Search Engine Optimization Basics
Basics of SEO
Since this is the first post in the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) section of the blog, let’s start out with some basics of SEO. So what exactly is SEO? In a nutshell, search engine optimization is the process of improving website rankings in the natural/organic listings of a search engine. Theoretically, the higher your site ranks in the search results, the more organic traffic your site will receive.
I look at SEO as having several important steps. One which is identifying your audience or target market. By doing so, you are helping to set targets and goals for your website as well as finding out who the major players are in your industry. You will know what the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors are, what keywords they are targeting and what you will need to do in order to rank higher than them in the organic search results.
Second, you implement the necessary work needed to increase the natural ranking of your site. This will be both on page and off page optimization, which we will discuss at a later date. Some items involved in this step are link building, link structure, title/meta tags, and spiderability of your site. This step is by far the most complex, evolving and intense part of the process.
Next you need to monitor and track the effectiveness of your search engine optimization strategy. This will help you to concentrate on what is working best for you so you can concentrate on doing more of it, while eliminating or scaling back on what is not working.
Sounds Easy, Right?
Unfortunately, it is not that easy. Each of the steps listed above have a myriad of steps within them that need to be completed to be successful. Another thing I would like to clear up is that SEO is not something that happens over night.
Fortunately there are some great SEO companies that you can hire to do this work for you should you not have the time or knowledge to do it yourself. While there are many honest and legit companies, there are many fly by night ones as well. Should you decide to hire anyone to do your SEO work for you, be very SKEPTICAL of any company that guarantees #1 rankings. To me, this is a clear “red flag” to stay away. I am not saying to never use one, but you better do your research on them before you hire them.
Typically their “claim to fame” in ranking #1 for keywords usually involves ranking for an extremely long tail keyword phrase with zero competition for it, or for a phrase that absolutely no one searches for. What is the point of ranking at the top of Google for a phrase no one is interested in?
More To Come
There is so much involved in the whole SEO process and my brief intro above does not even really scratch the surface of what is involved with search engine optimization. While ploked.com is primarily geared to social media information, we will mix in a little bit of SEO information as well.
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