What is SEO and how does it work ?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of maximizing the presence of a website on search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. It simply means that the organic and paid traffic would get pushed to your website, structuring it in the most relevant and most likable way to the algorithms of the search engines and users.
It also comprises of many important constituents which go in making the site to come at the top on the search results pages. It is this way:
Keyword Research :
Finding out those magic words and terms which your visitors will most probably use when searching for information relevant to your content, products, or services.
Tools : Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs at your beck and call in finding keywords.
Implementation : Use these keywords naturally in a way they get fit into your content, titles, meta descriptions, and URLs.
On-Page SEO
Optimized Content : The quality and relevance of the content do much benefit to users. The keywords must be strategically used with no keyword-stuffing.
Title Tags and Meta Descriptions : Attractive title tags and meta descriptions should be created that would comprise the keywords. It should also initiate the interest of the user in getting it clicked.
Header Tags : These are H1, H2, H3 header tags. Header tags will assist in structuring the content. Also, it shall comprise keywords to let search engines observe a hierarchy of content.
URL Structure : Clean, descriptive URLs and inclusion of relevant keywords in them should be provided.
Technical SEO : Site Speed: Your website should be light and fast. Slow-loading websites are going to affect user experience and even ranking.
Make your website mobile-friendly since Google is now using the Mobile-first indexing, ranking your mobile version as the main for a website. Generate and submit the XML Sitemap so search engines are able to properly crawl through and index your website.
Robots.txt :
This can be applied in restricted areas to which the search engine should not be allowed to crawl and even refuse their crawling of certain pages.
Off-Page SEO :
Backlinks : Get quality website links back to you. Good quality backlinks are like the other authority sites giving a thumbs up in the favor of your site.
Social Signals : Get the users to create brand awareness, drive traffic to the site, etc. It is not a direct ranking signal but will help with driving the traffic and therefore visibility, which indirectly is. User Experience: Navigation Make sure your website is simple, clean, and easy to navigate.
Design : Come up with a design that would be effective, pleasing, and easy to use such that it keeps the interest of its users. Content Accessibility: The ease with which your content is accessed and the accessibility are the same to everyone, even the disabled. Content Creation and Marketing:
Blogging : Come up with a plan for regular blogging about topics that are pertinent and informative to your audience. Visual Content: This includes pictures, info-graphics, video, etc., that supports the content and makes it interesting. Promote Your Content: Share through social media, email newsletters, or other promotional strategies. SEO never happens once.
It’s not one thing, it’s something continuous with SEO. Search engines keep on evolving their algorithms; so are the users. It’s supposed to keep up the pace of new SEO practices and adjust the strategy in that light. Keep checking the website performance regularly with tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Monitor progress and adjust actions accordingly based on that data.