What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?

SEO stands for search engine optimization. It’s a process of improving the quality and relevance of your website so that people are more likely to find it on the search engine results pages. This can include things like adding keywords, images, quality content, schema markups, and other elements that will help you rank better.

The more people that see your website, the better chance you have at achieving the purpose of the website at a higher rate.

Why is SEO Important?

Last year was a major year for SEO. As customers shifted to the web, even traditional business realized they had to accelerate the change. SEO is the most accurate and economical tool to both understand and reach customers in key moments. Taking SEO into accounts should help explain how businesses can benefit from the work of SEO on their business website regardless of its size and location. If SEO improves your website to be more searchable, what would be its value?

Priceless.

SEO improves your website’s keyword rankings and authority score which enables the website to show up on multiple search terms, leading to growth in website traffic.

The growth in organic traffic enables the website to achieve its overall purpose with ease be it sales, leads, or simply ad clicks.

All in all, a website without SEO has a very low success rate, hence business owners should definitely adopt SEO as their marketing strategy.

How does SEO work?

You already know that people use Google to look up whatever they’re wondering about. Chances are, most of the results you see on the first page didn’t just get there by chance. Websites employ SEO experts (like you!) who make sure that when people search for a particular phrase, their site comes up.

Sounds easy, right? Just fill your site with those keywords and Bob’s your uncle? Well, not exactly.

First of all, it’s a game of patience. These algorithms that search engines use change all the time and what works one day may not work the next. So you’ll have to constantly be on the lookout for new tactics and strategies to try out.

Second of all, remember when I said keywords were important but so is quality. That’s because Google also looks at how engaging your site is. So even if you’re using the right words, if your page isn’t interesting to read, it’s not going to come up as high. This is where your writing skills come in handy because you’ll need to write content that people will actually want to read. Try to include lists or bullet points if you’re feeling uninspired.

Third, optimize your website to ensure that it passes the right signals to the search engine bots.

Fourthly, one is a really annoying part of SEO that people tend to forget. You won’t get far if all you have is your site. You need to have other niche relevant high quality sites to link to yours and this would grow your websites authority and relevance.

How can I get better SEO results?

There are several things you can do to improve your rankings:

  • Write high-quality content: If you don’t have any great ideas, then try writing about something related to what you’re selling. For example, if you sell wedding dresses, write an article about how one dress might look good on a bride and another on her bridesmaids. You’ll be surprised by how many people will read it! (And who knows — maybe they’ll buy one! Or two!)

  • Use keywords: Search engines like Google love to rank pages that use specific words in their titles and descriptions. So, if you’re trying to sell wedding dresses, make sure those words include the word “wedding.” Also, make sure your site has a keyword section where you can put in all of the phrases that you think people are searching for.

  • Add images: In addition to keywords, make sure you add plenty of related images to your site. If you have photos of the brides who bought dresses from you, by all means include them. That makes people feel more comfortable about buying from you. A site without photos can look sketchy.

  • Have a social media presence: This means having a Facebook or Instagram page for your business. Not only does this increase the “realness” of your company, it connects you to people who are interested in what you have to offer. When someone “likes” your page or checks in, that information shows up on their friends’ newsfeeds. And who doesn’t love seeing a friend’s baby pictures?

  • Be patient: Google’s search algorithm is constantly changing and improving, so it’s important to keep up with the times. If you do these things now, by the time your site is a year old, you’ll have to start doing even more to stay on top. But don’t worry, this is a long-term project. Chances are, if you’re starting your own website, you’ve got the dedication to see it through.

Resources to Learn SEO Basics

SEO Insights

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