What On Earth is SEO?

That’s a fair question! It is likely that most persons have heard the term, but don’t know (exactly) ‘What on Earth is SEO?‘. For that reason, we will make some sense of the practice! Search Engine Optimization, or SEO as it is most commonly referenced, is the practice of optimizing websites and content to improve both visibility and ranking within SERPs. (Search Engine Results Pages). However, as SEO has many facets, we should explain further. Because all websites have a backend (code, scripts, CSS, and data) and a front-end (user experience), effective SEO work must be performed in both arenas in order to be effective.

Technical versus non-technical SEO ?

Technical SEO refers to the process of optimizing a website’s technical elements to improve its search engine ranking and user experience. These include tasks such as optimizing the website’s structure, ensuring proper indexing of pages, improving site load speed and domain authority, plus implementing structured data markup.
Off-page SEO, sometimes referred to as off-site SEO, is an SEO marketing strategy that represents all activities conducted outside of a website to rank higher in organic search engine results.

Non-technical SEO , also known as On Page SEO is the process of optimizing a website’s content and user experience to improve its search engine ranking and user engagement. This includes tasks such as keyword research and optimization, creating high-quality content, optimizing website usability and navigation, and building high-quality backlinks.

For the purposes of this article, we will refer to practices associated with the front-end of the website. Both technical and non-technical SEO are important for achieving high search engine rankings and attracting organic traffic to a website. A well-rounded SEO strategy should always include both technical and non-technical elements.

Should small business be concerned with SEO?

Yes, small business owners should be concerned with SEO on their websites. Effective SEO campaigns can help a small business increase their online visibility, reach a larger audience, and ultimately drive more traffic to their website(s).

SEO is especially important for small businesses that are looking to compete with larger, and/or more established companies in their industry.

In approaching any SEO project, there are certain performance indicators that provide data which can help a business ascertain the effectiveness of their SEO goals. We already mentioned that greater traffic from SERPS is a key goal of organic SEO efforts, but what other aspects affect that ranking?

Keyword ranking, conversion rate, bounce rate, and page load times ALL affect a website’s overall Google® Search Engine ranking. If you are unfamiliar with those terms, take a few moments to learn exactly what they are and, also, how those KPIs or (Key Perfomance Indicators) can be improved on your own website.

In order to build an effective web presence, a focus on SEO strategy becomes essential. Learning how to institute SMART goals will become necessary. Hence, understanding both the criteria as well as the data points utilized in determining a business ranking is paramount for crafting your business SEO strategy!

At this point, it should be evident that in the practice of SEO, there is no such thing as ‘once and done’! Producing relevant, compelling content, achieving strong SERPs, having a stable domain and keyword authority, while achieving growing traffic cannot happen without consistent, ongoing effort!