Selling Online? Here Are 4 Things You Need to Know About SEO.

SEO is the kingmaker in the age of eCommerce. But a sound SEO strategy can do more than help you own keywords.

These days, startups live and die by the clicks they get. If your website isn’t optimized for search, customers won’t find you, much less buy from you. 

But SEO, much like the internet it runs on, is constantly evolving. Keeping up with all the new rules, strategies and best practices can be a job in itself. If you’re not in a position to hire an SEO expert, follow these expert tips to boost your position in the rankings.

1. Realize that SEO is about more than just keywords

While SEO does focus on keywords, traffic and how well your site is ranking, it’s concerned with much more than that. SEO is about creating effective customer service funnels, sharing high-quality content and standing out among competitors.

Without a strong SEO strategy, your website will likely be lost in the lower depths of the search results. No matter how local your customer base is, or how high-quality your product, it’s irrelevant if you’re hidden from view. SEO has become a requirement for modern businesses to thrive, one that can make or break your company.

To implement a good SEO strategy, start with your site’s content. Is it easy to read, and does it answer the questions your audience is asking? Does it hold their attention? If your bounce rate and time on site metrics suggest the answer is “no,” create high-quality content that does. 

How fast does your site load? Does it contain relevant links and offer customer support? Despite the complexity of SEO algorithms, all of them focus on customer experience. A fast-loading site that answers visitors’ questions and provides needed support will encourage them to linger. 

Longer sessions and more visitors mean a higher rank in the search results. A higher rank brings in more traffic, which means more potential sales — and the cycle continues.

2. Experiment relentlessly with SEO

Just as search ranking factors change, so do keyword values and search volumes. Early and ongoing adjustment is key. 

Some agencies focus on on-page SEO, such as optimizing conversion-oriented pages for specific keywords. Others do off-site work, such as building backlinks from third-party publications.

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