SEO knowledge has quickly climbed the ladder and become one of, if not the most important skills used to drive traffic to websites. 

But, how do you crack the mysterious code that is SEO?

Here are a few basics of SEO and how it works.

What is SEO?

SEO is an acronym that stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s the thing that determines whether your site pops up in Google’s most relevant search results—or not. 

Here’s how it works: You type a specific query into the search engine of your choice, then the web bot connected to that search engine uses keywords from your query to comb through the Internet. It returns the most relevant results on a Search Engine Results Page (SERP). 

Sounds simple, right?

SEO Basics

Using SEO to ensure the visibility of your website across multiple search engines requires you to use smart keywords throughout your site. The content on your website, starting from the body text all the way to the headings, must include keywords connected to your company’s niche. The objective behind SEO is to get your company in front of as many people who need your services as possible. The best way to do that is to use words in your copy that potential patrons will search. In addition to keywords, you must have a commitment to quality. 

Consider this when creating content: Google’s secret algorithm tells its SERPs how to operate. Somehow, built into this algorithm is the ability to arrange websites in order of value based on websites’ overall quality (content, keywords, usability) and on the quality of things produced off your website (social media, links to your site). 

Though Google’s algorithm may be a secret, it’s no secret that it takes quality to earn a spot on a SERP, whether its Google or otherwise. The quality of your content and marketing overall will determine if it’s at the top of the list or not there at all.