SEO for Beginners: Position Your Website
Creating a website and seeing it only receive 10 visits a day can be a frustrating experience, especially when you have put so much effort into its design and content. However, it is important to understand that SEO alone does not guarantee success. It is not enough to optimize your page for search engines, but you must use all your social networks and available channels to promote your articles and attract traffic.
Online competition is fierce, and being on the first page of Google is no easy task. Some topics have such high competition that ranking seems like an impossible mission. For example, competing for terms like "Hotels Bogotá" is extremely difficult, as there are hundreds of pages with years of seniority and thousands of articles on the topic. However, positioning a web on "Dinosaur Bones in Acrylic" would probably be much easier, as the competition is much lower. This shows that SEO is a game of strategies, where choosing the right niche can make the difference between success and oblivion.
Optimization of relevant keywords
What are keywords and why are they important?
Keywords are terms or phrases that users type into search engines like Google to find information. If your website uses these keywords appropriately, you have a better chance of appearing in the top search results.
For example, if you sell coffee, instead of focusing only on "buy coffee", you can research more popular phrases like "how to make delicious coffee" or "easy recipes with coffee". These keywords connect you directly with what your users are looking for.
How to find the right keywords
- Think like your customer: Identify what questions, problems or interests your users have. If someone is looking for "the best coffee for Italian coffee makers", write content that directly answers that question.
- Use tools like Google Trends: Analyze trends to find popular terms and their level of competition. Write about topics related to those searches.
- Long-tail keywords: Longer and more specific keywords like "how to make coffee with milk at home" usually have less competition and attract more targeted traffic.
Avoid common mistakes
- Do not abuse keywords: Google penalizes excessive use. Write naturally, incorporating keywords smoothly.
- Do not copy content: Always create original text. Although it may be tempting to copy, Google rewards unique content.
Creation of high-quality and original content
What does high-quality content mean?
It is content that directly answers your users' questions, provides value and keeps them interested. In addition, it must be unique, well-structured and relevant to the topic of your website.
For example, if your page is about coffee, instead of writing "Coffee is delicious", delve into topics like "5 tips to improve the taste of your coffee at home" or "Differences between Arabica and Robusta coffee".
Characteristics of good content
- Originality: Google hates duplicate content. If you need to use images from other sources, edit them before uploading: add text, a logo or some detail that makes them unique.
- Usefulness for the user: Create articles that solve common problems or answer frequent questions. If users find what they are looking for on your page, they will spend more time on it, which will improve your positioning.
- Friendly format: Use titles, subtitles (H1, H2, H3) and short paragraphs. This makes reading easier and improves the user experience.
Improvement of website load speed
Load speed is crucial for SEO and user experience; a slow site makes visitors leave quickly. Optimize images to weigh less, enable file compression, use a fast hosting and minimize unnecessary code. A page that loads in less than 3 seconds has a better chance of retaining users and improving its position in search results.
Implementation of a responsive design for mobile devices
A responsive design ensures that your site adapts perfectly to any device, from mobiles to tablets and computers. This improves the user experience and is essential, as Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites. Use modern templates or frameworks like Bootstrap and regularly check how your page looks on different resolutions to ensure its functionality.
The importance of using Google Webmaster Tools
Google Webmaster Tools, now known as Google Search Console, is an essential tool for any SEO strategy. It allows you to monitor how Google interprets your website, identify technical problems that may affect your positioning and analyze the keywords by which users find your page. In addition, it helps you detect crawling errors, optimize the indexing of your content and measure organic traffic. One of its main advantages is that it alerts you to penalties or security issues, such as malware, so you can solve them immediately. You can also upload a sitemap so that Google understands the structure of your site better and crawls your pages more efficiently. In short, Google Search Console is your direct window to how the most important search engine in the world sees your site, making it an essential tool to improve your online visibility and attract more targeted traffic.
Patience and consistency
Remember that SEO does not produce immediate results. Publishing quality content and maintaining a consistent strategy will take time, but the results will be lasting. Stay focused on what your audience needs, and traffic will come.
