I have been working on a website for roll-off dumpster bin rentals for about a year now, focusing on SEO to improve rankings. However, despite adding pages and optimizing for keywords and user intent, my results have been disappointing. I haven't focused on building backlinks much, aside from outsourcing a few on Fiverr. Even with a natural backlink profile, my organic traffic remains low. My authority score has increased from 2 to 10, mainly due to adding regional versions of the webpage. I have accumulated 3000 backlinks, which seems high considering I only have 350 linking domains. My daily impressions have been dropping, with some days having zero clicks, despite frequently updating titles and meta descriptions. Attempting to build backlinks has been costly, with blogs and news pages charging high fees for guest posts. I am unsure whether to focus on backlinks or create more pages and improve keyword relevance. I am seeking advice or a general process to increase rankings from experienced professionals or self-learners.
Focusing on backlinks alone might not be the most effective strategy, especially if you’re not seeing results despite a considerable number of backlinks. While backlinks are important for SEO, they are just one piece of the puzzle. A comprehensive approach that considers various factors is crucial for ranking improvement.
Here’s a general process that can help improve your website’s ranking:
1. Keyword Research and Targeting:
- Identify Relevant Keywords: Conduct thorough keyword research to discover relevant and high-volume keywords that align with your target audience’s search intent.
- Target Long-Tail Keywords: Prioritize long-tail keywords, which are more specific and often have less competition.
2. On-Page Optimization:
- Optimize Content: Ensure your content is well-written, informative, and engaging, catering to the user’s search intent.
- Optimize Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: Craft compelling and keyword-rich title tags and meta descriptions to attract clicks from search results.
- Optimize Page Structure: Use headings, subheadings, and lists to improve readability and make your content easier to scan.
- Optimize Images: Use descriptive filenames and alt text for images, further enhancing SEO.
3. Off-Page Optimization:
- Backlink Strategy: Focus on acquiring high-quality backlinks from reputable websites within your niche. Look for opportunities to earn natural backlinks through guest blogging, content promotion, and building relationships with other websites.
- Social Media Marketing: Engage with your audience on social media platforms to increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your website.
4. Technical SEO:
- Website Speed: Optimize your website’s loading speed to improve user experience and search engine ranking.
- Mobile Friendliness: Ensure your website is mobile-responsive for optimal user experience on various devices.
- Security: Use HTTPS protocol to secure your website and improve user trust.
5. Content Marketing:
- Create Valuable Content: Produce high-quality content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to your target audience.
- Content Promotion: Promote your content through various channels, including social media, email marketing, and guest blogging.
6. Monitor and Analyze:
- Track Rankings: Use tools to monitor your website’s rankings for target keywords and identify any trends.
- Analyze Traffic: Monitor your website traffic to understand user behavior and identify areas for improvement.
7. Continuous Improvement:
- Stay Updated: Keep abreast of the latest SEO trends and algorithms to adapt your strategies effectively.
- Experiment: Test different strategies to see what works best for your website and target audience.
Remember, SEO is a continuous process that requires patience, persistence, and a commitment to improvement. By focusing on a comprehensive approach that incorporates all these elements, you can gradually increase your website’s ranking and drive organic traffic.