Suppose a client approaches you with their newly created website and requests an audit to enhance lead generation, traffic, and revenue. What would be the first thing you check during this SEO audit? Initially, you should determine whether the website appears in search engine results. In this article, we will explore the first five SEO steps for a website.
The primary task for an SEO auditor is to verify whether the website is visible on Google. If it isn’t, submitting sitemaps and configuring the robots.txt file are crucial first steps. Sitemaps inform search engines about the pages on your website, facilitating their indexing. Conversely, the robots.txt file directs search engine bots on which pages should or should not be displayed in search results. These two elements are foundational for ensuring your website can be discovered and correctly indexed by search engines.
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This initial step is vital for setting up your website for further analysis and optimization in the SEO audit process.
If your client operates a website selling baby toys, it’s essential to identify the right keywords to target. Often, clients may not know which keywords they want to rank for. As an SEO specialist, you can guide them by suggesting Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) keywords related to their products. Examples include “Baby Toys,” “Toys for Babies,” and “Funny Toys for Small Babies.”
Conduct a search for these LSI keywords on Google to discover top-ranking articles. Aim to create comprehensive content that surpasses these articles in-depth and quality, known as skyscraper content. Note that it’s important to write this content manually since the latest updates from Google, like the Scaled Content Abuse update, can penalize AI-generated content.
Additionally, utilize sources like Google’s “People Also Ask” section or Amazon (considering its significant share of product searches) to find related keywords. Incorporate these keywords into your content to enhance its relevance and visibility.
Identifying categories for relevant keywords isn’t overly complex. Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs can help pinpoint appropriate keywords. For example, if “Toys for Kids” is your chosen LSI keyword, potential categories might include “Toys for Boys Under 10 Years,” “Toys for Girls Under 5 Years,” “Funny Toys,” “Kids Puzzles,” “Baby Dolls for Girls,” and “Sports Toys for Boys.”
Note: Ensure that your landing page includes a brief description of each category. This not only aids in linking them later but also enhances user experience, which is highly valued by Google and can improve SEO results.
As previously mentioned, your landing page should include a brief description for each category. Easy navigation from the landing page to every other page on the website is incredibly important for SEO. Googlebot particularly favors websites that provide a straightforward navigation system, allowing it to crawl efficiently. This isn’t just about the landing page but applies to each page on the site. Effective internal linking is crucial as it enables Googlebot to swiftly navigate and index your website, moving seamlessly from one page to another. This approach is highly SEO-friendly and is favored by Google.
Creating foundational pages on your website is essential for connecting with your audience. For instance, when meeting a stranger, you typically ask for their name, address, and occupation, which corresponds to the information provided on an “About” page.
Similarly, you might share your phone number and email with someone new but expect them not to share these details with others, which is the purpose of a “Privacy Policy.”
Therefore, it’s crucial for visitors to have access to comprehensive information about who you are, what you do, how to contact you, and how you handle inquiries. Establishing pages such as About, Privacy Policy, Contact, and Terms and Conditions is not only beneficial for user engagement but also vital from an SEO perspective.
Competitor analysis is crucial as it provides insights into how you can create better content, whether it’s in the form of infographics, social media posts, articles, video ads, reels, and more. It’s important to always monitor what your competitors are doing. However, don’t limit your analysis to just one competitor; instead, review a variety of sources. Examine their articles, add your unique touch and elements, and strive to make your content uniquely better, even if it’s just by 1% or 5%.
Also, review their social media posts, adjust elements like the contrast, and incorporate a unique punchline to enhance engagement. Regularly seek feedback within your team by comparing your content with that of your competitors to gather insights and make informed improvements.
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Although setting up tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and Google Tag Manager are critical for tracking and monitoring your client’s website performance, these were not discussed in detail here as they require client credentials. These tools are essential for providing insights about the website in a detailed and professional manner.
If you’re seeking an SEO audit, landing page content, or blog posts aligned with Google’s latest updates and EAAT guidelines, consider booking an appointment with Content Ladder. We specialize in optimizing your website to rank highly, helping you sell your products and generate significant revenue.
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