Traffic that comes from unpaid search engine results, not ads.
Why Organic Search Matters
Organic search is the lifeblood of a website’s long-term success. It matters because it is a direct signal of a website’s authority and trustworthiness. Unlike paid traffic, which stops as soon as you stop paying, organic traffic provides a steady, sustainable stream of visitors. By ranking in organic search, you can:
- Increase Visibility: You can attract organic search traffic from a new, global audience.
- Build Authority: A website that ranks for a wide range of organic keywords is a clear signal that your business is a high-quality resource, which can lead to a higher ranking.
- Grow Your Brand: You can introduce your brand to a new audience that may not have heard of you before.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of organic search is a content and technical SEO strategy that can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress users can easily manage their organic search by using a good SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math. These plugins can help you analyze your content and ensure you are using a variety of keywords that are relevant to your content.
Shopify
In the Shopify ecosystem, harnessing organic search is crucial for the success of your e-commerce store. By utilizing a keyword research tool, you can uncover the specific terms your customers are searching for. Incorporating these keywords into your product titles, descriptions, and collections will significantly enhance your visibility in search results, driving more traffic to your store.
Wix
Wix has a streamlined, user-friendly system, but you can still optimize for organic search. The platform’s built-in SEO tools make it easy to manage your titles, meta descriptions, and on-page content.
Webflow
Webflow gives you granular control over your website’s design and code, which is perfect for a sophisticated SEO strategy. You can use it to create a perfectly structured page that is optimized for a specific keyword or set of keywords.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control but also the most responsibility. You can build a system that automatically tracks and analyzes your SEO performance and provides your content creators with data-driven insights.
Across Different Industries
The way you use organic search will depend on your industry and your goals.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites can use organic search to attract a wide range of customers. A site that sells running shoes can use keywords like “running shoes,” “men’s running shoes,” and “running shoes for flat feet.”
Local Businesses
Local businesses can use organic search to attract local customers. A plumber in Dubai, for example, can use keywords like “plumber Dubai,” “emergency plumber Dubai,” and “plumbing repair Dubai.”
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies can use organic search to attract a wide range of customers. A company that sells project management software can use keywords like “project management,” “project management software,” and “project management tool.”
Blogs
Blogs can use organic search to attract a wide range of readers. A blog about cooking can use keywords like “sourdough bread,” “how to bake sourdough bread,” and “sourdough bread recipe.”
Dos and Don’ts of Organic Search
- Focus on a user’s intent: The best way to use keywords is to weave them into your content in a way that sounds natural and is easy to read.
- Use a variety of keywords: A good keyword strategy includes a mix of short-tail, long-tail, and user-intent keywords.
- Write high-quality, in-depth content: This is the best way to signal to machine learning algorithms that your website is a high-quality resource.
- Avoid keyword stuffing: This is a dated tactic that can harm your SEO.
- Avoid using keywords that are not relevant to your content: A keyword should be relevant to your products or services.
- Avoid focusing on a single keyword: This is a risky and outdated approach.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to do keyword research: This is a basic but critical step. You cannot improve what you do not measure.
- Ignoring a user’s intent: A keyword should be used with a user’s intent in mind.
- Focusing on short-tail keywords alone: Long-tail keywords are often easier to rank for and can be a great source of organic traffic.
FAQs
How is organic search different from paid search?
Organic search refers to the unpaid search results on a search engine results page. Paid search refers to the paid ads that appear at the top and bottom of a search results page.
How do I improve my organic ranking?
You can improve your organic ranking by creating high-quality, in-depth content that is relevant to a user’s search intent. You should also have a strong backlink profile and a fast, mobile-friendly website.
Is a high organic ranking the same as a high organic traffic?
No, a high organic ranking does not always mean a high organic traffic. A keyword can have a high ranking but a low search volume. You must also consider the click-through rate (CTR) and the search volume of a keyword.
What is the difference between organic search and direct traffic?
Organic search is traffic that comes from a search engine. Direct traffic is traffic that comes from a user typing a website’s URL directly into a browser.
Can a website with a low domain authority still rank?
Yes, a website with a low domain authority can still rank. The key is to create high-quality, in-depth content that is relevant to a user’s search intent.
