On this up-to-date guide, I will be giving you a detailed answer on, “What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?”
After providing its definitions, I will go further and break down topics relevant to Search Engine Optimization into smaller bits, which we will explain even further.
Also, I aim at answering this question in the most beginner-friendly manner as possible. Therefore, by the time you are done reading this article, simple questions on SEO should not sound confusing.
So, let us get started:
Introduction: What Is SEO?
This is the process of optimizing a site with relevant content to search queries by web visitors, to provide answers to web visitors, while at the same time making it easy for search engines to crawl your site — for you to rank better for specific keywords.
But, there is no single definition of SEO.
This is because, when you think you’ve familiarized yourself with most of the optimization techniques, new ones arise.
Therefore, search engine optimization for webmasters is a continuous learning process. With time, it gets interesting and even more detailed.
If you’ve just started, be ready for an exciting journey. Having an open mind comes in handy. But, watch out for outdated advice, just as the world keeps changing, so does SEO.
The principle behind Search Engine Optimization
For a search engine search like Google and Bing to provide relevant information to a search visitor, a couple of things happen in the background.
Firstly, the search engine has to crawl many different pages of different sites on the web.
By doing so, the search engine is then able to convert the information collected into an index.
Secondly, the indexed pages are analyzed, and using different algorithms and putting into account different ranking factors — the content is sorted.
Lastly, the analyzed content is then ranked according to relevancy for specific keywords on the search results.
This is when a web visitor searching for specific content can locate what they are looking for and getting it exactly the way they want it.
Different Types Of SEO
Search engine optimization is a vast topic.
To have a closer look and feel of what it entails, we must go ahead and break it down into 3:
1. The On-Page SEO
This is optimization aimed at providing high-quality content that is both user and search engine friendly.
Having your content optimized for easier rankings by search engines is time-consuming and involves a couple of activities.
Among them are; site structure, interlinks, image SEO, title SEO, meta tag descriptions, content provided, and keyword usage.
Having your site optimized on all these different aspects will provide search engines with the necessary information. This information is what is then analyzed by search engines to understand what your content is about.
On-page SEO is vital for the growth of a site, and without it, most sites will find it hard to get the proper recognition that they deserve.
I recommend that you make it your habit to learn more about SEO.
2. The Off-Page SEO
Off-page SEO is all about website promotion and building brand awareness.
This is easily achieved upon building/gaining links from authoritative sites.
When done right, the search rankings of your site can move up in a much shorter period, unlike without off-page SEO.
You, therefore, gain more traffic and authority as time passes by.
These link building techniques aim at gaining high-quality backlinks.
Backlinks are links from another site that recommend and give assurance that your content is good.
Having backlinks from an authoritative site is what you should aim at. This will affect your site positively in terms of better ranks.
But, backlinks from sites with low authority, link farms, and article directories will only harm your ranking. You can even get penalized by Google for not following their guidelines.
That means your rankings will have been affected negatively for some silly actions that you could have avoided.
3. The Technical SEO
This one aims at easing the search engine crawling and indexing activities on a page.
By doing so, a site allows search engines to collect the information needed for indexing and ranking for specific keywords based on relevancy.
For most of the technical SEO, configurations are only done once, but at times, depending on the information you need indexed, you can fine-tune this to meet your goals.
Importance of SEO
Now that we are done with the answering “What is SEO?” lets dive in a little deeper and learn of its importance.
As days pass by, digital marketing continues to be the way forward for many online businesses, blogs, online stores, and other websites.
Just a quick feel of its importance, search engine optimization enables you to gain quality traffic upon ranking at the top for specific keywords.
Depending on the click-through rate, a site owner can benefit in various ways by performing SEO.
Some of its benefits are:
Generates More Quality Traffic
Performing SEO is primarily focused on improving search rankings on Google.
But, a cascade of events follows upon accomplishment of this goal; an example is an increment in the number of organic searches that translates to more quality traffic.
Therefore, the combined effort of on-page, off-page, and technical SEO is important for anyone looking to increase their organic traffic, especially for a site that has not been paying attention to On-Page SEO.
Gain Authority (Specific to your Niche)
Just like we’ve mentioned above, ranking at the top is usually your primary goal.
But, upon reaching there, other benefits reveal themselves.
You start receiving recognition in new ways, and people pay attention to you when you speak, now they listen.
This is different for a new site, not that they do not know what the gurus know, but they are yet to earn the trust they need for their audience to listen to them in such a manner.
Therefore, if you want to be like ‘them’ you must pay close attention to the overall optimization of your site.
Makes You Aim to Become The Best
I know you are wondering, ‘How is this even relevant?’Well, it is!
Let me explain.
Imagine after performing SEO; you find out that your search ranking positions have become better.
You are now ranking next to sites you once referred to as ‘competitors’.
Striving to stay at the top is a task that you will from that time continuously take up.
This is what will make you want to become better.
Because there is no chance that you will risk stagnating or even going back to where you were before.
Therefore, continuous SEO comes the need to be better, which is good for any aspiring webmaster.
Improves User Experience
Search engine optimization is aimed at making the content user friendly.
At the same time, SEO aims at following all the guidelines stated by search engines to increase their chances for better rankings.
And, by keeping in mind that search engine algorithms are continuously twisted and changed, for a better user’s experience, a webmaster should closely monitor these and act accordingly.
By doing so, you will have provided your readers with a great user experience. Although this is indirect, it’s still a reason as to why SEO is important.
Speeds Up Your Growth
Imagine comparing a site that’s performing search engine optimization to a site that’s not.
And, let’s assume their goal is to increase their amount of organic traffic. Do you think their rate of growth is anywhere close to each other?
The answer is NO!
SEO is a show of seriousness; you cannot just type words and stuff them on a site and expect search engines to do the work for you.
Search Engine Optimization, especially for new sites is vital to their growth.
When you do it right, you will be on the right track.
But, when you do it wrong or avoid it completely, you will be on the road to poor quality and reduced traffic, if any.
Some important Search engine optimization tips
Improve Page Loading Speed
Page speed is vital to proper SEO. The faster a site is, the better.
You can check your page speed score on Google page speed insights, Pingdom, or GTmetrix.
Do Keyword Research
Keyword research is the process of finding and using potentially high ranking keywords.
By doing keyword research, you will understand what your audience is looking for, and give them just that.
Here are some free keyword research tools;
Here is a detailed article 12 Best Keyword Research Tools For SEO.
Build High-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are like pillars supporting you to succeed as a content writer.
By gaining/building high-quality backlinks, comes the potential to rank better on search engines and generate more traffic.
Some of the useful tools for Backlink building
SEMrush is one of the Backlink building tools that I highly recommend.
Learn more about Backlink building strategies here.
Fix Any Broken Links
I have explained this further as a major point on How to Get High-Quality Backlinks Starting Today (12 Unique Strategies)
Optimize Site TO Become Mobile Friendly
Mobile searches are overtaking desktop searches, which means more search engine visitors are on mobile devices than they are on computers.
Optimizing your site to become mobile friendly is necessary if you want to compete with other sites in such a time.
To check if your site is mobile-friendly, click here.
Provide Quality Content
Search engines are lovers of quality content.
Creating content that is well researched and in-depth is among the easy ways you can employ to earn a space in the search ranks.
Conclusion
By now, I want to believe that you can comfortably answer the question: “What is SEO?” If not, pause there, scroll up, and read the definition once more, or read this in-depth article on SEO by ahrefs.
In our current time, optimization is becoming complex and time-consuming. But, that should not be the reason as to why you are avoiding/not doing it.
It’s a task that’s both achievable and easy to accomplish with the right mindset. You must be patient, smart, open-minded, and consistent.
Therefore, making it your habit to try out different search engine optimization techniques, and learn new ones will prove worth it in the long term.
It will not only improve your search rankings but also build you a better domain authority with time.
Additionally, it will make you strive to become the best. This is because, by striving to rank at the top, you will not only be competing against yourself but also against your competitors, and ranking at the top will only be possible if you are the best or close to the best.
Finally, you must appreciate and note down every milestone you have achieved. Reading this entire article proves your dedication.
Just apply what we have discussed above, and you will get closer to your next milestone.
How helpful is SEO to you?
Copyright: Johnny @ nomadicsense
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Including lists made up of bullet points is also an excellent strategy. Leonie Artair Shaun
Hello Leonie, thanks for your input.