SEO is the art and science of improving your website to increase its visibility when people search for products or services related to your business in Google and other search engines. The better visibility your pages have in search results, the more likely you are to garner attention and attract prospective and existing customers to your business.
For startups in Bangladesh, where digital competition is rapidly increasing, SEO can be a cost-effective way to stand out and reach a wider audience without the heavy costs associated with traditional advertising.
Initial Steps in SEO for Bangladeshi Entrepreneurs
1. Market Research and Keyword Planning
Before diving into any kind of website development or content creation, it’s crucial to understand your market and the keywords your potential customers are using. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush can provide insights into the keywords that are both popular and relevant to your business.
- Local relevance: Focus on keywords that are specifically searched in Bangladesh. For instance, if you are starting an online clothing store, keywords like “buy sarees online in Dhaka” could be highly relevant.
- Competitor analysis: Look at what keywords your competitors are ranking for. This can give you an idea of where you might want to compete or identify gaps in their strategies.
2. Setting Up Your Website
Your website is like your digital storefront, and making it SEO-friendly from the ground up can save you a lot of headaches later.
- Domain name: Choose a domain name that reflects your business and is easy to remember. Including a keyword can be helpful but isn’t necessary.
- Web hosting: Opt for reliable hosting with good uptime scores; website speed is a ranking factor and crucial for user experience.
- Website structure: Plan a clear, logical structure with a user-friendly navigation system. Make sure it’s scalable as you expand your business.
3. On-Page SEO Basics
On-page SEO refers to the practice of optimizing web pages to improve a website’s search engine rankings and earn organic traffic.
- Title tags and meta descriptions: These are crucial as they are your first interaction with someone searching on Google. Make them descriptive and keyword-rich.
- Headings and content: Use headings (H1, H2, etc.) to structure your content and include keywords naturally in your copy.
- Images: Optimize images by compressing them for faster loading and using descriptive file names and alt tags.
4. Creating Quality Content
Content is king in the world of SEO. It helps in establishing your authority in your industry and improves your chances of ranking higher.
- Blog posts: Regularly updated blogs that provide valuable information related to your products or services can drive traffic and improve SEO.
- Videos: Especially in Bangladesh, where mobile usage is high, videos can be a great way to engage an audience. They also keep users on your page longer, which can help your SEO.
- Infographics and more: Diverse content types can cater to different audience preferences and can be shared across various platforms to increase your reach.
5. Technical SEO
Technical SEO involves the more complex aspects of SEO strategy, which includes:
- Mobile optimization: Ensure your site is mobile-friendly, as a significant portion of users in Bangladesh access the internet via smartphones.
- SSL certificate: Secure your website with HTTPS—it’s a ranking factor.
- Site speed: Optimize your site to load quickly to improve both user experience and SEO rankings.
Continuing from where we left off, after laying a solid foundation with your website and on-page SEO, it’s time to expand into more strategic areas that can significantly boost your search engine rankings and online presence. In this second part, we will explore off-page SEO, local SEO strategies specific to Bangladesh, and how to measure and refine your SEO efforts.
Part 2: Expanding Your Reach and Refining Your Approach
Off-Page SEO Techniques
Off-page SEO refers to actions taken outside of your own website to impact your rankings within search engine results pages (SERPs). This includes building the quality and quantity of backlinks to your website, which are vital for SEO.
1. Link Building
- Quality over quantity: Focus on getting links from reputable, high-authority websites. A few links from well-respected sites will do more for your SEO than many links from obscure, low-ranking sites.
- Guest blogging: Writing articles for other relevant blogs can help you gain backlinks and access their audiences.
- Local partnerships: Collaborate with other local businesses and platforms to exchange links and promote each other’s services.
2. Social Media Engagement
While social media signals don’t directly impact search rankings, they can help increase visibility and traffic to your site, which in turn can boost your SEO.
- Active presence: Maintain active social media profiles that engage with customers and link back to your website.
- Content promotion: Use social media to share and promote your content, driving traffic back to your site.
Local SEO for Bangladeshi Markets
Local SEO helps businesses promote their products and services to local customers at the exact time they’re looking for them online. This is crucial for businesses that rely on local consumers.
1. Google My Business
- Optimize your profile: Ensure your Google My Business (GMB) profile is complete and accurate, including your business name, address, phone number, and operating hours.
- Local keywords: Use location-specific keywords in your GMB profile and on your website.
2. Local Listings and Reviews
- Directories: Ensure your business is listed in local online directories.
- Encourage reviews: Ask satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on GMB and other review sites. Respond professionally to all reviews, addressing any concerns raised by less satisfied customers.
Measuring and Adjusting Your SEO Strategy
SEO isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it task. It requires ongoing effort and adjustment based on performance metrics.
1. Google Analytics
- Track your traffic: Use Google Analytics to see where your visitors are coming from, what keywords they used to find you, and how long they stay on your pages.
- Bounce rate and conversion rate: Analyze your bounce rate and conversion rate to understand user engagement and effectiveness of your pages.
2. SEO Audit Tools
- Regular audits: Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz to conduct regular SEO audits to identify and fix issues like broken links, over-optimized content, or technical errors.
3. Adapt Based on Data
- Adjust keywords: As you gather data on what keywords are driving traffic and conversions, adjust your content and SEO strategies accordingly.
- Stay updated: SEO rules and algorithms change frequently. Keep yourself updated with the latest SEO trends and algorithm updates.
Conclusion
Starting and maintaining an SEO strategy for your new business in Bangladesh can seem overwhelming, but by breaking it down into manageable steps and continuously adapting based on performance data, you can significantly improve your online visibility and business success. Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, patience, and consistent effort to see results, but the payoff is worth it in the long run. Good luck, and may your entrepreneurial journey in Bangladesh reach new heights through effective SEO!
