Introduction to SEO for Startups

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) improves a website’s visibility in organic (non-paid) search engine results. For startups and small businesses, investing time and resources into SEO can be hugely beneficial for establishing brand awareness and driving traffic to your website.

Implementing SEO best practices provides the following advantages:

• Increased website traffic – By ranking higher in search engines for relevant keywords, more people will find and visit your website organically. More traffic means more leads and customers.
• Brand awareness – Appearing on the first page of Google establishes credibility and trust with potential customers. This can help a new business stand out from the competition.
• Cost-effective marketing – SEO helps businesses generate traffic without relying solely on expensive paid ads. The costs are mostly related to the time invested.
• Long-term results – Whereas paid ads stop showing when you stop paying, SEO results can last for months and years if the practices are adequately maintained.

Critical Factors for Startup SEO Success

As a startup, focus on these core areas of SEO to kickstart your efforts:

• On-page optimisation
• Content creation
• Link building
• Local SEO
• Mobile optimisation

Thoroughly optimising these factors forms the foundation. As your business grows, you can expand into more advanced tactics.

On-Page Optimisation

On-page SEO refers to optimising individual web pages to improve search engine rankings. This includes optimising the content, HTML tags/markup, site architecture, speed, and technical site health.

Some best practices include:

1. Optimise Page Titles

The page title is displayed as the clickable headline for your listing in search results. It should:

• Accurately describe the page content
• Include your most important keyword(s)
• Be less than 70 characters

2. Craft Meta Descriptions

The meta description provides a summary of the page. Make sure descriptions:

• Provide value and entice clicks
• Include keywords naturally
• Are unique across pages
• Are less than 156 characters

3. Use Header Tags Properly

Break up text content with proper heading tags (H1, H2, H3). This outlines the structure and improves readability.

4. Optimize Images

All images should have descriptive and keyword-rich alt text and title attributes. This helps search engines understand the image content.

5. Improve Site Speed

Faster sites lead to better user experience and higher rankings. Test site speed and optimise pages to load as quickly as possible.

Content Creation

Creating high-quality, valuable content should be central to any SEO strategy. Valuable content drives organic traffic, leads, and conversions.

Tips for Optimising Content:

• Research keywords and topics that are relevant to your target audience
• Ensure content focuses on helping the reader by answering questions and providing solutions
• Include keywords naturally throughout content
• Create different types of content – blog posts, videos, infographics, etc.
• Promote your content through social media, email newsletters, and other channels

Startups can establish thought leadership and credibility by providing content that aligns with search intent. Focus on addressing consumer challenges and providing meaningful value rather than overly promoting your business.

Link Building

Link building involves acquiring reputable websites to link back to your own. Links signal trust and authority to search engines.

Relevant link-building tactics for startups include:

• Guest posting – Write and publish articles on industry websites, linking to your site. Prioritise quality over quantity.
• Influencer outreach – Contact leaders in your space to see if they would be interested in featuring or linking to some of your content. Offer to reciprocate.
• Broken link building – Find broken links on high authority sites pointing to outdated or removed content. Offer to create replacement content they can link to instead.

Building a diverse portfolio of reputable backlinks over time strengthens domain authority and boosts rankings substantially.

Local SEO

Optimising for local SEO is crucial for startups selling to a local customer base. This means optimising your online presence to attract nearby customers searching for products or services in your geographic area.

Key local SEO factors include:

• Google My Business Listing – Create and optimise a complete GMB listing with your critical business info. This makes you visible in Google’s local pack.
• Local keywords – Include your city, region, etc., in page titles, content, and metadata. This signals relevance for local searches.
• Reviews – Generate positive online reviews on platforms like Google, Facebook, and industry sites. These build trust and social proof.

Implementing location-based SEO best practices helps startups stand out to nearby searchers and drive in-store traffic.

Reach out to us if you want help with your SEO