What is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is the process of improving your website and content so it gets better visibility in search engines. Of course Google is the big one, but it is basically the same for Bing or Yahoo.
SEO is important because when users are searching for information good SEO can mean they come to your site. And coming to you in this manner is free, unlike other forms of online marketing.
Good SEO is about ranking well on a search results page when a user searches for information. We all have seen the dozens of results that appear when we perform a search, and we know we usually pay most attention to those toward the top of the list.
Big companies employ experts who do nothing but SEO, and there are whole books that claim to know the secret to SEO. And there are companies that do nothing but advise businesses regarding their SEO practices.
But if you are just starting out, what are some keys to getting started with SEO? Below are some ideas.
Keywords
Keywords are groups of words that users type into a search engine when looking for information. You can start by writing down terms that you think users might use. There are online tools that help you find keywords. One is Google’s Keyword Planner, but there are many more.
Another variation of keywords is called Long Tail Keywords. These are longer phrases or questions that a user is using to search. These may have a smaller search volume but indicate more serious interest.
Below are some SEO basics for your website:
Keywords in Page Title
Try to include keywords in your page title.
Keywords in H1 text
H1 Text is the larger text usually at the top of your website. Try to include keywords in this area.
Keywords in URL
Ideally you can include keywords in a page’s URL.
Build Links To Your Website
When other sites link to your website it is a strong indicator that your site is important and relevant to a search.
Monitor How You Stand
There are many tools you can use to monitor your SEO. These include the Google Search Console and Google Analytics, along with others.
Content is King
Google is most interested in finding sites that match the intent of a user’s search query. So not only should your content be useful, but you should consider SEO there too. So include some keywords, but don’t go too crazy! Packing too many keywords in your content is a no no, and may result in a lower ranking.
A Note
Yoast
Yoast is a popular WordPress SEO Plugin. I mention it because WordPress is so popular and I have some personal experience. There is both a free and paid version. You may want to check out if you are using WordPress. They also have both free and paid courses to learn SEO.
In my research I found many useful SEO websites. Do a little research yourself. More to come on this important topic!
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