You’ve probably heard the term SEO or Search Engine Optimization comes up time and time again, but what exactly does it mean and how can it impact your business and site performance? In short, SEO refers to the different techniques that you can use to help your website appear higher on search engine result pages (SERPs). If you need a refresher, check out this blog from HubSpot that goes over some of the key terms you should know about ⭐search engine optimization⭐.
As you know, web algorithms are constantly changing to give users the best experience possible. Because of this, you should be aware of key do’s and don’ts to make sure that your SEO is up to par!
Do: Research What Search Terms People Are Using to Find Your Site
How are people finding your community? Those search terms that they are using to find your site are called “keywords,” and you can actually track them thanks to the tools that Google offers businesses. Keyword Planner is a great tool for insights on what people are searching for when they click on your website.
Do: Use Keywords in Your Website Copy
Once you have those keywords, you can input them into your website copy to make your pages more search friendly. For example, if “new homes in Sacramento” is a popular keyword used to find your community, be sure to find a way to include that somewhere on your main pages.
Dont’: Keyword Stuff
While it’s important to include those keywords, be sure not to over stuff your copy with the same phrases. No one wants to read multiple sentences with the phrase “new homes in Sacramento” over and over again. It makes your copy redundant and what’s more, there’s a chance that search engines will read your website as spam and put you lower on the search results page.
Don’t: Ignore Search Intent
That being said, if a common search term is “Halloween events in Sacramento,” that’s not something you need to include in your copy, regardless if it has a higher use. The individual using that term is probably not actively looking for a home, and you adding that term to your pages will be misleading and confusing.
Don’t: Forget the Interest of Your Audience
This goes hand in hand with the previous point! Don’t forget the primary reason someone may be looking at your website — your homes and your community. Any new content that you add to your website should be engaging for potential homebuyers so that they are interested enough to schedule a visit or even purchase a home.
Do: Create the Best User Experience
If you build it, they will come! While SEO is important, it’s more important to create the best user experience so that visitors stay on your website and get the full experience of what it’s like to be a part of your community. Good content and engaging information will naturally have those specific keywords included so you don’t have to keyword stuff your content.
Don’t: Focus on Quantity Over Quality
Consistently posting new content is great, but make sure that its quality is up to par with the rest of your website! New blog posts and webpages are great, but if they don’t provide new information, or are relatable to your audience, it’s not worth it. Take the time to look over those keywords to see if there is something on your site that answers that query. If the answer is no, that’s the content you should consider adding to your webpage!
Do: Track Metrics
Don’t do all that work for nothing! It’s important to track your website’s metrics to see what pages users are visiting and for how long. We also recommend checking your keywords every quarter or so to see which ones are being used more frequently. When you spot a change, see if there’s a way you can incorporate it into your new content!
We know that the world of SEO can be confusing, but that’s why we’re here to help! Our team can help you establish your keywords and get your analytics in line. We’re just an email away! ?