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Since google has become a verb to describe the act of researching a solution online, it’s fair to say that Search Engine Optimization – SEO – is in every mouth. Modern marketers follow strict content generation rules and keyword placement guidelines to improve their ranking in search result pages, using a variety of tools to track their performance: Google Analytics, Google Search Console, MOZ, Raven and Ahrefs, to name but a few. Ultimately, there can not be a successful online presence without mastering the primary rules of SEO. However, boosting your ranking scores doesn’t have to be achieved through SEO strategies only. When your online presence hits a plateau, and you can’t move forward, it’s time to think out of the box and deploy creative approaches. It’s important to note that non-SEO methods are the used in addition to an SEO strategy and not as a replacement. You are more likely to achieve positive results by combining both approaches.
#1. Get a better server
There is more than keywords and content to SEO. The reason why more and more Seo agencies need to introduce a web developer to their strategies is that the search engines can track how visitors interact with a specific website. For instance, if a website isn’t prepared to deal with peak time visits, it is likely to experience bounce rates and a drop in conversions. From a search engine’s perspective, it means that the website isn’t appropriate for the visitors; as a result, the ranking drops. Small businesses that can’t afford premium server quality can consider the addition of a cheap VPS, which can be deployed at peak times to avoid lags and error messages. The fastest your website is, the more likely it is to meet visitors’ expectations and appear higher in the search results.
#2. Be the go-to expert in your niche
Are you an expert? As a rule of the thumb, businesses or individuals who can monetize their expertise are more likely to be competitive in the market. Being known in your niche as the person to go to for a specific topic is advantageous. For SEO content writers, expertise means long tail keywords, which lets you target specialist needs and industries where there is less competition. From a branding perspective, an expert is someone who is known in their line of work. And if people know you, they are more likely to talk about you, invite you, and recommend your work.
#3. Use real engagement strategies
It can be difficult to engage in a meaningful conversation on social media platforms. However, there’s one platform that lets you introduce your work and get in touch with millions; it’s Reddit. Reddit offers an AMA approach – ask me anything – that can be planned with the moderators. This gives you the opportunity to describe your business or your specific domain of expertise. But more importantly, you can engage with real users and make the most of your presence. AMAs are popular: They’re likely to attract new visitors to your site.
Thinking outside the box is useful when it comes to SEO. There’s only so much you can do with content generation and keywords. However, you can improve results by boosting your website IT processes, or through an AMA on Reddit, for instance.
Photo credit: Steve Goodman on Reddit AMA
