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SEO Agency Australia
Partner with a team of SEO professionals that take the time to understand your business, your market, and your unique business goals.
Safari Digital SEO Agency is a progressive digital marketing agency delivering exceptional search engine optimisation results in Australia. Since 2018, we have been focussing exclusively on delivering the best SEO. We don’t do Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or any other digital marketing services. We spend 100% of our time focussing on delivering cutting-edge SEO solutions that will leave your competition scratching their heads.
The SEO landscape in Australia is overcrowded. Big agencies claiming to be ‘gurus’ and ‘experts’ are spending more time on sales than SEO. At Safari Digital, we are a little different. There’s no smooth talking salesmen or account managers here. We are staffed by SEO professionals that talk the talk and walk the walk. As a business, will never take on a client that we do not believe that we can help; it’s just that simple.
Just like Google’s search engine ranking algorithm, our approach to SEO is always changing and evolving. Our SEO techniques have been refined over the years to suit the evolving requirements effective search engine optimisation. As a dedicated team of SEO professionals, it’s our job to understand how Google understands and ranks content. We are constantly learning and evolving to ensure we are delivering SEO in Australia that drives results.
At Safari, your SEO campaign is tailored towards one thing; Return on Investment (ROI). Generating organic website traffic is one thing, cultivating leads, enquiries, and conversions is another. Each digital marketing decision that we make is about maximising your ROI. We’re not interested in getting you to the first page Google for irrelevant keywords just to fill a quota. We focus on the keywords and key phrases that are going to drive your business forward.
Establish Goals
From where you are now, to where you want to be. We set ambitious, attainable goals for traffic, growth and ROI.
Partner with Experts
We don’t outsource anything. We’re a small, but-powerful team that will keep you in the loop every step of the way.
Get Results
Our success is your success. We measure the effectiveness of your SEO campaign based on traffic, leads, sales & growth.
Who is A Good Candidate for SEO Services?
SEO Services are suitable for any businesses looking to increase the quantity and quality of leads they receive through search engines. If you have a product or service you are looking to sell, SEO professionals can develop strategies that enable you to reach your target market more efficiently.
Almost every business can benefit from working with an SEO specialist. However, a certain number of industries are likely to see extreme growth by partnering with SEO specialists. Some industries with the highest potential for organic growth include professional service providers, home repairs tradespeople, medical services, e-commerce companies, and multi-location businesses.
Safari Digital SEO professionals will work with your Australian business to understand how your target audience is using organic search. Once we know how your target market behaves, we can put together a strategy to optimise the off-site and on-site SEO factors that matter most to search engines.
If your target market uses search engines to find the products or services you sell, your business can benefit from SEO.
SEO – What the Numbers Tell Us
Search engine optimisation services in Australia are in high demand. The latest insights from the SEO tool Semrush reveals that 2,900 individuals and businesses across Australia search for SEO Agency in Google each month. On top of that, a further 2,400 search for SEO Services and another 1,600 search for SEO Company. Over the last year, the number of searches for SEO related services in Australia has increased by more than 17%.
Utilising valuable market insights and third-party data, Safari Digital was able to identify that this was an important search term that we need to rank #1 on Google for in order to connect with local companies searching for a SEO marketing in Australia. We use the same data, tools, and market insights to understand how your target market is using Google (and other search engines) to find your goods or services online. By understanding how your target market is using organic search, we are able to reverse engineer a strategy that ensures your business appears at the top of the search results for valuable, relevant search terms.
Our Thought Leadership Has Been Featured Globally
The Safari SEO Company Difference
Safari Digital is an Australian search engine optimisation agency utilising performance data, market analytics, and years of experience to make informed decisions for your business. Our SEO services are tailored towards the unique requirements of each medium or small business that we work with. There is no cut and paste template and there is no shortcuts – we do the work that deliver substantial SEO results over a sustained period of time.
Our specialised team of SEO consultants understand the intricacies of the of getting to page one of google. We have a small, tight-knit team of SEO professionals that specialise in On-Site SEO, Off-Site SEO, Technical SEO, and Content. Our segmented approach to SEO means that our digital marketing and SEO agency specialists are able to master a single aspect of the SEO process for real lead generation.
Working with Safari Digital means partnering with a transparent, reliable, and trustworthy team of SEO professionals. Unlike other SEO companies in Australia, we won’t handball you between account managers and you’ll never feel like another number on the books. We put your business at the forefront of each decision that we make. From on-site implementation, to off-site SEO strategy, every decision that we make is designed to help your business grow.
Our Approach to SEO in Australia
3 Things to Look For in an SEO Provider
Looking for the Best SEO Australia has to offer? You’ll want to do your homework first! As of 2023, there are more than 1,000 digital marketing agencies in Australia. Of those, there are a very small handful that actually know how to make Google work for your business. Before you lay down your hard-earned cash, here are three essential qualities that you need to keep an eye on when choosing your SEO management partner.
1. They Walk the Walk – and Rank on Page 1
An SEO company that uses social media or paid advertising to sell their services – sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? When researching SEO companies in Australia, you’ll want to make sure that they practice what they preach and rank on page 1 of Google themselves.
Does their website appear at the top of local search results for keywords like SEO Sydney or SEO Brisbane? If not, there’s a good chance that they won’t be able to make the needle move for your business. SEO is good like that. There is no pretending and there is no faking. If a company claims to be the best SEO in Australia – they better be able to back it up with some impressive rankings.
It should go without saying, but if a company is using Facebook Ads or Google Ads to sell search engine optimisation services, then something is wrong. Selling SEO using paid social media is an oxymoron and any company that uses paid ads to sell SEO should be treated with a fair amount of wariness.
2. They Provide Result Timelines and Estimates
There are no such thing as guaranteed SEO results. In fact, Google explicitly warns against SEO companies that promise to get you on page one. At the end of the day, the search engines will be the ones that determine where your website ranks and how much organic traffic you receive. An SEO Agency is responsible for curating the on-site and off-site elements that help a website to rank. As much as they may say otherwise, your SEO provider cannot promise results.
At Safari Digital, we have been doing this long enough to be able to provide a realistic timeline on when you will see results. Key metrics such as website age, domain rating, domain authority, website traffic, and backlink profiles are enough data to provide a realistic timeline of results.
3. They Have Social Proof from Happy Clients
Just like SEO results, social proof is something you can’t fake. Well, with the exception of those SEO agencies with 400+ reviews that seem to receive a timely influx of 5-star ratings from new profiles in the wake of a 1-star review. Take a look at the agencies with 300+ reviews and the timeline of reviews and you’ll quickly see what we are talking about.
At Safari Digital, we have real social proof from some of our happy clients in the form of more than 20+ five-star Google reviews. It may not be the 400+ of some of our suspiciously popular competitors, but they are from real, satisfied customers that love what we do.
SEO Success Stories
Consistent, time-tested SEO strategies that deliver revenue-generating results
IT Company
Roofing Client
HAZMAT Client
Bricks and Mortar Furniture Client
Physiotherapy Clinic Client
Online Homewares E-Comm
SEO Agency Frequently Asked Questions
Does SEO Really Work?
Yes, SEO really does work. In fact, it is the driving force behind many of the country’s top companies.
When done correctly, SEO is an incredibly effective way to drive qualified, high-intent traffic to your website. In fact, 84% of businesses that invest in SEO services saw a long-term improvement in their organic traffic.
SEO has the power to increase brand awareness and drive qualified, lucrative organic search traffic to your website. Search engine optimisation is about understanding what your target market is searching for when looking to purchase your goods or services online and using that intel to reverse-engineer a strategy that puts your website in front of them. Our digital marketing SEO professionals will take the time to look at your industry and your competitors to understand your SEO potential.
In short, If your target market is using Google to find the goods or services that you offer, then our team can put you on their radar.
Is SEO Worth It?
When done correctly, yes!
When you choose a top SEO Agency that is aligned with your goals and has the skills to get results, search engine optimisation SEO has the ability to transform your business completely.
SEO is not something that you do for your website once, and then it is done. You cannot “SEO your website” with a digital marketing agency and then expect to see first page results for the rest of your business lifecycle. As of 2023, Google makes 81% of its revenue from Google Ads. Do you know how they do this? By keeping the search results dynamic.
If the organic search results were easy to rank in, Google would not have a viable business model. Google makes money by constantly updating their search algorithm and keeping it dynamic. Search engine marketing is continually growing and evolving. There is a science to first page rankings, but that science is constantly evolving.
How Long Does SEO Take?
The truth is SEO is an ongoing process that requires constant updates and attention while making sure you abide by Google’s best practice guidelines. Your long term success is not contingent upon a one-time ‘optimise your website’. Whether you are looking for small business or enterprise SEO, your website ranking, conversion rate, Google rating and long term success are contingent on long term strategy.
Australian businesses are investing more in performance SEO in 2023 than ever before. Large businesses and small businesses that invest in best practice SEO are rewarded with measurable results. We take a results driven approach that prioritises return on investment above all other metrics and would highly recommend that you choose a comprehensive SEO specialist that can deliver a high level long term strategy that can deliver results in 4 months, 6 months, as well as 2 years down the line.
Doing SEO for five or six months and then ignoring it will not yield positive long term results or visibility. If you have room in your marketing budget, SEO is an investment that you want to start as soon as possible.
SEO is a cumulative effect, the longer you are doing it, the easier it is to see results. If you want to see more leads, organic traffic and revenue in six months from now, you should start SEO today. Contact us for an SEO audit that can help you make an informed decision about your next steps.
Why is SEO So Important?
SEO is the most scalable online marketing method. Search engine optimisation services are the answer for a business looking to build large-scale exposure on a budget.
According to the latest data, more than 70% of clicks in Google go to the organic search results. While Google ads have their place in an online marketing strategy, they are not as scalable as implementing an effective SEO strategy that stands the test of time.
SEO marketing continues to be the most effective way to grow your business online. If you do not have an effective organic strategy, you miss more than 70% of possible website clicks and impressions.
SEO is not the right fit for every business. Some companies will benefit from investing more of their digital marketing budget elsewhere. But here are five good reasons why your business needs organic digital marketing services from an SEO company.
- You do not need to pay for ad space, clicks, or impressions
- SEO builds brand trust, credibility, and recognition
- Effective SEO enhances the on-site user experience
- SEO helps businesses to stay ahead of their competition
- You can measure the ROI from SEO
Above all, SEO is the most effective way to increase brand visibility and long term organic traffic at scale.
Unlike Facebook Advertising, Social Media or Google Ads, you do not need to pay for each click and impression your site receives. SEO is working around the clock to build brand credibility, online presence and recognition with your target audience.
Is Safari Digital Amongst the Best SEO Companies in Australia?
Want to know the secret to choosing a leading SEO provider? You’re probably expecting this to say, if the name says; “Safari Digital”, then you should work with them! But that’s the lazy answer, so let’s try to take an impartial approach to the process of discerning the best SEO experts in Australia. Choosing the right search engine optimization company for your business is no easy task. Finding a digital marketing agency that you can trust with something as valuable as your web presence is a big decision.
Your website visibility can be your livelihood. When it comes to choosing a top SEO to work with your business, here are some of the things that you need to look for:
- How did you find the company? Was it through SEO or did they advertise through another marketing channel?
- Are they ranking on page 1 for their own keywords?
- Do they have a team of SEO specialists or are the tasks performed overseas?
- Are they working with any of your competitors? If so, how will they maintain your privacy and intellectual property?
- Do they focus on on-page or off-page SEO?
- What metrics will they use to define a successful campaign?
- How will they select keywords for your campaign?
- What is their approach to link building?
- Who will be your point of contact throughout the campaign?
Can I do my own SEO?
Conceivably, yes. If you have the time to learn, try, fail, and then succeed. Then perhaps you can take on SEO by yourself.
In 2023, there is more than enough information online to implement your own search engine optimisation work. The biggest problem that you will encounter is the sheer amount of conflicting information that exists from various digital marketing sources who think they have the secret recipe to getting to the first page of Google.
One blog might tell you that meta titles do not matter for SEO, while the next might tell you that they are important. A social media manager may try to tell you that social media and SEO are related, when in fact, they are not.
Take it from us; the only way to master SEO is through trial and error. It takes years of trying and failing (don’t worry, that’s behind us now) to get good at SEO. Our SEO team have been what works and what does not first-hand.
It takes time to understand how each change and each update impacts your site.
Hiring an SEO company Australia expedites this process. Instead of wondering what will work and what will not, an SEO agency has already been through the process.
Considering Your SEO Options
Transparency is hard to find when you’re consulting with a digital marketing agency. The search engine optimisation industry is overrun with bulldogs and salespeople promising Gucci and delivering Guess.
We don’t work with everyone, and we wear that as a badge of honour. It might stop us from buying a Ferrari (sad face), but it’s the ethical choice when it comes to SEO. Around 40% of the business that enquire about our SEO agencies service are not the right fit for an SEO campaign. We’re an SEO company in Australia that regularly tell prospective clients to reassess. This could be due to a range of different reasons, including:
Here are some reasons we will not work with a prospective client:
- The business model does Not Necessitate SEO.
- You Have a ground-breaking product that does not have search volume
- You need instant leads
- You are not in the right place to invest long term
- Your budget does not match the level of competition in your industry
- Your target market does not use search engines to interact with your goods or services offerings
What Does an SEO Company Do?
An SEO company will work with businesses to create an organic marketing strategy that improves online visibility and website traffic in search engines such as Google and Bing. SEO companies provide a range of different services that include technical, content, on-site optimisations, and off-site optimisations. Each SEO activity is tailored towards the unique goals of a business and is engineered to help businesses to reach their goals.
A reputable SEO specialist will follow the Google Webmaster Guidelines to create online strategies that focus on the four pillars of SEO:
- Technical SEO
- On-site SEO optimisation
- Off-site SEO authority building
- Optimised Content & Content marketing
At Safari Digital SEO Agency Australia, we develop customised SEO strategies that suit the unique needs of our clients. Each company is different and every website has a different starting point and different challenges in search engines. As such, we develop customised strategies that help our clients to face market challenges head on. We don’t make empty promises about getting to the first page of Google. We do not employ cookie cutter SEO techniques and we will never cut corners. Our SEO specialists work tirelessly to create cutting edge SEO that are effective now, and will be in years to follow.
How Do I Know I’m Hiring the Right SEO Partner?
When it comes to developing and implementing a successful SEO campaign, finding the right fit for your business is essential.
Mutual respect and trust are two of the most important ingredients in a successful SEO campaign. Our visions and approach need to be aligned in order to achieve the best possible outcome. SEO requires trust and patience, which is why we prioritise open communication and transparency in our approach to SEO.
We believe that the best litmus test for the ability of an SEO company is their ability to rank their own website in Google. At Safari Digital, we practice what we preach. We don’t use paid ads or social media marketing to tell you all about how good our SEO service is. That would be kind of redundant.
We use the same cutting edge SEO strategies for our own website that we will use for yours. Unlike some of our larger competitors, we don’t have one SEO team for our own website, and another for client websites.
The Google Search Central video provides a good reference for companies to choose the right SEO for your business.
How Do I Choose the Best SEO Company?
Not to toot our own horn, but we like to think we know what we’re doing. You’re on this page because you were looking for SEO in the organic search results (Google). So, as an SEO company, we must be doing something right.
We strongly believe that we have the most diverse and knowledgeable SEO team. It’s a big claim, but we’ve completed enough high quality SEO results to genuinely believe that we are the best SEO professionals in a range of different fields.
But are you the best SEO agency for every industry? Quite honestly – probably not. But even Apple Computers isn’t the best at everything. I mean, have you tried apple music? It doesn’t hold a candle to Spotify. The truth is search engine optimisation SEO is a diverse facet of digital marketing. We deal with clients from a wide range of industries, including:
- Local SEO
- e Commerce SEO
- Service-Based SEO
- Enterprise SEO
- Small Business SEO
… Just to name a few!
Here’s what we can promise you when it comes to being best SEO company in Australia. We do not take on clients if we do not believe we can deliver value in search engines. We don’t do social media marketing and we don’t do Google Ads. If we agree to take you on as an SEO client, it means that we are confident that we can get you outstanding SEO results.
We purposely limit the number of clients that we deal with at any one time to maintain the high quality of our work. We also will never work with two companies in the same industry and the same area. There is an obvious conflict of interest if we were to work with two competing companies – so we will never do it. If you choose to work with Safari Digital SEO Company, you can be sure we will never work with your competitors while we are working with you.
SEO Costs Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SEO Cost in Australia? What is the average price for SEO? If you’re looking to grow your business, we understand that cost is a huge factor when considering an SEO agency. We answer the most common questions that we get relating to full service SEO and pricing. If you’re looking for a price chart, you won’t find one here. Unlike those cookie cutter SEO companies offering subway style build your own SEO package, we design customised SEO solutions that drive results.
We won’t sell you unnecessary digital marketing services and we won’t inflate prices to keep everyone on a three tier invoice system. Our SEO pricing reflects the work required to help your business to achieve long term organic SEO success.
Should I Hire an SEO Agency?
In 2023, there is more than enough information online to implement your own SEO work. The biggest problem that you will encounter is the sheer amount of conflicting information that exists.
One digital marketing blog might tell you that meta titles do not matter for SEO, while the next might tell you that they are important for search engines. Take it from us; the only way to master SEO is through trial and error. It takes years of trying and failing (don’t worry, that’s behind us now) to get good at SEO. Our SEO team have been what works and what does not first-hand.
It takes time to understand how each change and each update impacts your site in the search engines. Hiring an SEO company expedites this process.
So, can you do SEO for your own site in 2023?
Conceivably, yes. If you have the time to learn, try, fail, and then succeed. There is a good reason why SEO agencies like Safari Digital employ engineers, copywriters, and web development experts – because SEO takes time and expertise to master. If you don’t have the time, then you’re going to need help from an expert.
Should I Pay for SEO Services?
You can either pay for SEO or devote the next two to three years to mastering the on-site, off-site and technical SEO techniques that go into every SEO campaign.
For businesses owners looking to pursue an online strategy, you really have two options:
- Learn and master online marketing
- Be prepared to pay a professional to help you
Like the industry you operate in; it is not realistic to expect someone to come in and perform your job. Delivering effective search engine optimisation to our clients is a full-time job for our SEO consultants. We have a team of SEO experts with years of experience that specialise in the different facets of search engine optimisation. We have SEO specialists that focus on the following areas:
- On-Site Optimisation
- Content Creation
- Technical SEO Optimisation
- Off-site SEO
Under those different pillars of SEO, we have specialists that are dedicated to mastering a single facet. To carry out a successful SEO campaign, we need to combine all of those separate elements from different SEO experts.
How Much Does SEO Cost?
The cost of SEO in Australia can range anywhere from $1,000 per month all the way up to $30,000+ per month.
There are hundreds of different factors that determine how much SEO will cost in Australia, but here are a few of the most common factors that will influence the cost of SEO and digital marketing services in Australia:
- Your website history and previous SEO work
- The size of your market
- The competition in your niche
- Your current organic traffic to your website and rankings in search engines
- Off-site SEO work that has been completed in the past
- The location of your business
- The number of pages that need to be created
- The amount of new content creation required
… Just to name a few!
There is no magic number when it comes to investing in SEO. Some businesses may need to spend less than $1,500 per month with an SEO company to see good results. At the same time, some businesses may need to spend significantly more, as they need help in more aspects of SEO. Remember, getting a quote for SEO is not like getting a quote to fix a broken window. When you are getting a broken window repaired, there is no range of outcomes. The result will always be a fixed window.
Conversely, the outcome of SEO can vary dramatically. When you are consulting with an SEO agency, ask them what they plan to deliver each month. You are better off paying 30% more each month to receive 80% more in deliverables.
How much SEO agencies in Australia charge will depend on a wide range of factors. Your best bet is to speak with an SEO professional that can break down where you need help, and the process and costs involved for your business.
How Much Should I Pay for SEO Services?
How much you should pay for SEO is a question that countless business owners mull over each day. The most important thing to consider is your market. If you are operating in a low competition market, then SEO might not cost very much.
Conversely, if you are operating in a highly-competitive market where Google Ad costs are high, your competitors may be investing a lot more in digital marketing and SEO services. SEO is a race. The amount you need to invest in search engine optimisation depends entirely on your industry’s competition.
How much you pay for SEO services also depends on how much a conversion is worth your business. It’s about return on investment (ROI), not just outlay. If each conversion is worth $1,000 to your business, SEO may provide a great investment return. Whereas, if each transaction is only worth a few dollars, then hiring an SEO company may seem very expensive.
Off-Site SEO Approach Explained
Off-site SEO or off-page SEO strategies as it is also known refers to all of the web design and external factors that affect the online presence of your website. Google uses hundreds of different factors to determine where websites appear in the search results – off-site factors encompass many of these factors.
Search engine optimization is constantly changing. The way that SEO companies implement off-site SEO campaigns and tactics is also rapidly evolving. However, one thing that has not changed over the years is the importance of trustworthy, relevant, and authoritative off-page signals being sent to your website.
Here are some of the off-site factors that affect your online presence and visibility in search engines like Google.
1. Backlinks
Backlinks account for somewhere between 40-50% of how websites appear in the Google search results. Backlinks are the number one off-site SEO ranking factor. Building relevant, authoritative backlinks is at the heart of off-page SEO. Backlinks refer to any time one website links to another website. The link acts as a trust signal for Google (and other search engines).
The more high-authority, relevant links you have pointing to your website, the more likely you will appear at the top of the search engine results. Not all link building is created equal. For example, links from social media or social media links do not count. Link building is not about ticking a box. When done incorrectly, link building (known as black hat SEO link building) can actually be detrimental to your search engine appearance. Here are a six factors that need to be considered when building links.
- The authority of the website pointing to your website
- The website traffic that the referring site (and web page) receives
- The anchor text that is used in the backlink
- The number of links that appear on the page
- The trustworthiness of the site sending the link
- The age of the page sending the link
The best way to think about backlinks is like a job reference. Getting a job reference from a co-worker is great. Getting a job reference from a manager is better. Getting a job reference from the company owner or CEO is even better. When we are acquiring backlinks, we aim to find those “CEO Links” that will pass authority and trust to your website.
2. Local Citations
Local Citations – sometimes known as NAP Links (name, address, phone number) or directory links, are an important way to build consistency and legitimacy in the search results – especially for local SEO.
Citations are one method that search engines can use to verify the legitimacy, trustworthiness, and existence. By having multiple websites with consistent business information, search engines are far more likely to see your business as a legitimate entity in the Local SEO rankings.
Be warned; not all directories are created equally. Getting your local citations from a wide range of websites is good – getting them from every website is not a good idea. We highly recommend that you consult with a professional digital marketing agency before submitting your business to a myriad of directories. Avoid providers that promise to get you hundreds of citations links – it could lead to negative results.
We use a trusted group of directory sites to build local citations for clients. Page 1 of Google won’t happen with citations, but it is an essential layer in a cohesive SEO plan that gets to the top of Google. The positive impact of citations has diminished over the years, and we do use them sparingly. If an SEO Agency is harping on about the importance of ongoing local citations in your Local SEO campaign, or digital marketing services, it could be a way to cheat you out of legitimate links through your campaign.
3. Google My Business (GMB)
Think of Google My Business as the most valuable directory citation that your business can receive. Google My Business picks up from where sites like Yelp, the Yellow Pages, and Trip Advisory Left off.
Google Business is the most frequented platform for finding out information about business trading hours, location, and reviews. Here are six benefits that businesses can enjoy with a well optimised GMB listing.
- Improved local visibility (local online presence)
- Improve engagement between business and customers
- Improved local SEO potential
- Answer frequently asked questions
- Build legitimacy with prospective clients
- Reach your audience on a need to know basis with GMB updates
GMB plays an essential role in keeping potential customers up to date with the latest business developments. News, hours, reviews, and availability improves communication between businesses and customers. GMB plays an essential role in an effective Local SEO campaign.
4. Social Media and SEO
Wait, social media – how can that affect SEO strategies? Well, bear with me here. Social media does not directly affect the way that your website appears in Google.
However, your social media and trust from other websites like social media plays a considered role in your search engine ranking. Links that you receive from social media marketing DO NOT work in the same way that the aforementioned backlinks above work.
Social media marketing can enhance the popularity and ranking of your website in several important ways:
- Social media marketing can enhance brand presence and, as a result, increase the number of brand searches that you receive through Google.
- Syndicating your content across social media can increase the lifespan of your content.
- Social media marketing provides another way to distribute your organic content.
- Social media can be a valuable local SEO ranking signal.
Social media marketing improves brand recognition. The more people see your brand through social media, the more likely they are to find it in Google search.
Contrary to what some SEO experts say, the amount of shares, retweets, and likes you receive on social media will not impact your search engine rankings.
5. Brand Mentions
Back in 2018, John Mueller from Google broached the subject of brand mentions for SEO and what they mean without links. Speaking in a Google Webmaster Hangout, the Google Search Engineer explained that Google can pick up on brand mentions as a positive signal for website rankings. While Google have denied that brand mentions pass on page rank, the power of brand mentions SEO cannot be overstated.
Brand mentions are extremely valuable for online presence and for brand awareness. The Google Panda Patent refers to the concept of ‘implied links’ as a possible ranking signal in the future. The idea being that brand mentions could someday play an equal role to traditional backlinks in a successful SEO campaign.
With every client we track brand mentions through reviews, social media marketing, and other digital marketing mediums. We push for brand mentions in the same way that we push for links. The implied benefit of brand mentions also means more brand name searches with an insanely high CTR and low bounce rate compared to general search queries.
6. Guest Blogging
Guest blogging and SEO are complimentary activities that fall within the Google Webmaster Guidelines that govern each action that we take in an SEO campaign. Publishing relevant, useful content on industry-specific websites is a powerful way to build credibility and pass trust from one website to another.
Guest blogging isn’t about forcing your link into an irrelevant article and hoping that Google passes link juice to your website. We focus on industry-relevant publications that help our clients to get noticed. We don’t engage in shady blog networks or link exchange programs – we focus on building links by providing valuable blog contributions on behalf of our clients. The process is exhaustive and involves a lot of effort and time to get a single link – but the results are time-proven. Building links the right way means that you are providing value for users and funnelling users to your website for the right reasons.
On-Site SEO Practices Explained
As an SEO agency Australia, we focus on the on-site SEO and off-site SEO elements that will influence how your website appears in Google searches. At Safari, we place the importance of both of these at roughly 50/50. That means that half of how your website ranks in Google is dependent on content marketing and half comes down to high quality links.
But here’s the kicker – off-site SEO work will not be effective unless you’ve got all of the on-site elements in place. What that means is that if you don’t have the right content on your website (keywords); then Google is not going to show you at the top of the search engine results pages. You will not grow your business until you address both on-site and off-site SEO.
1. Technical SEO Optimisation
When it comes to ranking in Google – technical SEO is the unseen factor that really counts. For those that are less technically inclined, technical SEO can also be one of the most intimidating aspects of web design and an on-site SEO strategy.
There is a myriad of technical SEO factors that we will cover in an initial SEO audit of your site, including:
- Identify any on-site crawl errors in a crawl error report
- Check the HTTPS status of your website
- Mobile-friendly website testing
- Check your XML sitemap accessibility in Google
- Site load time – speed matters for both web design and search visibility
- Identify any keyword crossover (cannibalisation) between pages
- Your robots.txt file must be inspected
- Check for duplicate metadata in your page source
- Check for any duplicate content from competing websites
- Broken link report
- Web design should include canonical links between pages
The above list oversimplifies the process hugely. There are hundreds of web design and other factors that go into a complete technical SEO audit and report. Here’s what you really need to know: Technical SEO is an exhaustive process that aims to uncover any technical limitations that may be affecting your search rankings and online presence.
Technical SEO is never a one-time fix. During SEO campaigns, we are constantly scanning our client’s websites for aspects that can be rectified and improved for the best possible Google ranking. When it comes to technical SEO, we highly recommend you work with SEO companies in Australia that offer this as a specialty – not a side web design service.
2. On-Page Content
Your copy counts. Don’t underestimate the efficacy of on-site content that meets user expectations and queries. High quality content is absolutely king when it comes to lead generation. But the content marketing needs to be meaningful, use the right keywords, and meet user expectations when they are on page.
Anyone can mindlessly type out long-form content – but that doesn’t mean it will rank in search engines like Google!
Here’s what you have to remember; Google is a business. Google makes more than 90% of total revenue through PPC advertising (Google Ads) – and its search engine has to be firing on all cylinders to ensure they remain #1 for users.
If Google provides a good user experience, then users will continue to use their search engine. If Google slips and provides a compromised search engine experience, its competitors will be nipping at their heels. To provide the best user experience, your content marketing efforts must be SEO friendly AND meet the user expectations. This is where effective keyword research and content planning comes in.
You need content that satisfies the user and delivers answers to those vexing questions that they want to know. Furthermore, your web design must be approachable so that content is rendered and served in a timely manner.
At Safari Digital SEO Agency, we’re one of the few SEO agencies that go the extra mile with user expectation and intent. Before we begin looking at creating the most optimised on-site SEO content – we need to make sure that content is going to meet user expectation.
We also need to ask; “Is this content worthy of being in Google for the keywords you want to rank”. Is the content good enough to be viewed as Expert, Authoritative, and Trustworthy (Google EAT). Effective SEO strategy starts and ends with keyword research.
Years of experience and case studies tells us this: Crafting beautifully written content is one thing. Creating beautiful, SEO-friendly content is another altogether. SEO content is not always beautiful. But, when keyword research is conducted effectively, it will be worth it. The same principles can be applied to your on-site content marketing efforts.
3. Keyword Usage
Keyword research, strategy, and implementation is the most important aspect of delivering effective SEO in Australia. Having the right words in the right place on the page is the single most important SEO ranking factor. We spend hours planning and curating the right keywords for each client to identify how their target customer is finding their product or services online.
We use industry leading SEO research tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs and Moz to make the most informed SEO decisions for our clients. We look at metrics like monthly search volume, equivalent cost per click data, and keyword competition to make informed decisions for our clients. Using this data we plan out a set of short term and long term focus keywords that can be used to drive the short, intermediate, and long term SEO goals for our clients.
Keyword usage comes down to intent. While it would be great to rank #1 for a search term like ‘Hats’, the conversion rate of that keyword might be relatively low. Why? Because someone Googling ‘hats’ may be looking for photos, information, definitions, or shopping. Whereas a keyword like ‘White Baseball Cap’ may have a much lower search volume, the keyword intent is more relevant and more likely to lead to a conversion. Understanding which keywords to target will give you a competitive edge on your market.
The keywords that we use and implement in your SEO efforts are contingent on the unique goals of each client. In the first 2-weeks of your SEO campaign we will identify the most lucrative, powerful keywords for your business. From there, our SEO consultants will put together a customised SEO keyword plan that will get you noticed for the right search terms.
4. Meta Data
We’ve said it before, and we will say it again—your metadata matters for your SEO ranking and online presence. SEO metadata is what appears in the search engine results pages (organic traffic pages) when a website appears for a predetermined query.
For instance, if potential website visitors or customers are searching for a product or service that your business offered, they might see a search result with some of the on-page metadata in the Google results.
Google uses metadata to establish relevance, context, and to rank content. Your metadata must be aligned with the search terms that you want to appear for in Google.
When it comes to optimising metadata, here are a few of the factors your SEO company or digital marketing agency should be focussing on:
- Meta Description
- Meta Title
- Language Tags
- Geo Tags
- Robots
- Social Meta Tags
Meta data is a critical on-site ranking factor. Your SEO partner should have a concrete, transferrable digital marketing strategy that they have tried and tested across multiple sites. Metadata is one element of strategy that is transferrable (with custom elements) and should be used with proof of concept.
If your digital marketing agency does not have a concrete plan for metadata, then it might be time to reassess your choice of SEO firm.
5. UX Factors
User experience matters for effective SEO strategies. It does not matter if you are delivering high quality content. If users do not enjoy their on-site experience, they are not going to come back. Your website conversion rate is contingent on your ability to rank your products and services in front of users at a time when they are ready to buy.
When it comes to user experience, Google is only getting more forceful in rewarding sites that provide a positive on-site user experience. The Google Page Experience Core Update placed an added emphasis on key on-site metrics.
Here are some of the ways that Google uses on-page experience to rank high quality content.
- Website Click Through Rate (CTR)
- Website Bounce Rate
- Return Organic website Traffic
- Website Dwell Time
- Pages per visit
If Google is constantly receiving negative user experience metrics from organic website traffic. Guess what? They are going to assume they your content is not meeting user expectations and push your site down in the SEO results pages as a result. The first page of Google is reserved for sites that provide outstanding user experiences.
User experience encompasses everything from web design to website layout, content, and everything in between. An initial SEO audit of your Google Analytics will provide useful around how users are interacting with your site.
We also use industry-leading tools to record how organic traffic is behaving on your website. We can use those tools to dictate what needs to be changed, improved, and optimised for the best user experience.
6. Internal Link Strategy
You have probably heard of backlinks. But did you know that the internal links between various pages of your website can affect organic search engine rankings? Internal linking is a huge part of web development and SEO campaigns.
Setting up and internal link SEO structure can help to achieve three essential things:
- Conveying the value and importance of pages to search engines
- Help search engines to establish the relationship between content on your site
- Help users to navigate through different pages on your site
Internal links are any links that go from one page to another page on the same domain. They are most commonly seen on internal navigation menus in a website header and footer, but they can also be used in text throughout the website to pass high quality link equity.
Internal links are an important way to establish site hierarchy and let Google know which pages on your website are the most important. Internal links can also provide search engine bots with more information about how one page on your website is relevant to another.
Internal links help search engine results bots (like those that Google uses) to establish relevancy between pages. Interlinking between content marketing and conversion oriented landing pages can be a powerful way to crack the first page of Google for competitive key terms.
Contextual internal links between various pages on your website point on-site users to other relevant information on your website. While we have focussed on the search benefits of internal links above, there is another factor to consider – user experience.
Keeping on-site users engaged and interested in your content (and relevant pages) is an important piece of the SEO puzzle for long term results. Internal links can help to increase time on page, traffic to your website and overall user experience.
7. URL Structure
Getting your URL structure right is an essential component in SEO. Search engines and prospective customers look at URL’s to understand the context and hierarchy of content on your website. URLs are also an effective way to pass link equity through pages and guide customers through their on-site journey. If you know anything about web development, you’ll know that your URL structure must be logical and provide a breadcrumb path for users to find their way back to a root or navigational page.
When it comes to URL structure and SEO, planning is everything. Before you launch a new website or move forward with SEO work for an existing site, it’s important to define the best possible URL structure in the web development stages for SEO and website visitors. Some of the things that need to be considered during the web design period include:
- Using your keywords
- Scalability – is there room to grow (categories)
- Don’t over-optimize
- Keep it short and succinct
- Keep it static – reserve dynamic URL strings for large e-commerce sites
- Redirect existing/outdate URL strings
- Implement an effective canonical plan
- Update sitemap in-line with any changes
When it comes to URL structure, there is a lot to be considered for web design and SEO. In the first two weeks of your SEO marketing campaign we will look at your existing structure and provide recommendations as you grow your business.
8. Information Architecture (IA)
Information architecture (IA) SEO is the science of organising and labelling content in-line with the most logical experience for on-site users. IA plays an important role in how Google bots and users navigate through a website and provides context around where and why content sits on a website. Effective IA is about understanding what your users are looking for, and providing them with those resources at the right place and the right time. Some of the benefits of an effective Information Architecture in web development for SEO include:
- Improved website crawlability
- Effective distribution of link equity between pages
- Reduced bounce rate
- Enhanced user experience metrics
- Improved search engine visibility
- Improved on-site navigation
- Higher dwell time
- Increased traffic to your website
- More pages per session visited
Information Architecture and SEO are not separate activities. Effective SEO is not simply about putting keywords on the page, it’s about sorting and assembling content in a way that users can enjoy and search engines can crawl.
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