Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the key to ensuring your website reaches your target audience and stands out in the crowded online marketplace.

This SEO guide will walk you through the essential strategies and best practices for optimising your Sitefinity website, improving your search engine rankings, and driving organic traffic.

1. Content Optimisation

Keyword Research - Identify relevant keywords using tools like Google Keyword Planner. Focus on long-tail keywords and high-search volume terms.
Meta Tags - Add unique and descriptive title tags (50-60 characters) and meta descriptions (150-160 characters) for each page. Use your primary keyword near the beginning.
Headings - Structure your content with H1, H2, H3 tags. The H1 should include the main keyword, while H2 and H3 can focus on secondary keywords.
Content Quality - Create valuable, relevant, and well-structured content. Use internal linking to guide users and search engines to related content.

2. Technical SEO

URL Structure - Ensure URLs are clean, descriptive, and include keywords. Avoid special characters and long URLs.
XML Sitemap - Generate and submit an XML sitemap via Sitefinity’s built-in tools. Submit the sitemap to Google Search Console.
Robots.txt - Configure your robots.txt file to prevent search engines from indexing non-essential pages.
Canonical Tags - Use canonical tags to prevent duplicate content issues if the same content is accessible from multiple URLs.

3. Performance Optimisation

Page Speed: Use Sitefinity’s caching features to enhance load times. Compress images and utilise Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) for faster content delivery.
Image Optimization: Compress images and use descriptive, keyword-rich filenames. Add alt text to all images for accessibility and SEO benefits.
Schema Markup: Implement structured data (Schema.org) to help search engines understand your content better and enhance rich snippets in search results.

4. Analytics and Monitoring

Google Analytics & Search Console - Integrate Google Analytics for traffic monitoring and Search Console for tracking search performance and indexing issues.
SEO Audit - Perform SEO audits regularly using tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to identify issues and areas for improvement.
301 Redirects - Set up 301 redirects for any outdated or deleted pages to maintain link equity and user experience.

5. Off-Page SEO

Backlink Strategy - Develop a backlink strategy by creating high-quality content that others want to link to - Remember to focus on gaining links from reputable websites.
Social Media Integration - Share your content on social media platforms to increase visibility and drive traffic to your site.
Local SEO - For businesses targeting local markets, ensure your site includes accurate NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information and is listed on Google My Business.

By following this guide, you can effectively optimise your Sitefinity CMS site for search engines, leading to better rankings, increased visibility, and more organic traffic.

Get in touch today to learn more about how Sitefinity can empower your organisation.