SEO for Beginners: 3 Tips for Online Vendors

Give us an S! Give us an E! Give us an O!

What does it spell?

Well, SEO spells higher visibility and sales if you know how to use it. Don't worry, there's no need to be a computer programmer or certified geek to get started. So, let's go!

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and, if you apply it to your website or blog, it allows you to increase the volume of traffic you receive via search engines, such as Google and Yahoo.

SEO is not scary.

Although SEO consultants charge thousands of dollars to optimize your website, there are many things YOU can do all by yourself to improve your search rankings (where you come up in a Google search) and incoming traffic. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the resources out there so I've put together 3 easy SEO Tips that you can take action on TODAY.

Tip 1: Use Keywords, Often

You want to start using keywords and phrases that your potential customers are using in search engines. For instance, if you sell baby goods, you could try "Baby Bibs," but the problem is that so many people already have "Baby Bibs" all over their sites that it makes it near impossible to compete with.

Helpful Tool: Naomi Dunford from IttyBiz recommends Word Tracker's free keyword tool to discover a happy medium between 'searched for too often' and 'not searched for enough'. If you search for baby bibs for example, you will discover that "custom baby bibs" or "unique baby bibs" may be a better choice of keywords to use, because they are used less frequently than "baby bibs" but still come up regularly in search engines.

What To Do: After determining the right keywords for your target buyers, start using them often within your site or blog. Try doing a post a week with these keywords or even adding them somewhere on your home page. The more you use them, the more Google will notice and in time your search rankings will improve.

Tip 2: Use Deep Links

Deep links are when you add hyperlinks to other posts or pages on your site. The more you get into the habit of linking each post or page to others the more Google will recognize your site as one with valuable content and propel your search status higher.

Example: If you are talking about 'the press you have received' on your about page, you would link that line in quotes to  your press page. Or if you wrote a blog post and had the line "Remember last week when I mentioned that hair clip" and then you'd link part of that line to your last blog post.

What To Do: Go through some of your blog posts or website pages and start adding deep links to boost your search engine ratings. Don't go crazy but try and aim to deep link at least 5 pages or posts and then continue to do that anytime you post something new.

Tip 3: Revise Image Titles

When you upload new pictures from your camera to your computer, the image files are often labeled like this "IMG050385". Say you sell handmade T-shirts with dog images. If you added your newest item to your blog but forgot to change the image title, it would never help you in search engines. Now if you had renamed your picture "Funny Rottweiler Pink T-Shirt for Women" then Google would be able to use the information and help you show up in both image and keyword searches.

What To Do: Go back through as many listings or blog posts as you have time for and rename the image to include a good description that will help you in search rankings. The more detailed the better!  Take this further with a helpful post for those who want to really kick things up with Image SEO can be found at Web Distortion titled 10 SEO Image Tips for Photographers.

Justine Smith is an Etsy success story who used her experience selling online and turned it into a full-time wholesale business. Her real passion is helping handmade sellers find success marketing their craft products. She offers tips on advertising, branding, social media and growth via email through her blog Handmade Marketer.

Main image courtesy of Shutterstock.com