What is SEO?

What is SEO? How does SEO help my website?

Have you heard of SEO and yet you’re unsure of what it really means? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and is the development of traffic from search engines such as Bing, Google, and Yahoo. Whenever you do a web-based search, there are thousands of wheels that are moving in the background to bring you results. Mathematical algorithms determine which sites appear at the top for your particular search results; SEO is the on-going strategy that uses knowledge of these algorithms to gain higher search rankings through the correct keywords. Companies and businesses want to be easily found online through search engines so that they are found by potential customers searching for their services. SEO is a vital part of any business marketing strategy, which is why there is so much talk about SEO these days.

“SEO” may be tech jargon, yet it is something you should know about if you have a website. We promise, SEO is truly not as intimidating as it sounds and we’re here to give a quick overview.

According to Google, they make over 600 improvements to their algorithms for SEO yearly. Google is constantly changing and fine tuning the algorithms they implement, which is why no one can truly figure out how to “work the system.” (Sorry, I know this still sounds intimidating – hang in there!) In fact, faulty tactics such as keyword stuffing can result in a site getting penalized or lower rankings. These kinds of strategies are also called ‘Black Hat,’ whereas authentic strategies of SEO are referred to as ‘White Hat.’

It may be impossible to predict the outcome of SEO due to its complexity, yet there are correlations that can be discovered. What we do know to be true is that the content a site contains is connected to the traffic it receives. Search engines are going to give higher rankings to sites that have quality content, workable links, and less junk (such as advertisements). The creators of search engines understand that people do not want to see sites stuffed with keywords, filled with ads, or containing shallow content. The best way to increase traffic on your site and improve your search engine rankings is by looking at your content. Write your content for your human readers, not the robots that crawl the internet.

“Google wants to make its users happy by delivering the content they are looking for. While there are many strategies and ‘White Hat’ tactics to improving search engine optimization, the overall strategy should be to provide valuable, quality content that people want to read so that they visit your site and spend a good amount of time looking around” says Designflair owner, Alyssa Williamson.

If you are looking to sustain your business, a genuine approach to SEO is best. So what is quality content? Google gives higher rankings to sites that it deems to be relevant to a search, trustworthy, and credible.

Create content that is…

• Relevant – What questions do you commonly hear from clients? How can you educate your ideal clients about your niche?  Publishing content online that people are looking for  will increase the number of potential clients visiting your site. You can include keywords within your content in an authentic manner.
• Updated – Constantly updating your site with fresh information will boost your search engine ranking.
• Workable links to trustworthy sites – This is also referred to as “link building.” Think of your website as a college essay. What are your sources? Include links throughout your site that take people to reliable sources. This doesn’t mean you should hyperlink every word possible. Instead, think of what information will be beneficial to those viewing your site.

At Designflair, we will take a look at a company’s website and examine how effectively your site is working for you. We work with clients over the long term to ensure their business success. Need help improving your website and social media platforms? Want help updating your blog in order to gain clients? Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you get more leads on your website!