So you want a better-performing website. At the most basic level, you need to make sure that search engines can access the body content on a webpage as quickly as possible and that the page loads fast.

That said, there are two simple SEO best practices that can help with both of those requirements, and those are:

1. Externalizing CSS (cascading style sheets)
2. Externalizing JavaScript

In this article, I’ll explain why and give some simple steps to get started.

• What is CSS? 
• What is Javascript? 
• Why externalize Javascript and CSS? 
• Is your JavaScript and CSS externalized already? 
• How to externalize Javascript
• How to externalize CSS
• Small steps, big impact 
• FAQ: How can I enhance my website’s performance using two simple steps involving CSS and JavaScript?

What Is CSS?

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) describe how HTML code should be displayed on a webpage to create the look and feel of a website, for example, fonts and colors.

What Is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a programming language that enables interactivity on webpages, for example, a search box, audio and video, or maps.

Why Externalize JavaScript and CSS?

You want your website code to be search engine friendly. So, you need to be sure that the underlying code makes it easy for search engine spiders to crawl and understand what the webpages are about.

This needs to happen so search engines can determine the relevance of a search query. One of the first things search engines should crawl is the body content on a webpage, not unnecessary lines of code.

You also want your website to be fast. Search engines like Google care about webpage performance for user experience — so much so that they released their page experience algorithm update with ranking signals devoted to it.

Both CSS and JavaScript can clutter up a webpage, make it slower to load and harder for search engines to crawl. You want the actual body content on a webpage to be accessible in the first hundred lines of code.

Externalizing these files is an easy way to remedy the problems I just mentioned. Doing this can speed up page load time, significantly help rankings and save crawl budget.

Benefits of Externalizing CSS

Creating an external CSS file gives you one place to control the look of the website, so it’s much more efficient than editing every single page of a website when you want to make a change.

When you have a CSS file, you only need to make changes to the external file and those changes are applied to the entire site.

Having an external CSS file has other benefits, too. It allows you to remove inline formatting, such as font tags, and replace them with CSS tags that instruct what style to apply. This results in less code cluttering the webpage.

Less code means smaller file sizes. Smaller file sizes mean web pages load faster.

Benefits of Externalizing JavaScript

Creating an external file for JavaScript has similar benefits. When you move the JavaScript off individual webpages and into an external file, your webpages only need a single line of code that calls the JavaScript file for information.

JavaScript tends to be long and cumbersome, so doing this one simple thing could cut the size of a webpage in half.

Is Your JavaScript and CSS Externalized Already?

It’s easy to check if your CSS and JavaScript is externalized. Go to your website homepage and look at the source code. To view the source, right-click on the page and select: “view page source.”

Here is an example of a sample of code from non-externalized JavaScript on a webpage:

<script language=”javascript”>

var _pn=”Your+No-Fault+Rights”; //page name(s)

var _mlc=”No+Fault+Advice”; //multi-level content category

var _cp=”null”; //campaign

var _acct=”WE531126G4MC09EN3”; //account number(s)

var _pndef=”title”; //default page name

var _ctdef=”full”; //default content category

var _prc=””; //commerce price

var _oid=””; //commerce order

var _dlf=””; //download filter

var _elf=””; //exit link filter

var _epg=””; //event page identifier

</script>

This is just a sample of how JavaScript can take up valuable space with the page code. It’s normal that websites will have many lines (30+) of JavaScript that should be externalized.

Alternatively, here is what it would look like with an external JavaScript file:

<script type=”text/javascript” src=”/sample.js”></script>

Here is an example of a non-externalized style sheet:

.content { clear: left;

background-color: #ffffff;

background-image: URL(“/images/movie_reel2.jpg”); /* small reel */

/* background-image: URL(“/images/movie_reel.JPG”); large reel */

background-position: 100% 100%; /* lower right corner */

background-repeat: no-repeat;

border: 2px solid #666666;

border-style: solid solid none solid;

padding: .5em 1em 1em 1em;

margin-bottom: 0em;

margin-top: 0em;

text-align: left;

}

h1 {

font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, sans-serif;

font-size: 18px;

font-style: italic;

font-weight: bold;

color: #003399;

text-align: center;

}

It is common for websites to have CSS hardcoded into a webpage rather than including it in a single file to be called from numerous pages within a website.

Here is what it would look like with an external CSS file:

<link rel=”stylesheet” href=”styles.css”>

How to Externalize JavaScript

The first thing to mention is that sometimes it’s necessary to have JavaScript code on a webpage, for example, for accurate tracking or page functionality.

Aside from tracking and functionality, not all JavaScript code is detrimental to page speed and should be externalized.

In fact, in some cases using in-line JavaScript can speed up the page load time and performance, for instance, in cases where JavaScript blocks the rendering of the page.

Using in-line JavaScript at the top of the page may enable content at the top of the page to become visible to users without having to wait for large JavaScript files to load.

So, here’s how to externalize JavaScript:

1. Identify the JavaScript code that you want to externalize by locating the opening and closing <script> tag with the HTML source code of the webpage.
2. Cut the javascript code, which is between <script> and </script>.
3. Using a text editor like Notepad, create a new document and paste the JS code into the new blank document.
4. Save the file with the file extension “.js”.
5. Upload the file to your server and make a note of its path.
6. Go back to your original html file and insert the following, where “path/filesource.js” is the URL of the newly created .js file:
   <script language=”JavaScript” src=”path/filesource.js”></script>
7. Now, the embedded JavaScript code is replaced with just one line.

When search engines crawl the webpage, they will only have one line of code to read before they go on to the rest of the page.

Subsequently, this can help with Google’s page experience algorithm update, specifically, First Input Delay. (Note that FID will be replaced by Interaction to Next Paint (INP) in March 2024.)

How to Externalize CSS

To externalize style sheets, simply follow the same instructions as for the JavaScript file, except save the file with a .css file extension. In the original webpage code you’ll replace all the CSS coding with the following:

<link href=”cssfilename” rel=”stylesheet” type=”text/css”>

Once again you are left with one line of code on your original page, allowing for simpler site indexing for the spiders.

Small Steps, Big Impact

Externalizing JavaScript and CSS won’t fix your website performance problems, but it’s a great start.

One client we worked with implemented these two best practices and reduced 20,000 lines of code to 1,500. The website subsequently saw a significant improvement in rankings and moved to the top of organic search results for many keywords.

So, yes, it is effective and a good place to start as you are improving the performance of your web pages.

Need help boosting your website’s speed and search ranking? Contact us for a free consultation.

FAQ: How can I enhance my website’s performance using two simple steps involving CSS and JavaScript?

Optimizing your website’s performance is crucial for user satisfaction and search engine ranking in the dynamic landscape of web development. Leveraging CSS and JavaScript effectively can significantly elevate your site’s speed and functionality. Let’s delve into two simple yet powerful techniques to boost your website’s performance.

Minify and Concatenate CSS and JavaScript Files

When it comes to optimizing website speed, reducing file sizes is paramount. Combining multiple CSS or JavaScript files into one minimizes HTTP requests, enhancing load times. Minification removes unnecessary characters (whitespace, comments) without altering code functionality.

Insightful Tip: Employ build tools like Grunt or Gulp for automated minification and concatenation processes. Consider using Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) for quicker file delivery.

Implement Lazy Loading for Non-Critical Resources

Lazy loading postpones the loading of non-essential resources until they’re needed. For instance, images below the fold or secondary JavaScript can be loaded asynchronously, boosting initial page load speed.

Insightful Tip: Utilize the `loading=”lazy”` attribute for images to instruct browsers to load them only when they come into the viewport, optimizing user experience and load times.

Buyer Intent Search Terms and Their Role

Understanding buyer intent search terms is pivotal for effective optimization. Terms like “website speed improvement techniques,” “CSS and JavaScript optimization,” or “lazy loading implementation” showcase a user’s intent to enhance website performance. Integrating these terms into your content aligns with user queries, improving visibility.

The Impact of Performance on User Experience and SEO

Optimized website performance directly influences user experience, increasing engagement and reducing bounce rates. Moreover, search engines prioritize faster-loading sites, positively impacting SEO rankings.

Balancing Aesthetics with Performance

While optimizing performance is crucial, maintaining a visually appealing website is equally vital. Finding the balance between aesthetics and functionality ensures an engaging user experience without compromising speed.

The Role of Continuous Monitoring and Testing

Regularly monitoring website performance metrics and conducting tests is key to sustaining optimal functionality. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse assist in identifying performance bottlenecks, enabling timely adjustments.

Future Trends: Evolving Strategies for Optimal Performance

As technology advances, emerging trends like HTTP/3 and enhanced JavaScript frameworks continue to reshape performance optimization strategies. Staying updated on these trends ensures your website remains competitive and well-optimized.

Enhancing your website’s performance through CSS and JavaScript optimizations is a cornerstone of successful web development. By employing techniques like file minification, lazy loading and staying attuned to evolving trends, you’re enriching user experience and bolstering your site’s visibility in the digital realm.

Step-by-Step Procedure: Enhancing Website Performance

1. Assess Current Performance Metrics: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify areas for improvement.
2. Implement CSS and JavaScript Minification: Utilize build tools or online services to compress and combine files.
3. Consider Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): Opt for CDNs for faster file delivery.
4. Evaluate Lazy Loading Opportunities: Identify non-critical resources suitable for lazy loading.
5. Implement Lazy Loading: Integrate the `loading=”lazy”` attribute for images or asynchronous loading of secondary scripts.
6. Research Buyer Intent Search Terms: Understand user queries related to website performance.
7. Integrate Buyer Intent Keywords: Incorporate relevant terms in your content for improved visibility.
8. Monitor Performance Metrics: Regularly analyze metrics and adjust strategies accordingly.
9. Balance Aesthetics and Functionality: Ensure visual appeal without compromising speed.
10. Stay Updated on Emerging Trends: Follow developments in web optimization for future-proofing strategies.

This comprehensive step-by-step guide provides a detailed roadmap to effectively enhance your website’s performance using CSS and JavaScript optimization techniques. Following these steps ensures a streamlined, high-performing website that resonates with user expectations and search engine algorithms.

The post Improve Your Website Performance in Two Simple Steps appeared first on Bruce Clay, Inc..

• Resolutions
• How to make sure the SEO work gets done
• Resolve to get SEO things done this year
• FAQ: How Do I Prioritize and Execute SEO Tasks for Maximum Impact?

Resolutions

SEO Resolutions are well-meaning, but 81% of people who make them fail to reach their goals.

Don’t make resolutions without an action plan.
The secret to success is right in your hands.

–J Allen Shaw, children’s book author

Search engine optimization can drive more visibility in the search results, more traffic, and more revenue. But like a New Year’s resolution, you must do it to see results.

Well-meaning site owners pay agencies, consultants, or in-house SEO professionals to give SEO advice to help their businesses grow. Yet a significant percentage of those recommendations never get implemented.

This happens for many reasons. Most often, the company doesn’t see SEO as a strategic initiative. That trickles from the top down, and business silos make it nearly impossible to get things done.

So how do you succeed with having great SEO intentions and actually following through on them?

How to Make Sure the SEO Work Gets Done

Here are a handful of things to consider implementing to make sure SEO priorities get done:

1. Educate, educate, educate. And not just the immediate marketing teams, but other teams that need to get SEO things done need to be trained too.

We have upgraded what people know and love as “online training” with our membership-based SEOtraining.com, a comprehensive SEO training experience. The heart of it is the Bruce Clay SEO Training course.

Our new SEO course is online, but it is not a recording of a live class. It is green-screen recorded and quite professional in sound and presentation, with more than 15 hours of professionally produced video lessons. As with all videos, you can take the course at your own pace – start and stop as you like.

Members also have access to email support and regular live Q&A sessions to get their questions answered. Resources beyond the training course include in-depth mini-courses on key subjects, e-books, single-topic Ask-Us-Anything videos, and many more.

2. Prioritize recommendations. Work on the most impactful SEO tasks first — the ones with the most potential to move the needle.

For example, our SEO audits make it clear which tasks are most important to tackle first and how to prioritize everything else from short-term to long-term tasks.

3. Support recommendations with Google guidance. Show examples (help files, tweets, videos, etc.) of Google recommending what you are trying to accomplish. This is a great example from Google on why site performance matters.

Make sure to distill the “why” behind Google’s recommendation. Whether you’re talking to a client or your own internal team, you want to make it easy for your intended audience to understand and get on board. Also, think about your audience when you talk about results.

For instance, if you’re recommending a change that will improve site performance, the UX department will respond to user experience improvements, while the C-Suite will respond more to revenue growth.

For every half second decrease in homepage load speed, our customers see an average annual revenue increase of $376,789.

–Mobify

4. Get creative to move SEO changes forward. Technical fixes can be hard to implement. That’s because web developers and IT folks often focus on other things.

In a bit of good news: UK-based Zazzle found that 75 percent of marketers said SEO technical fixes were implemented within one month. But that leaves 25 percent of those surveyed waiting more than a month.

To help move technical SEO changes forward, speak the language of your audience. Instead of requesting enhancements to the site, put SEO technical fixes in as bug reports. Fixing bugs is typically KPIs developers care about and want to stay on top of.

(The key is not to put anything in the report you must defend. A bug is a bug; it’s not “losing traffic to competitors” or anything else.)

5. Think strategically. We must think and plan strategically to get things done. This article by a doctor at the Harvard Medical School blog gives tips on how to keep New Year’s resolutions by asking five important questions.

These same questions could be applied to communicating and getting buy-in for SEO initiatives so they get done:

1. Why do you want to make the change? Know and show the reasons behind the SEO recommendation.
2. Is your goal concrete and measurable? Support your recommendation with Google guidance and data, case studies for similar organizations, websites, or initiatives, and the KPIs you will track.
3. What is your plan? Detail the steps necessary to reach the goal.
4. Who can support you as you work toward change? Identify which colleagues, teams, or departments will need to be involved to get the recommendation done and how.
5. How will you celebrate your victories? Make sure that the small and big wins are in front of everyone all the time. This helps build trust and confidence in the SEO process.

McKinsey also has some great insights worth looking into on how to make a change within an organization, including motivating people.

Resolve to Get SEO Things Done This Year

If we want our SEO recommendations to be implemented, we must create a plan for how to get things done. Like the person who signs up for the gym in January but never attends, paying for SEO advice but not following it is wasted potential.

Remember, SEO is forever — there is no “end,” and it takes a commitment to see results. This core concept can help us think beyond the title tags that need to be changed this month or site speed that needs to be tackled the next so that we can accomplish more.

Most people overestimate what they can do in a year and they underestimate what they can do in two or three decades. #iamnotyourguru

— Tony Robbins (@TonyRobbins) October 25, 2016

If you need help with your SEO action plan, contact us for a free quote, and let’s talk.

FAQ: How Do I Prioritize and Execute SEO Tasks for Maximum Impact?

Executing SEO tasks with precision and purpose can significantly influence your website’s performance. Prioritizing these tasks to maximize their impact requires a well-defined strategy considering both short-term gains and long-term objectives.

To start, analyze your current SEO landscape. Identify keywords that drive the most traffic and conversions. This data-driven approach enables you to allocate resources to tasks that align with your business goals. Additionally, top priorities should be auditing your website for technical issues and optimizing on-page elements. These foundational tasks lay the groundwork for effective SEO.

Once the essentials are addressed, turn your attention to content optimization. Conduct thorough keyword research to uncover valuable opportunities. Craft compelling, user-focused content that addresses searcher intent. This enhances your website’s relevance and drives organic traffic growth.

In the realm of link building, prioritize quality over quantity. Seek authoritative websites within your niche for potential collaborations. Secure high-quality backlinks that boost your search rankings and establish your website as a trusted resource.

Regular performance monitoring is key to maintaining SEO success. Leverage analytics tools to track keyword rankings, organic traffic, and conversion rates. This data empowers you to refine your strategy and reallocate resources as needed.

By implementing these prioritization strategies, you’ll ensure that your SEO efforts yield maximum impact. Remember, success in SEO requires a holistic approach encompassing technical excellence, content optimization, link building, and continuous performance analysis.

Step-by-Step Procedure: How to Prioritize and Execute SEO Tasks for Maximum Impact

1. Keyword Analysis: Identify high-performing keywords that align with your business objectives.
2. Technical Audit: Conduct a comprehensive audit to address any technical issues hindering search engine crawlability and indexing.
3. On-Page Optimization: Optimize meta tags, headers, and content for target keywords to enhance on-page SEO.
4. Content Strategy: Develop a content plan based on keyword research, focusing on creating valuable, informative, and engaging content.
5. Keyword Mapping: Align target keywords with specific pages on your website for better content optimization.
6. User Experience Enhancement: Improve website navigation, page load speed, and mobile responsiveness to enhance user experience.
7. Link-Building Strategy: Identify authoritative websites for potential link-building partnerships.
8. Backlink Acquisition: Secure high-quality backlinks from reputable sources within your industry.
9. Local SEO: Optimize your website for local search by creating and verifying Google My Business listings.
10. Social Media Integration: Leverage social media platforms to promote and share your optimized content.
11. Performance Tracking: Implement analytics tools to monitor keyword rankings, organic traffic, and conversion rates.
12. Regular Audits: Schedule regular website audits to identify and address new technical issues and optimization opportunities.
13. Competitor Analysis: Analyze competitor SEO strategies to identify gaps and potential areas for improvement.
14. Algorithm Updates: Stay informed about search engine algorithm updates and adjust your strategy accordingly.
15. Voice Search Optimization: Optimize your content for voice search queries to accommodate changing search behavior.
16. Structured Data Implementation: Implement structured data markup to enhance the visibility of rich snippets in search results.
17. Local Citations: Build local citations to improve your website’s visibility in local search results.
18. Content Refresh: Regularly update and refresh existing content to ensure it remains relevant and valuable.
19. Conversion Rate Optimization: Optimize conversion rates by creating optimized landing pages and calls-to-action.
20. Continuing Learning: Stay abreast of the latest SEO practices and trends through webinars, conferences, industry publications, and other sources.

This step-by-step guide is designed to assist in efficiently prioritizing and implementing SEO tasks, with maximum impact, for maximum search engine visibility and site performance goals.

The post Don’t Be Surprised by the Traffic You Didn’t Get for the SEO Work You Didn’t Do appeared first on Bruce Clay, Inc..

If you’re not up to your ears in SEO like we are, it can be hard to “get” some of the terminology that SEO professionals throw around. So today, I’m going to clear up a common question: What’s the difference between on-page SEO and technical SEO?

• What is technical SEO?
• What is on-page SEO?
• Why you need both
• FAQ: How can I distinguish between on-page SEO and technical SEO for effective optimization?

What Is Technical SEO?

Technical SEO is the practice of optimizing the “back end” of a site so that search engines like Google can better crawl and index the website.

Here are some of the things you might work on when performing technical SEO (not an exhaustive list):

Spider-friendly code: Streamline website code so that search engines, when they crawl the site, can access the important content first.

Content management systems: Choose a content management system that’s primed for SEO. Configure and monitor the CMS so you can identify any inherent SEO problems that come with the system.

Site speed / page speed: Page speed (how fast a page loads) is part of Google’s ranking algorithm, and it impacts the user experience. Make sure your pages are up to par by using the PageSpeed Insights tool.

Mobile usability: How many of your website visitors come from mobile devices? Ensure your site is optimized for mobile.

Robots.txt: Use the robots.txt file to tell search engines which directories on the site can and cannot be crawled. Bots check for this file in the root directory of your website each time they visit.

XML sitemaps: Tell search engines about the pages, images, and videos on your website with an XML sitemap.

301 redirects: Avoid error pages as much as possible by redirecting old URLs to new, more relevant URLs. Always use a 301 (permanent) redirect.

Fully qualified URLs: Make internal links fully qualified and avoid crawl issues by starting with the “https:” instead of a relative URL.

Structured data markup: Structured data (“schema”) helps search engines understand what the content on a webpage is about. Adding markup from schema.org clarifies what type of information is being presented and may lead to enhanced search results, too. Learn more.

Canonical tags: Use the canonical element to tell search engines which version of a URL you want in the search results. This is often used to resolve potential duplicate content issues.

Server maintenance: Regularly check and address server diagnostic reports to address any errors that might occur that create a bad user experience for visitors coming to your site. Also, make sure any plugins are updated consistently for security reasons.

Siloing: Structure your website content by grouping related webpages together in hierarchical categories based on how people search. This technique actually sits between technical SEO and on-page SEO as it deploys both types of skills. Learn more about SEO siloing.

Read more about technical SEO in our SEO Guide.

What Is On-Page SEO?

On-page SEO is the practice of optimizing webpages from top to bottom. The dual purposes are to give pages a better chance of showing up in the search results and to create a better user experience for website visitors.

Here are some of the things involved in performing on-page SEO (not an exhaustive list):

Quality content: Create quality content that is worthy of E-E-A-T. This is a huge step worth exploring before you create any content.

Content length and readability: Knowing how many words to write and at what reading level you should write based on the top-ranked pages in the search results is key to competing.

Meta data: Put effort into creating unique meta tags per page. The title and description may be the first things a potential visitor sees when looking at your website’s listing in the search results. Likewise, meta data is one of the first things a search engine encounters on a webpage that tells them what the page is about. Learn more about meta tags

Keyword optimization: Make sure you are integrating the keywords correctly into the content. For more, see my post on how a WordPress plugin can help with content optimization.

Heading tags: Create properly formatted heading tags. Heading tags within an article differentiate the subsections on a webpage. It allows for an easier read by visitors and also signals to the search engines what topics are covered on a page. Read about heading tags and their impact on search engines.

Image optimization: Optimize all the elements of your webpages including images to help you gain visibility in search verticals like Google Images. This also boosts visibility in the main search results. And be sure to include an alt attribute with each image. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states all websites should do this for the vision impaired.

Structured data: Structure the information on your webpage to make it more digestible for visitors and search engines. This includes things like using HTML tables, bulleted lists, ordered lists, a table of contents at the top, and a TL;DR (“too long, didn’t read”) summary. These items may also help your website rank for featured snippets.

For more on-page SEO ideas, check out our SEO checklist.

Why You Need Both

A good SEO strategy focuses on both on-page and technical SEO. A site that is built from the ground up for SEO will ensure that search engines can crawl and index pages with ease. A site that publishes quality, optimized content will create a good user experience, earn links, and in turn, do better in the search results.

If you’re looking for assistance with your SEO strategy, our flexible consulting could be your answer. Request a quote here, and let’s talk about your needs.

FAQ: How can I distinguish between on-page SEO and technical SEO for effective optimization?

Understanding how on-page and technical SEO interact when optimizing a website for search engine results is crucial to creating successful SERP rankings. Although both aspects are integral, each serves different functions for increasing website visibility.

On-Page SEO: Crafting Content that Resonates

On-page SEO primarily deals with the content and elements that visitors encounter directly on your website. This involves optimizing individual web pages to improve their relevance to specific search queries. Key aspects of on-page SEO include keyword research, content creation, meta tags, and internal linking. By strategically incorporating relevant keywords into your content and ensuring high-quality, valuable information, you can create a compelling user experience while signaling to search engines that your content is relevant and authoritative.

Technical SEO: Laying the Foundation for Accessibility

Technical SEO, on the other hand, focuses on the behind-the-scenes aspects that facilitate search engine crawlers’ ability to index and understand your website. This involves optimizing technical elements such as website speed, mobile-friendliness, site architecture, XML sitemaps, and canonical URLs. Technical SEO ensures your website is accessible, user-friendly, and easily navigable by search engine bots. It forms the foundation upon which your on-page content can shine.

The Harmonious Synchronization: Achieving Optimal Results

While distinct, on-page SEO and technical SEO are deeply interconnected. Your on-page SEO efforts rely on a solid technical foundation to be truly effective. A fast-loading website with a responsive design enhances user experience and indirectly boosts the time visitors spend engaging with your content—factors that search engines consider when ranking pages. Moreover, technical SEO ensures that search engine crawlers can efficiently navigate and index your website, allowing your well-crafted content to be discovered by your target audience.

Expert Tip: Continual Monitoring and Adaptation

To succeed in the dynamic landscape of SEO, it’s vital to monitor and adapt both on-page and technical SEO strategies continuously. Regularly audit your website’s technical elements to identify and rectify issues hindering search engine crawlers or user experience. Similarly, refine your on-page content to align with the evolving search algorithms and user preferences. Embrace change as an opportunity to stay ahead in the search rankings race.

A Holistic Approach to SEO

For maximum effectiveness, technical SEO and on-page optimization must work hand-in-hand. By understanding each role’s significance, you can build a highly-ranked site in search engine results while offering great user experiences.

Step-by-Step Procedure: On-Page SEO vs. Technical SEO 

1. Understand the Core Concepts: Familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of on-page SEO (content optimization) and technical SEO (website infrastructure optimization).
2. Keyword Research: Learn how to conduct keyword research to identify relevant keywords for your content.
3. Content Creation: Master the art of creating high-quality, valuable content that incorporates the identified keywords naturally.
4. Meta Tags and Descriptions: Understand the role of meta tags and meta descriptions in conveying the content’s essence to search engines and users.
5. Internal Linking: Explore the significance of internal links in guiding users and search engine crawlers through your website.
6. Website Speed Optimization: Learn techniques to optimize your website’s loading speed for better user experience and SEO ranking.
7. Mobile-Friendliness: Understand the importance of responsive design and mobile-friendly layouts.
8. Site Architecture: Explore the concept of organizing your website’s structure for easy navigation and indexation.
9. XML Sitemaps: Learn how to create and submit XML sitemaps to help search engines crawl and understand your website’s structure.
10. Canonical URLs: Understand the role of canonical URLs in preventing duplicate content issues.
11. Monitoring Tools: Discover tools that aid in monitoring your website’s performance, speed, and other technical aspects.
12. Regular Auditing: Learn how to conduct regular audits of your website’s technical elements to identify and address issues promptly.
13. Algorithm Updates: Stay updated with search engine algorithm changes and adapt your on-page and technical SEO strategies accordingly.
14. User Experience Enhancement: Explore ways to enhance user experience through both technical optimization and engaging content.
15. Continuous Learning: SEO is ever-evolving; commit to continuous learning to stay informed about the latest trends and best practices.
16. Experimentation and Adaptation: Be open to trying new strategies and adapting your approaches based on performance results.
17. Data Analysis: Learn how to analyze data from various sources to gauge the effectiveness of your optimization efforts.
18. Holistic Approach: Recognize the symbiotic relationship between on-page and technical SEO and approach them as integrated components.
19. User Intent Understanding: Dive deep into understanding user intent behind search queries to tailor your content accordingly.
20. Patience and Persistence: SEO results take time; maintain patience and persistence as you work towards long-term optimization goals.

The post Technical SEO vs. On-Page SEO: The Differences appeared first on Bruce Clay, Inc..

If you could focus on just a handful of SEO strategies in the coming year to improve your website, where would you start? I’m here to help. I will break down five foundational SEO strategies to help you get more visibility, traffic, and conversions in 2020.

• E-E-A-T more
• Full speed ahead
• When silos are a good thing
• Tag you’re it
• Excuse me, your schema is showing
• FAQ: How can I enhance my website’s performance with SEO strategies?

1. E-E-A-T More

Experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness: these form the basic job description of your website and what it’s supposed to prove, according to Google.

Screenshot of the table of contents from Google’s Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines

E-E-A-T is the foundation of any strategic SEO program. It communicates to your audience and the search engines that you are a quality resource. Thus, everything in your SEO content strategy, your SEO tactics and your offline efforts (such as speaking, teaching, etc.) should support this.

2. Full Speed Ahead

Got a slow website? If too slow then your chances of ranking in today’s search engine environment are slim to none. And if you do happen to rank, it’s likely that more than half of your audience will bounce.

The PageSpeed Insights tool is a good place to start. There, you can assess performance and see how improvements will fare. But which pages should you start with?

Take the top search queries bringing traffic to your site and check your top-ranked pages. Then find out who your competitors are for those queries, and make sure to beat their page load times. The SEOToolSet® has helpful tools for this exercise.

Research Summary Report shows top-ranked pages for a query. (SEOToolSet)

3. When Silos Are a Good Thing

While the business world talks about breaking down silos, the SEO world rejoices in them. Siloing organizes disjointed website topics into clear themes that boost not only E-E-A-T, but also keyword rankings.

Of course, siloing is not all there is to ranking, but without it, you lose relevance. Being relevant is the key to a successful website now and in the future.

4. Tag, You’re It

In the race to quality content, meta tags are a secret weapon. Not only do they tell the search engines what the page is about, but they also serve as the enticing snippet in the search results.

Here are the basics of creating a great meta tag:

• Ensure each title tag is unique across your website.
• Try to keep title tags below 78 characters, which is the cutoff for mobile users.
• Use the top keyword in the title tag before the character cutoff.
• The meta description tag should also include the most important info and keywords near the beginning.
• If the search engine chooses to display your description text, it will include about 24 words or 160 characters with spaces.

The Bruce Clay SEO WP plugin is handy for content creators and SEOs to cross the finish line by writing compelling and original meta tags as part of the content process.

5. Excuse Me, Your Schema Is Showing

Google uses structured data to better understand what the content is on a page. Not only that, but structured data can enhance your presence on the search engine results page. Google may include “rich snippets” (as shown below) or “featured snippets” from your content that can further entice users to click through to your site.

The SEO industry continues to talk about the importance of schema to the ever-evolving search engine results page. If you’re new to the concept, Google has a great beginner’s guide for developers and website publishers here.

Focusing on the basics while using the right tools is a sure-fire way to get ahead in 2020. Make sure you’re using the industry’s leading SEO and content tools as you dial in on your strategy for the New Year. Learn more about our SEOToolSet® today.

FAQ: How can I enhance my website’s performance with SEO strategies?

A website’s performance is crucial for online success in today’s digital landscape. Whether you’re an e-commerce store owner, a blogger, or a business aiming to increase your online presence, leveraging SEO strategies is vital to achieving your goals.

1. Optimize Your On-Page Elements:

Optimize your website’s on-page elements, including meta titles, descriptions, headers, and image alt tags. Ensure that your content is valuable and relevant and naturally includes target keywords.

2. Mobile Responsiveness:

With most users accessing websites via mobile devices, a mobile-responsive design is imperative. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites in its rankings.

3. Site Speed Matters:

Page load speed significantly impacts user experience and SEO rankings. Minimize image sizes, leverage browser caching, and use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to improve site speed.

4. High-Quality Content:

Produce high-quality, engaging content that addresses your audience’s needs and questions. Regularly update and refresh your content to keep it relevant.

5. Keyword Research:

Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant keywords and phrases for your niche. Utilize tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush for insights.

6. Backlink Building:

Earn quality backlinks from reputable websites within your industry. Quality over quantity is essential; focus on natural link-building.

7. Technical SEO:

Optimize technical aspects such as sitemaps, robots.txt, and canonical tags. Fix broken links and ensure your website is easily crawlable by search engines.

8. Local SEO:

For businesses targeting a local audience, optimize your Google My Business profile and acquire local citations.

9. User Experience (UX):

Enhance user experience with a clean, intuitive design, easy navigation, and clear calls to action (CTAs).

10. Analyze and Monitor:

Regularly analyze your website’s performance using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Monitor keyword rankings and user behavior to identify areas for improvement.

11. Schema Markup:

Implement schema markup to provide search engines with structured data about your content, helping them understand and display it more effectively.

12. Social Media Integration:

Integrate social media buttons and encourage sharing to increase your website’s visibility and traffic.

13. Secure Your Website:

Installing an SSL Certificate to ensure your website remains safe is essential to keeping visitors away. Google prioritizes safe sites in its rankings.

14. Content Promotion:

Reaching more people, expand the reach of your content by using email marketing, social networks, and other online channels to promote it.

15. Adapt to Algorithm Changes:

Stay updated with search engine algorithm changes and adjust your strategies accordingly.

These SEO strategies can enhance your site’s performance and visibility in search engine results, ultimately increasing organic traffic. SEO is an ongoing process; keeping up with trends is essential for success.

Step-by-Step Procedure to Enhance Your Website’s Performance with SEO Strategies:

1. Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant keywords for your niche.
2. Optimize your website’s on-page elements, including meta titles, descriptions, headers, and image alt tags.
3. Ensure your website is mobile-responsive to cater to users on various devices.
4. Improve your website’s load speed by optimizing images and utilizing CDNs.
5. Create valuable, high-quality content that addresses your target audience’s needs and questions.
6. Earn quality backlinks from reputable websites within your industry.
7. Attention to technical SEO aspects, such as sitemaps, robots.txt, and canonical tags.
8. Optimize your website for local SEO by managing your Google My Business profile and acquiring local citations.
9. Improve user experience (UX) by designing an intuitive site with clear calls-to-action and user-friendly designs.
10. Use Google Analytics or Search Console to evaluate the performance of your website regularly.
11. Implement schema markup to provide structured data to search engines.
12. Integrate social media sharing buttons on your website to increase visibility.
13. SSL certificates will ensure the safety and protection of your website.
14. Leverage social media and email marketing to spread your content.
15. Stay updated with search engine algorithm changes and adjust your strategies accordingly.

Follow these steps to unlock the full potential of your website through effective SEO strategies.

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