SEO is bandied about by everyone these days, with various ‘experts’ talking the talk, but what is SEO?
Well, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it’s a process that helps improve a website’s visibility on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. The goal of SEO is to make sure your website appears higher in search results when people look for something related to your business or content. If your website ranks higher, more people are likely visit it, which can lead to more sales, customers, or engagement.
When people search on Google, they usually click on one of the first few results. If your website appears at the top of these results, you’re more likely to get visitors. SEO is all about helping your website show up in those prime spots. But how does it work?
SEO involves several important steps:
1. On-Page SEO
On-page SEO is the process of optimising the content on your website. This includes using the right keywords and phrases (words people are searching for) in your titles, headings, and throughout the content. It also involves ensuring that your website has high-quality, relevant content that answers users’ questions or provides useful information. Other aspects of on-page SEO include making sure your website is easy to navigate and mobile-friendly, as many people now browse on their phones and Google ranks websites based on the mobile experience.
2. Off-Page SEO
Off-page SEO focuses on building your website’s reputation by getting other trusted websites to link to yours. When other sites link to you, search engines see that as a sign of trust and authority, especially if those websites are high-ranking with their own good authority. Good backlinks, as these links are called, are one of the most important factors in improving your website’s SEO.
3. Technical SEO
Technical SEO makes sure that your website is set up in a way that search engines can easily crawl and understand it. This includes improving your website’s speed, ensuring it’s mobile-friendly, fixing broken links, and using proper coding. A website that loads quickly and works well on all devices is more likely to rank well in search results.
4. Content Creation
Content is one of the most important parts of SEO. Having fresh, engaging, and helpful content on your website helps keep visitors interested and encourages them to stay longer. This can include blog posts, articles, videos, and product descriptions. The more helpful and relevant your content, the more likely it is to rank higher.
Why SEO is Important
SEO is essential because it helps people find your website through search engines. In today’s digital world, people use search engines to find products, services, and information. If your website appears near the top of search results, you’re more likely to attract visitors. This can lead to more customers, higher sales, and more success for your business.
In short, SEO is a vital strategy for getting noticed online and reaching your audience. You may have a website, but you need to make it easy for search engines to index your website, and in turn let people find your website high up in those search results.
Where do I find out more about SEO?
Read here about Why SEO is important for your business which goes into more detail about the points above. A website needs to be mobile friendly because that is a crucial factor in ranking so why not check out Why your website needs to be mobile friendly?
If your business doesn’t have a website yet then read 10 reasons your business needs a website or 5 reasons your business should be online.
If you are looking to build your website, then have a look at these resources:
- Professional websites built by Plumb Digital (little old me)
- Plumb Digital website portfolio
- 5 things your website needs
- Can you DIY your website
- Which type of website is right for your business
And finally, please give me a shout for a no obligation chat about how I can help you with SEO.