17 proven SEO strategies to attract more clients

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become an essential strategy for businesses that want to attract more customers and increase their revenue. Effective SEO can help your website rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) and drive more traffic to your site, which translates into more leads and, ultimately, more clients. According to a survey, 61% of marketers say improving SEO and growing organic presence is their top inbound marketing priority. Additionally, businesses that invest in SEO are 13 times more likely to see a positive return on investment. By utilizing proven SEO tactics, you can attract more potential clients and take your business to the next level. In this article, we'll delve into the importance of SEO for businesses and explore effective strategies to attract more clients by leveraging SEO best practices.

The value of SEO for your business 

1. Drawing in organic traffic 

Organic Search is the lifeblood of online traffic. Attracting online visitors organically is crucial for the success of any web-based business. This is because a considerable amount of online traffic is generated from leading search engines such as Bing, Google, and Yahoo. As reported by BrightEdge, more than two-thirds (68%) of all online experiences initiate from search engine results pages (SERPs). Moreover, organic search contributes to over half (53.3%) of all website traffic. Hence, deploying effective and efficient SEO techniques can significantly increase your SERP rankings, which can positively impact your visibility to prospective clients.

2. Building credibility and trust

Credibility and trust are crucial components of a successful SEO strategy. In fact, according to statistics, 75% of online users never scroll past the first page of search results. This statistic makes it clear that appearing on the first page of search results is critical to earning the trust and credibility of your target audience. Search engines like Google utilize complex algorithms prioritizing high-quality, authoritative, and relevant content. As a result, websites that consistently produce content that meets these criteria are perceived as more credible and trustworthy by both users and search engines alike. By building credibility and trust by creating high-quality content and optimizing search engine rankings, businesses can effectively establish a strong online presence and connect with their target audience. 

3. Cost-effective marketing 

SEO is a cost-effective marketing strategy compared to traditional advertising methods or pay-per-click campaigns. A survey by Search Engine Journal found that the average cost per lead for SEO was $14.06, while the average cost per lead for the paid search was $19.23. Investing in SEO can save on marketing costs while achieving better results.

17 Key SEO Strategies to Attract More Clients 

Now that we understand the importance of SEO let's explore some strategies you can implement to attract more clients.

1. Create high-quality content that answers users' queries effectively

Google's algorithms prioritize content that provides valuable information to users. Research popular keywords within your niche and incorporate them into your content in a natural and relevant manner. According to HubSpot, companies that publish 16+ blog posts per month get 3.5x more traffic and 4.5x more leads than those that publish 0-4 monthly posts.

2. Develop long-form content

Longer content tends to rank higher in search results. According to a study by SerpIQ, the average word count of a first-page result is 1,890 words. Longer content provides more opportunities for keyword optimization and generates more backlinks, both of which improve SEO.

3. Optimize for mobile devices

More than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices, making mobile-friendliness a crucial aspect of SEO. Use a responsive design to ensure your website looks and performs well on all devices. According to Google, 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they had trouble accessing, and 40% visit a competitor's site instead.

4. Improve site speed

A fast-loading website is critical for user experience and SEO. Google's research shows that 53% of mobile users abandon a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load. To improve site speed, reduce image file sizes, use a content delivery network (CDN), and enable browser caching.

5. Optimize site structure

A well-organized site structure makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your pages. Use clear and descriptive URLs, create a sitemap, and optimize your site's internal linking structure.

6. Use keywords strategically

Identify relevant keywords that potential clients are searching for and incorporate them into your content in a natural and relevant manner. According to Search Engine Journal, long-tail keywords (those with three or more words) drive 70% of all search traffic.

7. Build quality backlinks

Backlinks, or links from other websites to your own, are crucial to SEO. Focus on building quality backlinks from reputable sources within your niche. According to Backlinko, websites with a high number of backlinks tend to rank higher in search results. Social media can also work great for building backlinks to your website, which can improve your website's visibility and attract more potential clients. According to a study by Hootsuite, social media profiles and pages can generate high-quality backlinks to your website.

8. Use social media to promote your content

Social media can be a powerful tool for driving website traffic and increasing online visibility. Share your content on social media platforms where your target audience is most active, and encourage others to share it as well. According to HubSpot, companies that regularly post on social media generate 2.3x more engagement than those that post less frequently.

9. Use local SEO to attract clients in your area

If you have a brick-and-mortar location or serve clients in a specific geographic area, optimizing for local SEO can help you attract more clients. According to a study by Moz, 97% of people learn more about a local company online than anywhere else.

Claim your Google My Business listing, include local keywords in your content, and encourage clients to leave reviews. 

10. Use video content to engage potential clients

Video content is becoming increasingly popular and can be a powerful tool for engaging potential clients. According to HubSpot, 85% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, and 92% of marketers say that video is an important part of their marketing strategy.

11. Monitor and analyze your SEO efforts

Regularly monitoring and analyzing your SEO efforts is essential for improving and refining your strategy. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track website traffic, keyword rankings, and other important metrics.

12. Utilize voice search optimization

With the rise of smart speakers and voice assistants, optimizing your website for voice search can help you attract more potential clients. ComScore says 50% of all searches will be voice searches by 2022.

13. Optimize for featured snippets

Featured snippets are brief answers that appear at the top of some search engine results pages. Optimizing your content for featured snippets can increase your visibility and attract more potential clients. According to Ahrefs, 12.3% of all search queries have a featured snippet and receive an average click-through rate of 8.6%.

14. Use schema markup

Schema markup is a form of microdata that helps search engines understand the content on your website. Using schema markup can improve your website's visibility and attract more potential clients. According to a study by Searchmetrics, pages with schema markup rank an average of four positions higher in search results than those without schema markup.

15. Focus on user experience

Providing a positive user experience is essential for attracting and retaining potential clients. A study by Google found that websites that load in 5 seconds or less have 70% longer average sessions, 35% lower bounce rates, and 25% higher ad viewability than those that take longer to load.

16. Improve your website's meta descriptions

Meta descriptions are the brief snippets of text that appear below your website's URL in search engine results pages. Writing compelling meta descriptions can increase click-through rates and attract more potential clients. According to a study by Yoast, well-written meta-descriptions can improve click-through rates by up to 5.8%.

17. Use internal linking to improve the website structure

Internal linking, or linking from one page on your website to another, can improve website structure and help search engines understand the relationship between your pages. According to a study by Backlinko, pages with more internal links tend to rank higher in search engine results pages.