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Have you ever wondered why certain websites appear at the top of Google searches? The reason for this is something known as SEO ranking. Search Engine Optimisation is known as SEO. It’s a method of improving your website’s search engine ranking so that more people can find it.
Just like anywhere else, a high SEO rating in Nigeria can be a game-changer for your company’s growth. Imagine your website appearing on the first page of search results, attracting more visitors and customers, regardless of your business’s size. This article is here to guide you on understanding SEO ranking and how to improve it, paving the way for your business’s success.
What is SEO ranking?
The position of your website in search engine results, such as Google, is known as its SEO ranking. This ranking is determined by various factors, including the relevance and quality of your website’s content, the number and quality of backlinks, and the technical performance of your website. When you type something into it, Google provides a list of web pages. Your website’s SEO ranking improves with its position on this list. You get seen by everyone initially, much like when you are at the top of the class list.
Having a high SEO ranking is crucial for your business. An increasing number of people are searching for goods and services online in Nigeria. If your website is at the top of search results, more people will visit it, which implies an increase in clients for your company. A strong SEO ranking makes it easier for customers to locate you, which increases business success.
Why do I need to check my SEO ranking?
Understanding your SEO ranking can empower small business owners in Nigeria, whether they operate blogs, e-commerce businesses, or any other type of website. Here are a few reasons why gaining this knowledge is crucial for your business success.
1. Understand how visitors find your website
You can observe where your website shows in search results by checking your SEO ranking. One way to do this is by using Google Search Console, a free tool that provides insights into how your website is performing in Google search. This aids in your comprehension of how simple it is for users to find your website. If your website appears on Google’s top page, more visitors will visit it.
2. Determine what works and what doesn’t
By looking up your SEO ranking, you can determine which pages on your website are doing well and which ones need work. You may have pages that rank highly and pages that don’t. This helps you determine what needs to be changed to increase the number of visitors who can find all of your pages.
3. Increase website traffic
More visitors will see your website in search results if it has a higher SEO ranking. More people visit your website as a result of this. Gaining more visitors can aid in the growth of your blog or business in Nigeria, where many people rely on the internet for information.
4. Improve your content
By examining your SEO ranking, you may learn what keywords and subjects people are interested in. If you find that particular keywords improve the ranking of your pages, you can incorporate related keywords in your other content. Visitors will find your website more relevant and engaging as a result.
5. Keep ahead of your rivals
In Nigeria, a lot of websites are vying for users’ attention. You can determine your SEO ranking by determining how your website stacks up against others. You can study their content and ranking tactics to enhance your website and climb the ranks if they have a higher position.
6. Make better decisions
You may make wiser choices about your website when you know your SEO rating. You can choose what modifications to make, what keywords to utilise, and what content to produce next. This enables you to concentrate on the items that will have the most significant impact.
7. Save time and effort
By monitoring your SEO ranking regularly, you may identify problems early on and address them before they become serious. Long-term, this saves you time and work because you’re continuously maintaining the quality of your website.
8. Adapt to changes
The way that search engines like Google rank web pages is frequently updated. You may keep informed about these changes and make any adjustments to your website by routinely monitoring your search engine rating. This aids in keeping your rating stable or raising it if the rules alter.
Factors that affect SEO ranking
Let’s now discuss the factors that influence your SEO ranking. On-page, off-page, and technological factors are the three primary categories of variables.
1. On-page factors
You have direct control over these on your website. Among them are;
- Content quality: Your website should have engaging and informative content. People will stay on your website longer if they enjoy what they read.
- Keyword optimisation: The terms users enter into search engines are known as keywords. It makes it simpler for people to find your website if you employ the proper keywords in your content.
- Structure of a Website: This refers to the structure of your website. A website with a clear structure is simple, and search engines can quickly locate your content.
2. Off-page factors
These are off-site events that nevertheless have an impact on your ranking. Among them are:
- Backlinks: These are connections to your website made by other websites. Search engines will rank your website higher if it has a lot of high-quality backlinks.
- Social signals: When content is shared on social media, search engines are alerted to its popularity.
- Domain authority: This is comparable to your website’s reputation. Your website has more authority if it contains excellent content and has been online for a while.
3. Technical factors
These are the unseen components that keep your website functioning properly. Among them are:
- Website speed: Your website needs to load rapidly. If it is slow, people will leave, and search engines will rank it lower. To improve your website’s speed, you can start by optimizing your images, minifying your CSS and JavaScript files, and using a content delivery network (CDN) to serve your website’s content from servers located closer to your visitors.
- Mobile friendliness: Many Nigerians access the internet via cell phones. Your website should function smoothly on mobile devices and have a nice look.
- Schema markup: This custom code improves search engines’ interpretation of your content and might enhance how they display your website.
How search engines rank websites
When you search for something, search engines like Google employ a set of rules called algorithms to determine which websites to display first. These algorithms function similarly to intricate formulas, analysing many variables to determine which web pages best fit your search.
Here are three easy steps to follow to make it work:
- Crawl: Spiders or crawlers are robots used by search engines. When these crawlers visit a website, they examine every page and its contents. It resembles sending little robots to browse your webpage.
- Index: Following its crawl, the search engine compiles all the data it discovers into a sizable database. We refer to this as indexing. Imagine a massive library, each website serving as a different book page.
- Rank: The search engine searches its index to identify the most relevant websites in response to your query. It then assigns these websites a ranking according to how well they fit your search. The top of the search results displays the best matches.
Importance of keywords in SEO
When searching for information, keywords are the words and phrases users enter into search engines. For instance, one may search for “best jollof rice recipe” on Google to locate the greatest recipe. Because they aid search engines in understanding the purpose of your website, keywords are crucial to SEO. When someone searches for something specific, using the appropriate keywords will help them find your website more easily.
Process of keyword research
Determining which keywords are optimal for your website is called keyword research. Here’s how to go about it:
- Think about your audience: Consider the terms customers use to find your company or information. For instance, if you have a Nigerian culinary site, readers may look up “Nigerian recipes” or “egusi soup cooking.”
- Create a list: Jot down every term that comes to mind. Mix general phrases (e.g., “Nigerian food”) with more focused ones (e.g., “easy jollof rice recipe”).
- Examine the volume of searches: Look at the volume of searches for these terms. You want to find popular keywords that aren’t too used by other websites.
- Examine your competition: Check out how difficult it is to rank for these terms. It may be difficult for your website to rank highly if many large websites use them.
9 ways to boost your SEO ranking
By implementing these tactics, you can raise your website’s search engine rating and facilitate more Nigerian and global visitors. This can help your business expand and attract more visitors to your website.
Techniques for content optimisation
1. Produce high-quality, relevant content
To climb the search engine ranks, you must produce content that readers will find engaging. This entails writing on subjects your readers are interested in, utilising understandable and straightforward language, and offering correct information. If your content is helpful, people will visit your website more often and stay longer.
2. Optimize on-page components
The sections of your website you have direct control over are called on-page elements. This comprises:
- Title tags: Your website’s title should inform visitors of the page’s main topic and contain relevant keywords.
- Meta-descriptions: Your page’s synopsis appears in search results. Add keywords and make it memorable.
- Headings: Arrange the content using headers (such as H1 and H2). This facilitates users’ and search engines’ understanding of your page.
3. Improve engagement with multimedia content
Including pictures, videos, and infographics in your text helps increase its readability. Engaging images in your content makes people more inclined to stick around and share it. Ensure the multimedia you use adds value and is pertinent to your subject.
4. Secure superior backlinks
Backlinks are connections to your website made by other websites. They are crucial because they convey to search engines the value and trustworthiness of your website. Your website might rank better with more backlinks of a high calibre. Below are some methods for obtaining genuine and organic backlinks;
- Produce content that can be shared: Create content, such as insightful manuals, captivating articles, or eye-catching infographics, that people would like to link to.
- Connect with other websites: Speak with other website owners and request they provide links to your work. Ensure that your content is appropriate for their readership.
- Guest posting: Compose content for other websites and incorporate a backlink pointing to your website. You can obtain more backlinks and reach more audiences by doing this.
- Steer clear of black hat SEO techniques. Black hat SEO techniques involve gaming the system, such as purchasing backlinks or employing hidden text. These actions may result in search engine penalties or a ban on your website. Continuously enhance your SEO by moral and honest means.
Technical search engine improvement
5. Improve your website speed and performance
Users enjoy a better experience on websites that load quickly, which can raise your SEO rating. Your website can load faster if you use faster hosting, compress your photos, and use fewer plugins.
6. Provide a responsive and mobile-friendly design
In Nigeria, many people browse the internet via mobile phones. Every device, including tablets and smartphones, should be able to see and navigate your website easily. Use a responsive design to ensure your website adjusts to various screen sizes. Try your website on various devices and make necessary changes to enhance the mobile user experience.
7. Implement schema markup for rich snippets
A unique code called schema markup is added to your website to improve how search engines interpret its content. This can enhance your website’s appearance in search results by including images or ratings alongside your page.
User experience optimisation
8. Enhance the usability and navigation of websites
Ensure that navigating across your website is simple. Clearly label your menus, arrange your information, and make it simple for users to locate what they’re searching for. A website that is easy to use makes users happy and motivates them to remain longer.
9. Reduce bounce rate and lengthen dwell time
The percentage of visitors to your website who depart after only reading one page is known as the “bounce rate.” How long a visitor stays on your website is called dwell time. Use eye-catching imagery, provide pertinent and exciting information, and make sure your website is simple to use to increase these KPIs.
How to check your SEO ranking
Would you like to discover how your website performs in search engine rankings? Checking your SEO ranking is crucial since it gives you an idea of how simple it is for visitors to reach your website. This is a short guide explaining how to look up your SEO ranking.
1. Make use of Google search
Google is a handy tool for quickly determining your SEO rating. Simply enter your primary keywords into the Google search field to view the location of your website. Experiment with different keywords to see if your website appears on the first page. Remember to use an incognito window or log out of your Google account to obtain unbiased results.
2. Use of internet tools
Checking your SEO rating is made easier with the many tools available online. These are a few well-known ones:
- Google search console: You can see how well your website is doing regarding search results using this free service from Google. It reveals the keywords people use to locate your website and how highly ranked it is for those terms.
- Ubersuggest: This tool displays your website’s position for various keywords. It also helps you generate new keyword ideas and provides competitive analysis.
- SEMrush: This effective tool offers comprehensive data regarding your website’s SEO rating. It provides ranking optimisation advice and displays your rating for different keywords.
- Ahrefs: This tool shows you the backlinks pointing to your website and lets you see where your website ranks. It’s excellent for figuring out how to raise your SEO.
3. Examine the analytics on your website
You can check your SEO ranking if you have Google Analytics configured for your website. Examine the traffic that search engines are bringing to your website. Check out the most popular sites and the keywords bringing in the most traffic. This aids in your comprehension of what functions well.
4. Keep an eye on your keywords
Compile a list of crucial terms associated with your website. Using the above tools, regularly check your website’s ranking for these keywords. This enables you to monitor changes in your rating over time.
5. Set up alerts
To be notified when your ranking changes, you can set up notifications. You can receive updates about your SEO performance via tools like SEMrush or Google Alerts. This way, you may maintain your high rating and react to changes quickly.
Conclusion
Optimising your website for search engines ensures it functions appropriately and draws in more traffic. Knowing where your site stands can help you decide to enhance your content, stay one step ahead of the competition, and eventually expand your business.
Seeking expert assistance can significantly improve your website’s visibility in search results and help you take it to the next level. I can offer you specialised tactics and insights to raise your SEO position and expand your online visibility as a seasoned SEO specialist in Nigeria.
