Did you know 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine? So, if you own a printing company and your website doesn’t appear on search engine results pages (SERPs) whenever your target customer types a question on Google or Bing, you’re badly missing out! Today, let’s help widen your reach, boost your brand recognition, and attract more customers online with our quick guide to SEO for printing companies.
Mastering SEO for Printing Companies: Why It Matters
In the digital age, even traditional industries like printing must embrace online marketing strategies to stay competitive. SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) could be one of such digital strategies. It can help printing companies achieve the following:
- Increased Online Visibility
With more consumers turning to search engines to find services, having a strong online presence is essential. SEO helps printing companies ensure their web pages rank high in search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords. That way, their potential customers can find them easily. For instance, you can rely on a good SEO campaign to help your website show up on the top list of search results whenever people type keywords like “printing services,” “custom printing,” or “online picture printing and framing” on Google.
- Cost-Effective Marketing
Compared to traditional advertising methods, SEO is a cost-effective marketing strategy. It focuses on attracting users actively searching for printing services on Google and other search engines, leading to higher conversion rates. Investing in SEO can provide long-term benefits, as the improvements made to your website can continue to drive traffic and generate leads over time.
- Credibility and Trust
It’s human nature for people to trust all things first. You can say the same for websites on the first page of search results. With effective SEO strategies, printing companies can get the most sought-after spots on SERPs to establish their authority in the industry and build trust with potential customers. There’s no perfect formula for SEO for printing companies, but publishing high-quality & insightful content and interacting with other trustworthy brands through quality backlinks can help position your company as a leader in the printing sector.
- Targeted Traffic
Many customers use search engines to look for printing services in their local area, and optimising your website for local search terms can help you capture this targeted and ready-to-buy traffic. You can start by claiming and optimising your Google Business profile and other business listings.
- Competitive Edge
The printing industry is highly competitive, and companies that skip SEO risk falling behind their competitors. When you invest in SEO, you can stay ahead of the competition and ensure your business remains relevant and visible to potential customers. But SEO isn’t a set-and-forget-it campaign. You must update your SEO strategy regularly to ensure it aligns with the latest search engine algorithms and industry trends.
Print Your Way to the Top: SEO Strategies for the Print Industry
Keyword Research
The foundation of any SEO campaign is keyword research. Start by identifying the keywords and phrases your potential customers are searching for printing services. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs can help you find high-volume, low-competition keywords. Also, focus on long-tail keywords like “affordable business card printing” or “custom wedding invitations” to get that targeted traffic. While you’re at it, include local search terms, such as “professional printing near me” or “brochure printing in Wollongong,” in your keyword research to attract those who live or work near your printing shop (they’re the easiest to convert!).
On-Page SEO
On-page SEO is the optimisation you do on your website. Here are the key elements to focus on:
- Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: Make sure each page has a unique title tag and meta description with phrases from your keyword research. Keep title tags under 60 characters and meta descriptions under 160 for efficient SERP display.
- Header Tags (H1, H2, H3): Use header tags to structure your content and help search engines & users digest your content easily. Also, include keywords in your headers to show relevance.
- Content: Use keywords naturally in your content; don’t keyword stuff. Incorporate multimedia like images & videos to enhance user experience. More importantly, write insightful content. Google typically rewards web pages with content that directly answers users’ queries with high SERP rankings.
- URL Structure: Keep URLs short, descriptive and keyword-rich. Don’t shy away from using hyphens to separate words in URLs for better readability.
- Internal Linking: Link to other pages on your website to help search engines crawl your site better and help users find their way around. Use descriptive anchor text for your internal links.
Technical SEO
After ensuring your on-page content is search engine-friendly, it’s time to pay attention to technical SEO. Optimise the backend of your website to improve its performance & accessibility. Consider these factors:
- Mobile-Friendliness: Does your website show up well on different screens? Use Google’s Mobile Friendly Test tool to check your site.
- Site Speed: Optimise images, use browser caching, and minimise HTTP requests to improve page load time. You can also utilise Google PageSpeed Insights to find and fix issues.
- Secure Website (HTTPS): Get an SSL certificate to secure your website and protect user data. HTTPS is also a ranking factor; it can help boost the SEO campaign for your printing company’s website.
- Sitemap and Robots.txt: Make sure to submit an XML sitemap to search engines to help them crawl your pages. Use a robots.txt file to tell search engine crawlers which pages to crawl.
Local SEO
As mentioned, local SEO is important for printing companies that serve a specific area. Here’s how to optimise for local search:
- Google Business Profile: Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile listing with your business information, including address, phone number, and hours of operation. Go the extra mile by getting past customers to leave reviews on your profile.
- Local Keywords: Use local keywords in your content, meta tags, and business listings. Use geo-tagged or location-based phrases like “printing services in [Your City]” to attract nearby customers.
- Local Citations: Make sure your business information is consistent across online directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and local chamber of commerce websites. Feel free to utilise tools like Moz Local to manage your citations and boost your local SEO efforts.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is a great way to build authority and get organic traffic. Here are some content ideas for printing companies:
- Blog Posts: Write about printing topics like “Top 10 Design Tips for Business Cards” or “The Benefits of Eco-Friendly Printing.” You can also share industry news, case studies, and customer success stories.
- How-To Guides: Your target customers will likely be curious about how you print. So, create in-depth how-to guides on printing processes, design tips, and product options to attract them. Use visuals and step-by-step instructions to make your guides user-friendly.
- FAQs: Again, to rank high on Google & other search engines, you need to answer users’ queries, so it never hurts to publish FAQs on your company’s website. Compile a list of frequently asked questions and answer fully. You can also optimise your FAQ section with keywords.
- Social Media: Share your content on social media to get more eyes on it. Engage with your followers and reply to their comments and questions.
Link Building
Link building is the process of getting backlinks from other websites to improve your site’s authority. Here are the ways:
- Guest Blogging: Write for industry-related blogs and websites and include a link back to your site. Focus on guest blogging on high-quality, authoritative sites to boost your website’s credibility.
- Partnerships: Get featured on other local businesses and organisation’s websites. Offer reciprocal links where possible. Such partnerships signal to search engines that your site is authoritative.
- Online Directories: Submit your website to reputable online directories and industry-specific listings. Make sure your business information is accurate and up-to-date.
Monitoring and Analytics
Finally, track your SEO efforts to see what’s working and make data-driven decisions. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor your website’s performance, traffic, rankings, and user behaviour. Review your SEO strategy regularly and adjust based on your findings.
Summary
By implementing these SEO strategies, your printing company can get more visibility online, get more customers, and increase sales. Remember, SEO is an ongoing process so keep optimising and updating your website to stay ahead. If you need expert hands to work on SEO for your printing company, feel free to reach out. Our team of #digitalmarketingnerds is ready to help your brand stand out on search engines.
