There are many SEO tools available (Green Marketing)

Several years ago in this column, we addressed the basics of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
A great deal has changed since then. For instance, back then I advised creating great content and not worrying too much about SEO ranking.
You still want to put out great content, of course, but these days due to changes at the major online search engines, you will want to tailor that content to the exact keywords that your customers are searching on.
There are many SEO tools available like SEOquake or Woorank.
These can help you analyze your web pages and suggest fixes as well as additional keywords to use. Some compare you to competitor’s websites or show you your Google rankings and how they can be improved.
Chris Link is the co-owner of PlantAddicts.com, which sells plants to consumers through an online platform.
Formerly, he managed the SEO for OrientalTrading.com. He is an expert in maximizing traffic through keyword searches of common garden questions.
Link recommends using Keyword Planner, a free tool within the Google Adwords account to find out what consumers are searching for then answering those questions in relatively short (300 words or so) posts on your web site.
Each type of plant they sell has extensive growing information.
For instance, on PlantAddicts.com, there is just not one overall article on Hydrangea care; instead, there are over 20 separate articles addressing specific Hydrangea issues from “Winter Protection of Hydrangeas” to “Are Hydrangeas Poisonous.”
Of course, all of these articles contain listings of Hydrangeas you can buy right from their web site. Link’s research shows that deep knowledge on one subject gets much higher visits than lots of posts on many different growing topics.
This is a full-time job in itself and you may wish to hire help to create that deep content as well as help to optimize your SEO ranking. It can be worth it if you consistently rank low in categories that you believe your business excels in.
Other factors that impact your search ranking include how fast your pages load and how many backlinks you have coming to your content.
Do not pay for links or higher someone promised backlinks, search engines can detect fake or engineered backlinks. Instead, create great content and the links will come.
Write guest blogs for other legitimate industry sites and list your website in your author information and share that wherever you can online.
Your site ranking can also be increased or decreased according to how mobile-friendly it is and how old it is.
You cannot make it older overnight, but you can explore your site from your phone to make sure it loads and works properly there.
One last quick way you can increase your page rank is to set up a free Google Business Page and describe what you do accurately so that your customers can search and find you.
(Editor’s note: Kathy Jentz is the editor/publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine, the publication for Mid-Atlantic home gardeners. She can be reached at KathyJentz@gmail.com.)