What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.

• Search engine means a platform where you search something to find information.
• Optimization means making something better.

When you search for something, a list of websites appears in the results. The goal is to rank a website at the top of this list, and the process of doing this is called SEO.

Popular Search Engines

Google, Bing, Yahoo, Facebook, and YouTube are some of the well-known search engines. While Google, Bing, and Yahoo are primarily used for general searches, YouTube is specifically a video search engine. Facebook also functions as a search engine where users can find pages, posts, and other content.

How Do Search Engines Work?

When you search for something on Google, it provides results to the user. The main question is—how does Google deliver accurate results? Google identifies content that matches the user’s query and presents it. It shows results from websites that contain the specific information the user is looking for.

What are Keywords?

When you search for something on Google, the word you enter is called a “keyword.” Anything you search for in a search engine is a keyword. But for it to be considered a real keyword, it must give you valuable results. 

For example, if you search random letters like “fugsadyfgsda” and it doesn’t give any useful information, that’s not a keyword. A keyword is only something that leads to valuable results on Google.

What is Keyword Research?

Many people search for something on Google, right? For example, they might search for “SEO expert in London.” However, instead of this exact phrase, some people might search for similar terms like “best SEO consultant in London” or “freelancer SEO expert in London.”

This shows that people search for the same thing in different ways. So, keyword research is the process of finding out how people are searching for things on Google or other search engines. By researching these search terms, you can understand what people are looking for and use the most common and relevant keywords to improve your content.

Methods of Keyword Research

There are two main methods of keyword research:

Using Google Search Engine

One way to find keywords is by typing something you want to search for in Google. At the bottom of the search results page, you’ll see a section called “People also search for.” This shows you similar terms and phrases that people are searching for, which can help you identify other relevant keywords.

Using Keyword Research Tools

Another way is by using keyword research tools, like SEMrush. I often use SEMrush for this purpose. It provides various keyword variations and shows how often these terms are being searched, helping you find the best keywords for your content.

Let’s Talk About SEO Types

On-Page SEO

On-Page SEO involves the tasks we perform directly on our website. For this, you need to have access to the backend of your site. It covers things like meta titles, meta descriptions, URLs, image alt text, keyword optimization, titles, content, and more. In other words, on-page SEO is all about optimizing the pages within your website to make sure they’re search engine-friendly and user-friendly.

Off-Page SEO

Off-Page SEO is all about actions you take outside of your website. It mainly focuses on link building, social sharing, and creating backlinks. When we talk about backlinks, we mean placing your website’s link on other sites. These links help increase your site’s authority and improve its ranking on search engines.

Technical SEO

Technical SEO is performed when your website isn’t functioning well in certain areas, and it’s hurting your rankings. For example, if you delete a page and don’t fix the issue, it can create problems. Other technical issues include page speed, mobile friendliness, 404 errors, schema markup, and the “no index” tag. You usually spot these issues in Google Search Console, and once found, we work on fixing them to improve your site’s performance.

Scope of SEO

Scope of SEO is very good and continues to grow. 

Let me tell you something to help you understand just how big this scope is. Imagine a building with four floors, and each floor consists of one business. Now, think about how each of these businesses needs SEO. You can’t even imagine how vast the scope of SEO is in this age. Every single business needs an SEO expert.

Why SEO is Important for Business

SEO is important for business because if your website doesn’t appear on the 1st or 2nd page of Google, people won’t be able to find your business. This means they won’t visit your site, and you won’t make any money or sales. However, if you rank your website on the 1st page, people will find your site and visit it, which means you can generate leads.

Talking About Paid Ads vs. Free Search Results

Paid ads allow you to place your website at the top of Google search results by paying for advertising. This provides immediate visibility, but it’s important to note that this is a temporary solution. You need to continue funding the ads for them to remain effective.

But what if you have limited funds and want your website to rank on search engines for free? In that case, SEO is the answer. SEO is a long-term process that helps your website rank on the first page, and you don’t have to pay for Google ads.

If you hire an SEO expert, you will need to pay them for their services, but they will help rank your website on the first page, providing long-term benefits for your business. I’m not saying paid ads are wrong; they can be effective in the short term. However, if you want to achieve long-term rankings, SEO techniques are the way to go.

Final Summary

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results. It involves improving elements like keywords, content, meta tags, and technical aspects to make your site more visible and accessible. 

There are three main types of SEO: On-Page SEO (optimizing content on your website), Off-Page SEO (building backlinks and social signals), and Technical SEO (fixing issues that affect your site’s performance). 

SEO is essential for businesses as it helps them get noticed on search engines, generate leads, and drive organic traffic without the need for paid ads.