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What is SEO?

5 min to read

SEO, also known as search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing your website for search engine visibility. Websites generally try to aim for the first page of search engine results pages (SERPs). Doing so typically results in more visibility, though the competition is often fierce.

Understanding SEO is vital if you want to be viewed as an industry leader. Search engine algorithms aim to show users the most relevant results, and while quality content is essential, knowing what else leads to better SEO is also important.

Pro Tips:
• Title Tags/Meta Descriptions: You need to optimize these for search engines; they effectively work in the same way as copy on an ad would. Title tags and meta descriptions have character limitations that you need to work within.
• Header Tags: Use H1s, H2s, H3s, etc., to categorize information on your pages. This is essential for readability and the user experience, and it will likely influence where you rank in search engines.
• Image Optimization: Alt text in images are important for search engines and also for accessibility; ditto for image file names. You should make sure that both of these go into enough detail.
Key Takeaways:
  • Rankings
    • You need to understand SEO if you want to be more visible in SERPs.
  • Optimization
    • On-page content is important, but you also need to think about images, links, etc.
  • Keywords
    • Use free tools to determine what your audience is looking for and create content.
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What is SEO?

How does SEO work?

Search engines use bots and algorithms to crawl websites; you need to submit your sitemap to Google Search Console or a similar search engine for faster results. Information is gathered and then ranked based on various parameters, such as content quality and domain authority. 

Nobody knows exactly how search engine rankings work, but you can adopt common practices to improve your results of ranking higher. It’s important to remember that the best content doesn’t always rank at the top of search results, which is why understanding and implementing SEO is essential. 

Both web and mobile user experiences are factored into search engine rankings. For this reason, you should optimize your pages for all devices. 

Deep Dive: 
SEO requires consistent effort over a long period of time to get the results you’re looking for. You should expect to wait at least 6-12 months for results, and it’s a good idea to continuously iterate on improving your website’s user experience over the long run. 

What are the different types of SEO?

SEO covers three main elements: 

  • On-page SEO

  • Off-page SEO

  • Technical SEO

Understanding each of these is important because they can all influence your search engine rankings. Below is an outline of what each of them means, broken down into different sections. 

What is on-page SEO?

On-page SEO refers to the things you do to rank higher in search engines on your website. It’s the type of SEO you’ve probably heard of, and it covers aspects like content creation and internal linking strategies. 

Optimizing your categories and pages are also parts of on-page SEO. Ensuring that your images are optimized is also important, and meta tags, titles, and descriptions are also on-page SEO elements that you need to keep in mind. 

What is off-page SEO?

Off-page SEO relates to what you do away from your website to optimize for search engines. While off-page SEO is important, you need to do it in a genuine way. 

  • Backlinks are one part of off-page SEO; this is when other websites link to your website. You need these for trustworthiness, and it’s better if you have higher-quality backlinks.

  • Social media marketing is another element of off-page SEO. This is when you promote your content on Instagram, X, Facebook, and other social media networks. Besides reaching your existing audience, you should also think about how you could reach your followers’ networks with your social media marketing. 

  • Guest blogging, which involves writing on other websites, is another off-page SEO aspect to consider. While this method may result in borrowing an audience, its impact on backlink-building and brand awareness may vary. 

  • Participating in forums might seem outdated, but it can build awareness. While answering people’s questions may lead to greater awareness, it may be beneficial to consider the context and relevance of your responses. Make sure that the forum lets you share links if you plan to post your content there. 

What is technical SEO?

Technical SEO is more user experience (UX)-based, and while often overlooked, you need to focus on this for improved search engine rankings. Search engines prioritize websites with a good user experience, and it’s also vital so that bots can understand your site. 

  • Website speed is a technical SEO fundamental. Your website must load in less than a second on both desktop and mobile devices. Use plugins to increase speed and focus on other aspects, such as not making your image sizes too big. 

  • Mobile-friendliness is crucial since most website traffic comes from mobile. Adopt a mobile-first approach and focus on layouts where users can navigate without issues.

  • Site architecture is another technical SEO aspect. You must organize your website content in a way that makes sense, and prioritizing the most important information is crucial. 

  • XML sitemaps are how search engines find your website and its pages in the first place. Make sure that you’ve submitted your sitemap to Google Search Console; this isn’t always obvious.

What are keywords and how do they relate to SEO?

Users will type keywords into their search bar, and optimizing your content is important. Doing keyword research is vital, and you should consider both volume and the difficulty level for ranking. 

When producing content and optimizing pages, it’s important that you include the most essential keywords. However, using these naturally is also vital; avoid keyword stuffing. 

Keywords are a necessity if you want crawlers to deem your website as relevant for specific searches. 

Deep Dive:
• One example of keywords in SEO would be to use “website builder”, “AI-powered website builder”, or “no-code website builder” when looking to build a website for a blog or eCommerce store.

• Tip: Use keyword research tools and compile lists of keywords, along with content clusters. 

Conclusion

SEO is a necessity for any online business that wants to build a long-term brand. Even if you use video content, YouTube has its own search engine that works in a similar way to Google. Understanding the basics, and how the three different types of SEO work, are important if you want to rank your website. 

SEO does take a long time to see results, and for this reason, it’s essential that you continue learning and have faith that you’ll succeed. Building the habit of optimization from the initial stages is crucial. It’s beneficial to be proactive and commence optimization early. 

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