What Are the basics of SEO?
Introduction:
A key element of digital marketing is SEO, or search engine optimisation. It entails tweaking the structure and content of a website to increase its exposure and position on search engine result pages. That sounds quite simple but it is actually quite an involved process which requires continuous attention and a lot of software to measure results and discover potential successful strategies. Hopefully this guide will introduce you to the basics and give you a better initial understanding of the process called search engine optimization.
SEO fundamentals include a number of crucial basic components, read on to find out what they are:
Keyword Analysis
Marketing professionals can carefully include these terms and phrases into website content by doing keyword research using software like Semrush to find out what users are searching for in search engines like Google and Bing. They can then tailor their website content to target these keywords which in turn increases the website’s over all rank in search results. It is best to go for keywords that have low competition to increase your chances of ranking high in search results. These kind of keywords are often called “long tail keywords” which are often phrases that are very specific e.g. “eco-friendly non-slip yoga mats for hot yoga” rather than a more general keyword like “yoga mats” which is likely to attract a lot more competition and thus be harder to rank for.
On-Page Optimization
Optimising a page and improving elements like headings, meta tags, alt tags, content, image size and internal linking will increase the website's relevance and accessibility to search engines. On-page optimization is the process of crafting relevant content that includes target keywords naturally, ensuring proper use of HTML tags like title tags and meta descriptions. Search engines can tell if keywords have been inserted in an unnatural way (a process called keyword stuffing) and will ignore or worse penalise for such practices. Image file size and the inclusion of internal and external links also play crucial roles. Images with a high fole size will slow your websites loading speed down which will cause visitors to leave. The goal of on-page optimization is not only to make the webpage more search engine-friendly but also to enhance the overall user experience.
Link Building
Acquiring high-quality links from other respected websites is known as "link building" and it tells search engines that a website is reliable and authoritative. It is a strategic process in search engine optimization (SEO) that involves obtaining links from external websites to your own. Backlinks act as endorsements from other sites, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable and authoritative. The quality and relevance of these backlinks are crucial factors in determining a website's search engine ranking. Effective backlink acquisition involves various tactics, such as creating high-quality, shareable content, reaching out to relevant websites for link opportunities, and participating in industry forums or communities. A well-executed backlink acquisition strategy can significantly boost a website's authority, credibility, and search engine visibility, ultimately driving more organic traffic.
Technical SEO
Technical SEO is a crucial component of search engine optimization that focuses on optimizing the technical aspects of a website to enhance its visibility and performance in search engine results. It involves various techniques and practices aimed at improving a site's crawling, indexing, and overall functionality for search engines. Key elements of technical SEO include website speed optimization, mobile-friendliness, proper use of HTML tags, XML sitemaps, and the management of redirects like 301, 302 and 404. Additionally, ensuring a website's secure connection through HTTPS, addressing issues like duplicate content, and optimizing the site's structure for search engine bots are essential aspects. By addressing these technical factors, webmasters can create a solid foundation for their websites, making them more accessible and appealing to search engines, ultimately leading to improved rankings and better user experiences
Blogging
Blogging is a useful method for increasing search engine optimisation (SEO). Businesses can continually create new, pertinent material thanks to blogging, which search engines adore. Businesses can improve their internet exposure and drive more organic traffic to their website by consistently publishing informative blog entries with targeted keywords and optimised meta tags. Additionally, blogging offers chances for creating both internal and external links, which aid search engines in recognising a website's authority and importance.
Conclusion
There are of course many more factors to consider when embarking on SEO, far too many to go into here but these are the basic building blocks which I hope you have found helpful.
Here at Kaiō Marketing, I implement all of these SEO basics using the latest software as well as some more advanced techniques to make sure my clients move up in the rankings and receive high quality targeted online traffic
