SEO is the one term that you will hear from anyone who is publishing online. Google is the most important stakeholder and SEO is what makes sure our content is being read and found easily. In that context, SEO makes the world of online publishing go round. Here are some important pointers that you need to know before you start doing your own SEO.
What is SEO
SEO is the abbreviation for Search Engine Optimization. It is the attempt to increase a website’s visibility, by making it appear at the top of search engine results for a given topic. The two main factors of search engine optimization are content and back-links.
Search Engine Optimized content
This is content that has the appropriate quantity of keywords to make it relevant to a search. For example, if someone is searching for “running shoes”, that phrase must appear often on your website, article, or blog post.
Search Engine Optimized back-links
These are back-links from other websites which link to relevant content on your website. Referring to the example above: if a sports apparel website links to your running shoes article, that is a search engine optimized back-link.
Why is SEO important for websites
SEO is important for websites, because it increases site traffic. When the content on your website ranks highly in search engines for your topic, your website is more likely to get engaged readers. These engaged readers tend to revisit your website, comment on posts, and possibly buy marketed products.
SEO is also important for websites, because it makes you competitive to other websites in your niche. There are likely other websites that cover the same topic you discussed. When this is the case, it matters whose website appears higher up in the search engine for the relevant terms. Whichever website appears first is more likely to get clicked on and therefore receives more visitors.
How to improve SEO
You can improve your search engine optimization by defining your target keywords. What search terms lead people to your website? Once you have your target keywords, make sure they appear in most of your pages, articles, and posts. It is also helpful to have a variety of keywords – some short, some long. Variation grabs the attention of the reader.
You can also improve your search engine optimization by writing for other websites. When you write for other websites, be sure to include a link back to your own page. The link back to your page is considered a relevant back-link and will improve your search rankings, as those who have read those comments will likely visit your page too.
Common SEO mistakes
Common mistakes to avoid are using your keywords too frequently and creating false links. If your keyword appears too often in your content, search engines may flag it as spam. If your website becomes flagged as spam, it will not appear in search engine results at all. If that doesn’t happen then it will be bumped to one of the last pages. If you create false links by linking back to your content when it is not relevant, your content may also be flagged as spam. Either way your website will suffer.
Keep these pointers in mind as you publish your content online and also tell us how you develop your online presence by optimizing for search engines. We would love to hear back from you.
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