How Using a VPN Can Improve Your SEO

Intro

Search engine optimization (SEO) can exponentially increase the number of users who visit your website. The best part is that you don’t have to pay for each user, making it the most cost-effective digital strategy out there.

With the above in mind, Google and other search engines use over 200 signals to rank your pages. So, it’s essential to use every single resource at your disposal to improve your rankings, including VPNs.

In this article, we’ll go over the definition of a virtual private network and explain how a VPN can help improve your SEO.

VPNs Explained

What is a virtual private network or VPN?

In short, a VPN is a solution that encrypts your connection, masks your IP, and makes it look like you’re connecting from a different location.

A VPN was developed to help professionals access their work tools safely while on the road.

Today, this type of technology has an array of applications and features, many of which can help boost your search engine optimization results.

Can a VPN Help Your SEO?

The short answer to this question is yes, having a VPN at your disposal can improve your SEO results.

That said, it’s important to note that connecting through a VPN doesn’t automatically boost your search engine results page (SERP) rankings.

Instead, you need to incorporate the VPN into the actions you take to improve your site’s SEO.

Let’s take a look at a few ways that a VPN can boost your SEO results.

1. See International Search Results

It’s common for websites to attract traffic from around the globe. But, site owners don’t see the same search results as international users, which makes it difficult to create an engaging strategy for international visitors.

VPNs mask your connection and make you look like you’re connecting from a different country. This means that the search results in see are more similar to your visitors’, which allows you to create better marketing content.

2. Conduct Local Competitor Research Anonymously

Learning from the competition is commonplace in SEO. Your competitors know this, and they can actually block your IP from accessing their websites.

The good news is that a VPN can mask your IP and other variables used to identify your connection.

This allows you to see the strategies they’re using and learn from local competitors anonymously.

3. Access Tools and Perform SEO Actions Safely

From keyword research tools to analytics platforms, SEO specialists access a wide range of tools to perform various actions.

The problem is that an unsafe connection can result in a hack or another type of security breach.

VPNs encrypt your internet connection. The information being sent to and from your device is then protected, reducing the chances of a cyberattack.

4. Share Documents in a Secure Environment

Organic search specialists also have to share a variety of documents with their teams, and these files often contain sensitive information.

The encryption technology in VPNs is all-encompassing because it protects documents sent to and from your devices.

5. Avoid ReCAPTCHA Verifications

Running similar searches from the same location can trigger constant ReCAPTCHA verifications and cost you valuable time.

Fortunately, you can avoid this by using a VPN to switch locations on a regular basis as it will make it look like the search is coming from different users.

6. Test SEO Tools Multiple Times Before Making a Choice

There are dozens of SEO tools you can try, but many of them only offer a limited use before requiring payment.

A VPN can help you obtain more free services in the trial stage and give you a better chance to evaluate each tool before making a final choice.

7. Avoid Potential Bandwidth Limitations

Working on SEO can be data-intensive, so it’s common for internet service providers (ISP) to limit the bandwidth of users who want improved rankings.

The encryption technology on VPNs means that ISPs can’t see how much data you’re transferring, making it impossible to throttle your bandwidth effectively.

How to Choose a VPN for SEO

There are dozens of VPN providers out there. But what steps do you need to follow to choose the best platform?

Here are a few tips.

• Evaluate your requirements and create a list of needs;
• Research the leading search engines;
• Identify the providers that offer the features you need;
• Compare the final candidates head-to-head;
• Choose based on the best feature and cost combination.

Does a VPN Change Google Search Results?

Users perform more than 8.5 billion searches on Google every single day, all of which are personalized to the digital user’s unique characteristics.

Since using a VPN connection changes the IP address and location that Google uses in its algorithm, it also changes the search results displayed to the user.

Do VPNs Block Google Analytics?

Google Analytics collects a wide range of data from users via cookies. VPNs create a safe environment while browsing, but they still allow sites to leave cookies for different purposes, including tracking.

This means that VPNs don’t block Google Analytics. With that said, it’s important to note that some trackers avoid collecting data from VPN connections. So, it’s important to research tracking tools before choosing one.

Can a VPN Prevent Targeted Ads?

The primary function of a VPN is not to block ads. With that said, high-quality paid VPNs offer robust basic functionalities as well as advanced features, like targeted ad blocking.

This varies from one provider to the next. So, make sure to review your provider’s entire feature list to understand the different tools you have at your disposal.

Additional Steps You Can Take to Boost Your SEO Results

Using a VPN to conduct research and test SEO tools multiple times is a great start. But there are other steps you can take to help improve your SERP rankings.

For starters, your SEO plan has to be aligned with the rest of your digital marketing strategy because this creates a consistent user experience.

This improves engagement and boosts site traffic. This, in turn, improves the profitability of your entire digital marketing plan.

Not only this, but other steps you can take to boost your SEO results include:

Learn to Decipher User Experience Analytics

Tracking user analytics is a crucial SEO best practice because it allows you to optimize your site based on key metrics.

However, the key metrics you need to track depend on your audience as well as your industry.

To get the most from your analytics tool, the first thing you need to do is learn which user experience metrics you need to track.

Once you’ve found the right key performance indicators, also take the time to learn how to interpret the different browsing patterns.

The idea of this practice is to identify patterns and make adjustments once you have a good idea of what these mean.

Implement a Website Monitoring Strategy

Your website is an online representation of your entire business.

This is the reason why many businesses invest in redesigning their website regularly and refreshing its appearance.

You should have the same mentality with the SEO of your page.

A good way to do this is to implement a website monitoring strategy. In short, this will help you keep track of the progress of your page, identify areas of improvement early on, and shorten your investment turnaround.

Publish Problem-Solving Blogs and Include Actionable Tips

Modern algorithms that search engines use to rank SERPs are relying on traditional markers like keywords less than their predecessors.

Today, the value of your content is just as important as your SEO efforts.

So, in addition to conducting technical research, you also need to publish actionable content that answers your target audience’s questions.

This will improve your user experience metrics and send positive signals to search engines, both of which have a direct effect on your SEO results.

Establish a Better Backlink Profile

Collecting backlinks has always been an important part of SEO and that remains the case today.

It’s important to note that the quality of your backlink profile will depend on the authority metrics of the sites linking to your page.

In addition to publishing great content that increases the number of organic backlinks you generate you also have to reach out to relevant websites and explore guest posting options.

This will help you generate a better backlink profile and help you climb SERP positions relatively quickly.

Work on Your Social Presence

Social media is one of the many signals that search engines use to determine your rankings.

Take the time to establish a profile on the relevant social networks used by your target audience and publish the quality content you share.

This will help build your number of followers and establish you as a thought leader in your industry, which improves your social presence and, eventually, your search engine positions.

Conclusion

Having a VPN in your toolkit can definitely improve the results you get from your SEO efforts.

Just make sure to work with a provider that offers the features you need as well as top-notch technology that’s able to successfully change your location on search engines.