Nowadays, Search Engine Optimization is a fundamental marketing strategy to help your site rank higher and hopefully, on the first page of Google and other search engines. However, with the zillion websites on the online Web, it is more and more difficult to achieve such results. However, even though no one outside Google knows exactly how their algorithm work, there are still some proven techniques that can help you get that so valuable organic traffic and set your Website or e-commerce shop on higher search positions.
In this article, we will review the easiest SEO technique that does not require any complicated technical knowledge and takes little time to implement: Semantic SEO.
Semantic Website Optimization
In a nutshell, semantics is the linguistic study of meaning in language. The way that translates into SEO is by properly categorizing the content of a Website. Search engines like Google as well as Web standards organizations like the W3C have been establishing “correct” guidelines to help make Websites better and generate better search results. One of such guidelines is based on the way we humans write and communicate a message. In other words, content should be written and organized correctly by clearly expressing the importance of specific words, phrases, titles, subtitles, etc.
How Semantics Search Work?
Search engines’ algorithms attempt to produce the most precise results by analyzing the way humans naturally communicate and specifically by understanding:
- The intent of the searcher
- The context of queries
- The relationships between words
To have a better idea of this remember when you used to write essays in university. The good news is that such task is easier for Website content since you only have to understand and apply the following simple guidelines:
- Words in Bold: Use words in bold to indicate that the content has strong importance
- Words in Italics: Use words in italic to mark text that has stress emphasis
Note: Depending on the Website platform this can be easily applied by using simple text formatting tools like on WordPress.
In the case of other Website platforms that only use HTML tags, as opposed to text formatting tools, you can use the following HTML tags to achieve the same results:
Simply, wrap the text inside guillemets (the pointy brackets) like so:
- Bold: <strong> text/sentence </strong>
- Italic: <em> text/sentence </em>
Optimizing Titles & Subtitles
Similarly, if your article or Web page has titles or subtitles you can also set the text in the correct format in order of importance, either via direct selection via editing tools (like in WordPress) or HTML tags like so:
Via Text Editing Tools
- Select the text and click on H1, H2, H3, etc.
HTML5 Semantic Tags
- <h1> text/sentence </h1>
- <h2> text/sentence </h2>
- <h3> text/sentence </h3>
- <h4> text/sentence </h4>
- <h5> text/sentence </h5>
- <h6> text/sentence </h6>
By applying correct semantics and adding keywords to important texts in the Web pages you can help search engines categorize your content properly and increase your global or local page ranking.
Keywords Optimization
In order to better optimize your content, you have to see things from a marketing perspective. Say your Website is about accounting services. In such case you should include keywords related to accounting (e.g.: T2 Tax Returns, etc.) in your titles or subtitles as well as in paragraphs. If you offer a service/product with a specific name or brand, you can write it in italics (eg.: Buy Turbotax Packages) as well as exclamation phrases like “Latest Accounting Software Now Available”.
Another example for text in bold can be when denoting urgency or seriousness like “Before submitting your documents, make sure you have read our Accounting Services Disclaimer.”
Conclusion
Even though SEO semantic techniques are only one part of the whole optimization process, they can be useful at improving your Website’s content and produce good results in little time. They are easy to apply and don’t require complicated technical knowledge. However, don’t overuse them since the objective is to help search engines to understand what you’re trying to communicate in a natural way. The better the architecture and content of your Website is, the more chances it will have to rank higher than similar Websites.
If you find that you still don’t have the time to work on these simple techniques or need extra help with more complex SEO techniques, feel free to contact us and we will help you achieve your goals.
Thanks for reading!
PS: If you want to learn even more about SEO Tactics for Entrepreneurs, we recommend you to check out this online course on Skillshare and get 2 months for free!