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Is it possible to do SEO yourself?
SEO (search engine optimization) is often considered an enigma reserved for tech gurus or high-priced SEO agencies.
But believe me when I say anyone can learn and implement SEO) strategies to optimize their website and rank higher in search engines!
Understanding the basics of SEO is absolutely within the grasp of anyone willing to invest the time and effort. All without the help of an SEO expert!
So, how can you do your own SEO? Keep reading to find out.
Read more: My Top Recommended Tools For Small Business.
Quick Summary
- Anyone can easily do their own SEO using SEO tools and strategies, but it requires time and effort.
- My favorite SEO tools include Keywords Everywhere, SEMrush, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console.
- While SEO is entirely doable on your own, it’s a long-term game. So be patient, don’t give up, and continue to educate yourself.
Can You Do Your Own SEO?
In a digital world dominated by search engines, the term ‘SEO’ comes hand in hand with online success.
Every business owner dreams of ranking higher on search engine results pages (SERPs), driving organic traffic, and boosting online visibility for their brand.
And I promise that with time and the right tools by your side, anyone can make those dreams a reality!
Get ready to learn how to master SEO on your own and take your online brand to the next level.
Read more: Is Google Sites Good For SEO?
What Is SEO?
Before we dive into specifics, what is SEO, and why is it important?
SEO essentially helps improve your website’s visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).
It involves various strategies, techniques, and optimizations to increase organic (non-paid) traffic from search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
SEO aims to optimize your website’s content, structure, and overall user experience to align with search engine algorithms.
Key elements of SEO include keyword research, on-page optimization, technical SEO, and link building.
Basically, effective SEO can increase online visibility and website traffic, leading to more bookings, calls, sales, and overall online success!
Read more: How To Add Your Business To Google Maps.
SEO Tools And Strategies
In order to achieve successful DIY (do-it-yourself) SEO strategies, you’ll need to enlist some help.
Luckily, many free and paid SEO tools are available to assist with keyword research, competitive research, rank tracking, website audits, and other SEO elements.
Keyword Research
Keyword research is the process of identifying and analyzing specific words and phrases that users type into search engines.
By identifying which keywords people are searching for, you can optimize your website’s content and structure to match those search queries.
But the good news is that you don’t have to do this alone! There are many free and paid tools to help you with keyword research.
I suggest using Google’s free keyword research tool, Keyword Planner, to help you find relevant keywords in your niche and crucial keyword data like:
- Search volume.
- Keyword competitives.
- Keyword ranking difficulty, and more.
Another free tool is Ubersuggest, designed by Neil Patel.
Ubersuggest can help with keyword trends, suggestions, volume, and other keyword metrics.
My favorite paid tools are Keywords Everywhere and SEMrush.
I use Keywords Everywhere to find new keywords and then SEMrush to dive deep into keyword and marketing research.
By conducting comprehensive keyword research, you can improve your website’s visibility and increase the chances of your website appearing higher in search engine rankings.
Read more: 3 Best Keyword Research Services.
Measure Website Performance
Google is the largest search engine in the world. Therefore, using Google’s SEO tools can help measure the performance of your website’s traffic, engagement, and visibility.
I recommend using two important analytical tools for your website or app: Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
Google Analytics is a comprehensive analytics platform that tracks website activity, including visitor analytics, user behavior, and more.
Google Search Console helps you understand your website’s organic performance on Google Search by identifying the keyword search terms visitors use to find your pages.
This tool is vital for measuring your website’s performance and optimizing your pages for target keywords!
Read more: How To Install Google Analytics on WordPress.
Internal Linking
Enhancing the internal links within your site is an effective strategy to enhance website crawling, user journeys, and rankings.
You should add at least three to five internal links (links to other areas of your website) in every piece of content with a descriptive anchor text.
However! Don’t just place these links anywhere. Make sure they make sense within your content.
By adding internal links, Google will understand how your website works and rank it higher.
Read more: How To Use ChatGPT For SEO.
Backlinks
Backlinks are external links placed on your website. Generally, websites with a larger range of high-quality backlinks are ranked higher on Google.
Backlinks are critical to SEO because they signal to search engines that other websites consider your content valuable and relevant, increasing your site’s authority and credibility.
Backlinks also help search engines discover new pages and content on your website, leading to better crawling and indexing.
They can also help drive traffic to your website!
Some backlink strategies include email or social media outreach for backlinks or guest posting in exchange for a link back to your site.
Additionally, you can use backlink research tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs for backlink analysis research.
Without backlinks, a website’s chances of ranking for relevant keywords are significantly reduced, making them vital to SEO strategies.
Read my comprehensive SEMrush review article here.
Competitor Analysis
Keeping an eye on your competitors is another essential part of SEO.
There are a few ways you can do this for free, such as Googling businesses similar to yours and researching their special media profiles and websites.
Once you have a list of companies, simply analyze their SEO and online presence and do it better!
Additionally, you can leverage in-depth competitor analysis tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz.
Some of the things you can examine are your competitors:
- Top pages.
- Keyword rankings.
- Content volume.
- Backlink profiles.
The point of competitor analysis is to gauge their local SEO strength and then compare them with your own SEO performance.
This analysis will help you identify areas where you can surpass your competition!
Read more: SEMrush vs SpyFu (add when live)
Optimize Your Content
It’s important you continuously update and optimize your old website content with relevant keywords, as well as consistently publish new and exciting content for users.
Additionally, ensure your content is easy to read, original, includes a variety of text, images, and videos, and is structured correctly.
Remember, content is king!
Crafting valuable, engaging, optimized, and up-to-date content is crucial to SEO.
Read more: How To Use SEMrush For Free.
Is It Difficult to Do SEO On Your Own?
The answer is – it depends.
As you can see, there are quite a few elements to SEO (I’ve just covered the basics!)
If you have a busy schedule or manage a large website with multiple responsibilities, implementing effective SEO strategies can be challenging due to time constraints.
On the other hand, if you have a smaller website and more time, it’s easier to learn and handle the various aspects of SEO.
When Should You Hire An SEO Expert?
If you’re not seeing results or simply don’t have the time, I’d advise hiring an SEO expert to help you.
However, remember that these services can be expensive, so it depends on your budget.
Read more: How To Use Yoast SEO.
My Final Thoughts
So, is it possible to do your own SEO? Absolutely!
SEO is a long-term game, so be prepared to invest in SEO for at least six months before expecting to see any results.
And if you decide to do SEO yourself, it’s important to continuously learn as the digital world evolves.
Listen to podcasts, watch YouTube videos, and read blogs to grow your SEO knowledge.
With the right knowledge and tools by your side, your journey toward SEO excellence starts now!
