SEO is a term we’re hearing more and more of these days, especially online. But exactly what is SEO?
SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, relates to the process wherein companies or individuals optimise their website content to improve their visibility on search engines like Google, and Bing.
You know when you Google a phrase or keyword, like “locksmith near me”, and you get a list of results based on your search? Well, all those hair salons want to be up at the top of the results, so more users see their business, and choose to book with them. In order to boost their page to the top, they need to optimise their content.
To climb the rankings of search engine results, there are a few things that come into play. Search engines like Google are constantly analysing web pages against their algorithm to decide which results to show first.
Their algorithm is constantly changing to provide the best user experience, but aside from all the technical stuff, Google just wants to recommend the most trustworthy, up-to-date, high-quality results.
So, how can you make your website fit the bill? There are a few strategies that should get you ranking highly in search engine results…
SEO tips:
- Have clean and concise URLs to the pages on your website
Having incredibly long URLs littered with a random assortment of letters and numbers is an easy way for Google and others to keep you at the bottom of their search results
- Make sure your backlinks are reputable and quality
- Construct your website in a way that’s easy for users to navigate
- Organically litter keywords throughout your content and in your page or article title
- Update and repair plug-ins wherever necessary
- Compress images, videos, and other content to improve your site’s loading speed
- Post relevant, high-quality content on a regular basis
- Optimise your content for maximum readability
Having sub-headings, dot points, concise paragraphs and appropriate spacing are some of the things that will improve your readability
What is the difference between SEO and SEA?
SEO and SEA are often lumped together, but they’re more different than you might think. SEA, or Search Engine Advertising, is the paid marketing on sites like Google that boosts certain website with ad campaigns relevant to the user’s search.
If you’ve ever used a search engine like Bing or Google, you’ve probably noticed that the first few results are highlighted, and look a little different to the rest. These are ads, and the companies behind those results are paying for a marketing strategy through the search engine.
Most of these search engines charge CPC, or Cost Per Click, which means that the website owners will only have to pay when users click on their website link from the ad. However, depending on the keywords and phrases they are using in the ad campaign, the price of the CPC can vary. If a site wants to advertise for a commonly searched for keyword, they will have to pay more due to the increased exposure.
The difference between SEO and SEA mainly lies in the fact that advertising is guaranteed to boost you to the top few results of relevant searches, whereas there’s no assurance that SEO will do the same.
That being said, studies have found that over 70% of users will ignore ads completely. So, whether you decide to do SEO or SEA, the best option for your business will depend on various factors, and it may be best to research what works best in your line of work.
SEO and SEA can cost you a lot of time and money, and without the right strategy, it’s essentially money down the drain. At Method, our team of web developers and content writers take care of everything, so that you can sit back and watch your website climb the ranks of search engine results. Get in touch with us today to discuss your options.
