Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a commonly used term in marketing. In a nutshell, SEO is the process of optimizing the content and website, so that the search results will show what exactly the users are searching for. If you are reading this article, then we have done a pretty good job with our SEO.
Though the basic use of SEO is to serve the users with the most relevant search results, SEO can make or break a business. So, if you are someone who is in business or marketing you should know about SEO. Even if you are just curious about who Google and other search engines provide results you were thinking of, then you are in the right place.
Here we will discuss what SEO is and how businesses can effectively use it to improve their online presence. To further explain the workings of search engine optimization, we have also prepared a list of the top SEO websites to follow in 2024. If you are in, let’s begin.
What is SEO?
There are many ways to explain what SEO is, but to be precise, optimizing the content of a website for better visibility on a search engine is called search engine optimization. There many things that matter here including the timely relevance of the content, elements such as video and images included, titles tags and keywords used, image tags, the structure of internal links, inbound links/backlinks, and more.
In addition to these, search engines may also consider other factors such as plagiarism, keyword stuffing, structure, and sturdiness of the website, for determining your website’s ranking on the search engine result pages (SERPs).
The aim of SEO is to rank the content of a website higher in the search engine. I mean, let’s be real, when was the last time you went to the second or third page of your search result? So, to grow a business you need to be on at least the top 5 search results. Now, remember we are not talking about paid ranking where you will see a “sponsored” tag on the results.
The Secret Behind Search Engines
Search engines including Google, DuckDuckGo, and Bing just have one goal, which is to provide users with the most relevant search results for their queries. They work by using a set of algorithms.
The algorithms crawl through every website page listed and rank them according to a set of rules. While the algorithm is constantly changing and may vary depending on the search engines, the most basic factors they analyze are:
Algorithms analyze user’s queries to find out what they intend to find by considering keywords. Then, rank the website contents that match these keywords.
Search engines would want their customers to have the best experience. So, the ranking can vary according to the user-friendliness and load time of a website.
The user’s search history, location, and even age can influence the SERP.
The credibility and trustworthiness of the website can also play a pivotal role.
If other websites see you as a source of information and link to your websites, it can also improve your chances of getting higher rankings in the search engine.
Originality of the content is another aspect that also matters when it comes to exerting dominance in the search engines.
These are some of the basic things that matter for getting good visibility on the search engines. But even the most informed experts in the SEO field are not one hundred percent sure of what all things can trigger the search engine.
In the past few months, the discussions were about the influence of AI-generated content. Since AI content can be of the best quality at least language-wise, in the beginning, they were getting high ranks, triggering many businesses to experiment with AI content. However, the problem with AI is that it fails to relate to the readers on an emotional level. Lately, we have seen search engines push AI-written content under the rug.
How Does SEO Work?
Search engine optimization uses a bunch of optimization and online marketing tools to enhance the search engine ranking of a website. If done correctly, SEO can bring your website to the top of search results for the relevant keyword search. For example, a search about search engine optimization should show you this article in the search results.
Basically, SEO works by telling the search engine that these are the things that have been included in the site. SEO will also make sure that the pages on the website are well structured and maintained in proper order. While it may sound counterintuitive, an SEO-heavy website works by offering content built for the search engine’s algorithm rather than the actual readers.
According to the nature and objective of the technique, SEO can be categorized into 12, they are:
On-Page SEO
Optimizing the elements of a website such as content, and HTML code.
Off-Page SEO
Doing off-site activities such as building backlinks, sharing the link on social media, and using other marketing techniques to improve organic impressions.
Technical SEO
The SEO wing should also optimize the technical aspects of the website such as load time, mobile friendliness, facilitating proper search engine crawling, etc.
International SEO
If your target audience is international, you need to follow international SEO techniques such as providing multiple languages and accepting various currencies.
Local SEO
You can earn local exposure by properly updating your Google My Business account, providing locations, addresses, contact details, and even photos and links to social media.
E-Commerce SEO
Here, you will pay the search engine an amount for showing your e-commerce website’s products in the search results.
Content SEO
Optimizing the content you provide be it video, pictures, or written content, its relevance and originality can affect the search engine ranking.
Mobile SEO
Making sure that the website functions properly on mobile devices.
White-hat SEO
Cleverly stuffing keywords in the meta description, and using other questionable practices that align with the terms and conditions of the search engine.
Black-hat SEO
Ranking the website by misleading Google algorithm. Popular practices include paid link-building strategies, keyword stuffing, cloaking, etc. However, it can have negative impacts if detected by Google.
Grey-hat SEO
The SEO practices that cannot be defined as either black-hat or white-hat belong to Grey-hat SEO. This includes duplicate content, spinning content, buying expired domains, using its SEO capabilities, etc.
Negative SEO
As the name suggests, here you spread negative reviews and create a large number of low-quality links to your competitor’s website to gain an advantage over them. This is one of the most unethical SEO practices that may lead to even legal action if caught.
A good SEO strategy utilizes all the ethical practices explained above to improve visibility and user traffic.
Is SEO Essential?
Okay, in an ideal world, SEO is not a necessity, you just need to provide what your target audience is looking for. However, in the digital era, many business entities provide the same online service.
So, then, how would you stand out from the competition, more than that, how would a search engine algorithm list you in the results? Here is where SEO comes into play. It can:
- Help improve organic reach by improving the search engine ranking and making it appear high on the search results.
- By ranking the website in the search engine for relevant keywords, SEO can bring in the right customers you need.
- Coming up high in the search results can enhance the overall credibility and trustworthiness of your website.
- SEO is a cost-effective and sustainable way to market your business to a wider audience.
- By keeping up with the search engine algorithm changes, your website will stay relevant and future-proof.
- SEO techniques can improve the user experience. Offering a good experience for the visitors of your website pages is essential for widening your reach.
So, to directly answer the question, SEO can be essential in regulating the online presence of a website.
Can you do SEO Yourself?
If you can dedicate time to learning and go through some trial and error, then yes of course SEO is just another part of growing your business that you can do yourself. But the question is, how much time can you realistically dedicate yourself to examining the analytic data? Do you have the right resources and expertise to make needed changes to your website? Most importantly are you interested in doing it?
After considering these questions, if your answer is yes, then yes of course you can do SEO yourself. But if the process may eat up the time you need to allocate for the overall growth of your business, then you may have to hire a professional.
Before jumping into the vast ocean that is the SEO, you should be also aware that it is not a once-and-done process. The SERP keeps on evolving and you need to keep up with it by constant research, and analysis.
In addition to analyzing your own data, you may also have to keep tabs on your competitors as well. That being said, you can easily find many websites that offer different SEO services online.
Top SEO Websites To Follow In 2024
As mentioned above doing SEO yourself can be taxing and challenging, but many platforms offer SEO services to make your efforts a bit more easy. We have examined hundreds of SEO websites and have made the top 5 list. The top SEO websites to follow in 2024 are:
Search Engine Land
Search Engine Land is one of the most popular SEO services on the internet. It offers insight into the updations on search engine algorithms of Google, Bing, Yahoo, and more. By keeping updated with the daily news coverage and analysis reviews provided by Search Engine Land, readers can launch successful and fruitful SEO campaigns.
Ahref
Ahref is a powerful tool for SEO that offers link building, keyword research, competitor analyzing, rank tracking, and site auditing services. By utilizing the crawling software, Ahref can see the user’s website as a search engine would see. This helps the users to identify areas to improve and fix issues.
Moz
Moz is another powerful service that will help users increase their visibility and organic traffic. It is an SEO software tool that offers many useful services including competitor tracking and site auditing. The website started out as an online community, and today it is one of the biggest communities for SEO enthusiasts and experts.
SEOptimer
SEOptimer lets you audit your website to comprehensively review its SEO-based strengths and weaknesses within seconds. You can get reports on important factors of your website such as load speed, mobile usability, and search engine algorithm changes. By using SEOptimer, you can identify the areas you are falling behind.
Semrush
Originated as an in-house tool for marketing, the creators had to release it publicly because due to the advanced capabilities, the software had. Today, Semrush is one of the biggest and most known SEO tools available. The site can show you the organic website traffic to your site. You can use this data to analyze if the interest of people in the content you provide is going up or coming down.
Yoast
Yoast SEO is one of the most preferred SEO tools for WordPress websites. The tool was originally named WordPress SEO and was later rebranded in 2012. It is utilized mainly by the beginners in SEO. However, if your website is built on WordPress, then Yoast can help improve your online visibility.
Conclusion
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of fine-tuning a website and its contents so that it will appear at the top of the search results. SEO uses many techniques to organically get the website at the top list of the SERP (Search Engine Results Pages) including on-page SEO, off-page SEO, technical SEO, and more.
While anyone can do their own SEO, they might need some help. Some of the Top SEO websites that can help users enhance their online visibility and organic traffic are Search Engine Land, Ahref, Moz, SEOptimer, Semrush, and Yoast.
