SEO Experiments: 8 Ways To Boost Organic Traffic

Is your approach to search engine optimization stagnant? Here are a few things you can test out to raise your rankings and increase visitors.

Think about the outcomes you could get if you understood the Google search algorithm.

Imagine the organic traffic your website could receive if you understood what factors Google took into account when determining search engine results, how much of an impact each element has on rankings, and what it would take to rank well.

Of course, Google would never allow you to see inside. The fun of search engine optimization would be lost entirely if someone used this information for evil purposes.

Instead, it’s up to us to ascertain what has changed and how to best take advantage of this whenever there is an algorithm update.

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

Furthermore, because there aren’t many (if any) absolute solutions, much 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 experimentation.

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, and the possibility of accidentally creating a monster is pretty slight.

You can conduct your SEO experiments from the comfort of your desk chair.

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

Steps For A Successful SEO Experiment

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

Has chemistry from high school been a while ago? You won’t need to fear; these five stages will sound very familiar.

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 optimised? 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. Use tables, graphs, and diagrams to comprehend better the relationship between what was changed and changing results.
5. Make judgments. Do the facts back up your prediction? If not, why not? Did your updated meta descriptions enhance site traffic, or did you also obtain widespread media attention when testing them out?)

For accurate findings, you should do what marketers refer to as A/B testing. To determine which version of the same page receives the best response, 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 will know which adjustment makes a difference if you make all 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 clarify what you must do 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 different things you can test to raise your site’s ranking:

1. SEO Title

Have you ever created a page title that you thought was fantastic, only to have Google rewrite it in search results? That typically occurs when the search engine determines that your title does not accurately reflect the information on the page.

However, you are free to modify this at any moment.

Google’s John Mueller verified that the original title is still used for ranking purposes even if Google replaces the one you generated. This implies it’s still a good idea to strive to improve your SEO titles, even if they change.

You can test the following items to see if they produce results:

1. Specify your intended keyword.
2. Adjust the length (shorter is sometimes better).
3. Try different brand positioning strategies or do away with them altogether.
4. Get clickbait (for instance, “Do you want to lose 20 pounds quickly?”).
5. Add the publication date to show that the information is current.
6. Get inventive (people like novels and imaginative things).

2. Meta Description for SEO

Now, hold on a second; you’re probably saying that Google hasn’t used meta descriptions in its results since between 1999 and 2004.

Put your pitchforks down. Meta descriptions are still essential SEO components even though 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 competitors. And each of these influences user behaviour, 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:

1. Try out various lengths. See what works for you when using a character count between 156 and 165, according to conventional SEO thinking.
2. Insert keywords.
3. Modify your tone. Generally speaking, your style should align with the voice of your business, but on some pages, this may be different.
4. Please be more descriptive. Do you receive much traffic from a single long-tail keyword? To your meta description, include that.

3. Inside-Outside 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 a website’s content, 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.

You can utilise a variety of anchor text kinds, such as pictures, generic (“click here”), exact or partial-match keywords, branded, and naked links.

To test internal anchor text’s effects on your organic traffic. You could try the following:

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

4. Schema Markup

Google and other search engines employ a type of organised data called schema markup.

It is a language Franca for search engines, adhering to rules specified by Schema.org. It’s a recognized practice that uses particular terminology to make your material easier for search engines to understand.

Rich snippets are produced using it to provide details on, among other things, products, people, videos, and recipes. These, in turn, increase the prominence of your link in SERPs.

As with SEO titles, the schema does not directly affect your ranking score but can increase click-through rates and impact user behaviour ratings.

Try adding schema markup to your pages to see if your results improve.

5. Pictures

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

They not only draw attention and offer aesthetic intrigue, but they can 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:

1. Add pictures. Every page should have photos, and nobody wants to read a long passage of text.
2. A different filename should be used. You need to quickly let Google know what your image represents and aim to include your keywords.
3. Modify the formatting. For digital photos, there is more than a one-size-fits-all solution. Depending on your needs for images, you can switch your file format. Larger images work well with JPEGs, and PNG files keep the transparency of the background.
4. When it’s feasible, compress files. Smaller files are always preferable in general.
5. Make sure to be responsive. You want to ensure your images always look fantastic on phones and desktops because mobile search is a crucial component of contemporary SEO.
6. If the image cannot be displayed, add an alt text.

6. Headers

Your page has structure thanks to your headers and subheads, making it more straightforward for search engines to grasp what each section is about and for people to browse.

This was made very evident by Google’s John Mueller, who emphasised that any headings—not just H1s—send a strong signal about the page’s content. The best action is to pay close attention to your H tags, from H1 through H6. This is because they provide navigational and accessibility benefits and their structural advantages.

Your headers used to be a significant determining element in your ranking. However, as usual, individuals started abusing them, and Google began to take 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:

1. Expand the headings (except H1s). Please increase the number of subheads in your text to strengthen its organisation and clarity.
2. Use them to break up long passages of text. Everyone dislikes substantial text blocks, and H2s, H3s, etc., are the ideal remedy.
3. Insert keywords. It would help if you experimented with keywords in your headings, much like we’ve done with almost everything else.
4. Featured snippet optimization By claiming those specific boxes on search results, you can attract attention and new traffic. To get them, write your headers.
5. 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 have yet to give much thought to how your ranking and traffic may be affected by the number of words you employ.

Although you should refrain from betting on word count to propel your website from page six to the top result, it can assist in establishing 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.

Longer-form copy typically ranks higher. This is because using more words gives Google a better understanding of the subject matter of your page.

And if you write these longer pieces successfully (like the one you’re reading, in my ever-so-humiliated opinion), they’ll help you become 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, including examples, and quote more sources.

Then compare the two to determine which performs better on search engines and it’s likely to be the longer one.

8. URLs

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 in identifying the topic of a site when it conducts its initial crawl of it.

However, as this is only considered 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. They can be utilised as naked anchor tags that are significantly more accessible.

Play around with your URLs. Add keywords to a few of your outdated, nondescript links. Truncate lengthy URLs.

Add a 301-redirect to the new page if you’re concerned about losing links from the old one.

Dare 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. Creating innovative strategies to propel their websites to the top of the SERPs 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 realise this, as well as when it stopped helping rankings.

You might come up with the next brilliant new tactic if you’re willing to experiment and try new things. Just remember to let us know about it.

Small businesses like yours may improve every aspect of their search engine optimization with D’Marketing Agency assistance in order to rank better on search engines.

Wondering what we do? To find out more about our approach to search engine optimization, Contact D’Marketing Agency. When you’re ready, contact us so we can help with your SEO.