If you have a website or researched building a website at all, there’s a high chance you’ve heard the term “SEO” once or a trillion times. Let’s lift the veil and start your SEO journey by breaking down the basics.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s all about making your website more attractive to search engines like Google, Bing, and *insert Millenial cringe* Yahoo. When someone searches for something relevant to your site, good SEO practices help ensure your site pops up in the search results, ideally on the first page. Think of SEO as your website’s way of waving and saying, “Hey, look at me!” to search engines.

via GIPHY

So…Why Should You Care About SEO?

SEO is important for several reasons:

1. Increased Visibility: The higher your website ranks in search results, the more likely people are to find it. More visibility means more visitors.
2. Organic Traffic: Unlike paid ads, SEO brings in $free traffic. People who find your site through search results are considered organic traffic, and the more of it, the better!
3. Credibility and Trust: Websites that appear higher in search results are often seen as more credible and trustworthy.
4. Staying Competitive: In today’s digital world, many businesses use SEO. If you’re not optimizing your site, you’re most likely falling behind your competitors.

The Core Elements of SEO

1. Keyword Research

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into search engines when looking for something. Effective SEO starts with finding the right keywords for your content. Think about what your audience might search for. For instance, if you have a bakery, keywords like “best chocolate cake recipe” or “local bakery near me” might be relevant.

Tips for Keyword Research:

• Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find popular keywords in your niche.
• Focus on long-tail keywords (phrases that are more specific and usually longer). They’re less competitive and can attract more targeted traffic.
• There are two types of SEO-specific keywords: local and general. You might have an easier time ranking for “New York City Plumber” than “Best Plumber.”

2. On-Page SEO

On-page SEO involves optimizing individual pages on your website to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic. It includes things like:

• Title Tags: The title of your webpage should be compelling and include your main keyword. Make people go, “ooooo what’s in here?”
• Meta Descriptions: These are short descriptions that appear below your page title in search results. Make them enticing and keyword-rich.
• Headings: Use H1, H2, and H3 tags to structure your content. Search engines love well-organized content.
• Content: Create high-quality, valuable content that answers your audience’s questions. Use keywords naturally within your content. While there is some debate on whether or not length is as important as it used to be, it’s best to focus on quality over quantity.

3. Technical SEO

Technical SEO focuses on the backend of your website. It ensures that search engines can crawl and index your site effectively. Important aspects include:

• Site Speed: Faster websites provide a better user experience and rank higher.
• Mobile-Friendliness: With more people browsing on mobile devices, your site needs to look and function well on phones and tablets.
• Sitemap: A sitemap helps search engines understand the structure of your site and find all your pages.
• URL Structure: Clean and organized URLs help both users and search engines navigate your site.

4. Off-Page SEO

Off-page SEO involves activities outside your website that can influence your rankings. The most important aspect is building backlinks (links from other websites to yours). High-quality backlinks signal to search engines that your site is trustworthy and authoritative.

Tips for Building Backlinks:

• Guest Blogging: Write articles for other reputable websites in your industry.
• Social Media: Share your content on social media platforms to increase its visibility.
• Engage with Influencers: Connect with influencers in your niche who might share your content with their audience.

Measuring SEO Success

To know if your SEO efforts are paying off, you need to track your progress. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor:

• Organic Traffic: How many visitors are coming from search engines.
• Keyword Rankings: How your targeted keywords are performing.
• Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page. A lower bounce rate usually indicates better engagement.

It’s vital to do this sooner rather than later since GSC does not populate historical data before it’s connected!

Final Thoughts

SEO might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but with a bit of patience and consistent effort, you’ll start seeing results. Remember, the goal is to make your website more user-friendly and valuable to your audience, and search engines will give you a digital hug for it!