5 Proven Strategies for a Successful COVID-19 SEO Strategy

During Covid-19 we have seen a massive 70% increase in internet traffic. This means that SEO is now more important than ever before. In this blog post, discover our 5 top tips to help you continually improve your SEO strategy, during and after COVID-19.

During the lockdown, businesses were forced to shift their sales from their stores and offices to their websites. SEO played a significant role in allowing businesses to be discovered online, and if done correctly, it provided a significant opportunity for businesses to convert new customers.

We’re getting closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Shops have reopened, and we are no longer reliant on the internet for customer acquisition. However, this does not imply that SEO should be abandoned. Now is not the time to let up on the gas.

This blog will go over our five top tips for continuing to improve your SEO strategy during and after COVID-19.

1. Fresh and relevant content

Just because we’re out of lockdown doesn’t mean you should stop creating content. Google adores new content. And before you panic and try to write a million and one new blogs, remember that fresh content simply means up-to-date content.

So, basically, go back and repurpose some of your old blogs. Update the statistics, add more photos, maybe even a couple more paragraphs; whatever it takes to keep that piece of content up to date.

This is not to say that you cannot create new blogs if you so desire. If you have the time, create a backlog of blogs to be published over the next few weeks/months. Websites like ExplodingTopics.com and Google Trends show you what topics are currently trending so you can figure out what people are searching for and answer their questions.

2. Use your data to your advantage

If your website received an increase in visitors during the lockdown period, you have a significant advantage, even if this did not result in any additional conversions.

You can use the information gleaned from customer visits to your website to determine how well it is performing. Has one page resulted in more conversions than others? Customers are adding items to their baskets but not making a purchase. Have hundreds of potential customers visited your website but not a single one has made a purchase?

This information is priceless. It will enable you to make the necessary changes to ensure that your website functions properly. Work with your data and make the most of it, and don’t be afraid to make changes to improve your website over time.

3. Keep on top of the basics

It should go without saying; you need to keep on top of your SEO. SEO rarely gives you instant results (in some cases it could take up to six months to start seeing any results) so if you decide to suddenly stop your SEO campaign, you are setting yourself up to fail later in the year.

There are a few items that you should be checking regularly, such as your keywords. You should also check your page speed to see if your site is running quickly enough.

Running a site audit can also be very beneficial. It will provide you with a full report on all of the technical aspects of your website, allowing you to see what areas of your website need improving. 

4. Update your listings

You may have had to list your business as ‘temporarily closed’ or add limited hours to your Google My Business page as we entered lockdown during COVID-19. As we slowly return to normalcy and businesses reopen, make sure your Google My Business page has been updated with all of the correct and up-to-date information. The last thing you want is to reopen with no customers because Google is still reporting that you are closed.

Watch our short video that walks you through the simple process of updating your business hours on Google My Business here.

Also, don’t forget to update your listings in all directories, not just Google My Business. All of the information about your company that is available online must be consistent.

5. Get your website converting

If you follow the previous four tips, your website should be updated and healthy, so the only thing left to do is ensure that it is converting.

There are a few things you can do to improve your conversion rates. You can increase the number of opportunities for visitors to sign up for newsletters or download content by using sidebars or popups. You could even run a special promotion or promote specific freebies on your website.