How should you adapt your SEO tactics following Google’s March 2024 core update? Here’s the crucial information you need.
Google’s March 2024 core update has left many small business owners grappling with significant impacts. If your site rankings have dropped and your traffic has decreased, you’re likely feeling the pressure. The decline in your search engine standings can be discouraging, especially when you’re uncertain about the best way forward.
Google emphasises that the path to recovery lies in producing higher-quality content. But what exactly does this entail?
This blog outlines six actionable SEO strategies designed to help you adapt to these changes and ensure your business flourishes throughout 2024.
1. Develop comprehensive, high-value content
It’s well known that high-quality, detailed content is essential for good rankings. However, since Google’s March update, quality has taken on even greater significance. Simply crafting a 2,000-word article won’t suffice anymore.
Here’s how to elevate your content:
- Incorporate data, statistics, and case studies: These elements substantiate your arguments and add credibility.
- Engage with a conversational tone: This keeps your audience interested and makes your content more relatable.
- Enhance readability: Use headings, subheadings, bullet points, and images to break up the text and make it more visually appealing.
- Pre-emptively address common queries: Anticipate what your readers might ask and provide thorough answers.
- Thoroughly cover your topic: Aim to create the most comprehensive resource available.
- Keep your content current: Regularly update your posts to include the latest trends, research, and information in your field.
For instance, if you’re an e-commerce owner writing about “top project management tools for small businesses,” avoid just listing options. Include in-depth reviews, comparisons, screenshots, user feedback, and advice on selecting the best software for specific business needs.
2. Conduct in-depth keyword research
A frequent SEO error is focusing on a few keywords each week and then shifting to new ones the next week.
Instead, adopt a more strategic method. Begin by compiling a list of 200–300 relevant keywords before you start content creation. This extensive list gives you a comprehensive understanding of your niche and highlights which keywords are more attainable.
Focus initially on targeting low-competition keywords, gradually progressing to more challenging ones. This approach enables quicker ranking for easier keywords, driving traffic to your site sooner.
By consistently producing content, you establish your site as an authority within your niche, facilitating the ranking of more competitive keywords in the future.
This strategy helps small businesses achieve higher rankings much earlier than the week-by-week keyword targeting method.
3. Strategically place keywords
Even though keyword density is no longer a direct ranking factor, strategically positioning your keywords throughout your content remains crucial for SEO. The key is to incorporate them naturally in specific areas to indicate relevance to search engines.
Here’s where to use your keywords:
- Introduction: Establish context for both readers and search engines.
- URL: Aid search engines in understanding the topic.
- Title: Boost click-through rates and rankings.
- Body copy: Enhance topical relevance.
- Headers: Organise content and highlight its importance to search engines.
- Meta description: Improve click-through rates.
Moreover, incorporate related keywords to add depth and context to your content. For example, if your main keyword is “best project management software for small businesses,” also include terms like “project tracking tools for small companies” and “small business task management software.”
4. Link internally across your site
Internal linking is an effective SEO service that helps search engines understand your website’s structure and hierarchy. It enhances the user experience, improves navigation, distributes page authority, and boosts the contextual understanding of your site.
Here’s how to effectively interlink your content:
- Search for relevant pages: Use Google search with “site.com [keyword]” to locate all pertinent pages on your site.
- Utilise descriptive anchor text: For instance, use “project tracking tools for small companies” instead of generic terms like “click here.”
- Incorporate links naturally: Integrate them seamlessly within your content.
- Prioritise high-value pages: Focus on linking to pages and articles you want to rank higher.
5. Actively pursue backlinks
Acquiring backlinks is crucial for SEO, as it signals to search engines that your content is credible and valuable. Although backlinks remain vital, recent algorithmic changes emphasise the quality over the quantity of backlinks.
Here are some common strategies to build backlinks:
- Guest posting
- Link insertions
- Unlinked brand mentions
- Creating valuable content
- Networking with bloggers and website owners
- Leveraging social media
6. Incorporate an FAQ section in your blogs
Adding an FAQ section to your articles can help you rank for long-tail keywords your audience is searching for. Use Google’s “People Also Ask” feature or platforms like Reddit and Quora to discover relevant questions.
If your article doesn’t already address these questions, add a dedicated FAQ section at the end. Include the long-tail keyword and provide a detailed answer.
For example, in a blog post about “the best project management software for small businesses,” you might include questions like:
- What are the benefits of project management software for small businesses?
- How much does project management software cost for small businesses?
- What features should small businesses look for in project management software?
Implementing these six strategies can significantly enhance your rankings in 2024, despite the latest algorithm changes. The focus should be on producing top-notch content that genuinely benefits readers and meets their search intent. Additionally, actively engaging in link-building efforts and optimising your SEO content are crucial for achieving optimal results.