Setting Up Foundational SEO for a New Website

If you’re running a new business, digital marketing can do wonders for your efforts.

One of the most cost-effective techniques you can add to the mix is search engine optimization, or SEO. As part of your marketing strategy, you should learn how to set up a solid SEO foundation for your website.

In fact, your company—or your web design agency—should include foundational SEO as part of your website design process.

SEO may sound complex and unknowable at times, but it’s really not a scary undertaking.

In fact, it’s the foundation of every standout website. It’s pretty fascinating to discover how customers can find your website while searching for particular products or services online.

So, are you ready to figure out your SEO strategy for a new website, or even for a website that is undergoing a redesign?

It’s time to learn how to set up SEO for websites like yours so you can use SEO to capture, engage, and convert ideal audiences.

CHAPTER ONE

What is SEO?

So Much More Than an Acronym!

While it’s called SEO more often than not, the full name of this marketing strategy is search engine optimization.

Website SEO Meaning

SEO is the process of intentionally optimizing your site to be as visible as possible on search engine results pages (also known as SERPs), particularly Google’s.

Unlike pay-per-click (PPC) ads, SEO targets unpaid traffic.

You should include SEO in your website launch checklist.

Here’s why: 93% of online experiences start with a search engine, meaning that 93% of online experiences start with people scanning SERPs.

If you can rank high enough on these pages to generate some clicks, you’ll be getting plenty of new organic traffic without paying for PPC advertisements.

Google dominates this scene with a 92.48% market share, so it’s important to follow their SEO guidelines when optimizing your site.

How Does SEO Work?

Search engines use crawlers—also known as bots or spiders—to collect information about all of the content available on the internet.

They start from a known website and follow internal and external links to other pages and sites. This process lets crawlers understand what each page is about and how a particular website relates to other sites in their massive database.

Naturally, search engines want to provide consumers with valuable results that address their queries, so they enhance the user experience by giving users exactly what they need.

As you build your SEO strategy for a new website, optimize your content to match Google’s search algorithms.

These ranking factors include your business information, your mobile-friendliness, the quality of your content, your keyword use, and your user experience (UX).

SEO Enabled Website

A website that is optimized for search engine ranking is known as an SEO-enabled website, or SEO friendly website. This means that the site has been structured in a way that makes it easy for search engines to index and rank the site’s content.

An SEO-enabled website usually includes a number of other features that can help to improve the site’s search engine visibility, such as keyword-rich titles and descriptions, well-written and keyword-rich content, and backlinks from high-quality websites.

While there is no guarantee that an SEO-enabled website will always achieve top search engine rankings, the use of SEO best practices can significantly increase the chances of success.

Search Engine Optimization Strategies

Having cleared up the approaches to search engine optimization, we can now go through what the different types of SEO strategies are.

On-page SEO refers to techniques that are used to improve the ranking of a website through changes to the website itself, such as adding keyword-rich content and improving the structure of titles and headings.

Off-page SEO, on the other hand, focuses on activities that take place outside of the website, such as link building and social media engagement.

Local SEO focuses on optimizing a website for specific geographic regions. This includes optimizing anchor texts and title tags to include keywords relevant to the region.

Technical SEO focuses on improving the technical aspects of a website, such as site speed and structure. This can help to improve the crawling and indexing of a website, making it easier for search engines to find and rank the site.

By pursuing different SEO strategies, businesses can give themselves a better chance of earning higher levels of web traffic and improving their overall visibility online.

What Is the Purpose of SEO?

There are over 1.88 billion sites online. If you want to stand out in this sea of competition, you should focus on developing your new website SEO strategy. By optimizing your website for organic search, you can help it rank higher in search engine results pages and get more traffic.

Think of Google as the modern-day equivalent of Yellow Pages. Thankfully, nobody has to go through massive directories when looking for products or services anymore.

Instead, they can use Google through their phones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers. Yellow Pages have been usurped by SERPs, and landing your business’s website on them is vital to attracting organic traffic.

If you handle your SEO right, you can attract leads in different stages of the sales funnel, some of whom are already ready to make a purchase.

However, you can’t create your SEO foundation overnight; you need some time and the right tactics to boost your online presence.

Below are some small business SEO tips to get you started.

“It’s important to group all website content into thematic clusters by using internal links and menu structures. This helps individual content pieces rank far better than if they were isolated from one another.”

Jacob Andra, Founder, Customer Faucet

CHAPTER two

SEO Steps For Beginners

Ready to practice SEO for new website pages? It may seem overwhelming at first, but it boils down to the small details. These SEO strategies for new websites will get you on the right track.

To achieve your SEO goals, you need to observe best practices across several components of your website.

Apart from following website design standards, Google also considers things like titles, descriptions, images, and more when rating websites.

Check out some of the most crucial SEO elements below.

1. Page Titles

The first thing you should do in an SEO strategy for web pages is to use page titles—also called title tags, meta titles, or SEO titles—correctly. The page title is an HTML element that succinctly describes the page’s topic.

Most of the time, search engines display your page title on search results.

Remember, every page on your site should contain a unique title page. When writing this component, think of the primary keywords your target market will use. It’s important to carefully select the keywords you use on your website, especially on landing pages.

For example, if you have a page for an eyelash-lengthening mascara, include such terms in your page title.

Here are other pro tips to improve your SEO strategy for website pages:

Keep titles to a maximum of 30 – 60 characters.
Make sure your title perfectly matches the content.
Emphasize the value you offer to your clients.

2. Meta Descriptions

A meta description provides a brief summary of a page’s content. Search engines display them as snippets on SERPs.

When you write a meta description, it should give visitors an idea of what they will find when they click on the link and how it can address their queries. When writing a meta description, it is important to use long tail keywords that accurately reflect the page’s content.

Meta descriptions don’t affect your SEO ranking, but they can impact your click-through rate (CTR).

These short paragraphs are like ads; you need to write compelling copy to convince consumers to check out your page.

Here are some ways to create standout meta descriptions:

Keep it short and sweet—155 characters at most.
Use an active voice to encourage profitable action.
Write a powerful call to action (CTA).
Include a focus keyword in the description.

3. Alternate Image Text

Alternate image text, also known as alt text, is the secret to an ADA-compliant site.

Its primary purpose is to describe images to visitors who can’t see them, such as people who are blind or otherwise visually impaired.

Reader software can read alt text aloud to users, and if an image fails to load, the text will show up in its place to replace it.

Apart from accessibility benefits, using alt text offers distinct SEO benefits.

For one, it helps crawlers understand your photos. Since they can’t see images, it’s best to not leave anything open to interpretation.

So, how do you write good alt text?

Describe images with as much detail as possible.
However, still keep them as short as you can, ideally 125 characters or less.
Include your focus keywords, but don’t overstuff them.
Write alt-text phrases for your form buttons, too.

4. Themes and Plug-Ins

Website themes allow users to make large-scale changes to a site’s overall look, including design, layout, colors, and navigation. Plug-ins add specific features to an existing program.

In most cases, it’s best to only use one theme, but there’s no limit to how many plug-ins you should use.

For instance, you can add features for contact forms, security, readability, and more.

Using the right themes and plug-ins can help you achieve your goals, from boosting sales and improving mobile e-commerce conversion rates to attracting quality leads.

With the right SEO tools on your side, you can really do anything with your website, including creating a unique, mobile-friendly site.

However, before using these components, it’s best to think of your SEO strategy for a new website.

They take up space on your site, and if your website is clogged with them, it can affect your ranking.

WordPress websites, in particular, can easily become bloated with unnecessary plugins, due to the ease of installation and the vast number of free plugins readily available on the WordPress platform.

Still, Shopify websites are not immune from plugin bloat either, nor are sites on other popular platforms such as Joomla, Drupal, and Wix.

5. Proper Headings

Headings are short phrases that describe sections of your content. They help readers skim, and you can also use them to highlight keywords and attract quality customers.

Using headings properly can boost new website SEO because of two core things.

First, they improve readability.

Bounce rates—or the percentage of visitors who quickly navigate away from a page—can harm your SEO ranking, and one of the biggest turnoffs for visitors is a cluttered site. Using headings makes it easier for them to browse through your pages.

Second, they enhance accessibility.

Headings are coded in HTML, so reader apps can easily read them out loud to visually-impaired people. Such software also offers features like jumping from one heading to the next, making navigation a breeze.

Using headings might seem irrelevant compared to other small business SEO tips, but as simple as they are, they can help improve your ranking.

Remember, search engines value factors that enhance user experience.

6. Investing in SEO

Lastly, if you want to implement an effective SEO strategy for website pages, you should invest some money and time into it. After all, optimizing your site makes it easier for potential customers to find you online.

Once you start putting assets into your SEO efforts—as you should—it’s best to use Google Search Console and Google Analytics to track your progress and make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

Google Search Console is a free tool you can use to measure site traffic and keyword performance. It provides valuable information on your SEO efforts, letting you make adjustments to your strategies.

Google Analytics, on the other hand, provides additional data that you can’t find on Google Search Console.

For example, you can find details about several traffic sources, like ads and referrals. It’s particularly useful if you want to run ads with your SEO efforts.

These can help you create new strategies, examine their performance, and adjust them accordingly.

“CustomerFaucet.com takes a content-first approach to SEO. We research, write, and publish top-quality website content, grouped into topical clusters with a defined site architecture and internal linking structure that works well for algorithms and humans alike.”

Jacob Andra, Founder, Customer Faucet

CHAPTER three

SEO Before Website Launch

When launching brand new websites it’s important to make sure that everything is set up for success from an SEO perspective. That means taking care of all the little details that can make a big difference down the road. Here’s a checklist of things to do before launch:

Register a live domain first, this will help with search engine visibility.
Solidify your site structure. This will make it easier to optimize your site for better SEO results down the line.
Choose a URL structure style. This will affect how your URLs are indexed and crawled by search engines.
Do some keyword research to find out what terms your target audience is searching for.
Create SEO-optimized content that includes those keywords naturally.
Build your site according to Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. This will help ensure that your site is crawled and indexed properly.
Optimize your meta-data, this includes titles, descriptions, and keywords on each page of your site.
Make sure your site is mobile-friendly and loads quickly. Google favors sites that offer a good user experience.
Install analytics and tracking tools so you can measure the success of your launch.
Generate an accurate XML sitemap and submit it to search engines. This will help them index your pages properly.

By following these steps, you can set your new website up for success from an SEO perspective!

CHAPTER Four

Elevate Your Online Presence Now

Regardless of your company’s size or industry, a rock-solid SEO strategy can help you take the digital world by storm. It can attract quality audiences, ensuring your long-term success.

Boosting your ranking takes some time, but the results are well worth it.

After all, until you have a solid SEO foundation, nobody will be able to find your website on Google.

However, it’s best to work with an SEO pro. An experienced marketing agency will have the expertise and resources necessary to ensure that your website has a solid SEO foundation.

If you don’t have a seasoned specialist on your side, you might do more harm than good for your digital marketing efforts.

At Huemor, we have the professionals, technology, and experience to take your company to new heights.

Book your free consultation now to achieve sustainable, organic growth for your company.

Whether you need Hubspot web design, a bit of conversion optimization for your Shopify store, or some web development services, we can help you take your online presence to the next level.

CHAPTER Five

All About SEO For New Websites

Here are some best practices and further info on SEO for new websites, web development and website design in general. If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

FAQ About SEO For New Websites

Questions about how to optimize new websites? We try to answer them here.

How do I SEO my new website?

One of the most important things you can do to improve your website’s visibility is to make sure it is well optimized for search engines. Here are 10 tips to help you get started:

Plan your site’s architecture. Carefully consider the hierarchy and organization of your content to ensure it is easy for search engines to crawl and index your pages.
Perform keyword research. Use keyword research tools to identify relevant and popular keywords that you can target on your website.
Optimize your site’s platform. Make sure your website is built on a platform that is search engine friendly, such as WordPress or Drupal.
Use a mobile-friendly design. With more and more people using mobile devices to access the internet, it is essential to have a responsive design that looks good on all screen sizes. This is important for several reasons. First, it ensures that site visitors have a positive experience regardless of which device they are using. Second, it can help to improve site speed by reducing the amount of unnecessary code that needs to be downloaded.
Choose a good domain name and homepage URL. Choose a short, catchy domain name that includes some of your keywords, and optimize your homepage URL for maximum visibility in search results.
Optimize page URLs. Each page on your website should have a unique, descriptive URL that includes relevant keywords.
Set up your new site in Google’s Search Console. Setting up your new site in Google’s Search Console will help ensure that it gets indexed properly and appears in search results.
Create unique title tags and meta descriptions. Write unique title tags and meta descriptions for each page on your website, making sure to include relevant keywords.Title tags and meta descriptions are snippets of text that appear in the head tags of your HTML code, and they provide search engines with valuable information about your website.
Optimize on-page text. In addition to using keywords throughout your website’s text, you can also optimize individual sites pages by including targeted keyword phrases in places like the page title, headings, and alt text for images. Using keywords in anchor texts (the text that links to other pages on your site) can also help to improve your site’s ranking.
Link to other pages on your website. One of the best ways to improve your website’s performance in search engines is to make sure that there are plenty of inbound links between your pages. Internal linking between pages on your website can help improve its crawling and indexing by search engines, as well as improve the flow of traffic around your site.

How do I SEO my website on my own?

Here’s how to do your own search engine optimization on your website:

Choose the right keywords
Write good content that uses the keywords
Link different resources on your site to each other
Be consistent
Have a lot of patience

Not only does quality content help to engage and inform visitors, but it also helps you get higher in search engine results.

In addition to using keywords, you should also make sure your website is well-organized and easy to navigate.

How long does it take for SEO to work on a new website?

There are a few online marketing tactics you can use to speed up the process of new website search engine optimization. For example, regular updates to your site’s content can help to keep the search engines coming back, and adding fresh and relevant keywords will help to improve your site’s ranking.

SEO is not a quick fix, but an ongoing process, and it is important to keep up with the latest trends and changes in order to maintain a high ranking. Those who are patient and invest in SEO will be rewarded with increased traffic and visibility for their website.

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