A high conversion rate is crucial for business success in today's competitive digital market. It determines how effectively you turn website visitors into valuable customers, subscribers, or leads. If you're struggling to improve your conversion rate, SEO conversion rate optimization can make a real difference.
SEO is known for increasing website visibility and attracting more visitors. But combining its strategies with CRO will also influence the chances of visitors becoming paying customers. Ultimately, it will increase your conversion rate.
Read on to learn what SEO conversion rate is, how it works, its benefits, and best practices. Implement these right, and it will increase your business growth and profitability. Before we jump into the details, let's first understand the relationship between SEO and conversion rate.
Understanding The Relationship Between SEO & Conversion Rate
SEO and conversion rate have a symbiotic relationship. Simply put, without SEO (search engine optimization), there will be no traffic to convert. Similarly, without CRO (conversion rate optimization), the traffic you already have won't convert into customers.
Effective SEO strategies optimize your website and content by adding relevant details like keywords and meta tags. As a result, it will rank your website higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) and bring in more organic traffic.
Driving traffic alone does not guarantee success. That's why CRO must come into play when your potential customers are on your site. It helps you create a user-friendly experience and persuade them to take the desired action.
Understanding the relationship between SEO and conversion rate is essential for achieving online success. But remember to analyze the problem first. Looking at the problem closely lets you know the exact strategy you can deploy, saving you time and resources.
Do a business assessment to define the challenges your company is facing. It should include the company's performance, market trends, customer behavior, and competitors. Based on your data analysis, you can establish realistic and specific goals that align with your company's objectives. Then, develop an action plan to address the identified problems and achieve your goals.
Now that you understand the relationship between SEO and conversion rate, it's time to take action. We will unveil effective methods to improve your conversion rate using SEO. Read on and discover the strategies to drive tangible results and achieve your conversion goals.
7 Ways To Improve Your Conversion Rate Using SEO
Here are 7 actionable ways to improve your conversion rate using SEO tactics. We include practical examples and tools that can help you fine-tune your existing approach.
1. Understand Keywords
A keyword is a word or phrase people use to search for information relevant to a specific topic or industry. Since search engines prioritize websites that use relevant and popular keywords, you should collect the ones with high search volume.
Other than the search volume, here are the characteristics of keywords with high conversion potential. All keywords in the examples are relevant to an online retail shop.
1.1 Intent
These keywords demonstrate a specific need or desire, indicating a readiness to engage in a transaction. It often includes action-oriented words like buy, purchase, or order.
You can also create a sense of urgency by adding time-related words such as today only, hurry, and don't miss out. The screenshot below sets a good example.
It incorporates the words quick buy to trigger prospective customers to click immediately. It also provides urgency-driven offers (discounts) for its best-selling items.
1.2 Long-Tail Keywords
Short-form keywords can help you reach a broader audience. However, if you want to target a more specific and motivated audience, it's best to use long-tail keywords.
For instance, let's say your online shop is promoting Halloween costumes. Short-form keywords like "Halloween costumes" attract many searchers, which includes those looking for costume ideas, history, or decorations. However, incorporating long-tail keywords will narrow your target audience to those explicitly seeking Halloween costumes.
These keywords typically contain 3 or more words in length. They also have lower search volumes but higher relevance and conversion potential. Here are a few examples of long-tail keywords for Halloween costumes:
- Buy Halloween costumes today
- Hurry, limited quantities of superhero costumes left
- Check out our spooky Halloween costume collection
2. Conduct Thorough Keyword Research
Keyword research is the process of finding the words and phrases people use to search for information online. It often starts by brainstorming a list of relevant keywords with your team. Keywords that you think people might use to search for your business or industry. It may include product names, industry-specific terms, and common phrases.
Once you complete the list, you can start the search using your chosen keyword research tool. It's a software or online service designed to provide valuable insights into the following:
- Keyword difficulty
- Search volume data
- Competition analysis
- Long-tail keyword suggestions
You can find lots of keyword research tools, but one that stands out is SEMrush. It has 5 keyword research features; the newest addition is Keyword Manager. You only need to choose a topic and add a few seed keywords. It will display a list and you can allow them to write content for each target keyword.
Google Keyword Planner is a reliable alternative option for anyone looking for a free tool. It also offers valuable data and analysis to help businesses make informed decisions about their keyword strategies and improve their SEO tactics. After establishing your baseline, save your list and align them with your SEO goal.
Best Practice: Refine & Update
Keyword research is an ongoing process. Make sure to regularly perform the following to stay relevant in today's fast-changing market:
- Monitor trends
- Analyze keyword performance
- Tailor your keyword strategy to match user intent
- Use location wisely to find new keywords (or use targeting for your ads)
3. Consider User-Generated Queries & Voice Search Trends
When developing your keyword strategy, always consider user questions in voice and text searches. The reason - both reflect the actual language and phrases people use when searching for information online.
Particularly for voice search because it uses a more natural and conversational language. You can see in the screenshot below what people expect to receive from brands.
Here are a few ideas for incorporating user-generated queries and voice search trends into your keyword strategy. We'll use the keyword GMP audit as an example.
3.1 Long-tail keywords
Finding relevant long-tail keywords is an important aspect of a comprehensive keyword strategy. But the search process can be challenging at times. Voice searches help because they often contain longer and more conversational queries.
Instead of targeting a generic keyword like GMP audit, you can consider long-tail keywords like:
- Effective strategies for passing a GMP audit
- Best practices for preparing for a GMP audit
- Common GMP audit findings and how to address them
3.2 Question Phrases
Voice search users often ask detailed questions to get specific information and actionable insights. You can optimize your content to address specific questions relevant to your industry or niche.
GMP audits are vital for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. Passing the audit means they maintain high-quality standards in their production processes. So, you can create each piece of content around these question phrases:
- What is the role of quality control in GMP audits?
- What are some effective strategies for passing a GMP audit?
- How do small-scale pharmaceutical manufacturers prepare for a GMP audit?
3.3 Knowledge Base & FAQ Pages
A knowledge base provides a wealth of valuable content, which you can optimize for relevant keywords. You can incorporate specific keywords and address common search queries to increase your knowledge base page rank in SERPs. Also, making information readily available will reduce friction in the customer journey.
Here are some quality topics you can include in your knowledge base articles to educate your current and first-time visitors:
You can also add FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) pages to address common questions people ask. You can identify common questions that customers ask by reviewing your customer support tickets, emails, and messages.
- GMP guidelines
- GMP resources by country
- GMP regulations and preambles
You can also watch social media platforms, forums, and online communities relevant to your business. It can provide valuable insights into the concerns and inquiries of your target audience. For GMP audits, here are some questions you may include:
- What is a GMP certificate?
- How is a GMP inspection conducted?
- How will manufacturers be inspected?
- What are the levels of GMP compliance?
- What is good manufacturing practice (GMP)?
4. Optimize On-Page Elements
Poor conversion rates result from various factors and a lack of attention to on-page elements is one of them. You can use Google Analytics and customer insights to determine how users interact with your website and where they drop off in the conversion funnel.
Identify which on-page elements are hindering the user experience through these data. Adjust them accordingly, and it will improve the average conversion rate. Here are some on-page elements that you should consider optimizing:
4.1 Headlines & Page Titles
Craft attention-grabbing headlines and page titles that convey your offer's value proposition. Add relevant keywords to improve search engine visibility and attract organic visitors. With customizable poster templates, you can create eye-catching visuals that complement your content, making it more digestible and engaging for readers.
4.2 Content
Make sure your content is informative, engaging, and tailored to your target audience. Also, use clear and concise language. You can break up a wall of text with headings, subheadings, and some visuals.
4.3 Calls to Action (CTA)
Place clear and prominent CTAs throughout your website. It will guide users toward a specific conversion goal. Use persuasive language and design elements that make CTAs stand out.
Creating the anchor text is simple. Choose a word that accurately reflects the content it links to. Only aim for 2 to 5 words for your anchor text CTA. This length allows for a straightforward message that grabs the reader's attention and encourages action.
If this isn't your cup of tea, you can use an anchor text suggestion tool. Simply put your brand name, keywords, page type, and anchor text type to generate anchor text ideas.
Test multiple variations to determine the most effective placement, size, and color. The call to action button color needs to stand out. You can choose the color that matches your brand or pick one of these colors: red, green, yellow, and orange. Anything exciting is warm and ideal to use (see screenshot below).
5. Create Relevant & SEO-Optimized Content
Crafting high-quality content is another powerful method for increasing conversion rates. It builds trust, establishes credibility, and positions your brand as a reliable authority.
Focus on delivering value through informative and engaging content. It should also resonate with their needs and interests. You can provide this by writing content that aligns with each stage of the buyer's journey.
Your content will serve as a guide so the consumers can make an informed decision or purchase. Let's consider HVAC advertising and marketing strategies, for example. Here's how they can create content to support the buyer's journey:
A. Awareness Stage
Potential customers are researching general information about HVAC systems or common HVAC problems. The HVAC company can create blog posts, videos, or social media content that provide educational resources.
The ultimate guide to understanding HVAC systems or Top 10 energy-saving Tips for your home are a few topics you can discuss. These pieces of content help establish the company's expertise and build brand awareness.
B. Consideration Stage
Prospective customers are actively evaluating their options on which HVAC companies to get. The company can create comparison guides or case studies highlighting its unique selling propositions. They can also leverage customer testimonials. It helps them showcase the company's value, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
C. Decision Stage
Turning organic traffic into customers - your website visitor is ready to decide which HVAC company to get. The company can create content that focuses on its specific offers. Service packages, financing options, and warranty details to name a few.
Whether you're writing blog posts or email newsletters, this content strategy will work wonders. This can even help you for writing social media updates.
Let's consider a scenario where the HVAC company uses WhatsApp Business as a communication channel. They want to create a greeting message to support the buyer's journey:
- Awareness stage: Write a WhatsApp Business greeting message introducing their services and highlighting key benefits
- Consideration stage: Include testimonials or customer reviews demonstrating exceptional service quality
- Decision stage: Provide a call-to-action message to encourage customers to take the next step
Remember to optimize them for search engines to increase organic website traffic. You can focus on the following aspects:
- Compelling headlines
- Natural keyword integration
- Incorporating visuals (images, videos, or infographics)
6. Focus on Customer Retention
Customer retention is also a big part of the customer journey. It allows business owners to maintain a positive relationship and encourage repeat business. Let's consider a scenario where a cleaning company wants to offer online courses for new entrepreneurs.
First, they need to build a solid community. When individuals feel connected to a brand and its community, they are more likely to engage and become brand advocates. Once they do, they can offer online resources and courses to help new entrepreneurs start their own cleaning businesses.
They can also share a comprehensive guide to help new entrepreneurs pick an outstanding cleaning business name or set the right price for your cleaning services. Offering online courses will enhance retention rate. But the most crucial benefit it provides is positioning your business as an industry expert and thought leader.
7. Evaluate the Website's Technical Performance
A well-designed and intuitive user interface captures users' attention. It encourages them to stay longer on your website. Making it visually appealing and easy to navigate with clear calls to action is one good way to deliver it. However, it's not enough.
You still need to conduct a comprehensive SEO audit of your website to identify areas for improvement. We'll dive deep into the website's technical performance:
7.1 Page Speed
Page speed refers to how quickly a web page loads in a user's browser. It is a critical factor that impacts both user experience and search engine optimization.
A good rule of thumb is to have a website that loads quickly in real time, around 1-2 seconds. It will have lower bounce rates and higher engagement. If you're experiencing slow loading speed, you can optimize your website's page speed by using the following techniques:
- Minifying code
- Compressing images
- Leveraging browser caching
- Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Search engines like Google consider page speed as a ranking factor. So, find the sweet spot between a fast-loading website and maintaining quality content.
7.2 Mobile Responsiveness
A mobile-responsive website automatically adjusts its layout, design, and functionality to fit the screen of the user's device. It ensures that users can easily navigate, read content, and interact with the website without the need for constant zooming or scrolling. It's a timely change as mobile device usage continues to rise.
Creating a mobile-responsive website involves the following steps:
- Step 1: Pick a responsive design framework or template that automatically adjusts the layout and design based on the screen size
- Step 2: Use fluid grids and flexible images so they can adapt to different screen resolutions without losing quality
- Step 3: Use collapsible menus, accordions, or tabs to arrange your content based on its importance and relevance
- Step 4: Ensure that buttons, links, and interactive elements are large enough to be easily tapped with a finger
- Step 5: Regularly test your website on various mobile devices to identify any issues or inconsistencies
- Step 6: Consider integrating mobile-specific features that enhance the user experience (geolocation, camera access, etc.)
Make sure to stay up-to-date with the latest mobile design trends and emerging technologies. These can help you enhance your mobile responsiveness over time.
7.3 Crawlability
Crawlability refers to the search engine crawler's ability to navigate and access your website's content for indexing and ranking purposes. It plays a crucial role in determining the visibility of your web pages in search results.
You can optimize your website's crawlability to enhance organic search visibility further. Here are factors you need to consider to ensure effective crawlability:
- Regularly check for crawl errors, such as broken links or inaccessible pages
- Create a network of internal links that connect different pages within your website
- Implement and submit a sitemap to search engines, such as Google Search Console
- Optimize meta tags (title tags and meta descriptions) with relevant keywords
Conclusion
Leveraging SEO strategies to improve the conversion rate is a game-changer for every business. It doesn’t just attract more organic traffic, it also optimizes various elements on your website. Optimizing these elements will increase their effectiveness in converting visitors into customers. If you're ready to take your conversion rate to the next level, implement SEO conversion rate optimization techniques.
The strategies above will deliver quality results. Understanding keywords and conducting thorough keyword research can enhance your visibility and engagement. While writing relevant and SEO-optimized content can engage your current customers. It's also an excellent practice to build trust with your prospects.
Finally, evaluating your website's technical performance ensures a seamless user experience. It encourages visitors to stay longer and engage. If you're looking for a comprehensive solution to streamline your SEO and CRO strategies, Linkio can help.
Its advanced features and data-driven approach can optimize your conversion funnel and help you achieve remarkable results. Take the first step to improving your website's performance. Visit Linkio's website and sign up for a free trial today.
Author Bio
Burkhard Berger is the founder of Novum™. He helps innovative B2B companies implement revenue-driven SEO strategies to scale their organic traffic to 1,000,000+ monthly visitors. Curious about what your true traffic potential is?
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