Top SEO Best Practices Every Marketer Should Follow
Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for improving your website’s visibility on Google and other search engines. By implementing effective SEO strategies, you can rank higher, attract more organic traffic, and build credibility with your audience. For beginners, SEO can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into clear, actionable steps makes it manageable.
At Orange MonkE, a leading digital marketing agency, we believe a strong SEO foundation is the bedrock of all digital marketing services.
15 Best SEO Practices For a Strong Foundation
Learn the essential SEO strategies to boost your website’s visibility, attract organic traffic, and build long-term authority with a solid foundation.
1. Conduct Proper Keyword Research
Keywords are the foundation of SEO, as they represent the terms and phrases people type into search engines when looking for information or products. Identifying the right keywords ensures your content aligns with what users are searching for. Tools like Google Keyword Planner or Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool make it easier to discover popular search terms and understand how competitive they are.
Once you have a list of keywords, it’s important to use them naturally within your content. Keyword stuffing can make your pages look spammy and harm your rankings. Checking the top-ranking pages for your target keywords also helps you understand search intent and how people expect content to be presented.
2. Understand Search Intent
Search intent refers to the reason behind a user’s query. Google prioritizes content that satisfies this intent, so understanding it is crucial for ranking. By analyzing the top-ranking pages for a keyword, you can determine whether users are looking for a blog post, product page, video, or other types of content.
Aligning your content with search intent ensures it meets the expectations of your audience. This increases the likelihood of engagement and conversions, while signaling to Google that your content is relevant and valuable for that keyword.
3. Write Unique & Optimized Title Tags
Title tags are the headlines that appear in search engine results and help both Google and users understand the content of your page. A well-written title tag should be unique, concise, and include your primary keyword near the beginning. Keeping the title under 60 characters ensures it isn’t truncated in search results.
Optimized title tags not only improve rankings but also encourage users to click on your page. Crafting titles that clearly describe what the page offers while remaining engaging can significantly increase your click-through rate from search results.
4. Use Proper Heading Structure
Heading tags (<h1>, <h2>, <h3>) structure your content and make it easier for both users and search engines to read and navigate. Every page should have one <h1> that reflects the main topic, followed by <h2> and <h3> tags for sections and subsections.
Proper heading hierarchy organizes your content logically and helps search engines understand the main points of your page. This structure also improves readability, allowing visitors to scan and comprehend the content more efficiently.
5. Optimize URLs
A clean, descriptive URL is important for both SEO and user experience. Short URLs that include your primary keyword are easier for users to remember and for search engines to index. Avoid long, confusing URLs with unnecessary numbers or symbols.
Well-structured URLs provide context about the content of the page and can improve click-through rates from search results. They also make it easier to share and link to your pages across other websites and social platforms.
6. Submit an XML Sitemap
An XML sitemap is a file that lists all the pages you want search engines to index. Most platforms like WordPress or Wix generate sitemaps automatically, but submitting them via Google Search Console ensures Google knows which pages are important.
Sitemaps improve crawl efficiency by directing search engines to the pages that matter most, while excluding duplicate or low-value pages. This helps your site get indexed faster and reduces the risk of important pages being overlooked.
7. Check Robots.txt
The robots.txt file controls which pages search engines can crawl. Ensuring that this file doesn’t block important pages is essential for visibility. Without proper configuration, Google may fail to index key content on your website.
Reviewing your robots.txt regularly prevents mistakes that could make critical pages invisible in search results. It also allows you to control which sections of your site are accessible to crawlers, improving overall SEO efficiency.
8. Add Internal Links
Internal links connect different pages of your website, helping both users and search engines navigate your content. Linking related pages improves the flow of your website and allows visitors to discover more of your content easily.
From an SEO perspective, internal linking signals to Google which pages are important and how your content is structured. Descriptive anchor text helps search engines understand the context of the linked page, further enhancing your rankings.
9. Build Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites to yours, and they act as endorsements of your content. High-quality backlinks from reputable sources improve your site’s authority and signal trustworthiness to Google.
Focus on creating content that others naturally want to link to, such as detailed guides, unique research, or helpful resources. Outreach, content promotion, and digital PR can help you earn backlinks organically, avoiding practices that violate Google’s guidelines.
10. Optimize Images
Images improve user experience but can negatively impact SEO if not optimized. Compressing images reduces load times, while descriptive file names and alt text help search engines understand the content.
Alt text also improves accessibility for users with visual impairments and can contribute to appearing in image search results. Well-optimized images enhance page speed and overall user experience, both of which are ranking factors.
11. Focus on Helpful, Original Content
Creating content that is genuinely helpful to your audience is one of the most effective SEO strategies. Google rewards pages that provide answers, insights, and value rather than generic or low-quality material.
Publishing unique content differentiates your site from competitors and helps you rank for a wider range of keywords. Regularly updating and improving content keeps it relevant and ensures it continues to satisfy search intent.
12. Deliver Excellent User Experience (UX)
A great user experience is critical for SEO. Google prioritizes websites that visitors find enjoyable and easy to navigate. Fast loading times, readable fonts, intuitive navigation, and mobile-friendly design all contribute to a positive UX.
Core Web Vitals, including Largest Contentful Paint, Interaction to Next Paint, and Cumulative Layout Shift, measure page experience and directly affect rankings. Optimizing these metrics ensures your site is both fast and user-friendly.
13. Mobile-First Optimization
With Google now prioritizing mobile versions of websites, your mobile site must be fully functional and content-rich. Navigation should be simple, buttons should be easy to tap, and pages should load quickly.
Neglecting mobile optimization can significantly hurt your rankings, as most users now access the internet primarily via mobile devices. Ensuring mobile-first design makes your content accessible and enjoyable to a wider audience.
14. Use Schema Markup
Schema, or structured data, helps search engines understand your website content. Adding schema to your pages can enhance search results with rich snippets such as FAQs, product details, and reviews.
Structured data increases visibility, improves click-through rates, and can make your content stand out in competitive search results. Implementing schema is a powerful way to communicate context directly to Google.
15. Conduct Regular Technical SEO Audits
Technical SEO audits identify issues that can hinder performance, such as broken links, duplicate content, missing meta tags, or slow pages. Tools like Semrush Site Audit or Ahrefs Site Audit can automate this process.
Regular audits ensure your website remains healthy, crawlable, and optimized for search engines. Addressing technical issues promptly protects your rankings and allows your Technical SEO efforts to succeed.
Conclusion
SEO is a long-term strategy that combines content, technical optimization, and user experience. By following these 15 best practices, beginners can create a strong foundation for ranking higher, attracting organic traffic, and establishing authority. Focus on producing valuable content, maintaining technical health, and improving usability, and your website will steadily grow in visibility and performance over time.
With Orange MonkE’s expertise and guidance, you can optimize your website strategically, improve visibility, and further our team will help you identify the most relevant and high-traffic SEO keywords for your business to achieve measurable results that keep your business ahead of the competition.
If you want to go beyond these fundamentals, check out our SEO services, content marketing, or email marketing solutions – or talk to us to build a marketing strategy that fits your business.