Post Constantly Updated
We initially planned on publishing a formal Basic SEO guide for total beginners via this post but it suddenly became a long rambling. It wouldn’t hurt to look back and test yourself if what you knew about Search Engine Optimization is still fully aligned with what it's all about basically - but we assure you that a lot of insights can be gained even with these search engine optimization fundamentals.
But of course if you think that you are already an EXPERT, even if we know that this is an industry which is mostly based on educated guess, you can skip to our SEO blueprint.
You may have heard of the term SEO and felt like everyone in the digital world of business uses it but no one really explains exactly what it means . Or perhaps you've recently learned its benefits and now you want to do it but you don’t know where to begin? Have little or zero background about it? Well, congratulations! Bid your neophyte blues goodbye because this post is just for you, designed to help out beginners and the like.
As you browse the web, you may have encountered the term SEO or Search Engine Optimization. You may have seen advertisements promoting SEO services and opportunities. The concept of SEO can be very technical for those who couldn’t care less and are still focused on their traditional day jobs. But for those who had been “enlightened” by what online marketing can offer, search engine optimization is one of the most lucrative industry that anyone can get into and it keeps on growing. It is fun, challenging, and rewarding.
What is SEO or Search Engine Optimization?
The Dependence on Online Search
Whenever you have a question and your computer (with Internet connection) is within reach, what do you do? You search the web… most likely through the use of a search engine such as Google.
When you want to buy something and you want to come up with a better decision, what is the most convenient way to search and compare options? You search the web and most likely through Google.
A lot of people have become very dependent on online search. This is especially true whenever the needs are urgent. The Internet offers almost every answer to any question imaginable but without an effective way to search, you will find yourself wondering around a vast field of random knowledge. This is how search engines can become extremely useful.
The Need for Quick Answers and Solutions
Let us try to go through this topic in the simplest way possible. So you have problem or question and you use a search engine to find answers. Search engines then return the most relevant results that can answer your query.
Now as you browse, have you ever wondered if one can be patient enough to browse as far as even page 3 of the search results before keying in another keyword or phrase? …Probably not.
This means that you will most likely focus on the top 10 results which appear on the front page. Now you as a normal person looking for answers through Google may often be a customer looking for products or services.
With those top 10 results, one of them can become lucky enough to present what you are looking for and therefore make a sale.
The Opportunities for Businesses and Marketer
In the point of view of the website owners who are most likely promoting something, being on the top 10 results means getting the most traffic or online visitors which then become potential customers.
Thus, the main goal is to appear on the front page of the search engine results through a process called SEO or Search Engine Optimization. Now if your website deserves it, you shouldn’t require this process but with the number of competing websites nowadays, you wouldn’t want to be left behind.
What SEO Marketing Is For
Search Engine Optimization signifies the process of helping search engines make your site more visible to those who search for it. A billion websites are available on the Internet today, how do you make sure your site shows up when people look for content similar to yours? That is what SEO is for.
As much as you aspire your website to be as unique as possible, how do you know you’d still stand out among the others that contain the same ideas as yours? That is what SEO is for. Sure, you’ve put a lot of effort in your content, but how do you ensure that it reaches out to those whom its made for? People want quick results, what do you do if you’re on the second page of someone’s online search? That is what SEO is for.
Factors that Lead to Success
In SEO, the main goal is to appear on top of search engine results pages (SERPs) whenever people search for keywords that are related to the content of your website to invite visitors and improve traffic.
Your creativity and marketing strategies will find their place when it comes to SEO because you are technically competing for traffic. Content needs to be appealing and engaging in the eyes of your audience and Google as well as other search engines. Your site can’t stand a chance to gain increased attention if it doesn’t appear to cater the needs of a specific niche.
When people do a search on Google, those pages that contain relevance and authority are the ones that Google will provide links to. Authority is measured by the quantity and quality of links from other web pages. Your site can potentially rank on Google as long as other sites link you to them. The secret? Create great content. When you catch the interest of other pages, they can link you and these links can show Google that you are authoritative. In return, Google will begin to show you up in search results because that is what they’re up to.
When it comes to ranking. Authority is a big word, too. The more authoritative you appear, the higher the ranking you will get. Put effort in coming up with useful content because people share them in blogs, social media, and other platforms which send Google an idea that you possess valuable authority. Don’t forget about making your content easily shareable and searchable by using words and phrases people can find you with.
What Factors Can Contribute to My Ranking?
An improved ranking on search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo is affected by many areas but in general, it all narrows down to how well your site is optimized. Here are some of the main factors that contribute to your ranking. You might want to improve your efforts on these if you’re aiming to optimize your site.
A. Domain Authority
Domain authority refers to the measurement of your domain’s trustworthiness gained with the help of backlinks and age. A backlink is a link made when a website links to another. As aforementioned, authority comes to the picture when more sites talk about yours. With respect to the age of your domain, higher domain authority is affected by time.
The name of your domain is something to note. Once you’ve come up with the keywords you’re targeting, don’t distance your domain’s name from the very idea of your targeted keywords. Stick to being relevant to what your site contains. Also, don’t overdo your name. Keep it straightforward and as short as possible.
B. Branding and URL
As much as possible, your URL should readily present your brand. Everything should be easy to remember in order improve brand retention on the minds of your audience.
The shorter and more comprehensive your URL is, the better it will be for visitors and search engines to understand what your website and pages are all about. Point what you’re talking about in your URLs and be as short and descriptive as possible to drive right traffic.
C. Keywords
How do you provide a way for your target audience to find your website? Through keywords. One strategic way in coming up with the right ones is to think how your customers think. How are they going to describe the products and/or services that you have?
If they are going to a search engine, what are the words are they likely going to type in the search bar? Know what you are targeting and prioritize using terms that you would want your website to show up when searched. Don’t forget to include synonymous words for your target terms.
D. Content and Relevance
Nothing really happens when your content isn’t optimized. People aren’t really going to waste time in things that they don’t find useful to them so it’s best to provide wholesome content that will be worth people’s time and attention. After all, your audience are what your ideas, products, and services are for, right?
Always write with the target audience in mind. What do they need? What are their wants? What will make them desire to spend time and read what you have to say?
Length matters, too. Your content won’t get an opportunity to rank unless it has at least 1500-2000 words. That’s applicable per post. Maximize using your voice and the platform that’s available to you and your audience. Catch their attention. Be in full-detail as much as possible but not too much. Focus on what matters most to your readers. When they spend longer spans of time in your site, Google will see that your content is great and worthy.
Blogging on your website is a substantial way to keep your website updated and competitive when it comes to ranking. Google will lose its interest in your website if you don’t have new content regularly coming up. This is because the robots and users in your site don’t have something new to read thus, making your ranking possibly waver.
But when you provide valuable content, you will have more traffic to your website and will result to improved ranking. But, be careful when putting up new content. Be original. Search engines are more intelligent than you think. They will know if its a copied one or not.
E. Inbound and Outbound Links
Inbound links, also called as backlinks, are links coming from other domains that point to your domain. Outbound links on the other hand are links that come from your domain that point to other domains.
With regard to these so-called links, your site is better optimized when the websites your site points to are relevant. But, your website is best optimized when you get a handful of backlinks especially when they come from known, credible sources.
