What is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. It’s like giving your website a makeover so it stands out in Google’s world. Imagine you have a cool lemonade stand. SEO is like putting up the brightest signs and choosing the best spot on the street, so people notice you first.
When someone searches for something on Google, like “best lemonade,” SEO helps your website pop up at the top of the search results. It’s about using the right keywords, making your site speedy and easy to use, and creating great content that people love. The better your SEO, the more people find your site organically. It’s like being the popular kid in the digital schoolyard!
Is SEO Important?
SEO was created out of necessity as the internet and the number of websites began to grow exponentially. In the early days of the internet, navigating the vast amount of information became increasingly challenging. Users needed a way to find the most relevant and reliable information quickly and efficiently. As search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing emerged to index and rank web pages, SEO developed as a method to help these search engines understand and categorize the content of websites more effectively.
The goal is to signal to search engines that a website is a valuable, authoritative source of information for certain topics. Is SEO important? Yes, SEO is crucial because higher visibility in search results typically leads to more traffic, and consequently, potential conversions for businesses or websites. As the internet continues to grow, the role of SEO remains critical in ensuring that users can find the best possible information in response to their search queries.
The 7 Basic Checklist All SEO Must Understand
Let’s break down SEO in simple terms. Here are the most important steps when learning about SEO.
1. Understand Keywords
Keywords are words or phrases that people type into search engines. In SEO, keywords are like a bridge between what people are searching for and the content you provide. If your keywords match what people are searching for, they’re more likely to find your website.
But how to use them? Identify keywords relevant to your content. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find what people are searching for. Then, include these keywords naturally in your website’s text, titles, and headings.
Here’s a simple guide to implementing your keywords:
- In Your Website’s Content: Include them in your text, blogs, product descriptions, and titles. But do this naturally, do not overcrowd your content with keywords
- In Meta Descriptions: These are the brief page descriptions in search results. Having keywords here can boost click-through rates
- In URLs: If possible, use keywords in your webpage URLs
- In Image Alt Texts: Helps search engine bots to understand what your image is about
- In Social Media Posts: Improves your content’s discoverability on social platforms
Think about what words people would Google to find your site. Selling handmade candles? Your keywords might be “handmade candles,” “scented candles,” etc. Use these words naturally in your website’s content.
2. Optimise Your Website’s Design and Performance
- Why It Matters: A well-designed, fast-loading website provides a good user experience, which search engines favour.
- What to Do: Ensure your website works well on both desktop and mobile devices. Improve loading speeds by optimising images and using good hosting.
Remember, Google loves sites that load fast and look good on both computers and phones. Make sure your site isn’t a slowpoke and looks fab on all devices.
3. Create Quality Content
The goal is to provide useful, informative, and engaging content. This can be through blog posts, videos, infographics, etc.
Keep in mind that content should answer users’ questions or provide valuable information. The better your content, the more likely it is to get organic links from other sites, which improves your SEO.
Content should also be consistent with your site identity. Don’t create content that does not relate to your products/niche. Build an authoritative website that people trust when searching for your niche.
4. Use On-Page SEO Techniques
On-page SEO is like setting up your room so it’s super cosy and inviting for when friends come over. But instead of friends, think of Google. It’s all about making each page on your website awesome and easy for search engines to understand.
It includes optimizing individual web pages to rank higher. This involves using keywords in your titles, headings, and meta descriptions (the short text snippets that appear under your page title in search results).
Also Consider:
- URL Structure: your page’s web address (URL) should be clean and simple, making it easy to understand what the page is about.
- Alt tags for images: “descriptions” that explain what they are, helping Google ‘see’ your images.
5. Work on Off-Page SEO
This is mainly about building links from other websites to yours (backlinks). When a different website links to your site, it’s like they’re saying, “Hey, check out this cool clubhouse!” Google sees these shoutouts and thinks, “Hmm, this place must be pretty awesome!” The more reputable the site giving you a shoutout, the better.
Here’s a simple list of key off-page SEO elements:
- Backlinks: These are links from other websites to yours. The more quality backlinks you have, the more search engines think you’re a big deal.
- Social Media Sharing: When you’re active on social media, sharing stuff about your website, people get interested and might visit or talk about it. It increases your visibility and can indirectly boost your SEO.
- Guest Blogging: You write articles or blog posts for other websites and subtly mention your site or include a link.
- Online Reviews: People love reviews. Focus on encouraging users to leave reviews for your products or services. The more reviews you have, the more legitimate your site will be
- Influencer Outreach: Collaborating with influencers who can mention or promote your website. Find topics that create virality.
Remember, off-page SEO is all about building a good reputation and getting the word out there. It shows that your content is valuable and trustworthy, which will tell search engines like Google that you’re important and should be ranked higher.
6. Utilize Local SEO (if applicable)
Local SEO is like being the go-to spot in your neighbourhood. It’s about making your local business easy to find and popular in your local area, especially for those searching online. Imagine you own a coffee shop in town. You want locals and visitors to find you when they search for “coffee shop near me.” That’s where Local SEO steps in!
Here’s how to utilize it:
- Google My Business (GMB) Listing
Set up your site for GMB, including your business hours, contact info, and photos. Regular updates and accurate info are key.
- Local Keywords
Use some eye-catching keywords. If you’re in Australia, phrases like “best coffee in Sydney” should appear in your website’s text. Also, writing a blog about local events or local happenings can link your business with the community.
- Get Online Reviews
Encourage happy customers by asking them to leave a review on Google or Yelp. Always respond to their reviews to show that you value customers’ feedback.
- Local Backlinks
Network locally by getting links from local businesses, newspapers, or blogs.
- Optimise for ‘Near Me’ Searches
Have a “Mobile-Friendly Website” to give a better user experience in ‘near me’ searches on phones. You can also mention nearby landmarks in your website content.
- Local Business Directories
Get Listed on directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and local Chamber of Commerce websites. It’s like being in the local business phonebook.
- Social Media Engagement
Be active locally! Share local news, participate in community events, and connect with local customers on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, X and Instagram.
Local SEO is not just about being found; it’s about being found by the right people in your area!
7. Monitor and Adjust
Using marketing tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console can help track your website’s performance and give you real-time insights into how well your website is performing.
Understand your audience and their behaviour better through Google Analytics. It tells you who’s coming to your site (like demographics), how they got there (like through a Google search, social media, or directly typing your URL), and what they do once they’re on your site (like which pages they visit and how long they stay). This info helps you tweak your website to keep them engaged and coming back.
Google Search Console, on the other hand, focuses more on how Google sees your site. It shows you which keywords bring people to your site, how high you rank in search results, and if there are any issues like broken links or crawling errors (which is when Google’s bots have trouble reading your site). Think of it as a health check-up for your website’s visibility in Google’s eyes.
Together, these tools give you a comprehensive view of your website’s performance, from visitor behaviour to search engine optimization. It’s essential for making data-driven decisions to improve your website and boost your online presence.
Lastly, don’t forget to stay flexible! SEO isn’t a one-time thing. It takes time to see results, so be patient and consistent with your efforts. Regularly check your progress and adjust your strategy as needed.
