When 30+ small changes add up to big success
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It’s a common misconception that SEO is simply about keywords. Sure, keywords are indeed the key to getting your content found by search engines and making it rank higher in their results pages. But there is so much more to SEO than just finding and using popular keywords.
To get ahead on Google today, you need to understand how algorithms work and what factors can help or hurt your ranking potential. That means focusing not just on including relevant words but also connecting with readers through well-written headlines, meta descriptions, images, formatting choices, links between posts …. And many other factors, including optimizing images and monitoring Google Analytics.
Optimize your images
Your images are key parts of your content and your site. As long as you focus on the text, images will help Google’s algorithm distinguish between the two and consider your site more important.
Image optimization is something that many bloggers often fail to do. Often, using an image with no-text alt text is taken as adequate for SEO. Unfortunately, many image optimizers also overuse keywords in title and alt tags.
But even if the image quality is good, Google will probably not consider an image that is not easily readable. According to a study from Moz reported by Search Engine Land, images need to be at least 225 pixels wide and 300 pixels high to impact page ranking.
Keywords in the alt tag are essential for several reasons. First, you need to use your target keywords in the alt text as a way of helping users find your blog posts.
But alt text is also important for Google’s algorithm when it comes to images other than your own. The alt text you use for any image of yours that appears on a page other than your own should include the name of the image and often its source, as well as any relevant keywords. If you’re using Canva or another stock image-sharing site review their terms of service to help ensure that the images are used properly.
Monitor Google Analytics
Finally, Google Analytics is an invaluable tool for your SEO routine. With it, you can track the search engine keywords that brought traffic to your site in the first place and see which pages of yours result in the highest percentage of conversions or engagement.
You can also get an idea of your best times on Google — and when you’re most popular — through Google Analytics’ real-time reports. This can give you a clue to how long your posts should be and how often you should publish them.
So remember, building your blog is about more than just keywords. And more than just content. It’s about making your site more Google-friendly.
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