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If you're new to SEO or want to take your website to the top of the search results page then you might have a couple of questions before getting started. It can be challenging to know where to turn for reliable and accurate information.
That's why I put together a quick introduction to some of the most asked questions surrounding SEO. My goal is that by the time you're done reading this article, you will have a better understanding of the terminology, and basic strategies, and be ready to take the next step that's right for your SEO journey.
What is SEO?
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of optimizing a website so it appears at the top of the SERP (Search Engine Results Page). It is an ever-changing process with changing guidelines and best practices. SEO is an essential part of a well-rounded digital marketing strategy.
Do I need SEO?
If you have a website that you want people to find, then yes. As I mentioned in the “What is SEO?” section, SEO is an essential part of a well-rounded digital marketing strategy. If you want to reach potential customers who are at the point of their research that they are looking for a company that provides your goods or services then you need to be doing everything you can to optimize your website.
What are keywords?
Keywords are the search phrases that we type into Google. An example of a keyword would be when I open Google and type “Digital Marketing Agency” and then hit search. The keyword I just searched for was “Digital Marketing Agency”. The keywords you target should be related to your business's brand and services. For example, if you are a plumber in Dallas then you might want to target the keyword “Dallas Plumber” or even “Dallas Plumbing”.
How do I find keywords?
There are plenty of SEO tools available that allow you to search for keywords and they even will provide valuable information such as how many times that keyword has been searched and the competition score. The competition score is going to be a crucial part for you to pay attention to. The lower the competition is on a specific keyword the more likely you are to rank for it. My recommendation is to look for keywords that have a few hundred searches each month and have a competition score lower than 30 - 35. You can use the tools below to find your keywords as well as conduct research to find the ones you should be targeting.
Find your keywords with these tools!
How long does it take to rank on Google?
Determining when your website will rank for your targeted keywords isn’t an exact science. It is dependent on a few factors. If your keyword has a high search volume and very little competition then it is likely that your site will rank sooner than if it was a low searched term with a high competition score. Another factor that we will discuss in more detail coming up is the number of quality backlinks your website has.
What are backlinks?
Backlinks is the term used for when one site links to another. Have you ever been reading an article, like this one, and noticed that some of the text was clickable and when you clicked it took you to a new website? Those are backlinks. They play an important role in your SEO as they help transfer the domain authority of one site to another. We’ll cover domain authority shortly.
How do I find my backlinks?
Earlier we discussed keywords and how to find them. Those same tools will allow you to find your backlinks and check the backlinks of your competitors.
How do I get more backlinks?
I could write an entire blog on backlinking strategies, but for now, I am going to give you a quick overview of the different ways to build backlinks.
You can ask a website to link to you.
Before trying any other strategy just try emailing the website you want a backlink from to see if they would be willing to link to your site.
Write great blogs.
One way to collect backlinks is to write blogs and articles that others will want to link to in their own blogs and articles.
Check for broken backlinks.
You can use tools like AHREFS to check a website's broken links. Look through your content to see if you have an article that can replace their broken link or if you can write a new blog to do that. Once you’ve done that, reach out to let them know they have a broken link and that your piece of content can replace it.
What is domain authority?
Domain authority, or DA, is a term that refers to the overall strength and authority of a website. It is calculated by the number of keywords, backlinks, and total SEO score a site has. Many of the mentioned SEO tools track DA and provide that information when you are doing your research. Keep in mind that not all calculations are done in the same way. Your site on MOZ might have a DA of 15 but on SEMRUSH have a DA of 13. My recommendation is to not get caught up in the DA of your site but to continue to build backlinks, focus on your keywords, and post quality content.
What is on-page SEO?
On-page SEO is the process of optimizing your website only. This would cover things like blogs, title tags, meta descriptions, and making sure that images are compressed. Some of the finer details of on-page SEO can get tiring but in order to have a healthy site that is ready to rank it’s important to keep on top of it.
What is off-page SEO?
Off-page SEO is where you focus on building your links and building up your local listings. An example of a local listing you can optimize is your Google Business Profile. Your GBP can be a powerful tool for getting more traffic to your website. By spending a little time each week optimizing and posting on your GBP and other listings you can bring in all kinds of new traffic.
How can I find SEO errors?
SEO errors can be harmful to your ranking chances. By catching these issues early you can better your chances of getting to the top of the search results. There are tons of tools that can catch these issues simply by entering your domain name and hitting scan.
How many words should a blog be?
There is no real answer to this question. Typically you want a blog to be anywhere between 300 - 1,000 words. But, honestly, your blog should be just long enough to convey the point you are trying to make. If you fill your blog with loads of unnecessary words to meet a quota then your readers may become bored and leave your page before they can reap the benefits of what you have to offer.
How many words should each page have?
Just like when writing a blog you generally want to be in the 300-1,000 range but you don’t want to add a ton of fluff to your pages.
What are the 4 types of SEO?
The 4 types of SEO are on-page, off-page, technical, and local. Each has its own benefits and requirements. If you want your site to rank then you should make sure you are doing all 4 types of SEO.
Should I hire an SEO agency?
I could use this as an opportunity to sell you our SEO services and the benefits of having a top-rated SEO agency working for you around the clock ensuring that your website is constantly being viewed by potential customers ready to buy. I could do that, but instead, I am going to tell you that it depends on your budget and knowledge level. If you have no budget and no knowledge then you will either need to bring in more to grow your budget or take a few classes so you can do it yourself. If you have no knowledge of how SEO works even after reading this article but you have the budget then I would recommend learning a bit more before looking at hiring an SEO agency.
I hope this article has answered your questions about SEO and has put you in a better position to grow your business through organic traffic.