Building Your Digital House from the ground up
I like to think of your website’s SEO like building a home. You cannot properly build a house without completing the previous steps otherwise your house won’t stand for long… similar to SEO.
- First, you need to build your house foundation (Technical SEO).
- Then all the cosmetic and non-cosmetic details included in the interior and exterior structure of the home (on-site SEO).
- Lastly, you have your roof (off-site SEO).
Obviously there’s much more that goes into building a house than just that. You need all three elements for a proper home, just like SEO. Each plays a crucial role in ensuring your digital presence is both sturdy and appealing.
In this short guide (which is broken into sections) you’ll learn the importance of each pillar and how they fit together. Let’s get started!
In this overview guide you’ll learn:
- The three pillars that make up a successful SEO strategy
- The importance of each pillar and how they fit together
- Links for further information for each subject
BUILDING YOUR DIGITAL HOUSE
The Foundation: Technical SEO
What is technical SEO?
Technical SEO is similar to laying the foundation of your home. It ensures your website meets the technical requirements necessary for search engines to crawl, render, and index your pages effectively. You wouldn’t start building your house without a solid foundational plan first, right?
Key Elements of Technical SEO
- Site Architecture: A well-organized site structure helps search engines navigate and index your pages efficiently.
- Crawling and Indexing: Ensuring that search engines can access and index your pages is fundamental.
- Mobile Optimization: Your site must be mobile-friendly to cater to users on various devices.
- Page Speed: Fast-loading pages enhance user experience and can impact your rankings.
- Duplicate Content: Addressing duplicate content issues is essential to avoid penalties.
why is technical SEO important?
Going back to our house, the foundation planning and layout is arguably the most important element of building a home. It will dictate the rest of the project including what you’re able to do or build in your space. Everyone wants a well planned out and structurally sound foundation to build on, and SEO is the same.
At the end of the day search engines read code — they must be able to crawl, render, and index the pages on your website without issues. With the millions of websites and competitors out there this is in my opinion the most important, but often most forgotten or incorrectly executed element of SEO.
Even if you have the best content and user experience, if the foundational elements of your website are messed up it will for certain negatively impact your ability to rank.
How To improve technical SEO
Site Architecture
A well-organized site structure helps search engines navigate and index your pages efficiently.
Crawling and Indexing
Ensuring that search engines can access and index your pages is fundamental.
Mobile Optimization
Your site must be mobile-friendly to cater to users on various devices.
Page Speed
Fast-loading pages enhance user experience and can impact your rankings.
Duplicate Content
Addressing duplicate content issues is essential to avoid penalties.
How To Improve Technical SEO
- Optimize JavaScript and XML Sitemaps
- Ensure a Clear URL Structure
- Utilize Structured Data
- Fix Broken Links and Redirects
- Address Hreflang Tags for International Sites
The Structure: On-Page SEO
What Is On-Page SEO?
On-page or on-site SEO is like constructing the walls, windows, and interiors of your home. It involves optimizing individual pages to make them search-engine friendly.
Why Is On-Page SEO Important?
A well-structured site with quality content ensures that your pages are valuable to users and search engines alike. It helps establish your site’s relevance and authority on specific topics.
Key Aspects of On-Page SEO
Content Quality: Unique and relevant content is vital for engaging visitors and search engines.
Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: Craft compelling titles and descriptions to improve click-through rates.
Header Tags and Keyword Optimization: Use headers and keywords effectively to enhance readability and relevance.
Internal Linking: Helps distribute page authority and guide visitors through your site.
How To Improve On-Page SEO
- Craft Unique, High-Quality Content
- Optimize Title Tags, Meta Descriptions, and Headers
- Implement a Logical Internal Linking Structure
- Ensure Mobile-Friendliness
The Roof: Off-Page SEO
What is Off-Page SEO?
Off-page or off-site SEO is like the roof of your house. It protects and enhances your site’s visibility through external factors such as backlinks, social media presence, and online citations.
Why Is Off-Page SEO Important?
Strong off-page SEO signals to search engines that your site is authoritative and trustworthy. It helps maintain your site’s visibility and credibility across the web.
RELATED: Off-Page SEO: The Roof Over Your Digital House in 2024
How to improve off-page SEO
Build Quality Backlinks: Quality backlinks from reputable sites boost your site’s authority and trustworthiness.
Enhance Social Media Engagement: Engaging on social media platforms can drive traffic and improve brand visibility.
Citations and Reviews: Manage online reviews and citations. Positive mentions and reviews enhance your site’s credibility.
