SEO may evolve, but the fundamentals remain the same. Focus on the following basic steps to optimize your site and help boost your ranking.
February 3, 2025
12 min read
A well-structured website ensures both search engines and users can navigate your content efficiently.
Key Technical SEO and UX Priorities:
Actionable Recommendation:
Audit your website using Google Search Console’s coverage and crawl stats reports. Identify and fix three major issues this week, such as broken links, slow-loading pages, or mobile-friendliness problems. Recheck crawl stats in two weeks to confirm improvements.
High-quality content that embodies Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) is crucial.
Google-Friendly Content Tips:
Actionable Recommendation:
Choose your top 3 underperforming URLs in terms of CTR or average position in Google Search Console. Update each with a fresh expert citation or new insights aligned with search intent. Add a new section or FAQ to deepen the content. Track CTR and engagement metrics over the next four weeks to measure improvement.
Enhance both content and structure to make your pages engaging and search-engine-friendly.
Key Optimization Tactics:
Actionable Recommendation:
Identify three underperforming pages with high impressions and low CTR using Google Search Console. Rewrite their meta descriptions to align with searcher intent, incorporating primary keywords naturally. Add at least one internal link to each of these pages from related high-traffic content, using descriptive anchor text. Monitor changes in CTR and engagement metrics over the next four weeks to assess improvements.
Schema markup helps search engines understand your content better and enhances your visibility with rich results like star ratings, pricing details, and more.
Sample Schema Markup:
Below is an example of Product schema markup for an ecommerce website:
{
“@context”: “https://schema.org/”,
“@type”: “Product”,
“name”: “Organic Cotton T-Shirt”,
“image”: “https://yourdomain.com/images/organic_cotton_shirts.jpg”,
“description”: “A comfortable, eco-friendly organic cotton shirt.”,
“brand”: “GreenThreads”,
“offers”: {
“@type”: “Offer”,
“priceCurrency”: “USD”,
“price”: “19.99”,
“availability”: “https://schema.org/InStock”,
“url”: “https://yourdomain.com/organic_cotton_t-shirts”
},
“aggregateRating”: {
“@type”: “AggregateRating”,
“ratingValue”: “4.5”,
“reviewCount”: “55”
}
}
Choosing the Right Schema Type:
How to Implement Schema Markup:
Benefits of Schema Markup:
Actionable Recommendation:
Select one key product or service page and implement schema markup using JSON-LD format. Validate the code using Google’s Rich Results Test. Track impressions, CTR, and click performance in Google Search Console over two weeks. Aim for at least a 1% CTR improvement. If successful, expand schema markup to five additional pages over the next month.
Google now prioritizes the mobile version of your website for indexing and ranking. Ensuring your site is mobile-friendly is essential for SEO success.
Key Strategies for Mobile Optimization:
Actionable Recommendation:
Use Google Search Console’s Mobile Usability report to identify mobile issues such as “Text too small to read” or “Clickable elements too close together.” Fix three major issues this week by adjusting font sizes, optimizing button placement, and improving mobile navigation. Track changes in Google Analytics over the next four weeks, aiming for a 5% reduction in bounce rates and increased mobile engagement.
Backlinks remain one of the strongest ranking factors, but quality matters more than quantity. Earning links from authoritative and relevant websites signals to Google that your content is valuable and trustworthy.
Strategies for Earning Quality Backlinks:
Actionable Recommendation:
Identify three high-authority websites in your niche using Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz Link Explorer. Develop a targeted outreach plan to pitch high-value content, such as a guest post or a replacement for a broken link. Track new backlinks acquired over the next three months in Google Search Console, measuring their impact on referral traffic and rankings.
Pro Tip: Focus on long-term backlink strategies instead of spammy link-building tactics. Google penalizes low-quality links and link farms.
Google favors websites that regularly update content, signaling relevance and authority. Stale or outdated information can harm credibility and rankings.
Tips for Keeping Content Fresh:
Actionable Recommendation:
Review your top five performing pages in Google Analytics. Refresh two pages by adding updated data, new visuals, or additional insights. Track engagement metrics like time on page and bounce rate over the next four weeks, aiming for a 10% improvement.
For businesses with physical locations, optimizing for local search results can drive foot traffic and local customers.
Key Local SEO Strategies:
Actionable Recommendation:
Review your Google Business Profile. Update your business hours, categories, and photos, ensuring accurate and complete information. Identify three local keywords and integrate them into your homepage, service pages, and meta descriptions. Monitor GBP Insights over two weeks for increased local search impressions.
If your business serves multiple countries, international SEO ensures your content is relevant across different languages and regions.
Key Strategies for International SEO:
Actionable Recommendation:
Identify your top international markets using Google Analytics. Implement hreflang tags for at least one language or region and translate your highest-performing page. Monitor international traffic growth in Google Analytics over the next three months.
The Take-Home Message: Fundamentals Remain The Same
SEO success isn’t about quick hacks – it’s about consistent, strategic improvements. Start implementing one or two of these actionable steps this week, whether it’s refreshing outdated content, updating your Google Business Profile, or optimizing for mobile-first indexing.
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