What is SEO?

Many now realize that a website is not a “set it and forget it” affair. A website takes a thoughtful structure and consistent maintenance if it is to be found on search engines. As a result, it must generate quality traffic for the website and the business. This is especially true in regards to content creation.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Simply, it is all the things, on and off-site that you do to make sure that the major search engines can find your site.

The major categories of search engine optimization work are outlined below.

SEO is an ongoing list of important tasks and areas to manage.

Search engines like Google and Bing! want to see that your site is easy to navigate and populated with helpful consumer information. Search engines have “bots” or active algorithmic code that scans sites for relevancy. It then presents sites to consumers in the form of “search engine listings”. Being listed on the search engines, especially on the 1st page for the keywords relevant to your business, is fundamental to success in marketing your site online. It also contributes to the credibility of your business. You may be a thriving business with many customers, but the search engines don’t even know you exist. How do you fix that?

Search Engine Optimization can be thought of in two categories of work to do.

1. “On-site” SEO – things you do on your actual site to optimize for the search engines.
2. “Off-site” SEO – work done on directory listings, other sites that point to you, and work developing a flow of reviews about your business.

Here is a quick hit list of the things to do to optimize your site for the search engines. This list is not all-inclusive but will get you started.

Onsite Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Site code must be clean

Search engines like Google change their code requirements frequently so the code must be managed on an ongoing basis. Markedly, you must check your site regularly for code irregularities, search engine roadblocks, efficiencies, and missing or incorrectly entered meta tags.

Tags Audit

Your item tags must be configured properly. Basically, an item is a photo, a menu title, or a site graphic.

Content/Quality Evaluation

This evaluation includes a review of site structure, page content volume, quality, site authenticity, and topical relevancy. In addition, it needs topics that are differentiators in the given market or represent opportunities to stand out to the search engines. Also, the presence of an active blog is fundamental to a successful website that can be found on search engines.

Design Aspects

Various design aspects of the site such as menu structure, presence of reviews and testimonials, and a blog.

Site Speed

Your site needs to load in a time-efficient manner on desktop and mobile devices. Nevertheless, site speed is influenced by several factors, including image and file size, code quality, and more.

Mobile Device Compatibility

Your site must be “responsive” to the environment it is viewed in. Accordingly, this means there are design factors and even Google requirements to a site being mobile appropriate.

Off-site Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Reviews

The presence of reviews on Google and other sites, the quality of the reviews, and the level of response to the reviews.

Directory Listings

Your site’s Name Address Phone number listing is accurate, and the site must be listed in many online directories. We call it NAP and you can’t sleep through it.

Google Business Manager

Your site must have an active, accurate GBM account and be updated on a regular basis. Specifically, the images, and reviews, must be kept current. In addition, location information should be accurate.  Lastly, the site must be verified by Google.

Questions, Next Step

Have more questions? Do you need help stepping through Search Engine Optimization? Or maybe, you need help managing a complex site to keep it appearing on Search Engines? Contact Beyond Brand Collective here.