Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing the way search engines such as Google and Yahoo view your web site, and where the results of that view place your site in search engine results. Every person who makes a web site aims to have their site displayed on the first page. The reason for this is simple - over 94% of internet searchers never click through to the second page of search engine results.
But what about nonprofit organizations? They don't need to attract customers, so is SEO really as important?
Absolutely. Nonprofit organizations need to find new leads for community partnerships, donors, and volunteers. The best way to do this is by ranking high in the search engine results. When people search for something related to a nonprofit organization, it looks great if the nonprofit ranks on the first page of search engine results. It's even better if it appears in the top results. Here are some methods that nonprofit organizations can use to enhance their positioning in search engine results.
Link Building
External links are links to your website that are posted on other web sites, forums, social media sites, blogs, etc. Links that are posted on low ranking sites do not help much, and links that are posted on spammy sites will actually hurt SEO. However, links posted on high ranking sites or blogs boost SEO rankings immensely. Many high ranking sites that receive a lot of link requests may ask for a small fee to place the logo on their site, but access is normally granted as long as the nonprofit is relevant to the nature of the site. The logo should have a link back to the nonprofit site, and counts as a positive external link. The more external links, the higher the ranking that can be achieved.
Social Media
Social media sites are a great source of SEO for nonprofit organizations. As mentioned above, link building is an integral part of any SEO marketing plan, and social media sites are the perfect way to gain more external links to your main website. Additionally, social media sites themselves help attract visitors to your main site, which makes you look better in the overall search engine results.
Content
There was a time when sites could just add a few keywords to every page, and the search engine results ranking would rise. Due to abuse of this method, many search engines now use a variety of factors to determine site ranking. Content that is now deemed helpful to readers is given a higher value than content with keywords. Keeping content fresh and updated on a regular basis is another way to enhance SEO rankings. Websites that go "stale," and don't publish content on a regular basis will actually be penalized in SEO rankings.
Keeping your content updated frequently, and using keywords and positive backlinking are the best ways to help a nonprofit organization rise in the rankings. This makes the organization look like a high profile organization to potential donors, partners, and volunteers. For more information about how your company can utilize SEO, contact us at 855-599-9998 or sales@trafficjams.com
