So you have a business and a website, but you’re not getting any traffic. You’ve tried using different ad platforms, but the cost doesn’t outweigh the benefit. So, what’s next?

Many business owners turn to content creation and search engine optimization to get traffic for their websites. This traffic, dubbed organic traffic, comes from search engines like Google and Bing anytime a person clicks on one of the natural listings. To show up in these results, websites have to create content that matches what a person is search for. However, there’s more to it than just creating great content. Below are 5 things you need to do with your website to rank better in search results.

Start a Blog

A blog gives your website a sense of freshness and allows you to build on your existing content. Instead of only having a handful of static pages on your website, you can create new content that covers a time-sensitive topic or is seasonal for your business. Instead of a page like “Services”, you can have blog posts that go into more detail about a particular topic. This also gives search engines a reason to crawl your website and index the new content.

Once you start to develop a blog you’ll begin to refine your website’s overall tone. Be sure to make the content long enough that it answers a visitor’s questions and use images or videos to make it more engaging.

Sign Up for Business Directories

Business directories are a great way for Google to find your website. Directories like Yellow Pages, Yelp, Merchant Circle and the Better Business Bureau are all accessed by Google when trying to find information online. As Google discovers these profiles, they are able to see the category of services your business fits in, your location and key details like website address or phone number. Once Google finds enough of these directory pages with your business’s information, you’ll see more organic traffic come through to your website.

Make Sure Your Site is Secure

Google relies on certain trust factors when ranking a website in its search results. One of the key things Google looks for is a valid SSL certificate, which makes your website show as https. Without a valid SSL certificate attached to your website, there’s a chance Google won’t trust your website and therefore won’t show it in search results. Be sure to find out what your SSL status is through your hosting provider. While most independent web hosting providers will give you an SSL certificate for free, larger organizations like GoDaddy or Host Gator will charge for the certificate.

Have a Great Mobile Experience

In 2022 we know that everyone is accessing the web from their mobile phone. For this reason, it’s imperative that you develop your website (or hire a web development company like Thrive Engine) to be friendly for all screen sizes. You never know whether a person is on a mobile phone or a tablet, but you should create a great experience despite the device. Consider how a mobile visitor will want to use your website and then adjust it accordingly.

Create Relationships with Other Website Owners

Once your site has a blog and is technically sound, you need to build links to it from other websites in your business’s niche. This means developing relationships with other website owners to earn links from them by either placing a link in existing content or providing them with new content. As Google finds the link to your website from another website, it sees you are being referred by another online business and establishes a sense of trust. The more links you earn from quality websites, the better your website will rank in search results.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of things you can do beyond creating good content that will help rank your website in organic search results. If you prefer to hire an outside company or web development firm, simply turn to Google to look for a top-ranking SEO company near you. Be sure to read reviews of any SEO provider you’re interested in working with to make sure they are a good fit.