Top Five SEO KPIs to Track in 2018
Over the last several years, search engine optimization has evolved. Additionally, search engine optimization metrics have changed. One of the most important components of an effective SEO campaign is keeping track of your results. Continue reading to learn the top five key SEO KPIs to track in 2018.
What are KPIs?
KPI is an abbreviation for Key Performance Indicators. These indicators measure several things and help you determine the effectiveness of your campaign and evaluate if you are achieving your objectives. Let’s take a look at the five most important metrics to track.
1. Page Speed –
As internet speeds increase, page speed becomes more important. Starting in 2017, page speed was one of the most critical KPIs. Google wants to provide its users with a first-rate experience, which includes giving internet users immediate access to each website. Because most visitors are directed to your site through Google or another search engine, it is essential that you rank high in search engine results. One way to improve your ranking is to have a fast page speed. Finally, fast loading websites provide a better experience for your visitors. Studies show that website navigation efficiency results in higher conversion rates.
2. Indexed Pages –
Many website owners think that when they submit a page to Google that Google automatically indexes it. This is untrue. When you submit a page to Google for indexing, Google considers it a suggestion. This does not mean your page will ever be indexed. Keeping track of your indexed pages on Google is critical. Your unindexed pages can be causing you to miss out on important opportunities, especially if those pages are critical to the success of your website. In order to ensure that your pages are indexed, submit your sitemap using the Google Search Console. Finally, make sure that the important pages on your website aren’t blocked by robots.txt. If you struggle to improve your website’s performance, make sure to contact the best Houston SEO company for help.
3. Bounce Rate –
Website owners often forget to look at bounce rates; however, this is an essential metric that should be tracked. A bounce rate is the number of website visitors that leave a website after viewing a single page. Bounce rate metrics show you how a visitor navigates your site once they click your link. If you notice visitors are leaving within seconds of visiting your landing page, it should be a red flag that there is something wrong with your website. One of the most common reasons for this is that your meta description or ad has unclear information. For example, if a visitor thinks your website is offering something and they visit and realize you are not offering what they want, they will leave immediately. Therefore, it is essential that your meta description and ads are easy to understand and accurate. Once you have verified this, you will need to evaluate your web design, layout and content to help you determine why your bounce rate is high.
4. Conversion Rate –
The point of getting visitors to your site is to convert them into customers. Even if your website has 50,000 visitors each day, it is not productive if these visitors are not converted into customers. Keeping track of your conversion rate can help you improve your website so you can turn casual visitors into paying customers.
Here are several things to look at when you are trying to improve your conversion rate:
- Can visitors easily navigate your website?
- Is your call to action statements simple and easy to understand?
- Does your website have an easy to follow conversion process (newsletter sign-up, brochure download, purchase, etc)?
- Is your website mobile friendly?
- Does your webpage load quickly?
- Does your website provide valuable content that meets the needs of your visitors?
If you answer no to any of these questions, it is time to identify changes that need to be made to your website to increase your conversion rate.
5. Web Ranking –
Where Google ranks your page when an internet search is performed is one of the most important things to track. Google has made changes to how they rank a website, so it is essential to stay up to date on the latest updates. When Google updated its SERPs to Rank Brain, the content on your website became even more important. Content that answers visitors’ queries can help improve your rank better than content developed based on keywords.
Final Thoughts
As you monitor and track your search engine optimization KPIs, you may find a number of issues arise. When this occurs, it is time to take a look at your website and make the necessary changes. When you do this, you will find that your conversion rate and web ranking will improve quickly. Take the information listed above to help your website succeed in 2018 and beyond.
To get started, call us or contact SEO Houston Pros. We invite you to visit our blog for more SEO tips and tricks!