8 DIY SEO Tips to Improve Your Rankings Without an Expert!
Many people think SEO is too complicated and that only experts can handle it. But what if you could do it yourself? It might sound hard at first, but it’s not as tough as it seems. With the right steps and tools, you can improve your website’s rankings without spending a lot of money.
In this article, we are going to guide you through simple and easy DIY SEO tricks that you can utilize to get your website ranked on search engines. You can make use of these easy tricks if you have a small business or just want to advertise your own blog.
By following what is outlined in this article, you are able to install tracking tools, optimize your content, build backlinks, and more. You will be aware of the exact steps to follow to enhance your website’s ranking. Let’s get started!
What is DIY SEO?
DIY SEO is the process of improving your website so it shows up more often in search engines like Google – and you do it all by yourself. Instead of hiring someone to handle your SEO, you make the changes yourself to help more people find your site.
It’s a simple way to make sure your site works better for both visitors and search engines without needing to spend money on experts.
Is DIY SEO Possible?
Yes, you can do SEO yourself! Small businesses and the majority of individuals can have their websites ranked higher without breaking the bank on specialists. It is just a question of doing the right things with the correct tools and waiting patiently.
With the help of tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics, you can track the health of your site, view who else is searching for you, and understand what you need to optimize. Both are free and easy to use, so everyone can begin with SEO.
SEO is not a one-time task. It’s something you’ll need to keep working on. But if you’re ready to put in the effort, DIY SEO is completely achievable and can give you great results over time.
How to Do DIY SEO for Your Website?
In this section, we’ll show you the simple steps to improve your website’s search engine rankings. You don’t need to be an expert to get started
1. Set Up Essential Tracking Tools
Tracking tools are worthwhile to observe how your site is performing. They allow you to look at how many people are visiting your site, where they are visiting from, and what they are doing on your site.
1. Google Analytics Setup
Google Analytics is the most popular web traffic tracking tool. It reveals to you how much traffic you receive, which pages they visit, and how long they remain on your website. How to install Google Analytics:
->Sign Up for Google Analytics:
- Go to Google Analytics.
- Log in with your Google account and click “Start measuring.”
->Add Your Website Information:
- Enter your website’s details, including the name and URL.
->Install the Tracking Code:
- Google will provide you with a piece of code.
- Paste this code in the <head> section of your website’s HTML on every page you want to track.
->Check if It’s Working:
- Once the code is installed, go back to Google Analytics and check if it’s tracking your site’s data.
2. Google Search Console Setup
Google Search Console helps you track how your website appears in Google search results. It shows if your site is indexed correctly and if there are any issues. Steps to set up Google search console:
->Sign Up for Google Search Console
- Visit Google Search Console and log in.
- Click “Start now” to begin the setup.
->Add Your Website
- Click “Add Property” and enter your website URL.
->Verify Ownership:
- Google will ask you to verify that you own the website. You can do this by adding a meta tag to your site or by using your Google Analytics account.
->Submit Your Sitemap:
- After verifying your site, go to the “Sitemaps” section and submit your sitemap to help Google crawl your pages.
3. Google Tag Manager Setup
Google Tag Manager is a tool that helps you manage different tracking tags (like Google Analytics) without needing to modify the website code every time. Steps to set up Google Tag Manager:
->Create an Account
- Visit Google Tag Manager and sign in.
- Click “Create Account” and set up your website’s details.
->Install the Code
- Google will provide you with a tracking code. Copy it and paste it into your website’s HTML right after the opening <body> tag.
->Add Tags
- Once Tag Manager is set up, you can add other tags, such as Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel, to track different actions on your site.
- Click “Add a New Tag” in Tag Manager, follow the steps, and publish it.
->Test Your Tags:
- Use the “Preview” feature to check if your tags are working correctly.
By setting up these essential tools, you’ll have a clear view of your website’s performance. Regularly check the data and use it to improve your SEO efforts over time.
2. Check Your Website for SEO Issues
An SEO audit is when you take a close look at your website to find any problems that might be hurting its chances of ranking well on search engines.
How to Run Your SEO Audit
You can use free tools like Screaming Frog and Google Search Console to run your audit. Here’s what you need to do:
Choose Your SEO Tools:
- Screaming Frog: This tool helps you find technical problems with your website. It looks for missing title tags, broken links, and other issues that affect your rankings.
- Google Search Console: This tool is helpful for seeing how well your site is doing in Google search. It shows you any errors or issues, like crawl problems, slow pages, or mobile issues.
Run the Audit:
- Screaming Frog: Download the tool, enter your website’s URL, and let it crawl your site. This might take a few minutes or a bit longer, depending on your site’s size.
- Google Search Console: Log into your account and check the “Index” tab for any issues under the “Coverage” section.
Identify the Problems
- On-Page Issues: Check for things like missing or too-long title tags, pages with no meta descriptions, or duplicate content. These things can hurt your ranking.
- Technical Issues: Look for broken links (404 errors), slow page speeds, or issues with mobile-friendliness.
- Indexing Issues: Sometimes, search engines can’t crawl your site, which means those pages won’t show up in search results. You can see this in Google Search Console.
How to Prioritize the Fixes
After finding the problems, decide which ones to fix first. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is this issue stopping my pages from showing in search results? For example, if Google can’t crawl a page, it won’t show up in search results, so fixing that should be your top priority.
- Is the issue affecting many pages on my site? If you have missing title tags or broken links across several pages, fix those right away.
- Is it affecting important pages? If a key page like a product page or homepage, is having issues, fix it right away to avoid losing traffic.
- How much time will it take to fix? Some problems, like fixing a title tag, are quick. Others, like fixing broken links, might take more time.
Example of Prioritizing Fixes
- 404 Error on a Product Page: This is urgent. If people can’t reach a product page, you might lose sales. Fix it as soon as possible.
- A Folder Is Blocked from Indexing: If Google cannot index a folder containing quality content, the material will not be visible on search results. Make a change to your robots.txt file to allow Google to crawl it.
- Title Tags Over 60 Characters: This is important but less urgent than other issues. You should fix it, but it can wait until more critical problems are addressed.
It is always best to perform an SEO audit every 3 months. Auditing on a regular basis keeps your site healthy and lets you optimize your SEO according to changes in your site.
It is a requirement to do an SEO audit if you want your website to be ranked highly in search engines. Regular auditing will allow you to correct mistakes and have a smooth running on your website. Don’t miss it!
3. Find the Right Keywords
Keywords are what one searches for when one is searching for something using Google. Proper usage of keywords causes your site to show on search results if one is searching for your service or product.
Here’s how to find the best keywords for your website:
1. Put Yourself in Your Customer’s Shoes
Don’t just go for keywords with a lot of searches. They might be too competitive. Instead, find keywords with a good number of searches but not too much competition. For example, “cheap running shoes” might have a lot of searches, but it’s hard to rank for. Think from their perspective to choose the right words.
2. Use Free Tools for Keyword Research
Also, there are free software (Google Keyword Planner and Ubersuggest) that can be utilized to find out what people are searching for. These reflect how popular a keyword is on Google and also how competitive it is.
- Google Keyword Planner: This tool enables you to discover keywords for your business and reveals to you the number of people who are looking for any keyword.
- Ubersuggest: One tool that gives you keyword ideas and how difficult it will be to rank for them.
3. Pick Keywords with the Right Balance
Don’t just go for keywords with a lot of searches. They might be too competitive. Instead, find keywords with a good number of searches but not too much competition. For example, “cheap running shoes” might have a lot of searches, but it’s hard to rank for. “Best budget-friendly running shoes” might be a better choice because it’s more specific.
4. Use Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are longer, more descriptive phrases. For instance, rather than “running shoes,” use “best running shoes for flat feet” or “cheap running shoes for women.” These are less competitive to rank for and bring in individuals who are searching for precisely what you offer.
How to Use Keywords on Your Website
Once you have your keywords, it’s time to use them on your website:
- Title tags: This is the text that shows up in search results. Use your main keyword here.
- Headings: Include your keyword in the headings of your pages to show what your page is about.
- Content: Use your keywords naturally in the text. Don’t stuff them in, but make sure they fit well.
- URLs: Try to include your main keyword in the page URL.
- Always incorporate keywords that represent what your visitors are looking for and what your page offers.
- Keyword trends change over time. Therefore, it is best to fine-tune your keywords along the way.
Choosing the right keywords gets your site showing up for the right searches. Using free resources and wondering what your customers are looking for, you can discover keywords that increase your rankings and get more traffic to your website.
4. Optimize Your Website’s Content
Optimizing your website’s content means making sure it’s easy to read, valuable to your audience, and easy for search engines to understand.
Here are some practical steps you can take to optimize your content for SEO:
1. Use Keywords Naturally
Once you’ve performed your keyword research (e.g., “doing SEO on your own” or “DIY SEO tips”), integrate them in your content. Don’t keyword stuff—place them naturally, e.g., in titles, subheadings, and even in the body of your content. This will get your page on the screen when a user searches for these keywords.
2. Write for Your Audience First
Prioritize creating content that answers questions or solves problems the readers have. Keyword usage will play a part, but maintain it in the background of content creation that would be helpful for your readers. For example, if you’re creating content regarding DIY SEO optimization, give readers clear, explicit steps that can be utilized in order to further their own SEO.
3. Optimize Titles and Meta Descriptions
Your page’s title and meta description are two of the first things users will see in search results. So it’s important that they’re optimized for both your users and SEO. Don’t forget to add your keyword naturally and write something that, in plain English, tells the user what to expect on the page. For instance, “How to Do Your Own SEO: Simple DIY Tips” is written in plain English and is keyword-ffective.
4. Improve Content Readability
Google likes reader-friendly content. The easier your visitors can scan your writing and find the information they need, the longer they will stay, which is great for SEO. Use shorter paragraphs, bullet points, and images or infographics to increase engagement on your site. Be readable with short, simple sentences.
5. Optimize for Mobile
Mobile browsing is huge. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’ll lose customers. Ensure your site adapts to all screen sizes, with readable text and easy menus. Speed matters, too; slow loading will send users away. Make mobile users’ experience smooth and fast.
6. Add Internal Links
Internal linking is key for SEO. It helps users find more helpful pages and shows search engines how your content connects. If you’re writing about DIY SEO optimization, link to detailed tutorials. For summary articles, link to deeper dives on specific topics. Strategic internal links guide visitors and create a clear, navigable structure for search engines to understand your site.
7. Update Old Content
Outdated, old content can influence your rankings. If you have old pages or blog entries that are not doing that well, revisit and update them. Revise the information, insert new information, and ensure that the content remains timely. This will keep you at the forefront of SEO and drive more visitors to your site.
Optimizing your content is an important aspect of how to do your own SEO. By making sure that your content is useful, well formatted, and easily accessible, you will increase the likelihood of higher ranking in search results and drive more traffic to your website.
5. Link Your Pages Together
Linking your pages is an easy but important SEO step. It helps visitors and search engines find more of your content. Why linking is important:
- Helps Users Find More
- Helps Google Understand Your Site
- Spread Link Juice
How to Link Your Pages
- Start with Key Page: Make sure important pages like your homepage or service pages are linked to other relevant content on your site. This helps Google know which pages matter the most.
- Use Descriptive Text for Links: When you link, use clear and meaningful words that explain where the link goes. Instead of “click here,” use words that tell users what the page is about, like “learn about our services.”
- Link from Blog Posts: If you write blog posts, make sure to link to your main service or product pages. This helps guide your readers and shows Google these pages are important.
- Don’t Overdo It: Avoid adding too many links on one page. Too many links can confuse users and hurt your rankings. Stick to linking what makes sense.
If you have a page on “SEO Basics,” you can link it to another page on “Advanced SEO Tips.” This way, someone reading about SEO basics can find more detailed content easily.
Linking your pages the right way is a simple DIY SEO tip that can improve both your rankings and your website’s user experience.
6. Earn Backlinks Naturally
Backlinks are essential for improving your website’s SEO. They show search engines that other websites trust your content. The more backlinks you have from trusted websites, the better your chances of ranking higher. But how to get backlinks without paying
1. Guest Posting
Guest posting is a great way to get backlinks. Find websites in your industry that accept guest posts, and offer to write content for them. In your post, include a link back to your site. This builds a relationship with the website owner and helps you get valuable backlinks.
2. Create Shareable Content
Content that is useful, informative, or entertaining is more likely to be shared. Create valuable content that people will want to link to. Share it on social media and other platforms, and encourage others to share it as well.
2. PR Link Building
Public relations (PR) link building helps you get backlinks from news websites or high-authority blogs. You can do this by sharing press releases or announcing exciting news about your business. If the story is newsworthy, other websites will link back to it.
4. Use Broken Links
Look for broken links on websites in your niche. When you find a broken link, reach out to the website owner and let them know. Suggest that they replace the broken link with a link to your content if it’s relevant. This is a helpful and non-invasive way to earn a backlink.
How Outreach Monks Can Help
Building backlinks can be a time-consuming task, but it’s essential for your site’s success. Outreach Monks specializes in helping businesses like yours earn high-quality backlinks through proven methods like guest posting, niche edits, and blogger outreach. With our experience and expertise, we can help you boost your SEO and achieve better rankings.
Want to start building high-quality backlinks? Contact Outreach Monks today, and we’ll help you get the backlinks your website deserves!
7. Monitor SEO Performance
Monitoring your SEO performance is like checking if your efforts are paying off. If you’re putting in the work, you want to make sure you’re moving in the right direction, right? Here’s how you can check.
- Use Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a free tool that shows you how many people are visiting your website, which pages they are looking at, and how long they stay. It tells you what’s working and where you need to improve.
- Track Your Keyword Rankings: Tools like Google Search Console or Ahrefs can help you track how well you’re ranking for your keywords. If your rankings drop, that’s a sign you need to adjust something.
- Monitor Website Traffic: Check how much traffic your website is getting. If it’s increasing, your SEO efforts are working. If it’s going down, you may need to change your strategy. Google Analytics is useful for this.
- Check Backlinks: It’s important to know how many websites are linking to yours. Backlinks help boost your site’s trust and authority. Tools like Ahrefs or Moz can help you track your backlinks.
- Check Your Site’s Speed: Google cares about how fast your site loads. If it’s slow, you could be losing visitors. Use Google PageSpeed Insights to check your site’s speed and improve it.
What to Look for in Your Reports
Here are a few important metrics (KPIs) you should track to see if your SEO is working:
- Organic Traffic: The number of visitors coming from search engines.
- Keyword Rankings: How well your site ranks for targeted keywords.
- Backlinks: The number of quality links pointing to your site.
- Bounce Rate: How many people leave your site without browsing further?
- Conversion Rate: How many visitors take the desired action (buy something, sign up, etc.).
By keeping an eye on these, you’ll know exactly how well your SEO is working and where to make changes.
Keep Adjusting
SEO isn’t a one-time job. It’s something you need to keep an eye on. Regular monitoring helps you make sure your website is always improving and getting better rankings.
8. Keep Updating & Improving
SEO isn’t something you can do once and forget about. It’s a process that requires regular updates and improvements. Here’s how you can keep improving:
1. Add New Content
Add new content to your website regularly. It can be blog posts, new products, or even a fresh page. This keeps your site interesting and encourages search engines to revisit your site often.
2. Use New Keywords
Search trends change over time. New keywords may become popular, so keep an eye on keyword trends. Make sure your content is optimized for these new search terms.
3. Fix Technical Problems
SEO isn’t just about content. It’s also about making sure your website works properly. Check for any technical issues, like broken links or slow-loading pages. Running regular checks helps catch problems early.
4. Engage with Your Audience
Respond to comments or feedback. Engaging with your readers can help build trust and improve your site’s performance in search engines.
5. Update Your Meta Tags
Make sure your title tags and descriptions are still relevant. If your pages have changed, update these details so they match the content. It helps improve your click-through rate and can improve rankings.
6. Track Your Competitors
Look at what your competitors are doing. If they are ranking for certain keywords or adding new content, it might be worth looking into. This keeps you competitive and relevant.
Make it a habit to check and update your content at least every three months. By staying consistent with updates, your website will stay fresh, relevant, and properly optimized for SEO. Regular updates are essential to your site’s long-term success.
DIY SEO Tools You’ll Need
If you want to do SEO on your own, you don’t need to spend money on tools. Here are the key free tools that can help:
- Google Search Console: Tracks your website’s health and tells you if there are any problems, like missing pages in search results or errors that need fixing.
- Google Analytics: This shows you how much traffic your site gets, where it’s coming from, and what pages people are visiting.
- Google Keyword Planner: This helps you find the right keywords for your website. It tells you how popular certain keywords are and how tough it is to rank for them.
- Yoast SEO (for WordPress): A plugin for WordPress that helps you optimize your content, like titles and descriptions, to make sure your pages are search-engine friendly.
- GTmetrix / PageSpeed Insights: Checks how fast your website loads. A fast site is important for both user experience and SEO.
These free tools will cover most of your DIY SEO needs without spending any money. Use them wisely, and you’re good to go!
When Should You Get Expert Help?
DIY SEO can work well, but sometimes you might need help from a professional. Here’s when it’s best to call in an expert:
- If Your Website Gets a Google Penalty: If Google gives your site a penalty, it can be tough to recover. An expert can help fix the problem and get your site back to where it should be.
- When You Need High-Quality Backlinks: Getting good backlinks is key for SEO, but it’s not always easy. If you’re struggling or need high-quality backlinks quickly, experts can help you get the right links from the right sites.
- If Your Site Has Technical SEO Problems: Technical issues like slow site speed or problems with mobile use can hurt your rankings. If you don’t know how to fix these issues, an expert can make sure your site is in good shape.
- If You’re Stuck and Not Seeing Results: If you’ve tried doing SEO on your own and aren’t seeing any improvement, it may be time to ask for help. Experts can review your strategy and find out what’s holding you back.
DIY SEO is great to start with, but if you hit a wall, getting an expert’s help can save you time and effort. They know how to solve problems faster and get better results!
Conclusion
SEO might seem like a lot of work, but you can handle it yourself with the right approach. By focusing on key areas, you can improve your website’s ranking step by step. It’s all about keeping things simple, making small improvements, and staying consistent.
As you progress, keep in mind that SEO is an ongoing process, and it pays off over time. And if you hit a tough spot or feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek expert help. Remember, the journey to better SEO is about taking it one step at a time. You’ve got this!
FAQs on DIY SEO
How Long Does It Take To See Results From DIY SEO?
SEO can take a few weeks to months, depending on your efforts and competition.
Do I Need To Learn Technical SEO To Do DIY SEO?
You don't need to be a tech expert. Basic knowledge is enough, and tools can guide you
Should I Focus More On Keywords Or Backlinks?
Focus on both. Keywords help with visibility, while backlinks build authority.
Is DIY SEO Good For All Businesses?
DIY SEO works well for small businesses. Larger or more competitive sites may need expert help.
What Happens If I Don't Do SEO For My Website?
Your site may not appear in search results, losing potential visitors.
Can DIY SEO Hurt My Website?
If done correctly, it won’t harm your site. Avoid bad practices like keyword stuffing.
Sahil Ahuja
