Search engine optimization remains one of the main ways to get a website to the top of search engines. However, not all small business owners are ready to pay enough attention to it. Attracting organic traffic takes time and money, and new business owners often want quick success on a limited budget. However, while many buyers search for information on Google and Yandex before ordering, ignoring SEO is an unforgivable mistake.
In this article, we will tell you how to save money on SEO, but at the same time not miss out on promotion prospects.
Technical optimization
Technical SEO optimization is something you definitely shouldn’t skimp on. As a rule, it is done at the stage of creating and launching a website. However, as practice shows, in real life there are few resources that do not require revision or global restructuring. The need for structural changes arises if an SEO specialist was not involved in the process or the code author neglected the quality of the work.
Let’s look at the points you should pay attention to before launching.
Page loading speed
The speed with which the site pages load is important for users. If the speed is insufficient, many potential customers are eliminated already at the stage of viewing the first tabs.
You can check the download speed using the Google tool or other services such as Pingdom Tools , GTMetrix . If it turns out to be unsatisfactory, you should think about minimizing:
- redirects;
- using Java scripts;
- CSS;
- HTML.
You should also optimize images for the browser: compress images and write alt tags.
If the above steps do not bring the desired result, you may want to consider changing the server. In general, it is important to discuss such issues with the developers, because not all speed optimization methods can be useful for SEO.
Site structure
It is recommended to use a hierarchical structure with an average number of nested folders. This means that the user should be able to get from the main page to any other page in two or three clicks on average.
It is also important to add new categories and subfolders.
Navigation
Navigation is extremely important not only for visitors, but also for search bots. Make sure your site has search, breadcrumbs, and pagination.
Tag Pages
Tags also make it easier to navigate a site. If you allocate a separate page for a specific tag, the site will receive an additional entry point and source of traffic.
Files robots.txt, sitemap.xml
These files show search bots which pages on the site should be indexed and which should not.
Without them, a search bot can add a page to the search that does not attract traffic, thereby reducing the site’s usefulness and ranking.
Internal linking
Internal linking is mutually linking pages within a website. It increases the time a visitor spends on the site and helps search bots index pages faster. It can help you create a preferred customer path.
In addition, it is important to prevent the appearance of “orphaned” pages on the site, especially when it comes to information blocks.
Finished material
What can you save on in SEO promotion? For example, on ready-made materials.
Of course, everyone wants a unique website design. But if the budget is limited, it is better to use templates, free or inexpensive plugins, illustrations from photo stocks.
It is also possible to generate images and content using artificial intelligence. But this option requires a professional approach.
Free or low budget link building
One of the available ways to get a new website to the first page of search results is free link building.
The following will help you get backlinks:
- social media;
- thematic forums;
- sites that aggregate services, goods, news;
- directories Yandex.Business , Google My Business and others.
It is recommended to register business profiles on all available platforms to increase local visibility of a product or service, increase audience reach and build up the website’s link profile. Such resources, from the point of view of search engines, are considered trusted. Backlinks from such sources will be significant enough for bots.
Please note that in the future you will need to move to more expensive links to improve your SEO results.
Targeting different types of search
In addition to textual information, users actively search for images and videos. If you provide them with such content, there is a high chance that it will raise your site several positions in search results.
Competitor analysis and expansion of the semantic core
In the process of analyzing competitors, you look at what promotion techniques they use and note their shortcomings. The information you receive is useful because you can, for example, try to apply the same promotion methods or pay more attention to those points where your competitors made mistakes.
Also, by analyzing other sites, you can collect a semantic core and select the most effective long and low-frequency queries.
If you can’t afford to buy a subscription to paid analytics tools like Ahrefs or Semrush , use free or partially paid resources, such as software from Screaming Frog or Cognitiveseo . Tools from Yandex and Google are also available, such as Google Search Console .
Content economy
If the site is small, it is better to place less content, but high quality. The number of pages can be increased to create additional points of interaction with users. It is recommended to display tags on a separate page or describe each product or service in detail.
Some business owners prefer to involve their own employees in content creation in order to save on the services of a copywriter, editor, illustrator. We believe that this approach is not entirely correct.
You can actually use your in-house staff to create photos or video content if you have the right skills. They can also post content on social media.
But it is better to entrust the creation of texts to professionals, because here it is important:
- be able to handle words;
- express thoughts clearly;
- be able to write clearly and easily;
- be familiar with the basics of SEO;
- have a high level of literacy.
If you entrust the writing of texts to specialists from your niche, for example, electronic engineers or agronomists, there is a high probability that you will end up with an article oversaturated with professional vocabulary and terminology that is incomprehensible to the average person. Such articles will not provide good conversion.
One of the cost-effective options is to use a freelancer. Such specialists have low prices that will not hit the company’s budget.
However, remember that not every copywriter understands professional nuances. The best option is to connect the author of the texts with a full-time employee who can advise him on all necessary issues. In such a tandem, they will create high-quality content that will be useful and interesting to readers.
Conclusion
It is possible to organize SEO promotion with a minimum budget with the right approach with a affordable digital marketing agency. Use low-budget link building and ready-made templates, analyze competitors, and use internal staff resources to the maximum extent.
However, remember that as the site progresses, its audience will grow, and therefore your customer base. In this regard, you will have to publish more content, develop a unique design, hire a professional photographer and videographer to create high-quality visuals.
Building up the link mass will also require investments. Therefore, SEO will sooner or later have to be made a separate expense item so that the site regularly occupies the top positions in search results.
As the editor of the blog, She curate insightful content that sparks curiosity and fosters learning. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, she strive to bring diverse perspectives and engaging narratives to readers, ensuring every piece informs, inspires, and enriches.
