5 Data-Driven SEO Tactics to Increase Conversions

Intro

As a content marketer, I know firsthand the importance of SEO in driving conversions and growing a business. But with so many tactics and strategies out there, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That's why today, I want to share with you some of my top data-driven SEO tactics that have helped me increase conversions and see real results.

In this post, we'll be diving into everything from keyword research to technical optimization, and even analytics and metrics.

By the end, you'll have a solid understanding of how to use data to improve your SEO and drive more conversions for your business.

So, let's get started!

1. Choosing the Right Keywords

Keyword research is one of the most fundamental steps in creating a data-driven SEO strategy that drives conversions. By identifying the right keywords to target, you can ensure that your website is visible to the right audience at the right time.

That said, not every keyword helps your conversions. So, how do you know which ones will have the biggest impact on your conversions?

To start, it's important to understand that not all keywords are equal. As Nora, Marketing Manager at Cosiest Furniture, says, “Sure, some keywords may have high search volume and low competition, but if they're not relevant to your business or products, they're unlikely to drive conversions. That's why it's crucial to focus on keywords that are both relevant and specific to your target audience’s buying intent.”

For example, rather than targeting broad, generic keywords like "shoes," you should aim for more specific keywords such as "women's running shoes" or "leather dress shoes." These types of keywords are more likely to attract customers who are actively searching for a product like yours, making them more likely to convert.

Another important aspect of keyword research is to identify the keywords that are being used by your target audience during the buying cycle.

David Green, CMO of Classy Women Co. explains it with an example “During the research phase, the keywords used by the customer will be different than the ones used during the purchase phase.” He further added, during a research phase, an ideal customer will be searching ‘The Right Type of Fashion Handbags’, and in the buying phase, an ideal customer will be searching ‘Best Affordable Fashion Handbags for Women’.

By identifying these keywords, you can optimize your website for the entire buying cycle and increase the chances of conversion.

If you need a helping hand there, Rank Tracker's Keyword Finder tool can help you identify these high-converting keywords by providing you with a wealth of data such as search volume, competition, and trend analysis.

With that information, you can make informed decisions about which keywords to target and optimize for, ultimately increasing your conversions.

2. Content Optimization

Creating high-quality, optimized content is an essential data-driven SEO tactic that can help you boost conversions. But with so many different strategies and techniques, how do you know which ones will have the biggest impact?

I asked Michael Brooks, Founder and CEO of goLance, about it, and he said, “One key aspect of content optimization is to focus on creating valuable, relevant content that addresses the needs of your target audience. This means creating blog posts that answer common questions, creating product or service pages that highlight the benefits of your offerings, or creating infographics that make complex information easy to understand.”

Another important aspect of content optimization is to ensure that your website is easily navigable, with clear calls to action that encourage visitors to take the next step. This might mean including prominent buttons on your homepage that lead to your products or services page, or including a contact form on every page of your website to make it easy for visitors to get in touch.

You can check Rank Tracker’s Website Audit tool, which helps you identify areas where your website may be lacking in terms of content optimization, and provide actionable recommendations for improving your website.

3. Technical SEO

Technical SEO often gets overlooked in the grand scheme of things, but it's one of the underrated SEO techniques for improving conversions. By making sure your website is technically sound, you can ensure that it's easily accessible and readable by both search engines and users.

From website structure and code to page speed and mobile optimization, there are many technical elements that need to be considered when creating a data-driven SEO strategy. But without the right knowledge and tools, it can be difficult to know where to start.

By understanding the technical elements that affect your website's search engine rankings and user experience, you can make targeted improvements that will boost your conversions. Tools like Google's PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or again Ranktracker’s Site Audit, can help you identify technical issues on your website and suggest solutions for improvement.

For example, one of the most crucial technical SEO elements is website structure. A well-structured website not only makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your pages, but it also improves the user experience, which can lead to higher conversions.

As Brad Anderson, Founder of FRUITION, says, “A well-structured website should have a clear hierarchy, with a logical and easy-to-follow navigation menu. You should also use header tags (H1, H2, etc.) to organize your content and make it easier to scan.”

Another important technical SEO element is page speed. Users expect websites to load quickly, and if your website takes too long to load, they're likely to leave and go to a competitor's site, says Lachlan de Crespigny, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Revelo.

Google actually recommends keeping the page load speed under 2 seconds only. The higher the load time, the more conversions you lose. This not only leads to a poor user experience, but it also harms your search engine rankings.

Finally, mobile optimization is another technical SEO element that can have a significant impact on conversions. With more and more users accessing the internet on their smartphones and tablets, it's crucial that your website is optimized for mobile devices.

On mobile shopping experience, Lisa Johnson, Ecommerce Expert at Geeks Health, said, “It shouldn’t be surprising to know that now more than half of online sales come from mobile phones. This means…ensure that your website is responsive, and that all elements, such as images and buttons, are easy to tap on a smaller screen.”

"One thing that is underrated when considering SEO and CRO is the website structure. Not only should the website be easy for search engine bots to crawl, but it should also be easy for users to navigate. In fact, this is what Google desires: a user-friendly website for its audience." Laura Hera, an SEO Expert and a blogger at LauraHera.com

4. Quality Backlinks

Backlinks are an essential component of any data-driven SEO strategy, and for good reason. Not only do they help to boost your website's visibility in search engine rankings, but they also serve as a vote of confidence from other websites.

But with so many ways to build backlinks, how can you be sure that you're creating high-quality backlinks that will have the biggest impact on your conversions?

Creating high-quality backlinks is all about building relationships and earning the trust of other websites. This can be achieved by creating valuable content that other websites are eager to link to, guest blogging on relevant websites, HARO, and reaching out to other websites to request backlinks.

It is also important to keep an eye on the quality of the backlinks that you're creating. Avoid getting links from low-quality websites or using black hat techniques as they can harm your website ranking and reputation.

Matthew Smith, Digital Marketing Director at Right Hook Studio, says, “Google’s after spammy link building culture, and for the same reason, it released its recent December 2022 link-spam update. Ensure you’re earning links, not buying or selling.”

Our Backlink Checker tool will help you see what type of links your exact competitors have. You can then reverse engineer their strategies, and build great links for your website. You just need to put the URL of your competitor.

5. Personalizing the Shopping Experience

In today's digital age, customers have come to expect a personalized shopping experience. They want to feel like the products and services they see on your website are tailored specifically to their needs and interests. But how can you achieve this level of personalization in your online store?

Enter website personalization. By using data such as browsing history, search queries, and purchase history, you can create a more personalized experience for each individual customer. This can include things like personalized product recommendations, targeted marketing campaigns, and personalized content and layouts.

Jimmy Olas, CEO of Silver Olas shares an awesome tip on personalization: “One way to achieve website personalization is by using dynamic content. This type of content can be adjusted based on a user's browsing history, demographics, or even their location.”

For example, if a customer is browsing your website from a cold-weather location, you can show them winter jackets and coats, instead of showing them shorts and sandals.

Another way to personalize the shopping experience is by using personalized product recommendations.

David B, Owner of Blockimize, talks about it: “By analyzing a customer's browsing and purchase history, you can recommend products that they're more likely to be interested in. This not only improves the customer's experience, but it also increases the chances of them making a purchase.”

Website personalization also includes features like personalized landing pages, which are tailored to the specific interests and needs of the customer. This type of personalization can be achieved by using data such as search queries, browsing history, and demographics.

Website personalization can be implemented in various ways, and it's important to find the approach that best suits your business. That’s a proven data-driven way to improve your site’s conversions.

The Takeaway

Above said data-driven SEO tactics are essential for increasing conversions on your website. By doing proper keyword research, content optimization, technical SEO, link building, and website personalization, you can ensure that your website is visible to the right audience at the right time, is providing the experience visitors need, and making you more money.

So focus on: Relevant and specific keywords, optimizing your website's structure and code, building high-quality backlinks, and providing a personalized shopping experience.

Lastly, remember, SEO is an ongoing process, so it's important to regularly analyze your data and make adjustments as necessary.

Good luck!