Sound SEO practices can draw visitors to your website organically (meaning other than through paid ads). Or poor practices can get your site ignored by search engines and would-be visitors who don’t click to your page. Assuming you prefer the former to the latter, here are a few practices to avoid:
Limited keyword imagination – Don’t focus on just a few contractor-related terms, but expand your site vocabulary to include phrases that your customers are likely to use. Long-tail keywords are descriptive phrases that are more like the questions people naturally ask rather than a list of services you provide. For example, in addition to “plumbing repair,” consider variations homeowners may enter in a search engine: unclog a drain, toilet won’t stop running, faucet is dripping, replace a shower head, bathroom remodel, disposal won’t run, etc.
Not tracking performance – How do you know if your SEO strategies are working for you? As you check your analytics, pay attention to organic search traffic growth. After all, what you want from SEO is more visitors. Establishing an SEO goal as part of your strategy will help you know what you want to measure or where you need to adjust.
Overlooking user experience – You don’t develop a website for yourself. You build it to attract prospects, convert leads and serve your customers. If your site visitors get frustrated or can’t find what they need, they jump off quickly – and don’t come back. Make sure your website is designed with the end user in mind, including clear navigation, compelling copy, easy-to-find contact information, social proof and risk reducers. Beyond that, also make sure the site loads quickly and is a responsive design that can be viewed on any size device. Plus keep annoying popups limited; they often work better when they don’t display immediately but after a visitor has been on the site for a set time.