SEO may seem complicated and too technical for the inexperienced. In this beginner’s guide, we aim to simplify this advanced method of improving your business’ online presence.
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a process of gaining organic traffic from search results on search engines. With the internet becoming the primary source of information for most people, Search Engine Optimization has become a very vital and cost-effective method for businesses to improve their chances of gaining visibility on the internet. Search engines come up with complex and ever-changing algorithms to give relevant results of their users. Competing with numerous similar websites, SEO helps you improve your websites chances of ranking in major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Through SEO, not only do you make your website search engine friendly but you also make it easier for users to navigate your website. SEO is divided into two different elements – on-page and off-page a SEO.
On-page SEO focuses on elements that are on your website. Most SEO companies agree that on-page SEO has two basic factors – the content and architecture of your website. These elements are what search engines use to index your website.
The content of your website is not only important to search engines but it also vital for your website’s visitors. It enables you to convert website visitors into potential customers. There are various factors in which search engines take into consideration when reviewing your website’s content such as quality, originality, and relevance.
The architecture of your website is what search engines like Google use to crawl and index your website. Essentially, it makes it easy for search engines to access the relevant information on your website.
Off-page SEO, on the other hand, concentrates on the elements outside of your website. Elements such as link building, social media, and social bookmarking are all important indicators search engines use to determine your rank in the results page. There are a variety of factors that may influence these elements.
Link building is perhaps one of the most popular off-page SEO methods. Each external link leading to your website, adds to your website’s authority.
With its ever-growing influence, social media is another valuable element that search engines consider when it comes to a website’s ranking. It is, in a way, another form of link building.
If your website has a particular niche, social bookmarking is a way for you to reach a highly targeted audience. A relevant audience will also help promote your content.
For an SEO campaign to be successful, both on-page and off-page SEO must be utilized together to improve results.