About 60% of marketers say SEO and blogging are their top sources of high-quality leads. With search engine optimization, more people will find your business online. Developing an effective SEO marketing strategy can take time and industry-specific knowledge, though.
Freelancers everywhere are hustling to make sure their work stands out in the increasingly competitive digital landscape. The best way to rise to the top and stay there, however, is by leveraging effective SEO practices.
Read on to discover the best practices you need to apply to your content writing for optimization today.
Keyword research involves researching words and phrases related to their freelance services. You'll need to determine how they're being searched in order to better optimize your website content for organic searches.
Use tools like:
These tools can help you build a list of primary keywords. You'll use your keyword research to inform your content writing. Write your content with a keyword in mind.
For each primary keyword you select, choose secondary keywords to sprinkle throughout your content.
By researching how potential clients are searching for services, you can optimize the content on your website with those words and phrases in order to drive more organic traffic and leads. Additionally, understanding the trends in SEO and what automated tools are available to help make research easier. This will ensure you stay ahead of the competition.
Keyword research should be a central part of any freelancer's SEO strategy.
It's also important to understand the search engine user's intent. Their intent can help you create content with the reader's needs in mind.
To better understand the user's search intent, define your target audience. Determine what problems your clients are facing and how your freelance services can provide a solution. Focus on longer phrases (longtail keywords), which are more precise.
Creating high-quality content is a crucial aspect of SEO. It affects your website's visibility, bounce rate, and authority, among other aspects.
Quality content engages the reader and encourages them to stay on your website. Moreover, it represents who you are as a professional, conveys your values, and showcases your skills. There are several things to consider when creating high-quality content.
You can:
Prioritize quality over quantity by offering readers personalized content. Personalization will help you forge stronger connections with your readers.
Include internal and external links within your content. Internal links will send readers to other pages on your website. External links will reference other websites to boost your brand's credibility.
End each blog post with a strong, compelling call to action to generate more leads. Use content writing to convince clients to trust your freelancing services.
The average American now has over seven social media accounts. Over 90% of marketers say social media marketing offers more exposure.
An improved social media strategy is a critical connection between freelancers and their clients. Social media can enable communication, growth in brand awareness, and promotion of products and services.
The issue is that social media platforms are highly contested spaces with ever-changing algorithms and user behaviors, conforming to users’ requirements and interests. Due to the density of content on social media, freelancers must identify the best social media platform in which to promote their services.
When developing your social media promotion strategy:
Review the data from your posts to make informed changes to your strategy over time.
Website speed and perfect navigation have become essential metrics influencing user interaction on any website. Having a well-structured website that loads fast and is easy to navigate influences user engagement. If your website offers a negative user experience, it could hurt your rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs).
With increasing internet speeds and shorter attention spans, users are no longer willing to work with underperforming sites that do not meet their expected standards.
Follow Google's Core Web Vitals to improve the user experience on your website. Otherwise, make sure it's:
Run your website through Google's PageSpeed Insights and Mobile-Friendly Test to confirm optimization.
When searching for freelance services, potential clients often approach freelancers using a search engine such as Google or Bing. Optimizing your website for each search engine algorithm is essential. Title tags, meta descriptions, and alt tags remain fundamental.
Make sure each page and post on your website is optimized with a primary keyword. The primary keyword should appear in the:
Page structure should be clear, concise, and add value-specific to search terms. Provide details such as type, location, and language to make an excellent first impression.
SEO best practices for freelancers in 2023 are evolving every day. Keep up with the latest trends and stay informed on the best ways to optimize a website. With SEO, you can gain more visibility for your business to start generating more conversions.
Take action today and start implementing an SEO strategy that's best for you and your business.
Want to learn more about marketing online? Explore our guide to digital marketing.
