Get Found, Be Found, stay found
Search Engine Optimisation
SEO Services in Cork
SEO Services for Cork Businesses
Are you a Cork business looking for SEO services alongside website design?
Along with website design Sixmile Design offers Search Engine Optimisation – SEO services. SEO is the art of being found on the search engines, primarily Google. This is a topic clients are very interested in. How do I get to the the top of a Google search?
The answer is there’s no silver bullet but there are startegies that can be done to help the process. Ultimately you’ll want to be found under the keywords and phrases that people enter into search engines, such as Google, to find your website. However SEO is so much more and takes into account how the website is built, external and internal links to the website, whether it’s updated on a continual basis and whether there is successful engagement with the social networks.Â
When your website ranks higher in search results, it attracts more organic traffic, which often translates into more leads, customers, and revenue for you.
93% of all online experiences…
begin with a search engine query
In today’s digital age, having an attractive website isn’t enough to thrive online. Your website must also be easily discoverable by search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo to reach your target audience effectively. This is where the concept of SEO-friendly web design comes into play. Sixmile has worked with many Cork businesses (and beyond) giving ongoing advice on the principles, strategies, and best practices for creating a website, that not only looks visually stunning, but also ranks well on search engine result pages (SERPs).
Now, consider the fact that a staggering 93% of all online experiences begin with a search engine query. This makes optimizing your website for search engines an absolute must. SEO-friendly web design is the foundation upon which successful SEO strategies are built. Designing an SEO-friendly website is not just about appeasing search engine algorithms; it’s about creating a better experience for your users.
93% of all online experiences…
begin with a search
In today’s digital age, having an attractive website isn’t enough to thrive online. Your website must also be easily discoverable by search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo to reach your target audience effectively. This is where the concept of SEO-friendly web design comes into play. Sixmile has worked with countless clients in Cork and beyond giving ongoing advice on the principles, strategies, and best practices for creating a website that not only looks visually stunning but also ranks well on search engine result pages (SERPs).
Now, consider the fact that a staggering 93% of all online experiences begin with a search engine query. This makes optimizing your website for search engines an absolute must. SEO-friendly web design is the foundation upon which successful SEO strategies are built. Designing an SEO-friendly website is not just about appeasing search engine algorithms; it’s about creating a better experience for your users.
Optimisation and Structure
Not only should a website look good (a good looking functional website stands out from the crowd) but but an empahasis should also be on functionality, structure and optimisation as well. Sixmile works with clients on their Search Engine Optimisation practices and advises them on the best SEO and digital marketing practices for them including Social Network engagement. This can be an ever changing horizon but some things remain basically the same. Some of the key priciples and strategies on SEO are briefly oulined below.
Key Priciples of Search Engine Optimisation Web Design
Research, Copywriting & On-Page SEO
- Keyword Research: Research should go into keywords, phrases and written content for the website. Know what you want to be searched under. Text should be created answering questions potential customers would ask.
- Competition Research: One of the first things to be done is research the competition and see what the client needs to do to improve their ranking. Studying the websites and analytics of competitors including keyword usage and general analytical information gives an insight into where the client can take advantage.
- Copywriting: Text provided by the client is usually fleshed out with SEO clearly in mind. Good clear copywriting, with SEO in mind, is vital for a successful website.
- On-Page Optimisation: Crucial to make sure on page optimisation is all in place, meta descriptions, keywords, image alt tags etc. Also crafting user-friendly and descriptive URLs is important. Using hyphens to separate words in URLs, and include target keywords when relevant. Clear, concise URLs make it easier for both users and search engines to understand the page's content.
- Website Updates: Many of the websites Sixmile builds are setup in WordPress content managed system (CMS). WordPress allows for easy website content updates. And in particular I advise on the use of a blog. From a SEO point of view a blog that is continually updated with interesting and relevant information is ideal. Google loves a website that is updated on a continual basis. That's why blogs are so popular these days allowing allowing for interesting articles people want to read.
- Page Speed: Slow-loading websites are penalized by search engines. Optimizing the website's images, while using efficient coding practices, and leveraging browser caching help improve page load times.
- SEO Internal Links: Internal links are hyperlinks that connect different pages within the same website, helping search engines understand the site’s structure. They improve user navigation by guiding visitors to relevant content, enhancing the overall user experience. Internal links distribute page authority (link juice) across a site, boosting the SEO performance of linked pages. Properly structured internal linking helps search engines crawl and index pages more efficiently. Using relevant anchor text and linking to important pages can significantly improve a website's search rankings.
Analytics, Structure & Off-Page SEO
- Paid Advertising: I always prefer organic SEO (the process of affecting the visibility of a website in a search engine's unpaid results) but can advise on and set up paid advertising including Pay Per Click campaigns. This can often be determined by how much competition the website in question has.
- Google Analytics: It's always important to analyse performance and adapt strategy where necessary. Google Analytics is ideal for this givng a wealth of analytical information about the website.
- Off-Site SEO: Updating online directores, making sure the business is listed on Google Business Profile and Google Maps is a must. The site should also be listed in Google Console.
- Ongoing Updating: It’s important for all businesses, large or small, to invest some kind of regular effort into their online marketing strategies boosting their SEO.
- Mobile First Design: It's crucial the website displays well across all platforms, desktop, tablet and in particular mobile, this is Responsive Website Design.
- Website Structure and Hierarchy: A well-structured website is easier to crawl and index by search engines. Organize your content into a logical hierarchy, with a clear path from the homepage to deeper pages. Utilize XML sitemaps to help search engines understand your website's structure..
- User Experience (UX) and SEO: A great user experience is not only vital for your website's visitors but also for search engines. Intuitive navigation, well-organized content, and clear calls-to-action contribute to a positive user experience, which can lead to lower bounce rates (people leaving the site) and higher rankings..
- SEO backlinks: Backlinks are links from one website to another, helping improve a site’s authority and search engine rankings. High-quality backlinks from reputable sites can enhance a website’s visibility in search engine results. Search engines like Google treat backlinks as votes of confidence, which strengthen the credibility and relevance of the content. The value of a backlink increases when it comes from a highly authoritative and relevant website. Strategies to gain backlinks include guest blogging, influencer outreach, and creating content that naturally attracts links.
Search Engine Optimisation in Conclusion
Designing an SEO-friendly website is not merely about satisfying search engine algorithms; it’s about creating an exceptional experience for potential customers with an emphasis on helpful content. By prioritizing mobile-friendliness, page speed, user experience, quality content, website structure, image optimization and utilizing the right tools, your website will not only rank well on search engines but also resonate with your target audience. Resulting in a popular website that answers questions; that customers return to and services they will want to use.
It’s essential to remember that SEO is an ongoing process. Regularly audit your website, stay up-to-date with SEO trends, and adapt your design and content strategies accordingly. By doing so, your website will have a robust foundation for achieving high search engine rankings, attracting organic traffic, and ultimately achieving online success.
