World Marketing Council takes its first steps on the global stage
First Vice President outlines vision to champion professional excellence, ethical practice and innovation in marketing worldwide.
WEBSITE OPTIMISATION
Simple ways to optimise your business website for best-practice SEO
By our News Team | 2022
Websites have long been a business necessity. Ensure yours is visible and maximises opportunities to convert prospects into customers.
While WordPress is an SEO-friendly platform, there are still several things that an organisation can to do ensure its website is optimised to its fullest extent for search engines.
According to Domains.co.za, a domain name and website hosting provider, the following are among the most important steps:
Photo by Pixabay via Pexels
Create a dynamic sitemap
A dynamic sitemap automatically updates with every new page added, making it easier for web owners and search engines to navigate. Compared to static sitemaps, which need to be updated manually, dynamic sitemaps are delivered faster and more efficiently.
Utilise SEO plugins
Yoast SEO is one of the most popular SEO plugins available for WordPress websites. It detects any SEO issues on your site as well as checking that you are following best practices for ‘on-page SEO’.
Use unique title tags
Each web page should have its own unique title tag that accurately describes its content in a concise way (50–60 characters). This will help search engines better understand what your page is about and display it in search results.
Add internal links
Linking to other pages on your website can help increase traffic and boost SEO. Additionally, adding internal links will make it easier for visitors to find more relevant content on your website.
Use optimised images
Always save images in the correct dimensions and scale for the web. You should also use descriptive file names that include keywords related to the image, as well as optimise ALT tags with relevant keywords so that they appear in Google Images searches.
Implement structured data markup
Structured data markup helps search engines understand the content of a page more easily and accurately, which can result in increased visibility in search results.
Optimise your URLs
URL structure should be short and descriptive, not long and confusing. It’s also a good idea to include keywords related to the page content in your URL – this will help with SEO ranking.
Monitor website speed
Page speed is an important SEO factor, as it directly affects user experience and can have a negative impact on rankings if it’s too slow. Use tools such as Google Pagespeed Insights or Pingdom Tools to test your website’s speed and get suggestions for increasing performance.
Leverage social media platforms
Having an active presence on social media platforms can also help improve SEO ranking by driving more traffic to your website. Posting regularly, using relevant hashtags, and engaging with followers can help increase your visibility on search engines.
Check your SEO progress
Use tools such as Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools to check your website’s performance and obtain insights as to how to improve it.
AMC confirms Ethiopia will be the host of the 2027 conference
Zambian organisers of the 2026 gathering officially hand over the baton to an ecstatic Ethiopian delegation. Rwanda to host in 2028.
Landmark gathering gets underway with delegates from over 30 countries
Opening plenary hears that securing Africa’s economic future requires businesses to discover new customers and cross-border opportunities.
Pre-conference masterclass discusses taking African brands to the world
Participants challenged to identify, articulate and commercialise the cultural assets that make their brand ready for a global audience.
Africa’s first Sports Direct retail store opens its doors in Nairobi
Second outlet planned for Nairobi before year end, with Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco said to be future target markets.
Search is fragmenting – credibility and trust create the new visibility
Online search behaviour has changed significantly with the rise of AI. How can African brands adapt to this new marketing landscape?
The move toward future-ready food packaging where materials meet AI
Researchers propose a framework for packaging that senses, learns and acts – making packaging an active, AI-powered tool against food waste.
Malawi’s marketers urged to put trust at the heart of the profession
Country needs marketers to build recognition and consumer trust around Malawian products and national brand, says Deputy Minister.
Lingerie brand creates street-stopping advertising in Manhattan
Fashion brand suspends giant lingerie high above the city’s streets, using shadows to create a moving billboard for pedestrians and motorists.
We know AI influencers aren’t real – so why do we trust them?
Researchers describe AI influencers as having a ‘dual identity’. Consumers evaluate both ‘person’ and ‘technology’ identities at once.
Why trust has become a critical asset for hotel industry marketers
Reputation and trust, once modest influences on hotel choice, have become some of the strongest predictors of patronage, study finds.