SEO Basics, Search Engine Optimization Basics Explained, The Basics of SEO

SEO Basics

Welcome to the home of SEO Basics.biz, your source for information on search engine optimization basics, internet marketing, on-site optimization basics, off-site optimization basics, link building and more. You will find various articles on all of these topics, with the purpose of providing an idea of what the basic important elements of SEO are.

Search engine optimization is discussed widely, but many business owners really don’t understand what it is, how it works, or why it is so important.

Here you will learn about the following:

1) What is SEO?

2) Keyword Analysis

3) On-site Optimization

4) Off-site Optimization

5) Website Analytics

We have scoured the internet for some of the top articles on these SEO Basic topics, and synthesized them here to provide you the fundamentals. Enjoy!

Here are 4 FAQ about SEO

1) What is Search Engine Optimization? SEO Basics:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of making a website rank more highly on search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. The goal is to be on the first “Search Engine Results Page” (SERP), the first page you see after you search for a keyword. Ranking highly in the search results means enormous traffic boosts to your website. You can accomplish high rankings through a series of steps that include:

Optimizing how your website is coded / organized technically.
Optimizing the content on the website.
Generating numerous links to your website from other, relevant websites.

While some people think they are ‘optimized’ if they come up on the first page when you type in the name of their company, this really isn’t true optimization. In other words, it is such basic seo it isn’t valuable. While it’s important that you can be found by your company name, the goal is to ultimately get new visitors and new customers. If someone searches for your company name, then they already know about you. You want to be found for keywords that are related to the services or products you offer.

2) Why is SEO Important?

There are two reasons search engine optimization is incredible important:

1) Customers are moving online in droves. The phonebook is dead; Google (and other search engines) is how people find businesses.
2) The internet is basically a jungle: there are millions of websites out there – how are your potential customers going to find YOU? If your website isn’t optimized to come up for keywords that are relevant to your company, then you are missing out on a lot of potential business.

3) Which Search Engine is most popular?

Google is by far the most widely used search engine. comScore estimated market share at the following levels in 2010 (# represents % of all searches done on this website):

4) Should I pay someone for SEO?

Optimizing a website effectively is not easy. Search engines are constantly changing their algorithms that determine the ranking, and there are always new competitors vying for the top spots. This makes SEO Basics not so basic after all. That being said, paying a professional who can dedicate his time to getting you results can be a very good investment. However, there are a lot of so-called SEO “Experts” that are nothing of the sort.

Here are 4 questions to ask someone before handing over any money.

1) “How do you determine which keywords to optimize for?” If you optimize for the wrong keywords, then an SEO campaign is a complete waste of time. There’s more to choosing keywords than picking them out of a hat. See what the company says. If they mention some of the following approaches, it is a good sign:

If they say “just give me a list of words you think will be good” – then they aren’t professionals.

2) “Have you gotten proven SEO results before?” Don’t be afraid to ask who they have gotten results for, how long it took, and how they did it. And don’t take their word for it: ask for a few referrals you can call yourself. You can also search online to see if the rankings they are claiming are true (though keep in mind that search results can vary by geography and personal search history).

3) “How Can I Track Results Month to Month?” Transparency is the mother of integrity. A reputable company will offer monthly reports. Expect to get information on the traffic to your website, as well as the progress of your rankings for different keywords.

4) “How do you feel about Blackhat SEO?” Unethical tactics of search engine optimization (called “Blackhat SEO”) are utilized by many people to try to game the system to get higher rankings. However, search engines are getting smarter and smarter and have learned to identify such attempts. While some more advanced tactics can work in the short term, you run the risk of getting your website delisted from the results page if you get caught. If a company recommends blackhat tactics, stay away. Honest, organic approaches may take longer (3-6 months to get significant results), but the long term vitality of your business and your web presence is worth it.

SEO BASICS