As an online marketer, the only thing worse than being buried deep in Google’s search listings is being stuck there while one of your close competitors ranks in the top three positions. When that happens, you can be tortured by the knowledge that they could be receiving hundreds or thousands of visits from qualified buyers every day while you aren’t.
Obviously, that’s not a position you want to be in and one you can’t let continue if you want your business to grow. So, what can you do to improve your Google ranking and catch a competitor who has a big lead in Search Engine Optimization?
Naturally, the exact approach would depend on your situation and market. Here are some basic steps you can follow to catch a competitor on Google and start improving your Google ranking.
Start by Making Improvements to Your Website
The first thing to do, if you want to make up ground on Google search listings, is to iron out any problems you might have with your own website. These could include broken links, copied or scraped content, content that loads slowly, or a lack of mobile functionality. You’ll never be able to improve your search visibility in a substantial way if you have obvious technical issues with your site.
Target Narrow Search Phrases to Rank on Google
Once your own website is ready to go, it’s time to develop a line of attack. If your competition is entrenched on Google, it’s best not to try to pass them up head-on (at least not initially). Focus on more specific things like product names, or geographic keywords, that separates you from your competitor, rather than targeting their most popular search terms. You can probably make fast gains this way. Furthermore, these search targets might convert into leads or sales at a higher rate.
Use Social Media and PPC to Your Advantage
It may take a bit of time to catch up to the competition on Google’s organic search listings. However, you can run pay-per-click search ads and drive traffic to your social media accounts very quickly. So, these can give you an alternative source of traffic. Also, it’s not uncommon to find that a competitor that has done well with SEO has neglected their online marketing in these areas. That could give you an advantage that remains even after you catch up to them on Google.
Develop a Strong Content Marketing Plan
It takes a lot of content to reach a top-three organic search spot. Google treat every new blog post or article you put online as a fresh page with keyword-rich text. Additionally, the likes, shares, and comments that are generated all factor into the search engine’s engagement formula. The takeaway here is that having more content, and specifically articles that your customers love, will help you steadily climb Google’s rankings.
Keep Going and Watch the Results
Other than content, the most important ingredient to a successful SEO campaign is patience. It may have taken your competitor years to reach a top spot on Google, so don’t give up after a few weeks or months. Oftentimes, your search visibility will seem to improve “all at once.” Therefore, just keep creating content, optimizing your site, and chipping away at their lead one step at a time.
Looking for a Better Online Strategy?
If you’re tired of watching the competition pass you by and want to make the most of internet marketing, now might be the perfect time to get the expert advice you been waiting for. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and see how we can use our skills and expertise to put your business back on track to reach the top!
