Are you short on time but want to do something about your poor Google position?

Although SEO is a long-term strategy there are some quick actionable SEO techniques you can do today to increase your visibility in Google.

You’re not going to go straight to the top of page 1, but if you’re short on time and budget these simple changes will give your website a push in the right direction.

Let’s get into it!

1. Include Your Keyword & Location

Your whole SEO campaign shouldn’t be based on “best guess” keywords, but if you’re time poor it’s a good starting point.

So, where to start?

Start by thinking of one or two words which best describes your business? For example…

- SEO agency
- Car mechanic
- Photographer

Next, simply add the location that you’re based in…

- SEO agency in Manchester
- Car mechanic Stockport
- Photographer in Oldham

Now you have your keyword and location, you need to add them to your title tag and heading tag (H1).

The title tag is what is seen in the Google search results and is a ranking factor. The heading (H1) tag is your main heading on your web page and it lets Google know what the page is about.

It would also be beneficial to include your keyword and location in your content as naturally as possible. However, don’t go over the top or you could be penalised for keyword stuffing.

Different Locations

If you operate in different locations you can create separate pages with the relevant keyword and location in the title and H1 tags.

For bonus points include them in your URL as well. E.g. website.co.uk/seo-agency-manchester.

2. Google My Business

Increase your local visibility with Google My Business (GMB).

Next time you search on Google you’ll notice the local map pack above the first result, listing a handful of local businesses.

Getting listed in the local map pack can easily increase your Google visibility!

Creating a GMB account is free and easy, just follow our step-by-step guide to creating a Google My Business account and you’ll be on there in no time.

3. Add More Content

Is your website a bit light on content?

Ideally, you need to be aiming for at least 500 words per page. You want to get your message across but also provide value to your visitors.

If you’re struggling to increase the word count, why not structure your page as an FAQ?

Start with an introduction, including your main message and underneath add sub-headings answering common questions about your particular service. The sub-headings provide further reading if visitors want to know more, increasing the time spent on your page and increasing the value of the page.

4. Create Long In-Depth Articles

If you don’t have time to blog frequently, then creating long in-depth articles could be the answer you’re looking for.

Long-form articles give you a great opportunity to demonstrate your industry knowledge and be seen as an authority.  In-depth articles can be about anything but you want to make sure people are searching for answers.

Using a tool such as Answer The Public will help you find out what people are searching for. Simply enter your keyword and it will give you an overview of the questions people are typing into Google.

The next step is to make a note of some of the questions that appear frequently and search in Google for the answers.

Take a look at the top three results. These are the articles you want to beat. Your aim is to create content that is better than theirs. Think about how you can build on their article. Have they missed anything? Is there anything you can add to your personal experience and industry knowledge?

You want your article to be the go-to page when people are searching for answers. If you hit the nail on the head and satisfy visitors and Google, you can appear in the featured snippets position, further increasing your visibility.

Once you’ve created the ultimate in-depth article you need to promote it on social media, targeting influencers and your audience. This will generate a good social signal (ranking factor) plus influencers will link back to your article.

5. HTTPS

Is your website secure and displays the green padlock?

It’s not a huge ranking factor but it could give you the edge over the competition, and every little bit helps.

Google’s Webmaster Trends Analyst Gary Illyes mentions that if two websites are competing for the same keyword and Google can’t decide which should be ranked higher, the site with HTTPS would be favoured over the non-HTTPS.

Not only will it help your website rank better but your visitors will be confident that their information is secure when using your website.

What Next?

These actionable SEO techniques are just the tip of the SEO iceberg. If you really want to beat your competitors investing in a long-term SEO is the best approach.

If you want to start to appear for relevant searches and increase your enquiries and sales, get in touch and we’ll discuss how you can achieve this.