For those wondering, "What does SEO stand for?" or What is SEO and SEO Marketing? Here is a complete guide on SEO and SEO Marketing. Let's dig in!
What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization, or as it is usually referred to - SEO.
SEO is a technique that can be used in content marketing to improve the visibility and organic search results of a website or web page.
Optimizing the content for specific keywords and phrases relevant to the website or page's topic makes it possible to increase the chances that the website or page will appear in the first rows of the search results of leading search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing.
Why is SEO important for marketing?
Using SEO in content marketing can improve the visibility and organic search results of a website or web page, increasing the chances of more significant traffic and higher conversion rates. In addition, it is crucial to ensure that the website or page is easy to navigate and that the content is well-written and informative. Several methods can be used to optimize content for SEO, including using keywords and key phrases throughout the content, Meta tags, and backlinks.
In short, it helps you to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), which means more people are likely to see and click on your website. This leads to more traffic and more customers for your business.
How does SEO work?
How do we prove something to someone when having a spat? We say GOOGLE IT.
Search engines are used for internet searches on limitless topics. Likewise, search engine algorithms are computer programs that give searchers specific results according to some clues they have generated through user experiences and much testing.
Search engines like Google, Firefox, and Yahoo depend on those algorithms to give their users the best fitting and most relevant content through keywords, site rankings, and other aspects. For information-finding purposes, search engines undergo these three stages: (1) crawling, (2) indexing, and (3)ranking: crawling (the discovery stage), indexing (the filing stage), and ranking (the retrieval stage).
1. Crawling: With the help of web crawlers that search engines send out, they identify and collect data on a specific webpage. Their mission is to 'spy' on new websites or to revisit the older ones and see if it has updated content or not.
2. Indexing: The next step for the search engine is indexing, that is to say, deciding if the page is worth showing in the search results. A web page or other piece of content that has been indexed is registered and saved in a database so that it can be tracked down later. Most websites that offer specific and high-quality content are indexed. A website could be excluded from the index if:
It is plagiarized
It is low quality or spam
Had no inbound links
Failed to be crawled
3. Ranking: Once you are 'through the gates of a search engine,' you are now to be ranked. This means how high up you are going to be seen. What number search are you going to be when people search for something? There are more than 200 signals to consider. Some of them include:
Keyword presence in headlines
Keyword repetition in the text
Bolded text in the content
Website DR (domain rating)
The golden trio of SEO
We know that Google changes its algorithms frequently. This is a big pain point for Digital marketers since adjusting may not always be easy. However, in SEO, three prominent aspects usually remain unchanged. If you master these three aspects, you will get the hang of it very soon, and adapting will become easier. Here we go!
Number 1. Technical Optimization: This refers to tasks on your website that aren't tied to content but are intended to boost SEO.
Number 2. On-Page Optimization: The process of ensuring the information on your site is valid and offers a good user experience. A content management system can help you accomplish this by choosing the appropriate keywords to target within your articles.
Number 3. Off-Page Optimization: The process of improving your site's ranks in search engines by steps performed off the site. Backlinks, which help to establish the site's reputation, are a significant factor in this.
4 FREE SEO Resources
Of course, many resources that you are going to sample while learning SEO are paid. However, there are many handy tools and softs that you can use easily without any charges (with a few limitations) that can result in quality work. Here are 4 such free resources you can start with:
Number 1. Google's SEO starter guide
It is no secret that Google is the leading search engine in the world, and if you want big traffic, you're going to need to understand and learn from what they have to say directly.
Number 2. Ahrefs
Another industry-leading tool, Ahrefs, allows you to do backlink research, domain rating checks, site audits, etc.
Number 3. Yoast SEO
This free plugin analyzes your content from an SEO standpoint. You will get insights into whether your material is SEO friendly, if it needs further improvements and WHAT improvements. It is like the Grammarly of SEO.
Number 4. Semrush
With Semrush, you get enormous data regarding backlinks, competing domains, traffic estimations, and keywords. You just enter the link, and voilà! Pretty much most of what you need.
Sum up
Google uses a complex algorithm to determine the ranking of websites on its search engine. This algorithm takes into account more than 200 factors, including the quality and quantity of a website's backlinks, the freshness of its content, and the use of keywords. SEO is a long-term strategy that requires ongoing effort and regular updates. However, it can be very effective in earning higher web traffic levels and improving the visibility of a website.