10 SEO Ranking Strategies That Still Work in 2020

If you have tried to follow trends and developments in SEO for any period of time, you will know it is enough to make your head spin. There are so many ideas and suggestions, tips and advice.

Some of it is bogus, a lot of it is out of date, and much of it doesn’t really apply to SEO in small and medium-sized businesses in Auckland as it is too niche.

For example, here’s one we read on a leading SEO expert’s website recently – target keywords in other languages and other jurisdictions as there is less competition. If your customers are in Auckland or New Zealand, this tip is pointless.

So, we’ve compiled 10 of the most important SEO strategies for Auckland businesses.

1. Target the Right Keywords

Keywords are essential in SEO, so you will have to spend time getting familiar with the various types and those that are most important to your business. Here is a summary of the key points:

• Search intent – just because lots of people use a particular keyword doesn’t mean you should prioritise targeting it. This is because you should consider the intent of those using that keyword. The best ones to target are keywords that indicate the person searching is interested in buying, or is close to making a decision about, the products or services that you sell.
• Long-tail keywords – most small and medium-sized business owners in Auckland ignore long-tail keywords, but they can be very effective. Plus, you will find less competition as not as many people target them.

Get the Best Website Design and Development Service for your Business, Contact KWD NZ

2. Make the Content on Your Website Fantastic

This is the most important element of on page SEO. If you do nothing else with SEO in 2020, you should spend time and resources improving the content on your pages.

Even if you think your content is already good, it could be improved further.

One effective strategy is to use your competitors and/or the best websites in other locations as a benchmark. The content on the pages of your website should be better than these pages.

3. Add Regular High-Value Content to Your Website

In the past, digital marketers would create lots of micro niche websites as part of their SEO strategy. The aim was to go hyper-specific on a single keyword to get a high ranking on Google.

The opposite is true now, as the best approach in 2020 is to work towards creating an authoritative website with lots of great content that you update regularly.

4. Ensure Your Website is Secure

This is one of those SEO factors that used to be considered optional but is now essential. In technical terms, it means adding SSL encryption technology to your website. Your website developer or SEO agency can help with this.

5. Optimise the Page Load Speed of Your Website

This one was never optional, but it is more important today than ever before. A slow-loading website is bad for users and it will kill your Google rankings as Google cares about user experience. In other words, it doesn’t want to send users to websites that deliver a bad user experience.

If your website is not fast loading, prioritize getting this rectified.

6. Optimise for Local Searches

Google search results pages can feature lots of different elements including website snippets, shopping results, image results, video results, news results, and more.

One of the most important elements on search results pages for small businesses in Auckland is the local search listings that appear on local searches. These listings usually appear above the organic search results, making them arguably more important to local Auckland businesses.

Therefore, take steps in 2020 to optimise your website and online presence for local searches on Google.

7. Ensure the User Experience on Your Website is as Good as Possible

As mentioned above, Google cares about its users, i.e. the people it sends to your website. This is why you need to make your website as fast as possible. Good user experience is not just about speed, however.

You also have to ensure other elements of your website deliver a good user experience. Key things to look out for include the navigation and structure of your website as well as the content on your pages – is it useful, helpful, or informative?

8. Add Structured Data to Your Site

Structured data helps Google get a better understanding of your website and the content on your pages. This, in itself, can help improve your rankings.

In addition, Google often displays structured data elements directly on its search results pages. When this happens, websites with structured data elements stand out from others on the page.

So, to make your pages stand out in Google search, and to improve Google’s understanding of your website, add structured data.

9. Monitor Results

SEO is a constantly evolving field of marketing, so it is important to continuously monitor your website, analyse the results, and take action whenever you identify an area for improvement or a potential problem.

10. Promote Your Content to Earn Links

Last but by no means least, we come to links. Links have always been and continue to be an important part of SEO. Getting links to your website is a complicated topic, however. Get it wrong, for example, and you will slip down the rankings instead of moving up.

One thing you can do that doesn’t carry any risks is to promote the content you publish on your website. Share content on your social media channels, for example, and include your website’s content in your email marketing campaigns.

After all, the more people who know about your content, the more will read it, which increases the chances of getting links.

Prioritising What Is Important

SEO for small and medium-sized businesses in Auckland is about prioritising the most important elements and focusing on those. The above list is a good place to start.

You May Also Like

• 8 Benefits of Having WordPress-Based Websites for Your Business
• Your 2021 Guide To Building An Online Store
• 10 Essential Factors in a Website SEO Audit