March 11, 2013 8.00 am
This story is over 102 months old
5 techniques to improve your SEO and website traffic
Crash course: To key to SEO success is to have a plan of action, and Phil Kelsey shares his experience with five steps you can implement to improve your business website.
Many websites seem to fall short of consistency and focus when it comes to their search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques, regardless of business size and industry. Why should you care about this? A significant proportion of traffic comes to your website through search referrals, most likely from Google, which covers almost 90% of the UK market. So any improvements you will make to your SEO will help your website rank better in search results, bringing more people to your website, all potential customers or people interested in what you do.
The key to SEO success is to have a plan of action, so I’ve put together five steps you can implement for your business website that, if followed consistently, will bring results. I’m also looking to make sure you have a better understanding of the things that you can do in-house to improve the performance of your website.
1. Don’t guess, do your keyword research
To improve your website traffic, you need to help search engines understand what your web pages are relevant for. For this, we use keywords, which are the short string of words (maybe one, two, three words) that a person types into the search box of a search engine. For example, if you look for a web design company you may type “web design Lincoln” into Google, and that phrase is the keyword. By using Google’s free Keyword Tool you can get an idea of what people are searching for within your niche.
Search engines give users two kinds of results: organic, results that most closely match the search query, also known as natural results; and paid results, which usually appear highlighted at the top of the page. Depending on the keyword, around 50% of users click the first organic result of a search, with the rest split between the paid results and other natural results.
You’re looking for the search terms that are less competitive but have respectable search volumes. You don’t have to always target the most popular search terms. It’s about choosing logically and not always gunning for the most popular search terms. I’ve written more about researching keywords on my website.
2. Keep your pages focused
From the research above, you should now have a list of keywords for each page. Now, choose one or two focus keyword(s), but no more than that. Remember, this is all about focus and making it crystal clear to both your reader and search engine what your page is all about.
Once you have your focus keywords identified, log into your content management system admin area and start changing the following areas to increase that relevancy of your page. There are a range of plugins for each content management system, if you use WordPress, then I recommend the SEO Yoast plugin.
Meta page titles: this is the blue title seen in the search engine, keep this less than 65 characters and go for this format [Keyword One, Keyword Two, Brand].
Meta page description: this is the short description seen in the search engine, under the page title. It helps the user decide which listing to click on. Keep these less than 160 characters.
Content headers: Put your keywords within your content headers, and use the Header 1 or H1 style from your text editor options.
Content text: Within your content, make sure you work your keyword in seamlessly. You ideally want to mention the keyword 4 times, so it would be good to include them within 200 words to avoid “stuffing”.
Images: If you’re using images, make sure you give them a clear title and fill in the ALT field. It adds another string to the bow to help the search engine understand what the page and its data are relevant for.
3. Amplify your message
So, you’ve got this great website with all this really useful content – while waiting for the search engines to do their bit, you need it to be seen. You need to proactively draw attention to your site with the aim of getting linked to in order to build its authority and trust to help overall rankings.
You can start by being social. Share your blog posts within all your social networks and engage with those who respond. Also, be proactive and interact with those who are talking about your niche and offer a helping hand by referring them back to the most suitable and helpful content within your website.
Emails and newsletters still have their place – but you have to be clever with your techniques, content and selective about whom you send it to. Think about the message you’re trying to get across, don’t send it to everyone – just those who will benefit from knowing. This way you increase the likeliness of click-troughs as well as sustained subscriber numbers. Using a self-service like Mailchimp you can send some emails for free and then use their reporting tools to measure the success.
4. Encourage visits to your site
If you have something newsworthy, then you could use a press release to draw attention to your business. For example you may have moved or developed new premises, you may have just won an award for your work, or you may be holding a unique event that you want to talk about. Whatever you write about, make sure you have a detailed account of it on your website (normally within your blog). From this, write and send a unique, summarised and snappy overview to carefully targeted bloggers and journalists from within your niche. If they feel it will be of value to their readers, then there’s a good chance they will want to publish it on their sites. There’s certainly a skill to writing and managing a press release, but you can give it a go by using a service like PRWeb.
5. Comment marketing
This can be a great little trick – if you’re consistent with it. Read a few forums that cover topics within your niche (look at UK Business Forums for a start) and then find things that you feel you can contribute to. If you have content published on your site around a specific question already, you can always refer people to it. This technique can also be used within LinkedIn discussion groups. Just don’t be too self promotional and make sure you offer genuine advice.
When marketing your website, the goal is to increase the relevance of each page and then build your site’s trust and authority within your niche. Being consistent and focused with this plan will give a lot of positive signals to the search engines that will help your traffic increase, as well as your background rankings.
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Phil Kelsey is the Managing Director of Spiral Media, a Lincoln-based website and online marketing consultancy. Phil and his creative team create online strategies for their clients by combining their design, development and online marketing skills, which involves search engine optimisation to increase traffic and conversions.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
An ex-RAF serviceman who had online sex chat with someone he thought was a 13-year-old schoolgirl was caught in a police sting operation.
David Walker, 51, chatted with “Sky” even though she told him her age early on in the conversation.
Philip Plant, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court “Sky” was actually a decoy police officer posing as a schoolgirl.
During the chat Walker made comments such as “Have you ever had naughty fun?” and went on to suggest the girl should carry out a sex act, saying he would show her what to do.
As a result of the conversations, which happened in a 24-hour period in February this year, police visited Walker and examined his mobile phone and computer.
Mr Plant said: “His phone had searches for the phrase ‘schoolgirl’.
“The defendant was interviewed and initially denied it but eventually made admissions.”
The court was told Walker had no previous convictions.
Walker, of Elizabeth Avenue, Tattershall Bridge, admitted charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.
He was given a 16-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to complete up to 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was also ordered to pay £425 prosecution costs.
Recorder William Harbage QC placed him on the sex offenders register for 10 years and gave him a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
The Recorder told Walker: “These are serious offences. You have brought shame on yourself, on your wife and on your family.
“You engaged in chat with someone who on the face of it was a young girl of 13. In fact she was a decoy set up by undercover police to lure people who have an interest in sexual chat with children. I’m satisfied that on the material in front of me that you do have an interest in school age girls.”
Sunil Khanna, in mitigation, said Walker served in the RAF for 10 years before suffering a breakdown.
Walker, he said, left the RAF but has since suffered mental health problems.
Mr Khanna said: “It was essentially a conversation over a day. It was thoroughly disgraceful but it was with a decoy.”
There have been nearly a thousand new COVID cases recorded in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday, the highest daily tally so far — as Sajid Javid announces cases could reach 100,000 a day nationally.
Today’s figures mean there have now been more than 130,000 cases across Greater Lincolnshire’s three upper tier authorities, with Wednesday’s figure being 9.3% higher than the 863 cases at the same point last week and 8.91% higher than the Wednesday prior’s 886.
Nationally, a further 49,139 cases have been reported in the UK, meaning there have been eight consecutive days of more than 40,000 cases. A further 179 people have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive test. Coronavirus deaths are up 21.1% in a week nationally.
The latest COVID stats for Lincolnshire are:
965 new cases of coronavirus in Greater Lincolnshire with 713 in Lincolnshire, 112 in North East Lincolnshire and 140 in North Lincolnshire
One death was recorded in the government figures in North East Lincolnshire, but one was removed from Lincolnshire’s figures – this often happens when data is clarified following initial publication.
Hospital data showed one further death at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals Trust
In a press conference, Sajid Javid warned that cases nationally could reach over 100,000 a day in the coming months and hospitalisations were approaching 1,000 a day.
He said that although deaths were “mercifully low” they were still around 100 a day.
“We always knew the winter months would provide the greatest threat to our COVID recovery… we’re starting to see this happening,” he said.
“This virus will be with us for the long term and it remains a threat,” he added.
He also confirmed a new version of the Delta variant, known as AY4.2.
But, warning that booster jabs were important, he added: “While there’s no reason to believe AY4.2 poses a greater threat, the next variant or the one after that might do.”
He said the gap was “narrowing” between the virus and the vaccine, and that the government was going to “redouble our efforts”.
But he added: “We’ve come so far thanks to the efforts of so many. But with winter ahead, we can’t blow it now.”
Health secretary Sajid Javid during Wednesday’s press conference.
However, he said the government would not be bringing in its plan B just yet, but announced two new antiviral drugs would be trialled after the UK’s antivirals taskforce struck deals to purchase more than 730,000 courses of the drugs combined.
They include Molnupiravir, which has undergone clinical trials and shown reduced risk of hospitalisation or death by 50% – and Ritonavir, which is still undergoing clinical trials but is widely used in combination with other treatments for HIV infections.
Both drugs first need to be evaluated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), but if successful will be given to the most vulnerable with COVID.
Elsewhere, he urged people to get the vaccine as soon as possible, including the most vulnerable getting booster jabs and opening up the national booking service to 12-15-year-olds.
The government has faced calls from the NHS Confederation, which represents health service organisations, on Wednesday to implement its Plan B, which includes mandatory face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces.
Matthew Taylor, head of the NHS Confederation told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “the health service is right at the edge”.
They say the rising demands are worrying and that bringing in the rules would avoid a “winter crisis”.
They have been backed by some House of Lords peers, including Labour’s Baroness Thornton, who said: “it’s quite clear those things aren’t working” in response to an urgent question on plan B.
Lincolnshire’s coronavirus cases up to October 20. | Image: GOV.uk
However, Downing Street has said there are no plans to do so.
Instead the latest figures will continue to be monitored while hospital admissions and deaths are still “substantially lower” than they were earlier in the year, a spokesman said.
They added: “The important thing is the fact that our vaccination programme has has been successful in breaking the link between cases and hospitalisations and deaths.
“Our focus remains on ensuring ensuring we get boosters out to those who are eligible.”
Elsewhere today, England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Boston-boy Jonathan Van-Tam has urged youngsters to not believe everything they read on social media, instead asking to trust medical professionals and get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday, October 20
130,273 cases (up 965)
86,386 in Lincolnshire (up 713)
21,410 in North Lincolnshire (up 140)
22,477 in North East Lincolnshire (up 112)
2,379 deaths (no change)
1,738 from Lincolnshire (down one)
328 from North Lincolnshire (up one)
313 from North East Lincolnshire (up one)
of which 1,430 hospital deaths (up one)
876 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
44 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
509 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.
Ten men who were part of two organised crime groups who trafficked high purity cocaine between Lincolnshire and the West Midlands have been jailed for a combined total of over 100 years.
The men distributed an estimated £1.36 million of high purity cocaine.
During warrants executed at properties across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands, specialist search teams seized 2.086kg of uncut cocaine which had a street value of up to £209,000.
The organised crime groups trafficked the Class A drug between Lincolnshire and the West Midlands, with an estimated 17kg of cocaine between January 1, 2019 and January 27, 2020.
The operation was uncovered by detectives and investigators from Lincolnshire Police and the East Midlands Serious Organised Crime Unit (EMSOU).
Officers found evidence of lavish lifestyles with receipts for a staggering £266,225 of goods including luxury clothing still in boxes, which had been purchased at stores in London, Paris, Copenhagen, encrypted mobile phones, and £29,540 of cash. The police raids took place in January 2020.
The investigation also revealed how the organised crime group from Lincolnshire sourced the Class A drugs from a Coventry-based OCG. Couriers made frequent trips to the Coventry area for exchanges to take place. Drug buys also took place in a rural area near Stanton on the Wolds in Nottinghamshire.
Three of those sentenced today – Robert Diaz, Barry Knight, and Stephen Oliver had stood trial at Nottingham Crown Court in August. A further seven men had already pleaded guilty to other charges related to their part in the conspiracy, which also included the production of cannabis.
The jail sentences
Robert Diaz, 42, of Maltkiln Lane, Waddington, Lincoln was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison
Barry Knight, 60, of Nuneaton Road, Bulkington, Bedworth, Warwickshire. He was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison
Stephen Oliver, 44, of Windsor Street, Rugby, Warwickshire. He was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of producing cannabis between June 1, 2019 and January 16, 2020. He was jailed for eight years plus a concurrent sentence of 21 months for production of cannabis
Edward Wivell, 41, of North Parade, Lincoln. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine. He was jailed for six years and four months
Andrew Turner, 40, of Holmcroft, Coventry, West Midlands. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine, one count of producing Class B drugs, namely cannabis, and one RIPA offence. He was jailed for eight years and eight months, plus a concurrent sentence of eight months for cannabis production and four months for failing to provide a passcode
Joseph McCluskey, 43, of Parkfield Road, Keresley End, Coventry, West Midlands has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine. He was sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison
Jon Moreton, 50, of Torbay Road, Coventry, West Midlands. He has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine. He was jailed for 10 years and nine months
Stuart Bassett-Hawcock, 34, of Oaklands Close, Lincoln. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely, cocaine. He was jailed for eight years
Jack Constable, 34, of Foxhall Road, Nottingham. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine. He was jailed for eight years
Michael Kershaw, 41, of Florian Way, Coventry, West Midlands. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine. He was jailed for seven years and six months
There will now be Proceeds of Crimes Act (POCA) proceedings against the offenders to recover assets amassed through their criminal activity.
Kerrin Wilson, Assistant Chief Constable at Lincolnshire Police, said: “This was a complex drugs operation, and today’s result shows the tenacity and dedication of all the investigative teams from both Lincolnshire Police and EMSOU.
“We are determined to tackle the scourge of drugs which blights the lives of many across society, and thanks to the hard work of the investigation team, organised crime gangs which push these drugs have been dealt a swift and powerful blow to their operations.
“Organised criminals prey on users, and their activities can bring with them wider issues of violence and exploitation that goes with drug traffickers. We are pleased to see such a good result today, but we are not complacent; we will continue to work hard to safeguard our communities and protect the vulnerable.”
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