Are you a website wizard, or would you prefer that online marketing goes away? 

Whether you're new to the insurance business or you've been in it for many years, you may not have a strong comfort level with SEO. The field of online marketing is constantly changing, If web marketing is not your focus, it can be hard to keep up. However, search engine optimization draws visitors to your site organically, helping you find new clients who are the right match. What do you need to know about the best practices for SEO for insurance agencies? 

Use Diverse Language 

What kinds of words do people look for when they land on your website? Keep track of the most popular keywords, and strengthen those. Look at words that are less common but that reflect your specific niche, and work to add those to your online content as well. 

Add the following types of keywords to your blog posts: 

• Variations on words that people often search for to find your business 

• Words that reflect your industry niche 

• Long tail keywords, such as search phrases focused on your kind of insurance products. According to Wordtracker, "Long tail keywords are those three and four keyword phrases which are very, very specific to whatever you are selling." 

• Local keywords that reflect your physical location and locals' needs 

• Remember that voice search is becoming more common as well. Consider what kinds of phrases people may use when looking up your business using their voices instead of typing. Add these search terms to your blogs and website.

Go Local 

Local SEO is becoming more and more important as people seek information about local companies. Adding keywords the reflect your local area and its needs can help your agency rise in search engine rankings. Even if you're not a locally-oriented company, according to Entrepreneur, "Local search engine optimization isn’t just about local mom-and-pop shops anymore." Consider how you can add a local SEO element to your site to take advantage of people who are conducting location-based searches.

Develop Internal Links

When you're trying to have your page rise in the search engine rankings, remember that links matter. The more connected your content, the better it performs on Google. Create posts, but remember to link them so that they work as a whole, providing even more valuable content to your readers. These links will not only provide value, they'll provide an interconnected set of sites that will give your posts more clout online.

Establish External Credibility 

Optimizing your website pages isn't just about writing the correct words. It's also about using a sage piece of insurance business advice: promote, promote, and promote. Create videos, take photos, and use infographics to develop highly shareable pieces of information that you can add to your social media accounts. When shared, these images drive traffic to your site, which helps each page rise in the Google rankings. Others may also link to your blog post or website page, using it as a reference and resource and helping it ascend within the Google ranks. 

Insurance Agency Advice: Act Natural

Search engine optimization works when you place the keywords that you're looking for into the right context. Always focus on the quality of your content above all else. If you're creating a blog that's focused on flood insurance, think about what your clients really need to know. What will turn you into a trusted resource for those clients? When you use your keyword, do it naturally. Use the keyword, and use synonyms and long-tailed phrases that also contain that keyword. 

Are you ready to get more traffic to visit your website? At American Agents Alliance, we know that you need to develop your network and educate your employees about online marketing. Take a look at our many membership benefits and see how those benefits can help your insurance agency shift its marketing strategies.