SEO For New Websites: Proven Strategies To Learn & Copy

Organic search drives 44.6% of revenue across many industries. So in this article, we will explore SEO for your new website to help it climb the ranks in Google search results and other search engines. We will also dive into the common pitfalls you can face and a quick rundown on how to avoid them.

By the end, you can have a search engine optimization toolbox ready and easy to use to increase your organic traffic and search engine rankings.

6 SEO Strategies To Boost Your New Site

Get your digital notepad, copy-paste the practical steps on how to apply these strategies, and write down one action from them you can do right now to get higher search engine results.

1. Understand Your Audience’s Needs With Keyword Research

Find out what your target audience is searching for and go beyond just the popular search terms. This helps you build a new website that truly answers their questions and solves their problems.

You can also uncover niche topics and find specific areas your audience cares about that competitors might miss. What does this do for you?

Increase user engagement. You can create content that keeps them on your site longer and browsing. These relevant keywords help Google understand what your site or content offers, giving you a better chance to rank higher.

What To Do

First, think of a broad topic or your seed keywords. So consider the main products or services your business offers and the niche you are a part of. Then, ask yourself who your customer is and what problem your business solves for them.

Let’s say you are selling one of today’s hottest products: eco-friendly and sustainable items. Here’s what your seed keyword list can look like:

Next, choose one from your list and input it into keyword research tools like Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer feature. You can also use its AI to get more seed keywords:

But if you are set on a broad term already, click Search to get this overview:

As you can see, the term “eco-friendly products” has a keyword difficulty of 50. This means it is quite competitive and can be challenging for a new website to rank quickly. Instead, you need to target search terms with lower difficulty scores. 

Ideally, go for the ones under 30 to make it easier to rank for and still attract relevant traffic. To find such terms, go to this “Keyword Ideas” section from the overview:

Focus on “Terms Match” since this list shows the keywords that include every word from your seed search term. Click “View all” and once the list loads, use the “KD” filter to find terms with lower difficulty levels:

From the refreshed list, look for terms with low difficulty levels but a good search volume (100 and up). After you choose, go to the “SERP” column to analyze the keyword. 

Here’s an example: "eco-friendly beauty products" has a keyword difficulty (KD) of 6 and a 150 search volume, making it a good target keyword.

To analyze, check what is ranking for that keyword. Click those webpage links and see the type of content they have. Is it a landing page, a product page, or a blog post?

Take note of what they included on their page. For example, what kind of information did they include and how did they present it on their page?

Then, consider what you can add to make your content better. Can you change the angle and improve on what is already there? Maybe you can provide more detailed information, include user reviews, or add high-quality images to enhance your page.

Now, we know this is overwhelming, especially since you will have to do this process repeatedly. So hire a marketing assistant with keyword research experience. They can compile seed terms and list target keywords for your new site. Also, do not worry about the costs since if you hire virtually, it is much more economical.

2. Analyze User Behavior With Heatmaps

Look at visual representations of where your site visitors click, scroll, and hover on your web pages. Heatmaps give you a clearer picture of how users interact with your site.

Use this strategy to identify high-interest areas. For example, see which content engages your visitors so you can optimize them further and improve your overall on-page SEO. In contrast, if your CTA is barely getting any clicks, maybe move it somewhere else on your site. To get more conversions.

Additionally, when you see where users struggle or lose interest, you can make your site more user-friendly. Happy visitors mean lower bounce rates, which improves your SEO efforts since user experience is a key ranking factor. 

What To Do

Leverage Lucky Orange’s software. We offer dynamic heatmaps and session recordings that show exactly how users interact with your site pages. You can watch both to see the user journey from start to finish on a specific page.

Use this to pinpoint exactly where improvements are needed. For instance, let’s say your users spend a lot of time on your product descriptions but quickly leave the reviews section. You can refine your review section with more detailed testimonials or make it more visually appealing.

Then, set a timeline to measure your changes’ impact. For example, gather a month's worth of data after implementing the change and analyze it to see if there are any improvements.

With this SEO strategy, you can make targeted changes that enhance user engagement to ultimately push your site’s ranking on search engines higher. 

3. Drive Organic Growth Using User-Generated Content (UGC)

88% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

UGC adds genuine voices to make your website’s content more trustworthy and credible. It also keeps your site or content fresh and sends signals to search engine algorithms that your site is active. 

You can also use this strategy to have keyword variation. Customers naturally use different keywords and phrases in their reviews, helping you rank for a broader range of search terms.

What To Do

Ask your customers to leave reviews after their purchase. To make this easy, send follow-up emails with a direct link to the review page. You can also send surveys using Lucky Orange’s software since it lets you add multiple choice, ratings, and open-ended questions. 

Also, hold contests that encourage them to submit photos or stories about your products. Then, reward the best entries with discounts or free items.

Once you have your testimonials ready, create a specific section for them on your site. Use direct quotes to strengthen how credible other users see your brand. 

Here’s a great example from Main Clinic Supply:

Remember what we said about keyword variation? Main Clinic Supply’s reviews perfectly represent that. You can see that the brand name and product names were mentioned.

Additionally, you can follow in their footsteps and display the reviews on your homepage while still having a dedicated web page for them. This way, you cover more ground, especially since the homepage is where many customers land first. 

4. Build Backlinks To Strengthen Your Site’s Authority

Backlinks, aka inbound links, are links from other websites that direct to your site. They act as votes of confidence that signal search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy.

Why are they good for your new site’s off-page SEO?

When users find your link on relevant pages, they are more likely to click it. With this, you can increase your site traffic. 

In addition, backlinks from reputable sites strengthen your site’s authority. When Google gets wind of that, it increases your chance of ranking higher. 

What To Do

You can get backlinks through several link-building tactics:

The most popular is through digital PR, which involves reaching out to journalists and bloggers to get mentions or features in articles and news stories. You can submit press releases or do interviews.

If you have a lot of connections or have a budget to spare, this is an easier way to get backlinks from highly authoritative news sites or blogs.

But if you do not have the resources, the next most effective way to do link-building is through guest posts. So look for websites in your niche that accept guest posts. Simply go to Google Search and input these terms:

• Write for us {your niche}

• Guest post guidelines {your niche}

Here’s an example if you are in the health niche:

Then, reach out to the website owners. Normally, they will already have the contact details on those “Write for us” pages.

So, how should you do it?

Introduce yourself and then mention something you genuinely like about their website or a specific content piece. After that, say you saw they accept guest posts and suggest a few topics. Briefly share how your content will be valuable to their readers.

Here’s a sample you can tweak:

5. Tap Into Influencer Marketing To Amplify Your Message

45% of Gen Z buyers said Instagram is 1 of the 2 platforms influencing their purchase decisions.

This shows the social media influencers’ power in shaping buying habits. You can use their loyal, engaged audiences to expand your reach. 

• They share your content > you reach more people > get more traffic to your sites.

Additionally, if influencers link to your site, your backlink profile increases.

What To Do

First, you have to decide what influencer type to get, and here are your choices:

To maximize your marketing/SEO budget, hire a nano or micro-influencer first. Do not worry, their lower follower count is not a hindrance. They have higher engagement rates and maintain a closer relationship with their audience. 

That higher personal connection means their followers trust their recommendations more. Use this to your advantage to bring awareness to your site.

Next, it is time to find specific influencers. Use tools like Upfluence to find those who align with your brand’s values and audience. You can also use it to already connect with influencers and send your proposals. 

Here’s how to use it:

So what content should you collaborate on?

• Create tutorials, unboxing videos, or product reviews.

• Produce IG stories or reels to showcase your products. 

• Share blog post excerpts or infographics on their social channels and encourage followers to visit your site for more information.

For any post that mentions your product, ask them to include shoppable links to direct their followers to your product or shopping page.

6. Leverage Video Content To Increase Social Shares

It is 52% more likely that your video gets shared than any other content type.

Use this to increase the chances of sites linking back to your content and increase your site’s authority. Videos themselves can rank in Google's search results, driving more traffic to your site. 

What To Do

Identify topics relevant to your audience. So do the keyword research we discussed earlier to plan your video content. 

Next, write a clear, exciting, and engaging script. To do this, avoid complicated jargon. Save the technical terms for when your audience is experts like software engineers. Then, plan your visuals to match the message. You can use shareable presentation decks to make your storyboard and make sure everyone is on the same page. 

To shoot the video, use a good camera and microphone. Make sure there is proper lighting and clear audio too. 

Afterward, you have to edit and optimize it for ranking. So keep it concise and add captions and keywords in the title tags and description. You should also create an attention-grabbing thumbnail.

You should also include timestamps in your video. Here’s how:

Then, add structured data to your video to help search engines understand it. This gives you a bigger shot to have it show up on rich results, which means they will appear predominantly on Google. These rich results can include details like upload date, video length, and a preview of the video content, like this:

But adding structured data can be highly technical because it involves coding, so it is best to have your IT or developer handle this. Once that is ready, upload your video and embed it on your relevant web pages. 

7. Create Evergreen Content To Stay Relevant Over Time

Unlike news articles or trend-based posts that quickly become outdated, evergreen content addresses timeless topics that consistently attract readers. You can leverage this to drive continuous traffic to your new site and sustain your relevance.

Additionally, your evergreen topics can help you build authority in your niche. When you provide valuable topics consistently, you position your brand as a trusted source. This can encourage readers to your site and share your content with others. 

Here’s an example of good evergreen content: Best customer issue tracking software for 2024

Why?

The article provides a thorough resource for anyone researching the topic. It covers the benefits, features, use cases, software comparisons, internal links, and FAQs. These elements provide lasting information that remains relevant over time.

What To Do

Do keyword research to find terms that your audience is searching for. Remember the “Keyword Ideas” section on Ahrefs that we showed? After you get the main ideas or keywords from “Terms Match,” you can focus on these categories:

The "Questions" section is perfect for finding queries you can answer in your blog posts or articles. The "Also Talk About" section gives you ideas for other relevant topics you can discuss to provide comprehensive and valuable content.

You can also use Ahrefs’ “Identify Intents” feature to understand your audience’s search intent better. It shows what kind of information users expect when they search for that keyword.

Outside your keyword research tool, use Google’s “People Also Ask” section to find the most common questions users have about a topic. Here’s an example:

Next, create your outline: 

• Craft a title that clearly reflects your blog post’s main topic. 

• Write an intro that gives an overview of what is included in the article.

• Identify the key questions you’ll be answering and use them as headings.

• Under each heading, include subheadings to break down the content further.

• Summarize the key points and provide a clear call to action or next steps for the conclusion.

Then, dive in and create the piece. Follow the steps we showed you in our discussion about guest posts on how to make content that resonates and boosts your SEO.

But to further optimize our SEO efforts, include relevant terms in your meta description. Also, insert internal links to other pages on your site to improve navigation and keep your users exploring more.

Want to know which evergreen content hits the mark? Use Lucky Orange’s Conversion Funnel software to see which articles are converting users the best. Take note of them and update them with accurate, fresh information when necessary to make sure they stay valuable and relevant. 

3 Common SEO Pitfalls To Avoid As A New Website

As you read, write the practical points on how to fix them and create a checklist at the end to maintain an effective SEO strategy for your new website. 

I. Bypassing Local SEO

No local SEO strategy means you miss out on reaching potential customers in your community or city. Use it to stand out against nearby competitors who may not be optimizing locally. 

Plus, if you instill brand awareness into the locals, it boosts name recall and keeps your business top-of-mind.

How do you avoid this?

Go to Google Business Profile to create or claim your listing. Fill out all the details accurately, including your business name, location, phone number, and operating hours.

In addition, insert your brand’s city name with your keywords naturally into your content. Here’s a great example from Pinch:

So when someone searches for “Chicago lip filler at home,” this is the number 1 result:

You should also write blog posts about relevant local events or your community involvement. Use this chance to connect with your local audience and drive traffic to your site. 

II. Not Prioritizing SEO Tracking

Many businesses get so caught up in creating content and building backlinks that they forget to monitor their analytics closely. You need analytics to understand user behavior and know what is working or not. With this, you can adjust your SEO strategy as you uncover trends and opportunities in real-time. 

To avoid this pitfall, use free SEO tools like Google Search Console. If the numbers and graphs overwhelm you, watch the Search Console training videos from Google to make it easier for entrepreneurs like you.

You can also tap into another one of Google’s free tools: GA4. Google created various training series to help you get the most out of Google Analytics and boost your SEO performance.

III. Overlooking Mobile Compatibility

I cannot count the times I clicked on a website on my phone and ended up on a page where I had to scroll side to side to read the text or get greeted with large photos.

Mobile optimization is critical to your SEO success because it improves the user experience, resulting in longer browsing and higher engagement. Plus, a mobile-friendly site makes other sites more likely to link to you since they know their readers will have a seamless experience.

How do you implement mobile compatibility?

It requires technical knowledge to make your site responsive on mobile devices. Work with your IT or website developer to make sure they apply these best practices:

A great example of a brand with a mobile-friendly site is Pergola Kits USA:

The text and paragraphs are responsive, so you do not need to scroll side-to-side to read them. Plus, the photos are crisp and fit perfectly on a mobile screen. The menus and links are easy to navigate too.

Conclusion

To wrap up, get an SEO agency to conduct an SEO audit for your new website. This will help you identify which strategies to prioritize right now. Then, get a team together to handle specific responsibilities like content-making or link-building.

But remember, no matter what strategy you choose to apply now, it is not a one-time task. You need to consistently monitor how it affects your new site so you can adjust accordingly.