Now We Have Off-Page SEO to Worry About?!
After finally understanding how SEO works, it can feel like a punch in the stomach to hear that there's more to it than we realized. On-page and off-page? Are people just making this stuff up as they go along? But before you start dusting off your pitch forks and marching angrily through the streets demanding justice from Google and other SEO decision-makers, take a deep breath and relax, because you probably already know what off-page SEO is.
What is SEO and How Does Off-Page Fit In?
In the simplest terms, search engine optimization positions your website at the top of search engine result pages. On-page SEO techniques apply to your website architecture, as well as your content. On-page SEO doesn't necessarily mean that you will "see" these techniques on your web pages. Some of them are more technical, such as making sure to be compliant with Google's many many algorithms. Some SEO masterminds like Neil Patel separate technical SEO from on and off–page SEO, but for the purposes of clarity, let's just say that on-page SEO is everything built into your website, seen and unseen.
Off-page SEO, on the other hand, refers to techniques that are (you guessed it)
not on your website.
What is Off-Page SEO?
In short, off-page SEO is how you attract users to your website using a variety of techniques away from your website, such as:
Link-Building
These days, buying backlinks is out and earning backlinks is in. If and when googlebot discovers you have unwisely spent your money on buying links from link farms or other spammy sites, your website's rankings will suffer. But that's okay, because you don't want non-reputable websites linking back to you. When it comes to SEO (both on and off–page), your rankings will largely depend on your perceived authority and trustworthiness. The more your website is associated with link-building farms, the less trustworthy you will seem. And yes, that does sound kind of elitist, but trust me, you only want to be seen hanging out with the cool kids. By cool kids, we obviously mean other websites that are an authoritative voice on their subject matter. You can easily differentiate spammy websites from legitimate and trustworthy ones by running the link through a Spam-O-Meter.
Not only does meeting with peers and connecting with other websites boost your off-page SEO, but it also allows you to build genuine relationships with well-established voices in the industry.
Want more advice on how your websites can start earning backlinks and building relationships with other reputable websites? Why not give this pretty sweet article a read:
No Backlinks? 4 Tips to Earn Links for Your New Blog.
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To boost your off-page SEO, be a backlink snob[/caption]
Social media
We hardly need to make a case for social media. Companies, large and small, focus a huge chunk of their resources on social media marketing. Boosting off-page SEO through social media is simple if you consider that every post is an opportunity to invite traffic to your site. Millennial consumers expect your company to have a social media profile, so if you're focused on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, expand your social media efforts to Instagram, Snapchat and the next big thing that comes along.
A strong social media profile with original (as in, not just automated), high-quality posts will boost your search engine rankings. Therefore, it's important to make sure that your company profiles, tone and branding elements are consistent and correct across all social media platforms.
Other Off-Page SEO Strategies:
- Submitting/claiming your business on search engine directories
- Engaging with customers on review sites, such as Yelp
- Guest blogging (also falls under link-building)
- Answering queries via Q&A websites like Quora
- Email marketing
- Good, old-fashioned business card hand-outs at social gatherings
Admit it, That Wasn't So Scary
If you have a firm grasp of SEO, then you're probably already using many off-page SEO techniques for your website. Right? Most of these techniques come naturally, as they are essentially all about network-building and meeting like-minded people. But if your SEO efforts are largely focused on on-page optimization, chances are you've taken on SEO by yourself without hiring a professional. If this is the case, it may be time to consult with a SEO firm.
At
Awkward Media, we guarantee a fully optimized site using the most current SEO standards. When it comes to boosting your search engine rankings, off-page SEO is just as important as on-page SEO. Are you ready to give your website the traffic it deserves?
Contact our dedicated SEO specialists today.
