Boost Your Site's SEO: Proven Strategies for Higher Rankings

@fredoyetayo|April 26, 2022 (3y ago)1,255 views

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the backbone of any website that wants to be found. Over the last 15 years, I've built more than 150 websites and web apps, including 100+ CMS sites on WordPress, Drupal, HubSpot, and Magento. I've seen how a solid SEO plan turns a site from invisible to unmissable.

If you want your website to rank on Google and drive real traffic, here are the key areas you need to focus on.

1. Keyword Research and User Intent

Good SEO starts before you write a single line of code or content.

• Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest to find popular search terms in your niche.
• Look for long-tail keywords. They usually have lower competition and higher conversion rates.
• Group your keywords by intent:
  • Informational (e.g. "what is SEO")
  • Navigational (e.g. "WordPress SEO plugin")
  • Transactional (e.g. "buy SEO services")

When you understand what people are really searching for, you can plan pages that match those needs.

2. On-Page SEO Optimisation

Every page on your site should be optimised for a clear keyword cluster.

• Title tags: Include your main keyword and keep it under 60 characters.
• Meta descriptions: Use 150–160 characters to describe the page and encourage clicks.
• Headings (H1–H3): Structure your content and include your keywords naturally.
• URL slugs: Keep them short and readable (e.g. /seo-best-practices).
• Image alt text: Describe your images for both users and search engines.

A clean structure makes your content easier to read and helps search engines understand it better.

3. Technical SEO and Website Performance

Search engines reward websites that are fast, mobile-friendly, and easy to crawl.

• Page speed: Compress images, enable lazy loading, and minify assets.
• Mobile responsiveness: Make sure your site looks and works great on all screen sizes.
• XML sitemaps: Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console.
• robots.txt: Control what search engines crawl and index.
• Schema markup: Add structured data for things like products, reviews, and FAQs.

When your site performs well technically, it becomes easier for search engines to rank it—and users are more likely to stay.

4. High-Quality Content and UX

Content still wins. Google ranks pages that give users value.

• Write for humans first. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and helpful subheadings.
• Go deep. Longer content often performs better, especially if it answers questions thoroughly.
• Update older pages. Keep your content fresh and relevant.
• Use internal links to guide users to related content and boost page authority.

Also, make sure your site is easy to use. Clean navigation and good UX keep visitors engaged.

5. Link Building and Domain Authority

Backlinks remain one of Google's strongest ranking signals.

• Guest post on trusted sites in your niche.
• List your site in relevant directories or industry resources.
• Find broken links on other sites and offer your content as a replacement.
• Build relationships. Collaborate with influencers or partner with creators in your space.

Every quality backlink boosts your site's authority and visibility.

Keep Improving with Data

SEO is not a one-time task. It's ongoing.

Use Google Analytics and Search Console to monitor your rankings, see what users are doing, and spot pages that need work. Keep testing different content ideas, update your top-performing pages, and find new keywords to target.

I've seen how the right SEO practices can transform websites and I believe that if you follow these steps consistently, your site won't just rank—it'll thrive.