It has been a month and a half since my B2B website went live, and I have created 18 posts and added numerous products. However, I am disappointed to see that SEMRush only identified 5 ideal keywords. I have focused on long-tail keywords with search volume and tailored my content creatively to meet the readers' needs. What steps can I take to improve this situation?
It’s understandable to be frustrated when your website isn’t performing well in search results, even after putting in effort. While a month and a half is a relatively short time for a new website to establish its presence, there are a few key areas to focus on to improve keyword performance:
1. Diversify Keyword Research:
- Go beyond SEMrush: While SEMrush is a valuable tool, relying solely on one platform can limit your keyword options. Experiment with other keyword research tools like Ahrefs, Moz, and Google Keyword Planner to uncover additional relevant keywords.
- Consider broader topics: You mentioned focusing on long-tail keywords, which is a good strategy for targeting niche audiences. However, don’t neglect broader, higher-volume keywords related to your industry. These keywords can bring in more traffic and drive awareness to your website.
- Look at your competitors’ keywords: Analyze the keywords used by your top competitors to gain insights into the phrases that are driving traffic to their websites. Use tools like Serpstat or SimilarWeb to identify these keywords.
2. Optimize Content:
- Content Quality: Content quality is paramount for attracting readers and ranking well. Ensure your blog posts and product descriptions are informative, engaging, and tailored to the specific keyword you are targeting.
- Keyword Density: While keyword stuffing is harmful, natural keyword inclusion throughout your content is essential. Aim for a keyword density of 1-2% in your content.
- Internal Linking: Strategically link relevant content within your website to create a seamless user experience and improve your website’s SEO authority.
3. Technical SEO:
- Website Speed: A slow website can significantly impact your SEO performance. Optimize your website’s speed by compressing images, minifying code, and using a caching plugin.
- Mobile Optimization: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing, so a mobile-optimized website is crucial for good rankings.
- Structured Data: Implementing structured data can help search engines understand your website’s content better, leading to improved search visibility.
4. Build Backlinks:
- Guest Blogging: Reach out to relevant websites in your industry and offer to contribute guest posts. This can help you acquire valuable backlinks and increase your website’s domain authority.
- Social Media Sharing: Share your content on social media platforms and encourage engagement. Social signals can indirectly impact your website’s ranking.
- Community Building: Engage with your target audience through online forums, communities, and other relevant platforms. Building relationships and fostering a sense of community can contribute to backlinks and organic traffic.
5. Track and Analyze:
- Google Analytics: Use Google Analytics to track website traffic, user behavior, and other key metrics. Monitor these metrics regularly to identify areas for improvement.
- Search Console: Google Search Console provides valuable insights into your website’s performance in search results. Analyze the data to understand which keywords are driving traffic and identify any indexing issues.
By implementing these steps and consistently monitoring your progress, you can significantly improve your website’s keyword performance and achieve better search engine rankings. Remember, SEO is an ongoing process, and patience is key.