SEO Made Plain
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
I have yet to meet a business leader who has a grasp on Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
It’s something everyone should be doing and no one is sure how it works.
Today I am going to break this concept down for you in three, easy parts so that you can make better decisions about your marketing and communications.
Overview
SEO is simply about peoples’ ability to find you online.
They may find you in a variety of ways - typically on social media or through your website. Customers are likely to find your website through your social media or by searching for it on a search engine, like Google.
Now that the obvious part is out of the way…let’s focus on search engines.
Think of search engines, like Google, as their own business. Just like your business, they are trying to convince people to use their services and products. They convince people to keep coming back by providing content that is reliable, helpful, and accurate. They need to establish themselves as the authority on search engines. If the websites they suggest based on the search words you enter are complete garbage, you’re not likely to use them.
To find websites that are relevant and authoritative on the subjects you are searching they use a spider, an index, and an algorithm.
PART 1: The Spider
Also called a crawler or bot, imagine this little guy as the scout roaming around the internet in search of the goods. A thorough and objective creature, the spider collects information about what it finds. It travels around for data through content, headings, links, etc.
(PRO TIP: The spider has to be able to find you! If you don’t have links to your website in other places on the internet, you’re invisible.)
What does the spider do with that information?
Part 2: The Index
This is the warehouse for all of the spider’s treasures. An enormous collection of information…the Mother Database. If your information isn’t here, it isn’t anywhere. You’re a ghost.
Part 3: The Algorithm
The algorithm is the way search engines strategically sort through the warehouse in order to find quality products to supply to the customer. It decides which websites will be useful to the searcher. Some factors it uses to make this decision are things like site speed, great content and security.
SEO is not separate from your other digital communications. It’s the culmination of those efforts.
Conclusion
SEO is a process. It takes time and consistency. In a world of ads and quick-fix solutions, SEO is the long game.
At the same time, it’s not rocket science. While it’s true that Google adjusts its algorithm to account for website tricks and tactics (like pop ups…don’t get me started), it is entirely possible to know which factors you need to improve on your website in order to increase your SEO status.
When you’re looking for someone to help with your SEO, my advice is to become somewhat knowledgeable yourself. Believe it or not, marketing and tech people are in the business of making money just like you and some are better salespeople than they are effective. You can spend a whole lot of money real quick if you listen to someone tell you how incredibly difficult it is and how very expensive your website should be (why you need them). It might be true that they are great and effective…or maybe not. I’ve directly and indirectly heard many industry professionals freak out their clientele for the purpose of earning a dollar. I’ve also seen companies provide fancy reports to business owners who have no idea what they’re reading.
To start you on your journey, check out these RESOURCES.
Yoast SEO Academy (the free option is adequate)
About Blue Wave Media Arts
With Blue Wave Media Arts, you will get excellent digital marketing and social media management. What makes Blue Wave unique is the emphasis on storytelling and a solid strategy toward broadening your audience through mass media.
Together, we go beyond making you simply look good through pretty pictures. We prove to everyone that you are an experience no one wants to miss.
