We believe SEO is an important piece of the social media puzzle within the New Zealand agriculture industry (and for you.). Your success is our success as we are one step closer to a stronger industry and high-fives all around for THAT!
This is why we are sharing the following information even though - SEO is not our forte. #confession. However, social media IS our strength and we believe it is important for your social media success and here’s the Boss Lady explaining why.
So here are 5 quick tips to help you step up your SEO game.
1. Write Strong Copy
NOTE: This does NOT mean becoming a copy barren and loading your site with a heap of keywords. It doesn’t work like that. In fact, Google will penalise you for having too many keywords.
Incorporate 5 - 8 keywords in the first paragraph of every website page. Even better 2 - 3 of them in the first sentence of the first paragraph. Also, be sure to strategically use these words in you headers throughout your page.
2. Label Your Website Images
If we could add claps between every word above we would. In fact, we will. Label (clap) Your (clap) Website (clap) Images. We explained why we are so passionate about this in the last blog, but here are a couple of extra labelling hacks:
- Name images on your computer. Get into the habit of naming your images with something relevant on your computer. If you forget to do this, rename it before you load it onto your site. Some pages allow you to rename them on your page, but not all.
- Use keyword specific names. Think like your reader, what will they type in their search bar to find you as an answer? For example we have used labels like … “social media help” “agriculture social media” “Facebook help” “SEO and GRM”
- Test your website pages. Here’s how: Copy and paste a link from your website into your Facebook status (don’t post yet!) Watch to see if an image pops up. If not, be brave. Go into the settings on your specific website pages and see if they have a place to add an image specific for that page.
3. Keep Your Content Fresh
Regular fresh content on your site helps with SEO optimisation so keep it fresh, ensuring you think SEO first. Basically, this is telling Google and other search engines “Hi, I’m still here, alive, and so is my site.”
Here are some ideas:
- Write regular blog posts
- Change up your gallery (and make sure those photos are labelled with key words!)
- Share a news item
4. Link It Back
Google checks for “backlinks” — or links from external sites to your site to boost your credibility. So make friends. Cross link to each others pages. Find influencers who will mention you.
Finally, use social media. Let us say that again: USE SOCIAL MEDIA. At least once a week, write a post that will direct people to your website. There are some who say that not all search engines count social media as a credible backlink - but they also say that this could easily change in the future. Either way, it won’t hurt you to get in the habit of ‘Linking back.’
5. Clear Vertical and Horizontal Links
Always ensure people can scroll easily back to the top of your site and always make sure each page has a horizontal link (as per the diagram below) with other pages on the website to create flow.
It could be as simple as every time your content mentions Team you link to your team page. For example, see how we link to other other blog posts in the first paragraph.
A visual description of how vertical and horizontal linking works on your website.
See? SEO easy. There are many more lengths you can dive into the SEO sea and we still have more to learn. Next week we will hear from the REAL expert. We can’t wait to share her goodness with you.
(pssst if you would like to learn what we DO offer, feel free to check out this cheeky #horizontallink. ;) )
Trista SEO excited for you to smash your SEO
Trista Burn is an American-born-Kiwi-by-marriage communications specialist. A dairy farmer’s daughter, and a legacy deeply rooted in ag, Trista firmly believes in the value of agvocating and sharing stories. In other words - the heartbeat of GRM.
Home made Apple Pie, Mexican food, soft chocolate chip cookies and coffee are the way to Trista's heart. She is currently learning the fine art of toddler negotiations and superhero names. She is NOT a dog lover but one affectionate GSP pup named Harry has wiggled his way into her heart and she’s not sure how that happened.
