Search engines such as Google utilize the user experience that your website provides as a major ranking factor. So, when it comes to building a website that ranks high, SEO and customer service go hand in hand.
Here are ten ways you can use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to help improve your customer service, boost your search engine rankings and grow your bottom line.
1. Create Useful Content
Instead of focusing on creating content about keywords, focus on creating content that users will use. It is important to ask the question, “What do site visitors want from this page?” What is it they are trying to achieve? If visitors spend a good amount of time on your website, it shows they’re being engaged by the content there. If they visit multiple pages, they’re discovering more about you. Google values that, and so do your customers.
2. Make it Readable
Make sure that sentences are short, concise, and easy-to-read. You can break down your content into smaller paragraphs and chunks. If possible, use bullets to organize the information. You might also consider including Bold and Italics whenever it’s appropriate.
You also want it to be readable to Google – this means pages need to be indexable and then indexed. If you’re wondering how to do this then check out this Google indexing guide by Kyle Roof.
3. Provide Simple Navigation
You want your users to be able to navigate your website easily. Complicated navigation structures can cause users to leave your site sooner. Instead of focusing on making search engines accessible to thousands of pages, consider how user-friendly they are. Consider appointing an SEO consulting services company to help in this area. A well constructed navigation structure will satisfy both your customers and the search engines.
4. Include Images and Video
Visual media can be engaging for users and optimized for SEO. It is a good idea to include relevant images or videos within every block of content. Images will appear in Google or Bing image searches and videos should be submitted to YouTube.
5. Keep it Fresh
Posting regularly (at least once per week, ideally more), and maintaining high quality content will put you ahead of your competitors. Although the length of each post is not important, posting longer posts (800 words or more) can help you stand out with Google and allow you to offer even more content for your visitors.
6. Make Use of Headers
Using the correct header and sub-header sizes will make it easier for your customers to consume your content. The Page Titles should use the H1 header. For the sub-headers, H2 or H3 are recommended. This also improves the searchability of your website by telling the search engines what is important on your pages.
7. Speed it Up
Google considers website speed one of the most important ranking elements. A website that is faster than the rest can not only have SEO benefits but also have a significant impact on client involvement. To speed up your site, host your website on reliable servers, compress your images and get rid of bloated, unnecessary code.
8. Provide NAP Consistency
NAP consistency describes to the consistency of your company’s name and address across the internet, from your website to social media to directories (such as Google My Business or Yelp). Consistent listings must have the same basic information but also the same spellings and formatting. This helps search engines understand you and your business, lets users know how they can reach you and establishes your business as trustworthy.
9. Maintain a Secure Connection
HTTPS is an encryption layer that makes online transactions safer than HTTP. HTTPS is essential for customers to be able to purchase products or enter credit card information online. Google wants their customers to have the best experience possible, so they won’t send them to insecure websites. Their ranking algorithm favors HTTPS websites, and your site could get outranked by other sites if yours isn’t secure.
10. Publish Your Reviews
Reviews are so crucial to customer decision making that Google and other search engines now consider them a ranking factor. They are not only a proof of customer service excellence, but they also help with search engine optimization and visibility on the internet. Collect and publish your reviews if you want to be taken seriously by potential customers and Google.
Good SEO is essential for users to find the information they need and engaging your audience makes it easier for them to find what they are looking for. This has a positive impact on the various user metrics search engines use in their search rankings. Good SEO will not only make your customers happy, but the search engines too.
