Three Basics You Should Know About SEO

When potential customers are looking for a service or product, most use search engines like Google or Bing to help them find information. After typing in a specific word or phrase, people are met with hundreds of pages full of relevant results, however they tend to only select websites that pop up on the first page. Scenarios like this are when search engine optimization comes into play. In the digital age, having an understanding of SEO is essential in growing your business. To simplify things, here are three basics you should know about SEO before you get started.

1. SEO Criteria is Constantly Changing
The search engine algorithm is an ever-changing system. Over the years, modifications have led to some SEO factors being introduced, removed or changed in level of importance. For example, adding as many hyperlinks as possible to a site page used to be favored by search engines, but now it’s recommended to include one link per every 100 words or it’s seen as spam. Staying up to date on the latest ranking factors and making sure you’re following the most updated SEO guidelines is essential. Keeping yourself informed is the difference between helping and potentially hurting your business’s website. This is why many businesses tend to leave SEO management to the pros instead of taking it on themselves.

2. The Quality of Your Content Matters
One of the few things that have remained constant of the SEO algorithm is the importance of fresh, quality content. Since people can search so many things, it’s tempting to want to create low-effort content for your website that’s packed with keywords as a way to garner more traffic. However, doing this can have the exact opposite effect. Content quality is one of the most important SEO ranking factors and search engines want to provide users with the best results possible. Sites that have fresh, well-crafted and well-researched content are more likely to boost search engine rankings and increase visibility. High-quality content can also lead to higher user engagement, which is another important factor in determining SEO rankings.

3. Some Factors Are More Important Than Others
A mistake that is commonly made is thinking that the algorithm weighs all SEO factors as equally important. Of course, you should be considering all the factors and trying to create the best website possible, but it’s important to know which factors deserve more attention over others. A few factors include site security, proper linking structure, regular updates and quality content. While you do this, keep in mind that each search engine has its own algorithm, so what works best for Google may need to be altered for Bing.

While we only highlighted a few basics above, this only scratches one surface and mastering the intricacies of SEO doesn’t happen overnight. With constantly changing algorithms, numerous keyword specifications and multiple ranking factors to consider, taking on your website’s SEO can be a daunting and tedious task. Here at McCauley Marketing Services, our team is constantly researching, testing and staying ahead of the curve when it comes to SEO best practices. We find the latest ways to increase your website traffic and ensure your business ranks high in search results. If you’re interested in learning more about our services, contact McCauley Marketing Services online. In addition, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more tips and information about search engine optimization.