SEO and User interaction

In order to improve a site’s performance, one needs to invest in a variety of tools, skills and methods. From link building to keyword research and tagging, the number of ways to manipulate a brand’s search engine presence are as many as the challenges themselves. There is however one method that is often overlooked – and that is the use of user engagement. Improving user engagement requires a lot of work and patience, which makes it a far less attractive option for webmasters.

One possible reason why user engagement is overlooked in SEO efforts is because it is guided by user metrics. User metrics such as time spent on site, page views, bounce rate are all important for better performance of a website but unfortunately they are beyond the control of the site owner.

Besides that, the task of manipulating user data has been made incredibly difficult by development of algorithms such as Google Panda and Penguin. Gone are the days when it was possible to buy links and fake dominance. Things have changed nowadays and webmasters who still believe in buying traffic from malicious sources have their days numbers.

To this end, the only legitimate method to fuel website performance amidst all these challenges is to marry content with the needs and expectations of users. As algorithm developers continue to identify new ways to spot spammers, you are much safer if you continue to modify your site in a manner that caters to your visitor’s needs.

Progressive website owners know all too well how authentic online participation is important for a site’s growth. User engagement is pegged on relevance, quality and timeliness of content. The goal is to create and share content that is engaging enough that it encourages readers to share, comment and spend more time on the site at their own will.

As such, a basic requirement moving forward for websites that have yet to prioritize user engagement in their efforts is to focus more on building a relationship that fosters loyalty and boosts engagement levels. By creating content that offers real-time benefits to users, a significant level of engagement can be created (organically) and that can in turn boosts search engine presence.