Discover how to use SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) for your coaching business, including our top 3 tips to get you started.
When I started my private practice, over 12yrs ago, I spent weeks designing a beautiful website, agonising over what information my audience would need. I was super excited to launch it. Then I sat and waited for the enquiries to roll in. And waited. A classic ‘build it and they will come’ mentality.
In the early days I had heard about the term SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) but didn’t really know what it was about, why I should have it or how it works.
What I know now is that there was no point having poured my heart and soul into creating beautiful content and been brave enough to press publish, when the website wasn’t designed in a way that would be found by the search engines – such as Google, Bing etc.
Well, most people start off by writing content with only their audience in mind, but the truth is your content has two audiences.
1) The human who reads it, they want it to be engaging and interesting.
2) The robot, who needs to know what it’s about quickly and that it’s a high-quality suggestion to show to other people.
SEO is the process of optimising your content for the robots, so the search engines can help more people to find it. Tricky when you’re new to this.
Back in 2011 I’d never heard of the Google algorithm, keyword research or meta tags, and I meet many new small business owners who are getting to grips with this terminology even now.
I’m on a mission to demystify and explain the technology so that small business owners can make informed and educated choices for their business.
Professional coaches positively change people’s lives and there are millions of people who could benefit from coaching services, but not understanding the technology can:
– prevent you from connecting to the people who need you.
– stop you from building a profitable business that you would love.
– make you waste time, money and effort on services you don’t need.
The best time to start your learning journey is today, understanding SEO will help you have informed discussions with SEO professionals and make educated updates to your content so more people find and connect with you.
1) Tell Google your information.
SEO on your website/blog/videos is a long-term marketing strategy but you can show up on Google within 48hrs by having an up-to-date Google My Business Account. When people search for your business, this comes up at the top.
Set up your Google My Business Account video: https://youtu.be/mz99FJ3jwn4
2) Understand Keywords and conduct some research for your business.
Keywords are the phrases people will use when searching for your business e.g. UK performance coach or coaching for CEOs. Use these in your titles, descriptions, and text so that when people search, Google knows your content is relevant.
How to Conduct Keyword Research for your business video: https://youtu.be/N8NphFTW5zo
3) Optimise the functionality for your website.
Do you have a sitemap, what’s your site speed and is your site mobile friendly? These are things you can find out about your website. Improving your functionality will help your SEO.
How to optimise your site speed video: https://youtu.be/ZSptQN-WyCE
When I started my business most of the professionals I asked for support were out of my budget or didn’t understand the needs within this industry. My mission for Build it Brilliant is to demystify technology so together we can have a greater positive impact on the world. I have over 150 videos on my YouTube channel so feel free to watch any you feel would be helpful.
Zoe Thompson is a Business Development Maverick for the helping professions. She uses her wonder skills of strategic thinking, endless creative ideas and a love of technology to help you find simple and effective ways to connect to more customers and build the business you’d love.
Author of The Build it Brilliant Blueprint, Zoe is passionate about helping you to simplify, automate and grow your business without wasting time and money on tech you don’t need.
Take her FREE Strategy Quiz and receive a super-tailored report with recommendations for your business. https://builditbrilliant.co.uk/