As the internet is changing every second, Search Engine Optimization or SEO is important for websites. So the first question we get from clients is “What is SEO?” There 13.6 billion searches conducted every month on the web. 9 billion of those search queries come from Google.such as Google, yahoo, or Bing. Search Engine Optimization, also known as SEO, can be a confusing and daunting task to someone that is wondering how to get their website to climb to the top of Google, Yahoo, Bing or other search engines. The highest tower of search engine providers is Google, accounting for close to 85% of the global search engine market share, as of last year 2010. In addition to being the largest search engine provider, it is also the most sophisticated and hardest to conquer in terms of SEO.
The majority of all Search Engine Optimization is a methodology: where you research? How visitors are using keyword phrases in the search engines when looking for a particular service? Some keywords will be better at attracting researchers while others are superior at bringing potential customers and buyers.
Take a look at search engines today; there are two ways for visibility in the search engine results page, also known as SERPS.
Sponsored Listings is one way: This is how commercial search engines such Google, yahoo, and Bing fund their operations. Take a look at Google for instance; these advertisements are displayed on the right hand side of the page or directly above the main organic search results. These ad are also known as sponsored listings or PPC (pay per click).
Another method for visibility is organic listings: Organic search results, also known as natural search results, they are listings on search engine result pages that appear because of their relevancy to the keyword terms being searched, and are not paid by the owner of the website to the search engine.
The ultimate goal in organic SEO is to get well placed in the natural search results. You want to choose keyword phrases that will draw people who are interested in what you are offering, whether it is a service or information. If your business sells to the local area then you need to focus on using local city or community names in your keyword phrases.
Your website position is where the placement of your website is on search engines. The higher positioned your website is the more visitors and traffic you will receive. So what does that mean, the more SEO friendly your website is the more new business it will receive. SEO is similar to a popularity contest, the more people know you the more higher your placement will be.
So you will often hear in SEO lingo PR1 OR PR4. This is basically referring back to how important or informative your website is on Google. SEO has several different methods to increase your website’s ranking on search engines, such as on-site and off-site optimization. On-site optimization consists of changing title tags, Meta tags, Meta descriptions, website content, and keyword density. On the other hand Off-site optimization consists of link building, press releases and posting on blogs.
However this increase in visibility or rank takes a timely manner which many Online Marketing Companies do not inform their clients about. SEO isn’t about instantaneous gratification where a magician waves a wand, and poof your website is on the first page of Google. SEO results often take several months to see. This is especially true if you are a new startup or just started to implement search engine strategies to your website.
So let’s go in detail about three major aspects of search engine optimization.
Keyword Research: This is deciding on the phrases that people are likely to type when they are doing a search. Buyers will tend to use more specific 3-5 word phrases. They will often use manufacturer names and model numbers rather than broader phrases. Develop a written plan with your selected keywords, assigning specific phrases to related web pages.
On site SEO: Here the keyword phrases are used visibly on your actual web pages. Use keywords and phrases in the META tags, page titles, headline tags (H1, H2, H6), in text of your content, and in the hyperlinks of your pages. It is also good practice to have a keyword rich domain name.
Offsite SEO: These are steps you do outside of the website. Getting other websites in your niche to link to your website is a large part of offsite SEO. Links should be from relevant websites, blogs, directories and social media. Preferably the anchor text (hyperlink text) will include your keywords and keyword phrases.
Now let’s get an overview of the different SEO types:
There are two different types of SEO, white hat SEO & black hat SEO. White hat SEO is using the correct methods for SEO and it will prevent your website from being blacklisted by search engines. Some white hat practices are having quality and relevant content on your website. You don’t want to have content about how to make a car on your website, when you are a car seller. The website should talk about fuel efficient and reliable cars or something of that nature. Keep in mind to keep your title tags and Meta data relevant to your website and content.
Black hat SEO is cheating the system, such as spamdexing or link farming. Doing this SEO method might give you fast results but it will also bring your website down quickly. This type of SEO practice will also get your website banned or blacklisted. So any company that tells you they can have your website on page 1 of Google within a few weeks or a month is not practicing the right SEO methods. This may be effective for a short time frame, but it will hurt you in the long run.
SEO is a critical process, but for online merchants it’s also a crucial business leads. Our experts at Renegade Advertising take the time out to understand our client’s needs, and implement effective SEO tactics to generate relevant leads.Ok people quick recap, today we spoke with you about what is SEO and what is the SEO process? Come On guys repeat after me: S E O! S E O! What is it called Search Engine Optimization? Stay tuned with us for next week about the various methods of SEO. Let’s get the ball rolling and do it right the first time. Contact Renegade Advertising for your Search Engine Optimization solutions.