What is SEO? 4 Simple Things Every Website Owner Should Know

What is SEO? 4 Simple Things Every Website Owner Should Know

There are a lot of SEO buzzwords floating around the internet, and it can be intimidating when all you need is a high-level review to comprehend the fundamentals. So we've compiled a list of the top four things that every website owner should be aware of when it comes to SEO.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization is the method of giving search engines the greatest and most reliable information possible so that your potential consumers will find you first. In general, SEO is divided into three categories: link building, onsite SEO, and content. All three rely on keywords to develop an online reputation for your site, which search engines use to rank it. The end goal is to attract new visitors to your site who are seeking your products or services on search engines.

• Use of On-Site Items and Keywords

Title tags, alt tags for pictures, header tags, and site text all contribute to SEO ranking. Onsite SEO gives you the greatest power and is the simplest to adjust. The key to onsite SEO is to effectively explain the material on a page of your website using widely searched terms. These phrases should be aimed at users who are likely to require or desire the services provided by your website.

Here are some key terms to remember:

• Keywords and key phrases are the words or phrases that visitors enter into Google and other search engines.
• Title Tags- One of the single most essential elements for ranking in search results is the Title Tag. It is not only the actual title of the tab or browser window, but it is also the first line of the search engine results, followed by the meta-description and URL.
• Meta Descriptions are the snippets of information found on a search results page underneath the URL and Title Tag.
• Alt Tags are the titles that Google uses to read imagery on your website. While the content is not visible on the site, alt tags exist to help search engines comprehend the photos on your website.

1.  Strategy for Link Building

Building links is one of the most important components for drawing readers to your site, and it does affect search engine results based on the relevance of the link to your site.  In essence, the quality and number of sites that are linking to your site will have a favorable impact on the results you have for specific keywords.

In general, linking methods include engaging social media pages, blogs, and relevant sites in an attempt to encourage others to link to your page. The more strongly connected the site or page is to your specialty, the better the link because users and search engines will notice your site more readily. This may also be used for your own social media pages; the more methods you can discover to link back to your site, the better your rankings will be in the future for the stuff you link to.

•  Content

Finally, even if you implement an adequate onsite SEO and linking strategy, the most important contributor to properly ranking on the top pages for search phrases and keeping users on the site will be directly tied to the content given. This is also the ideal strategy to achieve long-term success in your SEO efforts once the initial onsite efforts have been exhausted.

Create content that encourages viral sharing and organic linking.

This is commonly referred to as "linkbait" in the SEO business. David Mihm's Local Search Ranking Factors, Compare the Meerkat, and the amusing How Not To Clean a Window are all good examples. Each capitalizes on features of usefulness, information transmission, or fun to generate a viral effect - people who see it once want to spread it with friends. This high-quality editorially earned voting is crucial in terms of establishing trust, authority, and ranking potential.

If a piece of content strikes a personal chord with someone, it is more likely to be spread or "go viral." Create news stories and postings that are relevant to the people who are visiting your website. It is critical to create content that appeals to these markets in order to increase sharing and impressions.

• Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools 

Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools are free tools for tracking and analyzing visitors to your website. Using this data, you can learn useful information about your client's behavior, which pages are working well, and which may need to be revisited. These tools are critical in developing an ongoing strategy for not only your SEO techniques but also your overall marketing approach.