Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Explained
The internet has facilitated a virtual business platform, and the e-commerce sector is worth about $4.9 trillion. The best-performing e-commerce platforms are usually the ones that rank at the top of search engine result pages (SERPs).
A platform’s ranking on SERPs depends on how well they implement Search Engine Optimization (SEO) guidelines. Here is a brief overview of SEO to help you learn a little more about this seemingly complex topic.
What is SEO
SEO is essentially a set of guidelines guiding website owners on ranking better on search engines such as Google and Bing. It helps to understand how these search engines work to understand how optimizing these platforms works.
Search engines respond to users’ queries by deploying crawlers that gather all content available about the subject. The crawlers build an index of this content based on a range of factors that will be discussed below. This index is then presented to the user as a page of search engine results, with links leading to websites containing content relating to the subject matter.
Optimizing a search engine entails tweaking a website’s content to align it with the search engines’ requirements and is the core of online marketing.
Black Hat vs. White Hat SEO
There are two main SEO tactics: Black Hat SEO and White Hat SEO. These tactics vary in aspects such as technique and goal.
Black Hat SEO involves implementing SEO guidelines with the sole goal of ranking higher on SERPs. This technique misses important aspects when building the platform’s SEO. White Hat SEO also aims at ranking the website higher. However, it doesn’t work as fast as Black Hat SEO — Black Hat SEO is designed for Google spiders while White Hat SEO is designed for human users.
How Does SEO Work?
SEO is essentially a set of guidelines to rank better on search engines, as mentioned. These guidelines include the following topics:
· Type of Content
Websites can deliver their content in varying forms. The written word is the most popular form, and articles make up the bulk of website content. However, videos and images are also popular – videos are especially popular because they are easy, fun, and engaging. Other types of content include audio recordings, infographics, tutorials, and social media content.
· Quality of Content
Google and other search engines have strict policies about content quality. They demand that a website’s content answer visitors’ questions and meets their needs. For example, articles should answer users’ questions instead of focusing entirely on marketing. The links should also be relevant to the content in your article, essentially giving readers directions to other useful content on other respectable websites.
·Backlinks
Linking to other websites was once a popular SEO tactic for ranking better on SERPs. The trick is to link to popular websites. However, backlinks should be used sparingly and according to the rules, as search engines have sealed past loopholes.
· Trust
Big data is a controversial topic, as it is fueled by people’s digital data. People are becoming increasingly concerned about how their data is used, and search engines are trying to ease their fears by imposing strict privacy and trust policies. Consequently, it is recommendable to let your clients know how you collect and use their data.
Final Thoughts
Websites that rank at the top of search engine results register up to 50% higher traffic compared to websites that rank poorly. Many websites credit their good performance and higher sales to proper Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Your website can also perform better if you book SEO services with Tiny Planet Digital.
