SEO for beginners
SEO for Beginners: Where to Start to Optimize Your Website?
The SEO, an acronym for Search Engine Optimization, consists of a series of techniques used to improve the ranking of a website on search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. SEO is a critical aspect for any online business, as good positioning can mean increased traffic and sales, but achieving good positioning is not always easy and guaranteed.
What Does SEO Consist Of?
SEO comprises three main categories: On-Page SEO, Off-Page SEO and Technical SEO. On-Page SEO focuses on optimizing the website’s content and what the user can see, Off-Page SEO involves creating backlinks and optimizing social profiles, while Technical SEO includes all actions to speed up the site and make it user-friendly and crawler-friendly. You can handle On-Page and Off-Page SEO first, and for Technical SEO, make sure you have the support of a skilled web developer.
What Best Practices to Use for On-Page SEO?
- Keyword research: it all revolves around keyword research. It’s important to conduct thorough research on the words users type to find services similar to those of your brand. It’s not about the words you want to rank for, but the words users might use to find you. To do this research, you can use tools like Google Suggest or the “People also ask” section that appears at the end of search results, as well as the keyword planner available on Google Ads.
- Quality content: quality content is crucial for good On-Page SEO. Aim to create original, relevant, and valuable content for your audience. Say no to clichés, copy-pasting, and repetitions. Unleash your creativity or hire a skilled copywriter!
- Page titles and descriptions: these are the metadata that need optimization—those blue titles with descriptions below that appear in the Google SERP when you perform any search. They must be concise and impactful, always containing the keyword you want to rank for.
- Website structure: your website’s structure should always be clear and intuitive for both users and search engines. Use a content hierarchy, with top-level pages grouping related content, headings dividing text content, links to other interesting pages, tables, and lists. The more structured and organized the pages are, the better the content will rank.
- Loading speed: the loading speed of the website is an important ranking factor for search engines. Avoid loading heavy images, videos, or content that makes page loading slow and difficult. Otherwise, you could annoy crawlers and users who have to wait longer than necessary to reach the information they’re looking for.
What Best Practices to Use for Off-Page SEO?
- Backlink creation: creating backlinks, or linking to other websites, is crucial for search engine positioning. By creating links, you can benefit from the so-called “link juice,” or a return of authority if linked from a authoritative website.
- Social media: social media can be used to promote your website and create backlinks. Almost all brands now need a presence on social media, as consumers search for them there to feel more “connected” and “human,” so why not optimize them in our favor?
- Guest blogging: guest blogging, or publishing articles on other websites, can help create backlinks and improve the visibility of your website. It’s a give-and-take situation where you seek portals that allow the publication of content developed by you, in exchange for a link to your website.
SEO remains a critical aspect for any online business and requires the use of a combination of on-page and off-page techniques to improve your website’s search engine ranking. It’s a lengthy and ever-evolving process that requires attention and continuous analysis, testing, and improvements.
Start improving your content to the best of your ability, and for a strategic SEO plan, don’t hesitate to contact a professional… like 226lab!