SaaS SEO best practices: dos and don'ts

“Why is SEO so important?”

SEO is like having a superpower that lets you fly higher than your competitors in search engine results. With good SEO, your website can be a shining beacon in a sea of online noise, attracting visitors like moths to a flame. 

If you’re just starting off with SaaS SEO or are a seasoned expert, use this blog to explore some of the most critical dos and don'ts to improve your SEO best practices.

The dos of SEO best practices

Do focus on user experience:

One of the key SEO best practices is creating an outstanding user experience. 

This means designing a website that is:

• Easy to navigate
• Has useful information
• Has fast loading times
• And is optimized for mobile devices

When users have a positive experience on your website, they are more likely to return and share your content, leading to more traffic and higher rankings. Sometimes we call these criteria “useful and usable.”

HubSpot.com is a great example of a SaaS website that truly cares about its users. They have a clean, easy-to-navigate site with high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and is optimized for mobile devices, making it a breeze to use. 

Even better, they offer valuable and engaging content like their resources page that attracts links and shares, which can boost their search engine rankings. Prioritizing the user experience, HubSpot is able to create a win-win situation for both its users and their SEO efforts.

Do conduct keyword research: 

Keyword research is essential for any successful SEO strategy. By identifying the keywords and phrases that your target audience is using, you can optimize your content and website to rank for those terms. 

Conducting keyword research can help:

• Understand who your competitors are, what they’re doing well, and where you’re falling short.
• Optimize your content for search engines. By analyzing search trends and understanding how search engines rank content, you can make sure that your content is optimized for maximum visibility and engagement.
• Improve content quality by identifying the right keywords and phrases to target in your content. By understanding what your audience is searching for, you can create content that is tailored to their needs and interests.

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find high-volume, low-competition keywords that are relevant to your business and kick-start your SEO strategy.

Do optimize your on-page content: 

Think of on-page optimizations like giving your website a makeover. By sprucing up your content, fixing any broken links, and organizing your pages in a logical way, you're creating a better user experience for your visitors. 

On-page optimization includes improving your website's content, meta descriptions, and tags. Use your primary keywords in your page titles, headings, and body copy, but make sure to avoid keyword stuffing. Additionally, use meta descriptions and tags to provide context for search engines and users, and make sure they are unique for each page.

Do build high-quality backlinks: 

Backlinks are essential to any successful SEO strategy. When other websites link to your content, search engines see this as a vote of confidence, indicating that your content is valuable and authoritative. However, not all backlinks are created equal. Focus on building high-quality, relevant links from authoritative websites in your industry.

Some quick tips for increasing backlinks include:

• Create high-quality content: focus on creating high-quality, informative, and engaging content that provides value to your audience.
• Participate in online communities: Participate in online communities and forums related to your niche. Share your content and engage with other members.
• Guest blogging: another way to build backlinks is by guest blogging on other websites. This not only allows you to showcase your expertise but also provides an opportunity to link back to your own website.

Do monitor your analytics: 

Use tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, or Hubspot to track your website's traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. It's like having a crystal ball that tells you exactly what's working and what's not. Use this data to make informed decisions about your SEO strategy and identify opportunities for growth. 

And remember, SEO is an ongoing process, and it's important to regularly review your analytics and adjust your strategy accordingly. Identify areas for improvement, set new goals, and continually optimize your website for better search engine visibility. Don’t change your strategy too often though, you need to give SEO optimizations time to see if they’re working. 

The don’ts of SEO best practices

Don't overuse keywords: 

Search engines are smarter than you think. They can easily detect when you're trying to stuff your website with keywords in an attempt to improve your ranking. This is known as keyword stuffing, and it's a big no-no in the world of SEO. Search engines may even penalize your website for it, pushing it further down the search engine results pages.

Your website is meant to be read by humans, not robots. Overusing keywords can make your content sound forced and unnatural, which is a major turnoff for users and could cause higher bounce rates on your page. Your website should provide value to your audience, and if you're just stuffing it with keywords, you're not delivering on that promise.

In short, using too many keywords can actually backfire and hurt your SEO efforts. It's important to strike a balance and use them in a natural and relevant way. Everything in moderation - including keywords!

Don't ignore mobile optimization: 

Ignoring mobile optimization for SEO is like only brushing the front part of your hair. Sure, you might be comfortable, but you're only presentable to a certain number of people. In today's digital age, more and more people are accessing websites on their mobile devices. 

If your website isn't optimized for mobile, you'll miss out on a lot of potential traffic and engagement. Not to mention, Google has made it clear that mobile optimization is a key factor in their search algorithm. 

In order to ensure your website is optimized for mobile devices, check on these items: 

• Use a responsive design: A responsive design means that your website will automatically adjust to fit the screen size of the device it's being viewed on. Talk to your developer if you don’t know how to implement this yourself. 
• Compress images: Large images can slow down your website and make it difficult to load on mobile devices. Compress your images to reduce their file size and improve load times.
• Simplify navigation: Mobile devices have smaller screens, so it's important to simplify your website's navigation to make it easier for users to find what they're looking for.
• Use larger fonts: Small fonts can be difficult to read on mobile devices. Use larger fonts to ensure that your content is easily readable on any device.
• Test, test, test: Testing your website on various mobile devices is key to ensuring that it looks and functions properly. Use tools like Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to identify any issues and make necessary adjustments.

Don't ignore social media:

While social media doesn't directly impact your website's rankings, it can still be an essential part of your SEO strategy. Sharing your content on social media can help drive traffic to your website, increase brand awareness, and build backlinks.

Create content that resonates with your target demographic, making it more likely that your audience will share it with their friends and followers. Also, use eye-catching visuals, catchy headlines, and witty captions to grab people's attention and encourage them to engage with their content.

Social media is just one piece of the SEO puzzle. But by using it effectively, you can improve your website's visibility, and attract more traffic. 

Don't forget about local SEO: 

If you have a local business, local SEO is crucial for driving traffic and leads. If you are a pizza place in the neighborhood, you want to be the go-to spot, not Pizza Hut. It's important to optimize your website and online presence for local SEO - so that you show up on the first page of search results and can attract more customers in your area. This includes optimizing your website for local keywords, claiming your Google My Business listing, and building local backlinks.

A couple of tips to be the #1 spot include:

• Making sure your profile is complete and up-to-date, including your business name, address, phone number, hours of operation, and photos.
• Getting listed in local directories: Make sure your business is listed in relevant local directories such as Yelp or TripAdvisor.  
• Trying to get other local websites to link to your website. This can help improve your website's authority and increase your search engine rankings.

By following these tips and putting in a little effort, you can improve your online presence and become the local business everyone is talking about.

Fueling your organic growth with SEO best practices for SaaS

By now, you should have a better understanding of what it takes to optimize your website and improve your online visibility. Remember, SEO is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. It takes time, effort, and a lot of trial and error to get it right. But with the right approach, you can achieve great results and take your website to the next level.