SEO Guide: What is Search Optimization?
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How many times have you Googled something today? No matter what you look up, you probably tap the first result without thinking.
But did you know the websites Google shows you aren’t random? They don’t appear there by luck! They’ve been optimised so search engines can find, understand, and trust them.
Welcome to SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
As part of our How To Explain Marketing campaign, today we’re breaking down SEO in simple terms: what it is, why it’s important, and the key steps businesses can take to get found online. We’ve also included a glossary of terms, so stick around and bookmark this page.
What Is SEO?
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of optimising your website so search engines like Google can rank it higher when people search for relevant topics.
If you’re new to the subject, you can think of Google as a massive library. Your website is a book. SEO includes everything from choosing a clear title to organising your chapters so the librarian (Google) knows where to shelve it. It also decides whether it should recommend your site to readers (potential viewers).
What makes SEO complicated is that it’s not one single task. It’s a combination:
- Choosing the right keywords
- Creating high-quality content
- Improving site speed
- Fixing technical issues
- Earning links from other reputable websites
When it all works together, your site starts appearing in front of more potential customers and you’re easier to find. And get this: you don’t have to pay for the clicks.
Pro Tip: Google isn’t the only search engine, but it does have the most traffic. That’s why most SEO guides focus on this brand.
Why Is SEO So Important?
SEO is how your business gets found. Also, people trust Google. If your company doesn’t show up when someone searches for what you offer, you’re missing out on customers who are already looking for your services.
Here are the main benefits of investing in SEO:
- Visibility — Appearing on the first page of Google dramatically increases your chances of being clicked.
- Credibility — People assume the top search results are the best or most trustworthy.
- Cost-efficiency — Unlike paid ads, organic traffic doesn’t stop when the budget runs out. If you get SEO right, you can maintain a steady flow of traffic.
- Long-term results — SEO builds over time and compounds like interest. Setting your website up well is a long-term investment.
- Better user experience — Good SEO naturally improves your website for visitors, too. Pages load faster and information is easier to understand.
The Key Steps of SEO (Explained Simply)
SEO can feel overwhelming, but it’s much easier when broken into clear steps.
Whether you DIY your SEO or are considering working with an agency, these are the essentials:
1. Crawl Accessibility
Google needs to be able to access and read and index your website. If it can’t, the rest of the SEO work is redundant.
2. Keyword Research
These are the words your customers type into Google. You can use tools to generate these (e.g., SEMRush), or you can put yourself in the customer’s shoes and think about what they really want.
Once you have search terms, you can create content that answers those needs and insert them onto your landing pages.
3. SEO-Friendly Content
Speaking of content, search engines love useful content.
Blog posts, guides, and landing pages should be genuinely helpful and engaging. Don’t just stuff keywords into them. Google favours content that meets the EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness) guidelines.
4. On-Page SEO
Now for on-page SEO. This includes headings, URLs, image alt text, links between pages, and meta descriptions.
Think of it as labelling your content properly so Google knows what’s inside.
5. Technical SEO
Let’s get techy. This is the behind-the-scenes bits: website speed, mobile responsiveness, security (HTTPS), structured data, and fixing site errors.
Though more complex, these tasks help search engines understand, and more importantly, trust your site.
6. Link Building
Links from other reputable websites act like online recommendations. The more you have, the more authoritative Google thinks you are.
Pro Tip: Not all links are equal. Buying cheap backlinks from dodgy sites can go against your credibility.
7. User Experience (UX)
Lastly, don’t forget the UX!
Fast loading times, easy navigation, and a clean design keep visitors happy. But Google also notices these, and when done correctly, they signal that your site is high quality.
SEO Glossary (Simple Definitions)
There’s a lot of SEO jargon out there. Let’s decode the basics so you can optimise your site without any guesswork.
Keywords = The terms people type into Google.
Long-tail keywords = Longer, specific search phrases like “best digital marketing agency in Hertfordshire.”
Backlinks = Links from other websites pointing to yours.
SERPs = Search Engine Results Pages.
Featured snippets = The answer boxes that appear at the top of Google.
Rich snippets = Results with extra details like review stars or cooking times.
Crawling = How Google discovers your pages.
Indexing = How Google stores and organises them.
The Takeaway
Some business owners see SEO as a mysterious, time-consuming task. But SEO isn’t as complicated as it seems!
When you boil it down, it’s all about helping Google find your website and trust it enough to recommend it to searchers. Stick to the steps in this SEO guide, and you’ll be ranking in no time.
Want help improving your website’s SEO without counting the keywords? Re:View Creative is here to guide you every step of the way.
