No matter where you are in the entrepreneurial journey, whether it’s the planning stages or after being well-established in the community, search engine optimization (or SEO) should be a priority to implement into your website. SEO is the method of better positioning a business in organic search results for the purpose of increasing web traffic.

As an educational leader for independent and small business owners across the country, the Association for Entrepreneurship USA (AFEUSA), is pleased to provide these five SEO tips to help businesses sharpen their competitive edge and take the lead in the digital world.

1. Do Keyword Research – Keyword research is finding the top terms and phrases that your target audience inputs into search engines. Doing your homework on what people are searching for is important for standing out among similar businesses and services, putting your website front and center.
2. Strategically Plan Content – If you aren’t already, start positing your business as an expert in the field by producing content on a regular basis. Long-form content, such as 2,000-word articles that are evergreen (always relevant to your field) will net you traffic from people searching about related topics.
3. Showcase Customer Testimonials – Put the positive reviews your business has curated on your website and encourage customers to leave their feedback on websites such as Yelp, Google or the BBB. This increases your credibility to the public and can help increase your click-through rate to advertisements.
4. Note the “People Also Ask” Results – Don’t underestimate the power of alternative search phrases. During your keyword search process of the most competitive terms, look at what is generated under the “people also ask” and suggested search sections. Use this information to reach a greater population of potential customers.
5. Improve User Experience – Make your website easier to navigate and mobile-friendly for phone users.