SEO is the acronym for Search Engine Optimization. It’s the practice of optimizing websites to make them reach a high position in Google’s – or another search engine’s – search results. SEO focuses on rankings in the organic (non-paid) search results. In this post, I’ll answer the question “What is SEO?”.
The majority of your potential customers search for your services using Google or Bing search engines. If your website is not on page 1 and not in the top 3 to 5 results then they are unlikely to choose your website and contact you. SOE increases your ranking on Google or Bing so you are on pgae 1 and in the top 3 to 5 results.
Google’s algorithm
In order to make web pages appear in high positions in the search results, SEO tries to shape a website according to Google’s algorithm. Although Google’s algorithm remains secret, over a decade of experience in SEO has resulted in a pretty good idea about the important factors.
The factors in Google’s algorithm can be divided into two categories, which determine the ranking of your website together:
1 On-page SEO factors
On-page SEO factors are all the things you can influence on your own website. All kinds of technical aspects of your website are important for the chances of your website to rank in the search engines. WordPress actually is a rather SEO-friendly platform. Combined with our Yoast SEO plugin, most technical challenges are covered.
The structure of your website, your site speed and the content of your site are other important on-page SEO factors.
2 Off-page SEO factors
Next to on-page SEO factors, there are off-page SEO factors. These off-page SEO factors are a bit more difficult to influence, though. The most important off-page factor are the links to your site. The more (relevant) sites link to your website, the higher your ranking in Google will be.
Another off-page factor is the competition or the niche of your specific website. In some niches, it is much harder to rank, than in other niches. The competitiveness of your market therefore also has a large influence on your chances to rank.
Be the best result!
Being the best result means focusing on technical excellence, great User Experience, flawless website security, and really awesome content. You should focus on all the aspects of website optimization in order to be the best result.
If you have a WordPress website then a great plug-in to check your page SEO score is Yoast SEO Plug-in. Their blog also has some great free information that explains SOE covering many topics. You can also engage a company that specialises in SOE that can modify your website content but this can be expensive, around $600 per month.
