The goal of Search Engine Optimization also known as SEO is to increase the visibility of your website. Search engines rank websites based on relevance to what people are searching for. They are trying to best meet a user’s needs and expectations while simultaneously promoting credible and trustworthy websites. Businesses tend to use SEO in order to promote their websites and gain new leads to increase their business revenue. 

There are a variety of different types of SEO that have different purposes and end goals when implemented into a marketing strategy. In this guide, we will break down the basics of the basics for SEO and what it is used for. 

Technical SEO

One of the most crucial components of SEO is Technical SEO, which essentially refers to the optimization of your website. Basically, if your website has any technical issues or errors search engines will not promote a website with errors to audiences. 

Technical SEO has no impact on the actual content on your website, but rather the infrastructure of how your website functions. Be sure your crawling pages and indexes are running smoothly and without any errors in order for your website to rank higher in the SEO process. 

On and Off-Page SEO

On-Page SEO refers to the actual content on your website and how relevant it is to what people are searching for. On-Page SEO is key for organically appearing higher on search engine results. Your content should speak to the keywords that help search engine crawlers understand the actual content of your pages. 

Off-Page SEO is in reference to when other websites link and reference your content. When other credible websites link to your content, it raises your SEO ranking since it is showing search engines that you are a trustworthy source. While you do not have much control over Off-Page SEO, you can strengthen it with Social Media Marketing and linking on social media your website content or even customer reviews on other websites can help boost your Off-Page SEO strengths. 

Local SEO

Local SEO helps your website appear in more regional/localized results. So for instance, if you’re a local nail salon looking to gain more business, anytime a local or someone within the Las Vegas area searches, ‘nail salons near me,’ your business will immediately pull up for them. 

Instead of being buried under a generic search listing all businesses across the globe, Local SEO allows you to stand out to local customers. When you're starting a small business in your city, you should focus on Local SEO, rather than SEO if you're operating nationwide or statewide. 

The majority of searches happen while consumers are on their mobile devices, so it is ideal to focus on optimizing your Local SEO for mobile usage. By being optimized for mobile you are also increasing your overall general SEO since there is a higher search volume for mobile users than desktop users. 

The Key to SEO

The main thing to remember when developing your SEO strategy is to create impactful and engaging content that makes users want to learn more about your business or brand while simultaneously targeting keywords that will boost your appearance on search results. Maintaining and upkeeping your website seems like a no-brainer, but the SEO benefits that come along with maintaining it can boost your business. Your business can still rely on other digital advertising methods, but SEO is one of the main tool that most businesses implement within their marketing strategies.

SEO strategy is a time-consuming and very technical aspect of marketing to strategize for. While it is an extremely valuable tool, it can be difficult to see results if you do not put the right amount of time and energy into it. If you don't have the time, the field of SEO is best left to the pros. If you'd like additional help, contact LSM today to book a free consultation with our team of experts.