Establishing a strong online presence for a new website requires a systematic approach to search engine optimization (SEO). The process aims to increase visibility in search engine results, targeting unpaid traffic rather than relying on direct or paid methods. A foundational understanding of business offerings, coupled with diligent execution of technical and content-focused strategies, is crucial for success. This article outlines a step-by-step guide to initiating SEO for a new website, drawing solely from the provided source materials.
Understanding Business Offerings and Keyword Research
The initial phase of SEO involves a thorough understanding of the business and its services or products. This step is often overlooked, even by those within the industry. Identifying what a business does is fundamental to targeting relevant keywords. A list should be compiled detailing services offered, products sold, and the unique value proposition of the company.
Following this understanding, keyword research is essential. An example provided focuses on a “personal injury attorney in Los Angeles,” illustrating the need to identify specific niche and location-based terms. Creating a keyword list is the next logical step, though the source materials do not detail specific tools or methodologies for this process.
Building the Website Foundation
Once keywords are identified, building the website’s foundation begins. This involves creating core pages that target those keywords. Common examples include: Home, About, Services/Products, Case Studies/Portfolio, Resources/Blog, and Contact. The source materials emphasize that the specific core pages will vary depending on the business.
Alongside content creation, a technical foundation must be established. This includes ensuring site and page load speed, a logical URL structure, a properly configured robots.txt file, an internal linking structure, and an XML sitemap. It is noted that checking for indexing issues is paramount; a website cannot rank if search engines cannot access and crawl it. Utilizing Google Search Console is recommended for monitoring site performance and tracking keyword rankings. Submitting an XML sitemap through Google Search Console is also advised.
Pushing the Website Live and Formulating a Content Strategy
After the foundational elements are in place, the website can be launched. However, the work does not end there. A consistent blog strategy is vital for ongoing SEO success. The source materials suggest building “the roof” of the SEO “house” through blog content and off-page activities such as backlinking.
Leveraging Social Media Channels
The source materials also recommend leveraging social media channels to support SEO efforts. This involves understanding which platforms are most relevant to the target audience, posting regular, engaging content, and linking between social media and the website. Content can be recycled across different platforms – for example, transforming a blog post into a video for YouTube or TikTok.
Establishing SEO as a New Business
For businesses providing SEO services, establishing their own online presence is critical. A well-designed, modern website packed with information is essential. The website should feature extensive content about SEO, including blog posts and videos. Demonstrating SEO success through one’s own website is valuable proof of expertise.
Several approaches to demonstrating this expertise are suggested. One is to focus on improving the SEO of the agency’s own website. Another is to create a niche website specifically for experimentation and demonstration purposes. This allows for greater control over the strategy and the potential for quicker results, particularly in a less competitive niche. Featuring these results on the main agency website, with appropriate permissions, can be a powerful marketing tool.
The Importance of Indexing and Technical Setup
A key point highlighted is the necessity of ensuring a new website is properly indexed by search engines. Isaac Church, Director at 3WH, stresses that checking indexing is the first step in any new SEO project, as optimization efforts are futile if the site is not visible to search engines. This involves creating a robots.txt file to manage crawling and submitting an XML sitemap to facilitate indexing. Google Search Console is presented as a crucial tool for monitoring indexing status and identifying potential issues.
Conclusion
The provided source materials outline a step-by-step approach to establishing SEO for a new website. This process begins with understanding the business and conducting keyword research, followed by building a strong technical foundation and creating core content pages. Ongoing efforts, including a consistent blog strategy and social media engagement, are essential for sustained success. For SEO agencies, demonstrating expertise through their own online presence—either through their primary website or niche projects—is crucial for attracting clients. Prioritizing indexing and utilizing tools like Google Search Console are fundamental to ensuring visibility in search results.