There are many factors that can affect SEO results. My SEO process include steps to follow that will address the most important factors that will have a noticeable impact on a website’s user experience and performance in organic search results.
SEO Process for an Existing Website
What is the SEO Process for an Existing Website?
There are 6 major steps to follow to improve SEO for an existing website. Search Engine Optimisation sometimes involves making small changes to parts of the website that could have a noticeable impact in the organic search results. Other times changes might be more complicated to implement. Each website has its own complexity, hence why there is a process in place. Please note that these steps might be adjusted pending on website requirements.
COLLECTING REQUIREMENT
COLLECTING REQUIREMENTThis involves understanding your business objectives, culture, and targets by reviewing any UX data, marketing research and any other business information.
KEYWORD RESEARCH
KEYWORD RESEARCHThe Keyword Research is crucial in an SEO project, to understand search behaviour of targeted audience, and intent. The keyword research creates the foundations of the website architecture and content strategy.
COMPETITORS ANALYSIS
COMPETITORS ANALYSISThis task helps to identify how your website competes in the Search Results Pages against your business and ranking competitors. The analysis provides insights on strategies needed to overcome competition.
SEO AUDIT
SEO AUDITThe website audit includes a thorough audit of technical, content and backlinks factors that can affect website rankings and traffic.
REPORTING, ANALYSIS AND TESTING
REPORTING, ANALYSIS AND TESTINGThis includes setting up analytics and reports. Data analysis is particularly important to measure success and ROI of your SEO and digital marketing efforts. SEO testing is used to improve website performance.
Step by Step SEO Process to Improve an Existing Website
STEP 1. Collecting Requirements
Getting a deep understanding of a business is crucial for the success of an SEO project. During this step, I supply a questionnaire and I review any marketing, UX and business data about the company and the website. It can be tedious or annoying to answer so many questions, but it is important to get a real understanding of your business objectives and limitations that could affect results. I need to have a clear picture of your targets and business to proceed to the next steps.
STEP 2. Keyword Research
This is by far the most important part of any SEO project. It is crucial to understanding your targeted audience, search behaviour and intent crucial. Data analysis is what drives your entire SEO strategy and can guide a business to accurately assess its strategic objectives and actions. The research will show what users are looking for and identify what content your website needs to target those users and intent. Keyword research analysis will show breakdown by audience and intent of your queries. You need to get a real understanding of your targeted audience to start creating content that matches that demand. Keywords’ findings are detrimental pieces of information and the baseline that will inform your website Information Architecture Strategy.
STEP 3. Competitors Analysis
The competitor’s analysis is broken down in two parts. The first part is done in combination with keyword research and the second part within an audit. During the first part, I look at how your website is positioned against your competitors for your targeted keywords and audience. During the second part, I look at your competitor’s links and social profiles. Both analyses are important to give insights and an understanding of the competitors landscape and can help setting up strategies to overcome competition.
STEP 4. SEO Audit
The website audit includes a thorough audit of technical, content and backlinks factors that affect website’s rankings, traffic, and conversions. It involves:
- Content analysis: according to keyword research findings, this analysis identifies what content is needed on the website to match users demand and intent. It also identifies any possible issue such as duplicate and low value/thin content issues, appropriate use of keywords and assess content Google’s quality requirements.
- Technical Audit: This includes an analysis of SEO technical elements that can impact website rankings and traffic. Audit findings and recommendations are then prioritised according to impact and effort time to implement.
STEP 5. Link Profile, Strategies, PR and Social Media
The backlinks profile analysis (or link profile analysis) provides feedback of the website current backlink landscape as well as an overview on how the website is positioned against top competitors.
There is not one size fits all when creating link building strategies, some strategies might be applicable to many websites, but in general each website needs a tailored approach. Social Media, PR and content marketing play an important role in building links to a website, hence why I work closely with the marketing team to coordinate SEO and SM, SEM and PR in parallel working together.
STEP 6. Reporting, Analysis & Testing
On-going reporting and analysis are needed to monitor KPIs and website performance. Pending on requirements I set up monthly reports and provide an in-depth analysis and feedback. I suggest this for any medium to long term SEO project. The depth of the analysis also depends on the project size.
Tests are done to improve conversions and users experience. Tests might involve things like comparing title tags or headings, adjust linking or changing layouts, images, and call to actions. Split A/B testing are often used to improve the performance of your SEO strategy and involves dividing traffic to two different versions of the same page.
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Get a Quote NowOptimise an Existing Website for Search Engines FAQs
How long does it take for SEO to show results?
It depends, but once implementations start, results can be immediate. Sometimes small changes can have a big impact. Again, it all depends on the task and the website complexity.
How long the SEO process to improve an existing website take?
In general, from point 1 to 4 it takes around 2/3 months to complete, this depends on the size of the business and the in-depth of the research as well as a company internal approval process (e.g., sign off the keyword research to start the next step). Once the audit is completed, tasks are organised into a 6–12-month roadmap, pending on the tasks, implementation resources, etc. Point 4, it is done once the audit is completed and as well introduced into a monthly plan.
Who is involved in the SEO process?
The SEO process involves many stakeholders in the business such as executives, marketing and content teams and developers. It is important that communication is clear and effective throughout the business.
How much doing SEO to improve an existing website costs?
It depends on the website size and complexity. Medium/large size websites need to be assessed as they require a tailored quote. Please get in touch to request a quote.