Many website owners are always looking for more ways to increase visibility with the right customers. Search Engine Optimization is one of the main ways to increase the likelihood that search engines will rank you at the top of search results.
However, there is more to SEO than how you build the website, and the words you write on each page. It also includes something called “off-page” SEO. Off-page search engine optimization is everything you do outside of your website to boost it’s visibility. Today I’ll cover some examples of off-page SEO and how to implement them in your everyday work.
Table of contents
Backlinks
Creating backlinks is one of the most important off-page SEO activities. If you don’t invest in a link-building campaign, your website will not receive the traffic and ranking you want.
Backlinks to your site can be from a variety of places, including social media and blogging. The goal is to maximize the amount of relevant links to your website from other sites. When you get a high-quality link from an authoritative site, Google will see that you are an authority in that topic area and will reward you accordingly.
Backlinks come in two different types, dofollow and nofollow. A dofollow link passes its link juice to the website linked to, while a nofollow link transfers no authority to the site. In general, dofollow backlinks are better for your website’s search engine ranking, so use them wisely.
Another important aspect of backlinks is the quality of the links. The more relevant your backlinks are, the higher your site will rank. For instance, a backlink from harvard.edu will give you more credibility than reallygreatbooks.me. Backlinks from high-quality sites will be stronger and more authoritative.
Citations
Citations are a critical element of your SEO strategy. These citations list the name, address, and phone number of your business, and are a key component of your online reputation. These citations can also include other information about your business, including its name, logo, and email address. They are a foundation for your SEO, and it’s crucial to use proper spelling and uniform phone numbers. Any errors with NAP data are likely to cause Google to flag you, so make sure to follow the proper citation format.
There are literally hundreds of citations online for businesses. Not all of them are relevant, so the key is to get listed in industry-relevant categories. While domain authority is important, category relevancy is the most important factor when it comes to ranking in local SEO. Fortunately, there are many tools to help you get listed on relevant industry-related websites.
Citations can help you improve your ranking in local search results and can also help you rank for non-local keywords. They’re a valuable part of any off-page SEO strategy, particularly for businesses that serve specific geographic areas. Citations can also help you establish topical relevance, which helps search engines understand what your business is all about.
Business directories are an excellent way to get citations. A well-done citation will include your name, address, phone number, and website link. These citations will help improve your Google Local Pack listing by demonstrating to Google that your business is real and legitimate. This can increase traffic and sales.
While using off-page SEO is important, it’s vital to avoid spammy practices such as placing your citations on suspiciously spammy online directories. These methods may affect your ranking because Google’s algorithms can penalize your site if they find out about your spammy links. Only submit citations to quality directories with local listings.
Brand building
The primary objective of off-page SEO is to increase brand authority and reputation. To achieve this, you need to be present where your customers are. That means you must communicate with them and provide them with quality services. To do this, you must clearly define your target audience. No one wants to do business with a company with no unique selling proposition, so you must identify the needs of your audience and address them.
Social media is an excellent way to target potential customers. Not only does social media give you an opportunity to engage with them, it also serves as a customer service platform. Many customers turn to social media to find answers to their questions, so it is vital to have a strong social presence and respond professionally. This is also a good way to establish trust with potential customers and respond quickly to negative comments.
Online reviews
Online reviews can play a vital role in the optimization of a website. Google considers them an authority and trustworthiness factor. Moreover, they help in influencing the purchase decisions of future customers. Consequently, you should make use of them to get the most out of your SEO strategy.
A business that has an excellent online reputation can expect higher conversion rates and return buyers. Additionally, positive reviews can also increase a brand’s credibility with search engines. As a matter of fact, 89% of consumers consult online reviews before making a purchase. Therefore, the management of an online reputation is vital to a business’ success.
In order to achieve better SEO, your website should include links to it from other reliable resources. This will help the search engines rank your site higher. Moreover, off-page SEO can also help in building a relationship with search engines and customers. Google considers the quality of the links and quantity of referring domains while ranking a website.
Customer service
Providing good customer service is an essential part of off-page SEO. This is because many users reach out to brands via social media. It’s important to build a strong presence on social media and communicate effectively. One great way to do this is to create discussion forums for your brand. By participating in these forums and posting relevant comments, you can stand out from your competitors and optimize your brand message.