Do you want your staffing website to rank better in Google search results in 2020? Even though Google is always tweaking its algorithm and user behaviors are continually evolving, organic search generated 53% of website traffic in 2019. The fact is, SEO still matters if you want to be found. Now is the time to prioritize tactics that can help you boost organic traffic in the coming year.
One: Content Is Still King
No matter what has changed over the years, SEO is 90% content, 10% everything else. Why? With each new piece of content you create, you get more opportunities to get traffic to your website, build your brand and establish yourself as a thought leader.
Two: Your Content Must Be Relevant and Searchable
There is a caveat to “Content is King.” While you want to be creating content, it should have a purpose. Don’t just create content for content’s sake. Every blog post you write should speak directly to the audience you are trying to attract. Before you start writing, ask yourself, “Is this topic something someone would actually type into Google to find?”
According to Dan Hoang, SEO Advisor at Haley Marketing Group, “This sounds basic, but it’s one hundred percent essential and failing to ask that question is the most common reason why blog posts don’t generate traffic. Don’t just write about whatever is on your mind. Write about what people are asking Google about. Those are the questions they want to be answered and the problems they want to find solutions for.”
Asking this question before you create new content will help you become the best resource on the web for answers to that question.
Three: Improve Website User Experience
Site speed, mobile responsiveness, navigation and user experience still matter very much when it comes to SEO. In order for Google to return useful results, it must recommend websites that load quickly and are easy to use. If your site does not load quickly, if it is not mobile-friendly or if it is difficult for Google to crawl (and users to use), your rankings will suffer.
Four: Claim Your Google My Business Listing
According to Hoang, claiming your Google My Business Listing is, “Easily the best thing you can do for local SEO. Here you can get reviews, build brand reputation, etc. It lets Google know that you’re a real, legitimate business and is the first step to any local SEO strategy.”
Qualifying local businesses can claim their listing for free and they can include information about their company like address, phone number, business hours, types of payments accepted, and more. If you do nothing else for your SEO today, go claim your listing.
Five: Track Your Analytics
If you’ve ever watched Shark Tank, you’ve heard Kevin O’Leary talk about the importance of knowing your numbers in business. The same is true for your analytics. If you aren’t measuring your traffic, you can’t know what’s working and what isn’t.
Study which pages on your site are the most (and least) popular, what types of blog posts generate the most traffic, where your visitors are coming from (Google searches, social media, direct traffic, etc.), how long they are staying, which pages they tend to leave from, etc. Once you start tracking your traffic and visitors, you know what types of content and strategies to repeat, and which ones you need to tweak or eliminate. For more on analytics, Get the entire Idea Club article, “What to Track– How Staffing Companies Measure Marketing Success.”
Are You Ready to Generate More Organic Website Traffic?
While Google is always tweaking its algorithm and it may feel like they are always changing the rules, by following these tried-and-true steps, you can give your SEO a boost in 2020. Could your staffing firm use a little help with your SEO? Haley Marketing Group can help. Contact our experts today to find out how to accelerate your organic website traffic.
