Can we skip to the good part?
In this blog post, ‘Everything You Need to Know on the Basics of Your Website SEO’. We will be covering:
01. All You Need to Know About SEO
02. What is Search Engine Optimisation?
03. What are Keywords and Phrases?
05. Include Links in Your Website
07. Is SEO Essential for My Online Business?
All You Need to Know About SEO
Is there anything that Google can’t answer for us?
Looking for a midweek recipe. Ask Google.
Not sure what to buy your mother-in-law? Google will know!
There are an estimated 6 BILLION searches completed worldwide in a day. What does this mean for online entrepreneurs? We have the chance to reach thousands of people that are searching for our website or business every day.
But how?
Search Engine Optimism. (SEO)
Whilst SEO might sound complicated, it isn’t that scary, and you don’t need to be an expert to reap its benefits. Let’s talk through the basics of SEO and how you can use it to elevate your online business!
What is Search Engine Optimisation?
SEO ‘search engine optimisation’ is a writing strategy that helps you get free and organic traffic from search results on search engines – without spending a penny on google ads!
When users type a query into Google, they are greeted by a SERP ‘search engine results page’. The SERP displays all the results Google, or other search engines, could find to answer that user’s query.
The goal is to get your website as high up on the SERP as possible!
SEO involves tweaking your content with keywords and phrases so that your website ranks higher on search engines and bumps up the SERP – as 75% of searches begin on Google, it’s a pretty big deal!
What are Keywords and Phrases?
Keywords and phrases are simply what users enter into search engines to find the right information.
The whole point of google (and search engines in general) is to give users the solution they are searching for.
Search engines want to connect your content with your audience!
That being said, the keywords to boost your website ranking are the keywords or phrases that your target audience will be searching for! Let’s say you’re a ‘graphic designer’, the clients you want to attract are those looking for design work. So, what will they be typing into Google? Graphic designer! There you have your first keyword. It’s as simple as that.
The more you can use keywords that you think your potential readers might be typing in, the more likely you are to get a top spot on that all-important SERP.
How Does SEO Work?
Search engines use algorithms to determine which web pages to display for any given query. Once a user makes a search, Google scours the web looking for the best possible answer – providing users with a quick, easy experience.
To get your content recognised by the search engine algorithms there are three core things you can do:
Provide High-Quality Content
High-quality content is the first and vital part of every SEO strategy – by publishing fresh, unique content with value and depth, your website will naturally climb the ladder of search engine results.
The key is to solve your reader’s queries quickly to prevent them from clicking away from your page and back to the SERP. If they do – this will tell google you haven’t done your job of answering their question and your ranking will decrease.
How do we do that?
Think like your target audience
Put yourself in their shoes, what do they need? What are they typing into that search engine?
Keep your text clear and easy to read
Be kind to your reader! Nobody has the patience to search through big chunks of text looking for answers, break up your content with clear headings and subheadings to provide your readers with quick information.
Direct your reader
Give your reader clear direction after reading your content. If you want them to sign up for your newsletter, list the benefits of doing that and put an opt-in link within your post. If they need to be directed elsewhere, create a link to another website to save them the hassle of making another search. Give your visitors a great experience!
Include Links in Your Website
Links are a crucial part of getting your webpage a higher ranking on google and other search engines! There are three types of links you can use to boost your SEO – internal links, external links and backlinks.
Internal Links
Internal links are used on your website to connect one page on your website to another page on your website. Readers and search engines use links to navigate through your website and find the content they need.
For example, you could use an internal link at the bottom of your blog post to refer your reader to your ‘contact us’ page.
External Links
External links direct users from your website to other websites on the internet. Linking what you’re writing to another website’s content helps boost your SEO because it shows Google that you’re validating your claims. Let’s say you include a quote from your favourite book in your content – link the author’s website or another online store where your reader can buy it. Not only does this boost your SEO, but it also helps to support other businesses!
Back Links
Back links tell search engines your content is valuable, credible and useful!
A back link is where another website uses a link to send users to your website – a great reward for building relationships with other online businesses. Google views back links as a vote from other websites – increasing your credibility and SEO.
Page Structure
A good structure helps Google understand your website and find content quickly – leading to a higher ranking. Structuring your website is not only vital for your search engine ranking but also enhances your reader’s experience. Header tags are a great way of providing structure to your website!
What are Header Tags?
Header tags improve the readability of your website by allowing your audience to glance through your text and find the information they need. Headings must be properly placed to enable search engines to read and understand your website.
Let’s compare header tags to a table of contents for a book.
H1 Tags – the title of a book
Just like a title tells a reader what the book is about, H1 tags introduce the page’s topic and gives google and readers a sense of what to expect when they read your piece of content.
H2 Tags – the chapters within a book
H2 Tags – are secondary headings that describe to the reader what topic will be covered in this section.
H3-H6 Tags – the subheadings within each chapter
When the content displayed under H2 tags needs more detail, H3 tags help organise the topics into sub-sections – just as chapters may be split into multiple sub-topics.
Is SEO Essential for My Online Business?
If you’re searching for ways to connect your content with your target audience – elevating your website layout and investing in SEO is a sure way to increase your web traffic leading to more exposure. Focusing on keywords and improving the structure of your website not only bumps up you’re search engine ranking but also enhances your user experience meaning visitors will likely return!
Whether you want to invest in SEO or just simply learn the basics, using a strategy and implementing it into your website can provide real benefits! It’s a great tool for small businesses and those looking for a bit more exposure.
There are so many ways to help boost your SEO that go way beyond what we’ve discussed here in this article. Through your website audit, blogging, and even through utilising your social media! If you’re in search of an SEO expert, our friendly team at Azori can help you reach your goals. Contact us here for further information on how we can help you.
