What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Alright, you’re about to create a website, or maybe you have already one and you are starting to hear about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Maybe you are a small business owner, a blogger, or a service-based business. Whatever niché you fit into, you need SEO to start showing up higher in Google Search Results!
Oh great, it’s not enough to just have a website, now I need to do a TON of work to get this website to even show up on Google Search Results (first, by doing a website audit). The truth is, there are Pros and Cons to SEO.
Well, kind of. The goal of this blog is to break SEO down into its simplest form so you can get a baseline understanding of what’s going on, and what your first steps are for SEO Optimization.
In the competitive marketplace that is the online world, getting your voice to be heard among the noise can be super challenging and confusing. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Let's break it down together and uncover the magic behind those three little letters: SEO.
The Basics of SEO
So, what exactly is SEO?
Well, think of it like this: imagine you're throwing a big party, and you want everyone to know about it. You'd put up signs, tell your friends, maybe even shout it from the rooftops! SEO is like doing all that but for your website.
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It's the process of making your website more visible and attractive to search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo on their Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).
Why does this matter? Because when someone searches for something online – whether it's "best pizza in town" or "how to knit a sweater" – you want your website to be one of the first things they see. How often do you scroll even to the second page of a Google Results Page to find what you’re looking for? Never is probably your answer.
The best way to understand SEO is with these two categories: On-Page SEO and Off-Page SEO.
On-page SEO revolves around optimizing elements directly on your website, such as content, meta descriptions, titles, and site structure, to enhance its visibility and relevance to search engines. On-page SEO involves tasks like keyword optimization, meta tag implementation, and user experience, all aimed at improving your website's performance within search engine results.
Off-page SEO, on the other hand, focuses on things happening outside of your website to boost its authority, credibility, and popularity. This includes building backlinks from reputable sites, engaging in social media, and managing your online reputation. All of which contribute to enhancing your website's overall presence and authority in the eyes of search engines.
Keyword Research and Data
Keywords reign supreme! Keywords are the backbone of SEO, serving as the foundation for how your website gets discovered online. They're the words and phrases people search in Google, Yahoo, or Bing when seeking information, products, or services. Keyword Research is all about understanding what words and phrases your audience is searching for online.
Hint, don’t go straight for the biggest, most heavily-serached keywords right away. Start with smaller, less dense keywords and work your way up!
There is an endless amount of Keyword Research and Data tools out there. A few that I love to use are SEMrush, Google Keyword Planner, and Detailed. These tools offer crucial insights into search volume, competition levels, and related keywords. However, it's not just about picking the most popular keywords; it's about selecting those that align best with your market and resonate with your target audience. DO YOUR RESEARCH! It will pay off.
On-Page SEO
Now that we've got our keywords in hand, it's time to put them to work on your website. On-page SEO is like giving your website a makeover from the inside out. From optimizing your titles, meta descriptions, and headers to ensuring your content is packed with those keywords and correct internal linking, every detail counts.
Meta Titles and Descriptions: Meta Titles and Descriptions are short pieces of your website that show in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) and give a summary of what is happening inside of that page’s content. Write short, clear, and informative descriptions and titles that give a search engine a better idea of what content is on that page.
Headers: Headers give search engines the next best idea of what is on your page. Headers (H1, H2, H3, etc) help search engines organize and prioritize the important information on your page. Headers are where you should pack in your most important keywords.
Content: Here is where most people fall off the wagon of optimizing their SEO. They fix their meta information and their headers, but either don’t create any content, or create content that is only keyword-focused and does not provide any real value. Lean into your niche and provide real value for the people viewing your website. Keep in mind your keywords and incorporate them into your content, but keep your posts valuable and relevant to your industry.
Make sure to name and optimize all of the images you use in your content. This will help a search engine get a better idea of what the image is about, and improve the accessibility of your website.
Internal Linking: There is nothing better than when reading a piece of content on a website, to be given a link to another helpful blog or resource. This is called internal linking, and it is crucial for your website. This helps search engines get a better idea of how pages relate to one another, while also improving how your audience uses your website. When internal linking, make sure you do not have any 404 errors. Fix those links!
Off-Page SEO
Now that we’ve got our On-page SEO under control, it’s time to move outside of our website with Off-page SEO. Off-page SEO strives to take your website to the online marketplace and show that your site is relevant and authoritative.
Backlinks: Backlinks are the gold stars of Off-page SEO. They're links from other websites that point back to yours, signaling to search engines that your site is reputable and trustworthy. The more quality backlinks you have, the higher your website will rank in search results. It’s hard work, but roll up your sleeves and start building backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites within your industry (p.s. don’t waste your time with low-quality, shitty backlinks, it actually hurts your SEO).
Social Media Engagement: In today's digital age, Social Media isn't just for sharing Family Guy memes and cat videos – it's also a powerful tool for Off-page SEO. Engage with your audience on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and any other platform you can think of. You can increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, and boost your overall online presence. Start building connections and see where they go! This leads perfectly into the next step…
Guest Blogging: Want to expand your reach and establish yourself as an authority in your industry? Look no further than guest blogging. By writing informative and engaging articles for other websites within your niche, you can showcase your expertise, build relationships with other industry professionals, and earn valuable backlinks to your website in the process. It's a win-win.
Off-page SEO is much harder than On-page SEO, but it is vital in order to start seeing your website on the first page of SERPs.
Content Creation
Content Creation and Management – the beating heart of SEO! Creating high-quality, relevant content is key to attracting and engaging your audience. Whether it's blog posts, articles, videos, or infographics, your content should answer your audience's questions, solve their problems, and leave them wanting more. This is not a race to see who can put out the most keyword-stuffed blogs. This is providing real value to your audience, with keyword research in mind, but with the goal of engaging with your audience.
Be consistent in your content, not only with brand identity but also with the frequency of posting. Use email campaigns and social media to drive traffic and awareness to your newest piece of super-valuable content.
Monitoring and Analytics
Now that we've set our SEO strategy in motion it’s time to do some monitoring and analytics. Keep a close eye on your website's performance, track keyword rankings, and analyze visitor behavior. You'll gain valuable insights into what's working and what's not, and a better understanding of how SEO works, it’s a lifelong journey. As you analyze and understand this date, you can fine-tune your SEO strategy and keep your website on the path to success. I use Google Search Console and SEMrush to track and analyze all of my data and analytics, but there are a bunch of different tools you can use (some free, some not).
Timeline for SEO
So, how long does it take for SEO to start working? This question may be as old as time. If I had a perfect answer for you, I would have already told you. The truth about SEO is it is a long journey, not a quick destination. While some results may start trickling in within a few weeks, it often takes several months to see significant improvements in your website's rankings and traffic. It is hard to know what to expect when starting SEO. The best piece of advice is to post and ghost. Consistently post quality content and optimize your website, and forget about it! You will see results at some point, it just may take some time to see tangible results. Search Engines take quite a bit of time to find, index, and rank your site and new content, so the best thing you can be is consistent!
You will see some noticeable increases in website traffic after the first few basic SEO changes, but the biggest gains will be had months in the future.
That’s All Folks
SEO is like the secret sauce that takes your website from a hidden gem to a shining star. By mastering the art of keyword research, optimizing your website both on-page and off-page, creating killer content, and keeping a close eye on your analytics, you'll be well on your way to dominating the online world and achieving your digital dreams! Use our free website audit checklist to make sure your website is converting visitors efficiently and ranking as high as possible in Google with SEO!
