Stop Neglecting Bing in Your SEO Strategy

When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), most website owners and marketers focus their efforts primarily on Google. It’s true that Google dominates the search engine market, but neglecting other search engines, such as Bing, can be a missed opportunity.

Bing may not have the same market share as Google, but it still commands a significant user base and should not be ignored in your SEO strategy. In this article, we will explore why Bing is worth your attention and how to optimize your website for better visibility on Bing’s search results.

In 2021, I launched a new website and noticed an interesting trend in my traffic sources. Surprisingly, Bing and Yahoo accounted for more than 60% of the total traffic on my website. While the numbers were initially low, they have been steadily increasing month after month.

It’s important to remember that trends can sometimes be misleading, but in this case, my approach to optimizing for Bing and Yahoo has proven effective, yielding tangible results.

Bing Webmaster Tools

Bing Webmaster Tools serves as the counterpart to Google Search Console, providing valuable data specifically for Bing and Yahoo search engines. Now, you might wonder what sets this tool apart and makes it worth your attention. Well, let me highlight a few noteworthy features that I will delve into in more detail below.

Submit Your URL

Unlike the new Google Search Console, which tends to be sluggish when it comes to submitting URLs for indexing, Bing offers a convenient feature that allows you to submit thousands of URLs with just a single click. To take advantage of this, my recommendation is to utilize a tool like Screaming Frog to crawl your website. Then, export the list of pages from the page traffic report in Bing. Next, combine the two file formats, removing any duplicates using Microsoft Excel, and save the final file as a notepad for easy uploading to Bing.

By proactively prompting Bing to crawl your content, you can expect faster rankings and increased traffic. As search engines crawl both new and existing material, they have the opportunity to discover fresh keywords, links, and other elements that contribute to ranking your site in their search results. If you are actively building internal links to these pages, it’s crucial for Bing to promptly detect these anchor texts.

Submit your XML Sitemap

When Bing crawls your website’s robots.txt file, it also takes a look at your XML sitemap. To maximize the benefits of Bing’s crawl with your XML sitemap, it’s important to optimize the data in two key ways. Firstly, ensure that your sitemap includes a comprehensive list of pages, as this provides Bing with a clear pathway to crawl your content effectively. Secondly, it’s essential to maintain a clean sitemap by identifying and reviewing any error pages that may be present. If you’re seeking guidance on cleaning up a cluttered sitemap, I recommend referring to a helpful post that provides valuable tips and insights on the topic.

Understanding Your Audience

While my experience may not be universal, I have witnessed significant traffic to both my website and my other site, with approximately one-third of the traffic originating from Bing. However, it’s important to note that individual results may vary. To gain a better understanding of your market, I recommend utilizing Google Analytics in conjunction with Bing Ads Audience. This combination will provide valuable insights into your target audience.

Conclusion

Expanding your SEO strategy beyond Google is crucial for comprehensive success. While I utilize SEMRush to monitor my keyword performance and overall Google strategy, I also recognize the importance of leveraging Bing Webmaster Tools to drive additional traffic and explore new opportunities. If you’ve been seeking ways to boost your website traffic, it’s time to stop neglecting Bing.

It’s worth noting that Bing powers Yahoo’s organic search, which is why I consider both search engines as a unified entity. By focusing on Bing, you can tap into the combined results from both platforms. Additionally, Bing boasts numerous partnerships in the realm of PPC and SEO, further amplifying its reach. Notable partners include AOL, DuckDuckGo, MSN, and more. This extensive network of partnerships enhances Bing’s influence and underscores the value of incorporating it into your SEO strategy.