Everything you need to know about SEO in Bristol: The what, how, why & who
In this ultimate guide to SEO for Bristol businesses, I’ve laid out everything you need to know about what SEO is, how it works, the benefits of SEO in Bristol specifically, and how to choose an SEO agency in Bristol. No jargon, just SEO demystified and made easy to understand.
Online discoverability has become a non-negotiable for businesses of all types – from bricks and mortar cafes and shops, to B2B, online and in-person services, and of course ecommerce. It’s essential that people can easily find your business via Google, and the process that ensures this is called SEO. Let’s dive deeper into the benefits of SEO in Bristol and beyond.
What is SEO?
SEO (aka search engine optimisation) is a method of marketing that intends to increase organic search traffic to your business. Organic search traffic is the completely free stream of leads that find your business via search results.
SEO is made up of strategies and processes that make web pages and business listings visible in relevant search engine results, and preferably as high up in these search results as possible.
How does SEO work?
While SEO can seem bewilderingly technical, it can really be broken down into an understanding that Google wants to provide its users with the best user experience. At its most simple, this means safe, accurate and enjoyable searching!
So, how does SEO work? Us SEO experts divide SEO into 4 categories:
- Technical SEO
These are the technical aspects of your website, including URLs, sitemaps, page load time, mobile experience, page titles, on-page links, html, metadata and alt descriptions. The aim here is to create a smooth user experience on your website. This includes pages clearly labelled with accurate titles and URLs, eradicating broken links, clearly labelling images with accurate alt descriptions, and writing “metadata” (aka an “SEO description) for every page that succinctly describes the page’s content.
- On-page SEO
This refers to the written and visual content on each page and post of your website. Every page should follow a strict hierarchy of H1 (use once for page title), H2 (use for subheadings) and H3 tags (use for further headings below subheadings). Make sure content reads well, uses short sentences where possible and correct spelling/grammar. Use “keywords” to accurately label content, throughout headings, paragraphs, image alt descriptions, URLs and metadata.
- Off-page SEO
Show Google that you’re a safe and highly-regarded website by accumulating “backlinks“. Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your website. These should be a balanced combination of other businesses, blogs, directories, press and social media/forums. The only criteria is that the website is legit, trustworthy, and has relatively high authority.
- Local SEO
If you’re a business with a physical location, make sure you’re visible to customers within your service areas by optimising your Google Business Profile and utilising location keywords in your on-page content.
What are benefits of SEO in Bristol?
- With SEO in Bristol, traffic comes free of cost. You won’t have to pay a cent for the people clicking on your website.
- Ranking highly in search results establishes authority in your field. This demonstrates credibility, helping to secure customer or client trust.
- Bristol is a bustling hub of excited customers and emerging businesses, make sure you’re taking advantage of this by enhancing online visibility, expanding your reach and boosting your authority.
The pros and cons of SEO vs advertising
- Traffic from advertising comes to a complete halt once you stop paying. Whereas, good SEO practices only strengthen over time – providing free clicks to your business.
- The organic nature of SEO means that it takes time. Unlike advertising, SEO is not instant. It can take months to begin attracting traffic to your business.
- There’s no guarantees. There’s no promise that your SEO efforts will work. However, investing in a Bristol SEO Expert will significantly reduce this risk.
Can I do it myself?
Yes! Lots of business owners choose to DIY their SEO, especially in the beginning when budgets are tight. When you choose to DIY your SEO, there’re no costs to pay – it’s just a matter of investing your time and effort.
There’s lots of information available online to guide you through basic SEO practices, helping you set up your website and write web content that sticks to Google’s best practices and targets the best keywords.
However, please bear in mind that Google can be unforgiving. If you get it badly wrong the first time round, this might impact your website’s position and authority for a lifetime. Consider reaching out to a Bristol SEO Consultant before going ahead with the DIY – they’ll be able to provide a step-by-step guide that will ensure you optimise your site just like an expert.
How to choose professional SEO in Bristol?
If you’d rather leave your website’s search engine performance to the experts, you will want to opt for a professional that specialises in SEO in Bristol. They will have plenty of experience taking Bristol businesses to the top of their relevant search results, and be able to provide this same search engine success for your business.
What does an SEO agency do?
A Bristol SEO agency will specialise in localised strategies to increase traffic to your business’s website/Google Business listing.
How much do SEO agencies charge?
UK SEO agencies can charge between £30 and £150 per hour, they may also offer rolling monthly SEO plans and flat-rate services to fix your site.
Get started with SEO in Bristol today
Ready to take your business to number 1 in search results and reach more of your target customers? Talk to a friendly and local SEO expert and get started with SEO in Bristol today. I offer consultation packages, DIY SEO roadmaps, and a complete range of SEO success strategies – just email hi@eleanormargaretcopy.com to get started.
Hi! I'm eleanor margaret.
⭐️ 10+ years’ experience helping businesses big and small unlock their full potential using search engines.
⭐️ My clients span a wide range of industries, including dentistry, SaaS, finance, cosmetics, metals and minerals trading, landscape gardening, scaffolding and automobiles. There are few verticals that my solutions won’t work for!
⭐️ I work with both B2C and B2B clients.
site by eleanor margaret ©