SEO Experiments 8 Ways to Boost Organic Traffic

Eguaogie Eghosa
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Nov 10, 2022

Is your search engine optimization plan unproductive? To raise your rankings and increase visitors, try some of the following:

Imagine the outcomes you could get if you were familiar with the Google search algorithm.

Imagine the amount of organic traffic you could bring to your website if you understood exactly what factors Google took into account when determining search engine results, the specific impact each element has on rankings, and what it would take to reach the top.

Google, however, would obviously never allow you to peek inside. The fun of search engine optimization would be completely lost if this information was used for evil reasons by a bad actor.

As a result, it is up to us to determine what has changed and how to take advantage of it to our benefit whenever there is an algorithm update.

We tend to resolve these issues jointly in the search engine optimization community since we are a community.

Furthermore, because there aren't many (if any) absolute solutions, a lot of optimization relies on theories, best practices, and pure guesswork.

Fortunately, there's a fantastic way to tell whether these theories are grounded in truth or are just wild speculation. We are, of course, discussing experiments.

Take a moment to relax before rushing to don your lab coats and safety goggles. There aren't any bubbling beakers filled with unknown liquids involved, and the possibility of accidentally creating a monster is pretty small.

(I would say none, but let's be safe because I've seen the "Terminator" series and it never specifically states that a search engine optimizer didn't develop Skynet.)

You may do all of your SEO experiments at the convenience of your work chair (and safety).

But let's first discuss how to test your SEO before we delve into those.

How To Conduct An Effective SEO Experiment:

Fortunately, we don't need to create a completely new framework for planning, carrying out, and evaluating our SEO testing because we can adapt the scientific method, which you're probably already familiar with.

1. Make a discovery. (For instance, the first page of Google search results does not include my site.)

2. Create a hypothesis after posing a question. Is my meta description search engine-optimized? I will rank higher if I write better meta descriptions.

3. assemble data. Track the changes in site traffic and ranking position after making these changes.

4. Review the data. To better comprehend the relationship between what was changed and changing results, use tables, graphs, and diagrams.

5. Draw conclusions. Do the facts back up your prediction? If not, why not? Did your new meta descriptions increase site traffic, or did you also receive widespread media attention while testing them out?)

For accurate findings, you should do what marketers refer to as A/B testing. To determine which version of the identical page receives the best reaction, you must create two versions with just one difference.

One thing to bear in mind before you begin is the necessity of incremental improvements. You won't know which adjustment is making a difference if you make all of these changes at once.

Play it gently and take your time. Before doing the next test, wait for the results of the previous one. This will make it crystal clear what you must accomplish going forward to guarantee that you consistently claim front-page real estate.

Now that that is out of the way, let's take a look at eight various things you can test to raise your site's ranking:

1. SEO Title:

Have you ever written what you believed to be a fantastic page title only to have Google rewrite it in search results? When the search engine determines that your title does not accurately reflect the content of the page, that is what typically happens.

But you're free to modify this whenever you want.

According to Google's John Mueller, the original title is still used for ranking considerations, even if they replace the one you generated. Because of this, it's still a good idea to strive to optimize your SEO names, even if they are changing.

2. Meta description for SEO.

Meta descriptions are a crucial component of SEO, even if they don't directly affect SERPs.

They can, for instance, increase your click-through rate, persuade searchers, create brand exposure, and assist in setting you apart from the competitors. And each of these influences user behavior, which Google takes into account.

Writing fantastic meta descriptions has been the subject of entire publications. Here are a few things you may A/B test for our purposes to see if you can increase your organic traffic, though:

(i) Try out various lengths. See what works for you when using a character count between 156 and 165 according to conventional SEO thinking.

(ii) Insert keywords.

(iii) Modify your tone. Generally speaking, your style should align with the voice of your business, but on some pages, this may not be the case.

(iv) Be more specific. Do you receive a lot of traffic from a single long-tail keyword? Add that to your meta description.

3. Internal Anchor Text

The visible, clickable (often blue) text in a hyperlink like this is known as "anchor text."

Not only is this helpful for providing visitors with more context, but Google has confirmed that anchor text aids in its comprehension of the content of a website, enabling it to rank those pages for pertinent queries.

For instance, in the sentence above, the destination link's anchor text reads, "Google has confirmed," and it points to a page that verifies that confirmation.

It is possible for you to make use of a variety of anchor text kinds, such as those that contain exact or partial-match keywords, branded links (such as those from Search Engine Journal), pictures, generic, and naked links (like those from https://www.searchenginejournal.com).

to test the effects that internal anchor text may have on your organic traffic. Try the following, for example:

Varying in length (though shorter is often better).
Including keywords, especially those with low search volume.
Growing level of specificity
They should be modified to be more target link-specific.

4. Schema Markup

Google and other search engines use schema markup, a kind of organized data.

It effectively serves as the common language for search engines and adheres to the rules set forth by Schema.org. It is a recognized practice that makes use of a special vocabulary to aid search engines in comprehending your material.

It's used to produce rich snippets that can include details about, among other things, items, people, videos, and recipes. These, in turn, increase the prominence of your link in search engine results pages.

While schema is not immediately taken into account when determining your ranking score, unlike an SEO title, it can increase click-through rates and have an impact on user behavior ratings.

See if your results improve by experimenting with adding schema markup to your pages.

5. Images

Everyone is aware that a picture is worth a thousand words. Humans are visual creatures, so this is the case. Additionally, web designers and SEO experts have long understood the value of adding photos to webpages.

They not only draw attention and offer aesthetic intrigue, but they can also help raise your search ranking.

Images that are high-quality and original (not stock) can benefit from SEO optimization.

You can attempt the following with your photographs to increase traffic:

Add pictures. Every page should have photos. Nobody is really keen on reading a long passage of text without some visual contexts.
A different filename should be used. You need to quickly let Google know what your image is meant to represent. Aim to include your keywords.
Modify the formatting. For digital photos, there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Depending on your needs for images, you might want to switch your file format. Larger images work well with JPEGs. PNG files keep the transparency of the background.
When it's feasible, compress files. Smaller files are always preferable in general.
Make sure to be responsive. You want to make sure your photographs always appear fantastic on phones and computers because mobile search is such a crucial component of contemporary SEO.
If the image cannot be seen for whatever reason, provide an alt text.

6. Headers

Your page has structure thanks to your headers and subheads. This makes it simpler for search engines to grasp what each section is about as well as for people to browse.

This was made very evident by Google's John Mueller, who emphasized that the existence of any headings—not just H1s—sends a strong signal about the page's content. The best course of action is to pay close attention to all of your H tags, from H1 through H6. This is due to the fact that they provide navigational and accessibility benefits in addition to their structural advantages.

Your headers used to be a significant determining factor in your ranking. However, as usual, individuals started abusing them, and Google started taking action against keyword stuffing, misuse, and other unethical heading techniques.

Nevertheless, they are unquestionably important, even though they are by no means Google's primary consideration.

You can experiment with the following items to try and enhance your SEO results:

Expand the headings (except H1s). Increase the number of subheads in your text to strengthen its organization and clarity.
Use them to break up long passages of text. Huge text blocks are disliked by everyone. H2s, H3s, etc. are the ideal remedy.
Insert keywords. You should experiment with the usage of keywords in your headings, much like we've done with almost everything else.
Featured snippet optimization By claiming those specific boxes on search results, you can attract attention and new traffic. To get them, write your headers.
Be imaginative. Consider adding extra intrigue to your headings and subheads.

7. Word Count:

You are aware that every SEO plan must include content. However, you might not have given much thought to how your ranking and traffic may be affected by the quantity of words you employ.

Although you shouldn't bet on word count to propel your website from page six to the top result, it can help establish your website as important and relevant to a search query and attract readers.

How do we interpret this? John Mueller affirms that it is not a direct ranking factor.

Having said that, longer-form copy typically ranks higher. This is due to the fact that utilizing more words gives Google a better understanding of the subject matter of your page.

And if you write these larger pieces successfully, you'll become known as an authority on the subject.

Experimentation is also simple. Duplicate one of your previous blog entries or articles. On the second, expand more fully on your subject.

Please be aware that we are not referring to employing your word count tactics from college, such as using "at a later date" rather than just "later." Instead, you should elaborate on concepts and subjects, include examples, and quote more sources.

then compare the two to determine which performs better on search engines. It's likely to be the longer one.

8. URL

Some SEO specialists firmly believe that keyword-rich URLs outperform generic ones in search results. Is that correct?

Yes and no, I suppose.

On the one hand, Google has acknowledged that keywords in URLs assist it identify the topic of a site when it conducts its initial crawl of it.

However, as this is only taken into account when a new site is crawled, it plays a minor part in an ongoing SEO strategy.

However, this does not preclude you from taking advantage of them. In contrast to a URL with 75 random digits and letters appended at the end, clear URLs improve user experience and can be utilized as naked anchor tags that are significantly more accessible.

Try out different URLs. Take a few of your outdated, vague links and give them a keyword boost. Slash lengthy URLs.

A 301-redirect pointing to the new page should be added if you are concerned about losing links from the old one.

Never Be Afraid To Try New Things

The world of search engine optimization is ever-changing. Adapting to changing trends might affect how users engage with your website.

Your plan must adapt as algorithms change and new technologies are introduced.

Search engine optimization cannot be "set it and forget it" and probably never will be. To create innovative strategies to propel their websites to the top of the SERPs, it will always take forward-thinkers and risk-takers.

Who is to say that you cannot belong to them? Keyword stuffing boosted ranks, and someone had to be the first to realize this, as well as when it stopped helping rankings.

You might come up with the next fantastic new tactic if you're prepared to explore and attempt new things.