If you own a small or midsize business, you’ve probably heard of search engine optimization (SEO). This is one of the most cost-effective digital marketing strategies for boosting a website’s search engine visibility. 

Any local Michigan SEO company will tell you it’s no walk in the park. After all, Google alone uses over 200 ranking factors to evaluate web pages. 

However, reaching the top spot for search results will make it much easier to attract new customers. Generally, to achieve this feat, you need two distinct strategies — on-page and off-page SEO. 

This article will discuss these classifications in more detail. Let's get right to it!

What Is On-Page SEO?

Also called on-site SEO, on-page SEO means optimizing website elements to rank higher in search engines, bringing prime traffic to any site. An effective on-page SEO strategy helps users and search engines understand what a page is about and how valuable it is for specific keywords. 

Before, search engines prioritized keyword use over other factors. As long as brands placed the right search words in the right places, it would be easy for them to appear on top of results pages. 

However, the practice is very different today. The focus nowadays is to elevate user experience. Keyword use still matters, but search engines now value relevance more than keyword repetition. 

Having said that, here are some crucial on-page SEO factors:

• Quality content: Whether you’re publishing a short 500-word blog or a detailed 3,000-word article, it should provide valuable information for your target market. Your content should also be to the point and answer queries as quickly as possible. 

• E-A-T: Google evaluates sites based on their expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T). Google mentions E-A-T 135 times in its 175-page Google Search Quality Guidelines, indicating how crucial its role is to the search engine giant’s algorithm. 

• Keyword use: Today, adding keywords to your pages is not enough anymore. Your content should address user queries instead of just using the right search words. Remember, they have ways to assess this component and will not hesitate penalizing brands using black hat SEO practices. 

• Title tags: These elements appear in search engine results, below the URL and above the meta description. If you want to dominate national or local searches, your title tag should be captivating and on-brand. Think of it as a short introduction to what your brand is all about. 

• Internal links: These components allow users to move seamlessly across your website pages. They also help Google determine your authority about particular topics.
  
  

What Is Off-Page SEO?

Off-page SEO refers to the strategies applied outside of a website to boost rankings. Unknown to many business owners, they're just as crucial to dominating search engine results as on-page components. 

Ultimately, off-page SEO aims to affirm your site’s trustworthiness to search engines and users. Having other information sources vouch for your content is the best way to achieve this feat. 

Off-page SEO also plays a crucial role in your website’s ability to rank. Without it, you’ll find your site always falling behind competitors. 

Below are some essential factors to add to your SEO plan:

• Backlinks: Also called inbound links, these hyperlinks connect outside domains to your website. High-quality backlinks are crucial for high organic search engine rankings because they corroborate your authority. 

• Top-notch content: As cliche as it may seem, content is king in this modern world. To stand out against the competition, you should consistently produce materials that address your target market’s particular needs. 

• Local SEO: One of the best things about SEO is that you don’t have to compete with megacorporations for national searches. Instead, you can work with SEO services in Michigan to improve your local traffic visibility. 

• Reviews: Since Google and other search engines value the opinion of their users, they consider assessments when evaluating websites. Algorithms often change, but reviews have remained a consistent ranking signal over the years. For this reason, you should find ways to encourage your customers to leave glowing reviews. 

• Social media engagement: Google values engagement because it indicates quality content. After all, if your fans often like, comment on, and share your materials, they likely find them valuable and worthwhile.
  
  

How a Local Michigan SEO Company Can Help Small Businesses

SEO can be a game-changer for small and midsize businesses. However, it has a steep learning curve. Plus, without a Michigan SEO company on your side, making any dent in your ranking might take some time.

Below are reasons you should look for reliable SEO services in Michigan:

• Attract quality audiences to your site: People looking for products, services, or other solutions often turn to Google. Once you reach the top spot for relevant keywords, you can easily capture your niche market.

• Achieve your goals without breaking the bank: If you’re looking for a cost-effective digital marketing strategy to execute, SEO is ideal for you. Apart from hiring an expert, the implementation is technically free. 

• Measure your success: Unlike traditional marketing efforts, you can track your returns with digital strategies. While SEO doesn’t display figures outright, you can use Google Search Console to gain insight into traffic sources and which keywords you’re ranking for.
  
  

Boost Your SEO Ranking Now

SEO gives you 24/7 promotion, attracts quality leads, and gets you ahead of the competition. An effective strategy will positively impact your conversions. 

However, it’s a multifaceted marketing specialization. As this blog has explained, reaching the top spot involves various on-page and off-page SEO elements. 

If you don’t have an expert team, we recommend working with a local Michigan SEO company. This is the best digital marketing investment you can make for your business. 

Do you want to create a custom plan that fits your budget? Book a call with the Hierographx team now to transform your website into a revenue-generating machine.