Organic SEO (search engine optimization) is the phrase used to describe processes to obtain a natural placement on organic search engine results pages (SERPs). Some examples of techniques used for organic SEO include using keywords and keyword analysis, backlinking, link building to improve link popularity, and writing content relevant for human readers.

In search engine optimization (SEO) terminology, white hat SEO refers to the usage of optimization strategies, techniques and tactics that focus on a human audience opposed to search engines and completely follows search engine rules and policies. For example, a website that is optimized for search engines, yet focuses on relevancy and organic ranking is considered to be optimized using White Hat SEO practices. Some examples of White Hat SEO techniques include using keywords and keyword analysis, backlinking, link building to improve link popularity, and writing content for human readers. White Hat SEO is more frequently used by those who intend to make a long-term investment on their website. Also called Ethical SEO.

In search engine optimization (SEO) terminology, black hat SEO refers to the use of aggressive SEO strategies, techniques and tactics that focus only on search engines and not a human audience, and usually does not obey search engines guidelines. Some examples of black hat SEO techniques include keyword stuffing, invisible text, doorway pages, adding unrelated keywords to the page content or page swapping (changing the webpage entirely after it has been ranked by search engines). Black Hat SEO Usage Black hat SEO is more frequently used by those who are looking for a quick financial return on their Web site, rather than a long-term investment on their Web site. Black hat SEO can possibly result in your Web site being banned from a search engine, however since the focus is usually on quick high return business models, most experts who use Black Hat SEO tactics consider being banned from search engines a somewhat irrelevant risk.

An SEO service provider utilizes the practice of search engine optimization to increase the amount of visitors to a Web site by obtaining high-ranking placements in the search results page of search engines (SERP). Typically, a business will hire a service provider to improve its organic Google search result listings. SEO services help to ensure that a site is accessible to a search engine and improves the chances that the site will be found and ranked highly by the search engine. SEO service providers offer a wide range of packages and options for search engine optimization, ranging from one-time fees for smaller sites to monthly subscriptions for ongoing SEO efforts and support. See related Webopedia term definitions including: website optimization, SEO PR, and Organic SEO.

It can be about other stuff, too, but choose one primary topic that is most essential to your message. This step is important, so you may want to do a little keyword research before choosing a topic.

Include your “one thing” in the site title, domain name, description, tagline, keywords, blog categories, page titles, and page content. If you’re on WordPress, you can change a lot of this in the General Settings or through a plugin like All in One SEO Pack (which I use).

A lot of content management systems automatically do this, but if yours doesn’t, you’ll want to be intentional about linking to your most important pages directly from your homepage and cross-linking them with each other.

Some sites have “ugly” permalink structures that use numbers to identify pages. Don’t do this. It’s bad for SEO and just doesn’t look good. Use a URL structure that includes text, and make sure you include keywords in your URLs. So instead of having a page’s URL be this: https://yoursite.com/?p=12 It should look more like this: https://yoursite.com/coolpage/

When people search for your products and services, you obviously want to appear as high in the search engine rankings as possible, but the reasons for this are more than just because you want them to click through to your website. In fact, there is a certain amount of value in simply appearing in search results for terms directly related to your business. For instance, most searchers don’t just simply search once, click on some websites, and be done with it. Instead, they search, click on some websites, edit their search terms, search again, click on some websites, further hone their search terms, search again, and so on. So what does this mean for your business? It means that if you can continually show in all these search results that you are gaining more and more mindshare with each potential customer. Chances are very good that they will eventually click through to your website, and since you continually displayed in all their search results, they will trust you that much more. Which brings us to the next reason why SEO is important for your business.

Searchers make mental notes of the rankings for the terms they enter into Google and other search engines. They may not consciously realize it, but they do. And in the minds of consumers, your ranking is a vote of confidence: “Google says this business is relevant, so that must be the case.” This may sound a bit far-fetched, but let’s look at it like this: back in the golden age of the yellow pages, if you were looking for a plumber, did you feel more confident in calling the guy on the seventh page of the listings, or did you, like most people, start from the first page and work your way through? Your customers may not realize it, but high search rankings make you more credible in their eyes.

Sure, by itself, traffic is not going to make you any money. But would you rather set up your storefront on a backstreet in Davenport, Iowa or right in the middle of Times Square? All those people walking around in Times Square day and night by themselves aren’t going to make you any money, but chances are that quite a few of them will eventually become your customers. Just like Times Square, you still have to make your best effort to sell to your customers once they are on your website, but it’s better to do business on a crowded street corner than it is to set up shop on a deserted island. What’s better is that SEO is usually a good deal more affordable than store leases in Times Square. More importantly, the people coming to your site are almost all qualified leads – they were searching for businesses like yours when they found you, so they already have a need or interest in your products or services. Which brings me to the next point.

SEO rewards your business for its efforts at a higher rate than pretty much all traditional forms of offline advertising — the same can be said for almost all types of internet marketing. The reason for this is because SEO is an inbound marketing strategy; that is, it allows you to market to people when they are looking for the products and services your business provides. You don’t have to interrupt their favorite TV show, you don’t have to take up space on a page where they are reading a news article. You just show up when they are looking for businesses like yours. You don’t have to convince them they need your product or service; you just have to convince them that you are the right business to purchase from. In other words, with SEO, half the battle is won before it even starts.

The best way to start learning SEO is to read. And read a lot. When choosing your blogs, books and other sources, make sure to start with the absolute basics. Because the last thing you want to be happening is realising that you have missed some essentials when you have already started working. Here are a few posts you should definitely read if you are a complete beginner. Moz Beginner’s Guide to SEO The Moz blog (formerly known as SEOmoz) can be called the “bible of SEO”. This is where I have started and this is where you can start as well. Moz’ beginner’s guide to SEO walks you through all the essentials you need to know, starting from how search engines work to how to track your website’s success. These 10 chapters are already a good start. SEO is more than just “SEO” In the past few years Google has rolled-out a few updates to its ranking algorithm, which have basically changed how we view SEO. In the past it was all about the quantity of links pointing to your website, keywords, your website’s code and much more. Of course, this still applies (in a much more sophisticated and unforgiving way), but SEO is now getting much more than just “SEO”. If you want your website to rank high in search engines your website must be genuinely good. You have to provide your visitors with great content and great usability. And this is the reason why you should learn more than just the basics, obviously. So what do I mean with genuinely good? You have to build a brand. A brand that people will remember as being awesome, reliable and associate it with high quality. When it comes to writing content for your website you should take a look at what is called Content Marketing. Everything that you put on your website will influence what people will think about you and your brand. And the better the content you put out there, the more clicks, visits, inbound links, shares and conversions you will generate in the end.

It is very difficult to actually learn SEO if you don’t apply all the knowledge you have acquired. Much like with other industries and activities, the more you practice the better you get at the thing you do. And what you read in blogs is mostly what other people have learned from their time working in SEO. Set-up your own blog There are several benefits when it comes to starting your own blog: You learn by doing You can experiment with your own website without significant risk Improve your writing skills Improves your online presence and reputation You can make money with it In case you are applying for a job, a blog looks great on your CV Now go ahead and buy yourself a domain and server space, install WordPress, get yourself a cool design and START WRITING! When setting up your first website, always keep in mind what you have learned from all the above mentioned sources and guides. Also, install some essential WordPress plugins.

There is no end when it comes to learning SEO and online marketing. The world of SEO is constantly changing. And that’s why you always have to stay up-to-date and apply the gained knowledge. Keep reading, keep writing, keep working. If you stop reading there is a chance that you will miss something important. If you stop applying your knowledge, learning SEO doesn’t really make any sense. Keep doing both and, sooner or later, you will come closer to your goal to become the ultimate SEO guru! In case you already started to learn SEO, what issues have you encountered so far? Do you already have experience? What tips do you have for beginners? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

In the past few years Google has rolled-out a few updates to its ranking algorithm, which have basically changed how we view SEO. In the past it was all about the quantity of links pointing to your website, keywords, your website’s code and much more. Of course, this still applies (in a much more sophisticated and unforgiving way), but SEO is now getting much more than just “SEO”. If you want your website to rank high in search engines your website must be genuinely good. You have to provide your visitors with great content and great usability. And this is the reason why you should learn more than just the basics, obviously. So what do I mean with genuinely good? You have to build a brand. A brand that people will remember as being awesome, reliable and associate it with high quality. When it comes to writing content for your website you should take a look at what is called Content Marketing. Everything that you put on your website will influence what people will think about you and your brand. And the better the content you put out there, the more clicks, visits, inbound links, shares and conversions you will generate in the end.