Introduction
Search engine optimization, also known as SEO, is a free method that search engines use to boost a website’s visibility and raise its ranking. The main aim of SEO is to draw in more visitors to a website by making it easier for search engines like Google, Bing, and others to find it.
How SEO Works
Search engines work in three main steps to give users the best results for their questions:
1. Crawling:
They use special programs called web crawlers or “spiders” to find new and updated web pages. These crawlers go from one link to another, gathering information about the content, code, and layout of each page.
2. Indexing:
Once a page is crawled, the search engine organizes and saves the information in a huge database known as an index. This index is like a library that holds all the content on the internet that the search engine has discovered. A page needs to be indexed to show up in search results.
3. Ranking:
When someone types a search query, the search engine’s algorithm looks through the indexed pages to find the most relevant and best-quality results. The algorithm considers many factors to decide the order of the results, including how relevant the content is, the reputation of the website, how fast the page loads, and the overall user experience.
Key Pillars of SEO
SEO is an ongoing process that includes a mix of different strategies, usually divided into three main pillars:
1. On-Page SEO:
This means all the optimization work you do directly on your website. It’s about making sure your content is relevant and gives a great user experience.
Keyword Optimization: Finding and using keywords that your target audience is looking for in a smart way.
High-Quality Content: Making valuable, informative, and original content that answers what users are searching for.
Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: Creating catchy titles and descriptions that make users want to click.
URL Structure: Using clean, simple, and descriptive URLs.
Headings (H1, H2, etc.): Organizing your content with clear headings to make it easier to read for both users and search engines.
2. Off-Page SEO:
These are actions taken outside your own website to help its ranking. The main goal is to build the website’s authority and credibility.
Backlinks: Links from other trustworthy websites to yours. Backlinks are like “votes of confidence,” showing search engines that your content is reliable and authoritative.
Social Signals: Mentions and interactions on social media can indirectly affect how visible a website is.
Brand Mentions: Unlinked mentions of your brand or business on other sites.
3. Technical SEO:
This focuses on the technical parts of your website to make sure it can be crawled and indexed properly. It’s the base on which on-page and off-page SEO are built.
Site Speed: Improving your website’s loading speed for a better user experience.
Mobile-Friendliness: Making sure your website works well on all devices, especially mobile phones.
Structured Data (Schema Markup): Adding code to your website to help search engines understand your content better and show “rich results” like star ratings or product details.
Sitemaps and Robots.txt: Giving clear directions to search engine crawlers on how to explore and index your website. To know about SEO expert in Calicut