When it comes to Google rankings and SEO, there’s only one certainty: things always change.
It’s been a long-held tenant of SEO that including links to authoritative, high-quality sources – and having good sources link back to your own content – is essential for ranking well. But recently, Google’s Gary Illyes confirmed that links are no longer as crucial as they once were.
So… what does that mean for staffing agencies?
The answer is simple: shifting focus to other vital ranking factors. Here’s a guide to the new SEO priorities that can help your website thrive:
High-Quality Content is King
Content is more important than ever. With links losing their dominance, creating valuable, relevant content is essential. Here’s how to leverage it:
Create Valuable Content
Develop content that addresses your target audience’s needs. For staffing agencies, this could include job search tips, industry trends, resume writing advice, and interview preparation guides.
Optimize for Keywords
Conduct thorough keyword research to find the terms your potential clients and candidates are searching for. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your content without overstuffing.
Use Multimedia
Engage your audience with a mix of text, images, videos, and infographics. This not only makes your content more engaging but also improves dwell time, a positive signal to search engines.
Superior User Experience (UX)
Google emphasizes the importance of user experience (UX) in its ranking algorithms, making a seamless, intuitive, and fast UX crucial for your SEO efforts. Start by ensuring your website is fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices, as many job seekers use their phones for job searches. Next, address page speed; slow loading times can deter visitors and negatively impact your rankings, so use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze and improve your site’s speed.
Last but not least, design a clear and intuitive navigation structure to make it easy for users to find job listings, submit applications, and contact your agency.
E-A-T: Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness
Google still values E-A-T, especially for professional services websites. Staffing agencies can boost their E-A-T by:
- Showcasing Expertise: Highlight the expertise of your team with detailed profiles showcasing their experience and qualifications.
- Building Authoritativeness: Publish authoritative content such as industry reports, whitepapers, and case studies. Participate in relevant forums and discussions.
- Establishing Trustworthiness: Display client testimonials, success stories, and case studies prominently on your site. Ensure your contact information is easy to find and that your website has a professional, secure design (HTTPS).
On-Page Optimization
Optimizing on-page elements is crucial for enhancing your website’s SEO. Start by crafting compelling meta titles and descriptions that include relevant keywords and entice users to click. Use header tags (H1, H2, H3) to structure your content logically and highlight important sections. Implement schema markup to help search engines understand your content better and enhance your search listings with rich snippets.
Links Are Out… Now What?
As links become less critical in Google’s ranking algorithm, your staffing firm must pivot your SEO strategies. Embrace these new SEO priorities to stay ahead in the competitive landscape and ensure your website’s success in the modern SEO environment. And if you need help – that’s where we come in.
Blogging. SEO. PPC ads. Reputation Management.
Let us help you drive more results with your digital marketing.
