SEO for Beginners (& Why SEO Matters)
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a term you've likely heard tossed around in discussions about websites and online content. But what is SEO, and why should you care? At its core, SEO is about making your website more visible to people who are searching for products, services, or information that you offer. In a world where visibility online can make or break a business, understanding SEO is crucial. When implemented correctly, SEO helps your website rank higher in search engine results, driving more traffic to your website, and increasing your chances of turning browsers into buyers.
Why does this matter? Because the internet is a crowded place, and standing out isn't just about having great content—it's about making sure people can find your great content in the first place.
Understanding SEO: The Basics
So, what is SEO? In the simplest terms, SEO is the practice of optimizing your website so that it ranks higher on search engines like Google. But SEO isn't just a single thing. It has three parts.
On-page SEO
This involves optimizing individual pages on your site. It includes things like using relevant keywords (like what is SEO or small business SEO) in your content, creating quality meta descriptions, and ensuring your site is mobile-friendly.
This is where beginners should start and to help, I’ve created a checklist of easy ways to incorporate SEO.
Off-page SEO
This refers to actions taken outside of your website to improve its ranking. Think of things like backlinks—when other reputable websites link to your content, it boosts your credibility and improves your search engine ranking.
If you’ve got SEO-optimized content on your site, it’s time to start thinking about getting backlinks. We’ll get into this more in the future.
Technical SEO
Technical SEO focuses on the backend of your site. It involves optimizing your site’s speed, making sure it’s secure (using HTTPS), and ensuring search engines can easily crawl and index your site.
Sounds scary, eh? I get it! The only thing you should know now is, what’s your baseline?
The easiest way to get a baseline of your site’s performance.
My favorite tool for assessing technical SEO is PageSpeed Insights. It’s so easy to use and will give you an idea of where you are, and where you should focus.
Go to PageSpeed Insights.
Type your website into the box.
Go refill your water.
Check your score on desktop and mobile.
This website is kicking some major butt when it comes to Accessibility, Best Practices and SEO but the performance could be better. The usual culprit here is that image files are too large or that the site is pulling information from many other places.
Understanding these three components is the first step toward mastering SEO and ensuring that your website performs well in search engine results. Start with the easiest stuff and apply changes slowly to improve your SEO, increase traffic, and get the leads you want!
Common SEO Myths and Misconceptions
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about SEO. Let’s clear up some of the most common myths:
Myth 1: SEO is a one-time task.
Many people think SEO is something you do once and then forget about. In reality, SEO is an ongoing process that requires regular updates and adjustments.
The good news is, it doesn’t take much time and slow and steady actually does win the race here! Google likes to see sites updated regulary with new content, updated information and improvements. So when you’re adding a blog, making sure you’ve got a keyword that appears in the title, heading and meta description is “doing SEO.”
Myth 2: More keywords equal better ranking.
Stuffing your content with keywords like "SEO expert" won't necessarily help your ranking—in fact, it can hurt it. Search engines favor content that provides real value to users, not just a bunch of keywords.
The good news is, incorporating keywords naturally makes writing much easier. You won’t even notice you’re “doing SEO.” By finding a keyword, using it in your title and planning, it’s likely you’re going to use it exactly the way it works.
Myth 3: SEO guarantees top rankings.
While good SEO can significantly improve your rankings, there are no guarantees. Search engine algorithms are complex and ever-changing, so even the best SEO strategies can’t promise a #1 spot.
The good news is, good SEO will improve your rankings and guarantee that when people do find your site, they stay and engage. And that’s what you want.
Trusting SEO
A few years ago, I was contacted by an artist who had a gorgeous website that no one visited. He was upset because he’d put a lot of time and money into the site. He’d used beautiful images of handwritten notes instead of having text on the site.
I knew, instantly, that his SEO was going to be abysmal.
First, Google can’t “see” images so it needs text. Images are great! We want images! But websites also need text.
Additionally, the website took a lot of time to load, about 4 seconds. While this might not sound like much, most websites load in an average of 2 seconds and most people won’t wait more than 3. I had a suspicion the photos were what was slowing down the site.
A scan using a more intense tool than PageSpeed Insights (but not for the small-business owner looking to improve their SEO!) confirmed my suspicions.
By having a unique, readable font based on his handwriting created, adding keywords, headings and compressing images, his site’s traffic improved in a matter of weeks.
No matter your vision, there’s usually a way to improve your SEO while retaining it. I can help you do that.
Essential SEO Practices for Beginners
If you’re just starting with SEO, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are some fundamental practices to focus on:
Start with keyword research: Understand what your audience is searching for and incorporate those keywords naturally into your content. Pick 1-2 keywords per page and don’t use any keywords on more than one page. That’s right: each page should have a unique keyword.
Optimize your content: Ensure that your titles, headers, and meta descriptions are clear and contain your target keywords.
Focus on user experience: Make sure your website is easy to navigate, fast-loading, and mobile-friendly. Remember that not everyone who visits your light can see. Not everyone can hear. Accessibility matters and Google knows it!
Build quality backlinks: Seek opportunities to have other reputable websites link to your content. This builds your site’s authority. Once your site is performing well, ask clients to share a link on their site. I link to clients and they link to me - it helps both of us! This is an easy way to start with backlinks.
Each of these practices is a building block that will help your website perform better in search results.
SEO for Beginners Checklist: Download Your Free Guide
To help you get started, I’ve put together an SEO checklist aimed at beginners. This guide will walk you through the essential steps of implementing SEO practices on your website. Download it and start optimizing your site today!
Want an expert review of your site? Get a free SEO audit with suggestions and easy-to-follow instructions to start your SEO Journey.
Start Your SEO Journey Today
Getting started with SEO might seem daunting, but the rewards are worth the effort. By following the practices outlined here and using the tools available to you, you can improve your website’s visibility and drive more traffic to your business. Remember, SEO is a journey, not a destination—so take the first step today and keep moving forward.
And don’t forget to download the SEO checklist—your roadmap to success in the world of search engines.
