesting to your clients.

If SEO isn’t your thing, but you want to create better content and drive more organic leads to grow your business and revenue, then reach out to us at Inkykiss. As a team of SEO consultants in Vancouver, we’ll be glad to discuss how we can create a campaign for your business.