the letters seo

The Basics of SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a term that refers to how places such as Google and Bing find your content, how this helps potential users to discover your platform, and how your website and information compares to other similar sites. Let’s explore the basics of SEO, to give you a better understanding of its difference components.

Content and Relevance

The algorithms of search engines are programmed to pick up on high-quality content and information. It also determines if your content matches with what individuals are searching for, as well as your site’s uniqueness. This ties in with user experience and being sure your customers are having an optimal experience while using your site. Regularly updating and consistently posting relevant content is a great place to start.

Keywords

Going along with content, using certain keywords will help with SEO as well. You want to use keywords that have a high number of people searching for them. This comes along with knowing what your potential customers are searching for and emphasizing it. With this, it’s important to keep in mind that many people search for the same thing in different ways. Be aware of the possibilities that exist for the number of ways individuals could stumble upon your services and be sure to include them as keywords on your site.

Backlinks

Getting other individuals to link to your website is a great way to boost SEO. In fact, it is one of the main ways Google ranks websites. Not only does it expand your reach beyond your own platforms, it increases relevance to Google’s algorithm, making it more accessible to potential clients.

You can create some of these links yourself, simply by being active on websites such as Google and Yelp, as well as having social media profiles.

User Experience

Another important consideration for SEO is how your site lines up with customer expectations. How fast does your site load? Kissimetrics found in 2017 that 47% of users expect a page to load in two seconds or less, and 40% will abandon a site if it takes longer than three seconds. Plus, as the number of smartphone users continues to increase, individuals are looking to use your site on their mobile devices. Making sure the platform is equipped for this is crucial for traffic.

Accessibility and security also play a major role here. Accessibility means that a site is user-friendly for as many people as possible, whether they use a touchscreen, mouse, keyboard, or other assistive technologies to browse the Internet. It also strengthens the signals your site sends to search engines. Serving your site securely over HTTPS will also increase your rankings while protecting you and your customer’s personal information.

Key Takeaways on the Basics of SEO

While this beginner’s guide only covers the basic aspects of SEO, these are a few key ideas to guide your success as you begin web development. At Vervology, our team is well-versed in the intricacies of SEO and are happy to help with your site.