You might be wondering why the need for continuous SEO actions for a pre-built WordPress theme. Indeed Wp Rentals has highly customizable templates with all the features needed to run your rental business.
However, it’s important to note that continuous search engine optimization will lead to enhanced web visibility and higher positions in search engines.
The crucial following SEO actions will maximize the chances of your site showing up in search results:
1. Select a custom domain name for your website
Choosing a name for your domain is an essential step in your overall marketing strategy.
Take your time and think it through – you can go for your brand name if you already have your customer base or location-based domains if your property is located in the touristic area.
You can also opt for a mix of the two elements.
2. Monitor your website with Google Search Console
Register a new domain and have it connect automatically with your Google Webmaster Tool account. The next step is to verify your website ownership through Google Search Console.
Search Console is a free service that enables you to monitor your site’s performance and visibility in Google Search, ensuring that Google index your site correctly. Keep in mind to register both www and non-www versions of your domain and state which is your preference.
3. Register your sitemap to Google
Registration is a necessary step for an optimized website, and it is easy to implement. A sitemap is a list of all pages of a site, available to all its users.
If you’re not sure how to generate a sitemap – use SEO YOAST plugin which can do that for you. SEO YOAST is compatible with all our themes (Wp Rentals, Wp Residence, and Wp Estate).
Next, you should turn on XML sitemap functionality as default does not enable it. Merely go to SEO – XML Sitemaps and check the box to activate XML sitemap functionality.
Webmasters that directly submit their sitemap help Google index their site faster and improve its visibility in search results. Sitemaps are a way to tell search engines about all the pages that exist on your website.
WordPress XML sitemaps also inform about the most important links on your site and how frequently you update it.
4. Optimize your page titles
Title tags inform visitors about the content of a web page, briefly and clearly. You should add a unique title for each of your website’s pages.
Optimizing titles ensures easy navigation through your content if users know what the page is about.
The title tags are also essential for SEO as they appear in search results and on social networks when you share your links.
Writing titles that are relevant to your audience will attract undoubtedly more traffic.
According to Moz, the ideal format for a title tag contains a first keyword, a second one or a brand name.
For example, Bahamas Loft By Sea or Eleuthera Vacation Rental.
5. Use headings in your content marketing strategy
Headings are an essential part of SEO and contribute to improved user experience.
Also labeled as “h tags” they help search engines to scan, index and rank the content of a webpage.
Web browsers and plugins use them to provide users with in-page navigation.
It is essential for your website visitors to display a clear page structure so they can find easily the things they search for.
Organize your page content starting with an H1 (heading of your main topic) and continue with H2 (subtopics of H1), H3 (subtopics of H2) and so on.
The most critical heading rank is H1, and there should be a single H1 heading per page.
To ensure that Google ranks you as a specific keyword it’s a good idea to use your targeted keyword in the H1.
Subheadings H2s structure content and split up into easily readable subtopics. Their purpose is to summarize the paragraph they are connected to and when they include keywords can have a boost effect on your SEO.
6. Insert meta description
The meta description, based on SEO experts, is what makes visitors coming from search engines to click your link.
If it’s relevant to what they are looking for, meta descriptions help to generate click-throughs and drive traffic.
For SEO purposes, the meta description doesn’t determine rank per se, but the high CTR created is a signal to search engines that your website is a good result.
To determine click-throughs make your meta description unique, using the active voice, add relevant keywords for that page and include a call-to-action.
You can now unleash your creative power and create more extended meta descriptions as Google recently updated the length allowance up to 320 characters long.
7. Produce optimized content with a blog
To ensure a holistic continuity of your keyword strategy you should regularly tend to your published content. And what is the best way to target keywords and improve your website SEO than through an active blog?
A blog that’s 100% relevant for its audience and offers valuable, unique articles will eventually increase organic traffic and the chances to be discovered by interested guests.
We should stress that content marketing is now a big part of the overall business strategy for a rental business. Its primary goal is to generate leads and turn them into customers by not just selling them an offer but creating a great story around it.
Continue to update your blog with fresh content to target more keywords, on the one hand, and to help search engines establish the focus of your site. Google rewards optimized content by showing your links in the search results for related search queries.
8. Build internal linking
Another good SEO practice is to link the pages of your website.
SEO experts from Kissmetrics say that internal linking give Google an idea of the structure of your website and establish a hierarchy on your site. It also improves user experience as it makes website navigation so much easier, reducing the risk of high bounce rate.
Using the right internal linking strategy also means to choose an appropriate anchor text when linking between your web pages.
According to Moz an SEO-friendly anchor text is succinct, relevant to the linked page and not generic and with a low keyword density.
Adding external links to websites with authority also help your site to gain link juice.
You can quickly implement this step by linking it to the local tourism office or association.
9. Add contact details at your website footer
The area at the bottom of every page – aka the footer – is an integral part of your website, often neglected by webmasters. But in Wp Rentals you can manage the footer content easily.
This section can be vital for attracting engagement and generate conversions. It usually contains general and legal info about the company, but you can add additional details or links in your footer.
To boost local SEO, a good idea is to design a custom website footer and add your contact details: business name, address, and phone number.
This will signal Google that you are a local business and will rank you for local search terms. Add geo-related keywords in the footer information – for example, if your vacation rental is near Austin, Tx and you want to be found in search results after this city, mention it in parentheses next to your address.
