If you want to get higher search engine rankings, I recommend a strategy called “Landing Page SEO.” In a nutshell, you build 1 high-quality landing page for each of your target keyword phrases. Then, you track your monthly SEO results and improve each of your landing pages based on those results. Here’s a simple 5-step process you can use…
1. Identify your target keywords.
Great SEO begins with keywords. If you choose the wrong keywords, it could mean spending lots of time building an SEO campaign that never matures. If you choose the right keywords, on the other hand, you can make progress faster and get results sooner. I recommend choosing 5-15 keyword phrases and no more to start. The fewer the keywords, the better. You want to be laser-focused with your SEO, so the more keywords you need to manage, the more difficult that process will be. Be sure the keywords you do choose are highly relevant to your type of business.
2. Run an initial rankings report.
Once you know which keywords you want to target, you need to run an initial rankings report for Google, Yahoo, and Bing — the 3 most important search engines. Running an initial rankings report is something like weighing yourself just before starting a weight loss routine or diet. You need to face reality and accept where you really are. Denial is a real obstacle, and taking stock of where your website currently ranks right now will help you face reality immediately.
3. Create a landing page for each keyword.
Next, you’ll need to begin building your landing pages. In most cases, you’ll need one landing page for each keyword phrase. Sometimes, you may have several keywords that can be easily batched together under the same landing page. But if you’re just getting started with this process, you’ll probably want your keywords to be unique and distinct enough to represent separate landing pages. Your landing pages should be 750-1500 words or so. Longer definitely is better, though not always necessary. Start with 750-1000 words and add length if you’re not getting page one results.
4. Track your rankings progress monthly.
Each month, you should run another rankings report to track your progress. Again, do this for at least Google, Yahoo, and Bing. These 3 search engines will give you enough of a cross-section to represent any other peripheral search engines. I don’t recommend tracking rankings any more frequently than once per month simply because of the daily and even weekly natural changes in search engines. Monthly rankings reports will give you the right feedback to track your SEO progress.
5. Update, optimize, and improve your landing pages.
Each month, you should also spend time on your landing pages. You need to either create new landing pages for each of your target phrases or you need to update, improve, and optimize the landing pages you did create. I recommend focusing your attention at the “bottom” of your rankings report. If you’re using a typical rankings tracker (I recommend www.SeoKeywordRanking.com) then the bottom of your monthly rankings reports will display the lowest-performing keywords. These are the keywords and landing pages that need extra work.
And there you have it — my simple 5-step process for getting higher SEO rankings with your landing pages. It really is a predictable process. Simply spend a few hours each month working on your landing pages and watch your rankings grow with time.
by Jason Clegg
