SEO can be a challenge.
Especially if you’re not sure where to start.
But, if you want to stand out from the other billion or so websites on the internet, it’s important to get your SEO right.
With your website, there are things you can do both on and off each of your web pages to optimize your search rankings. You might be familiar with many of the on page techniques, but off page SEO is often just as important.
If you’re trying to improve your rankings, keep reading for a look at the ultimate off page SEO checklist.
Why Off Page SEO Matters
When you think about SEO, a few things probably come to mind:
- Keywords
- Content
- Proper formatting and tagging
There’s more to it than that, but those are a few of the things that need attention if you want to improve on page SEO.
But there’s another side to search optimization: off page SEO.
Off page SEO includes all of the little things you do outside your website that affects your rankings. In some cases, off page search optimization is just as important, if not more so, than on page SEO.
Off page SEO is, essentially, how your brand is viewed by others and the degree of visibility you have across the web and other channels. It can include anything from backlinks to your customer service reputation, to social media activity.
Improving your image of the page can improve your brand’s image and awareness, making potential visitors more familiar with your organization.
Links are Still King
One of the most important things you can do for your SEO is to start building a robust catalog of backlinks.
Links to your website from others are a key ranking factor with Google and other search engines. But backlinks have an important effect on off page SEO too.
The great thing about getting backlinks through guest posting or other types of mentions is that they help build awareness of your brand and give you credibility in your space.
If you’re not building links, it’s time to get started.
Build a Network
Another great way to improve off page SEO is by networking with other players in your industry.
Much like link building, creating a network can help you gain recognition and authority in your industry. Building a network and being visible can help set you up as a recognized player in your space.
Tap Into Social Media
Though social media doesn’t have an immediate, direct effect on SEO, it does have some very positive long-term benefits.
The personal nature of social media makes it a prime place to directly connect with your audience, establishing relationships that are tough to build through a website or other means.
Being present on social media also lets people know you’re there and you know what you’re talking about. And, the more familiar people are with your product or service, the more likely they are to look you up when they have a need you can meet.
Be Present on the Web
Think about some of the biggest brands out there … Coca-cola, Nike, McDonald’s … what do they all have in common?
Everyone knows who they are.
While you probably don’t have the budget to run Super Bowl ads and show up just about anywhere your customers might appear, you can be present and visible on the web with relatively little investment.
Forums like Reddit and information hubs like Quora are great places to connect with potential customers and establish yourself as a known player with quality products and services.
Customer Service
You don’t have to look far to see how disastrous poor customer service can be for a company.
Unfortunately, organizations with great customer service don’t seem to make the news quite as often, but their customers sure know who they are. Seven out of ten consumers are actually more likely to spend more money with a company that has good customer service.
Customers that have a good experience also tend to share their experience, getting the word out about your brand and raising awareness of how great your service is.
Tap Into Other Content Types
While words are the backbone of the internet and a vital component to SEO, they’re not the only form of content out there.
Video and images are an increasingly important part of the content on the web. Video of all types has exploded in popularity over the past few years.
Tapping into the popularity of video on popular platforms like YouTube and Facebook is an excellent way to raise awareness of your brand and drive traffic back to your site.
If you’re just getting started, don’t over complicate it, creating video content is easier than you think.
Cultivate a Great Brand Image
Your brand’s image is vital to your success with SEO, both on and off the page.
The more customers who know and trust your brand, the more business you’re likely to attract. The fact is, most consumers are much more likely to do business with companies they know and trust.
The same goes for being found and recognized online. The more familiar potential customers are with your name, the more likely they’ll be to navigate to your site.
Your Off Page SEO Checklist
SEO takes time and effort. Success doesn’t come overnight.
Whether you’re trying to optimize on page elements or off the page factors, it’s important to put in the work and be consistent.
This off page SEO checklist is a good place to start, but there are many more factors that may give your rankings a boost too. Don’t be afraid to get creative, experiment and start your own checklist.
Check out the rest of the blog for more tips and tricks on SEO both on and off the page.
