Top 3 SEO Components You Need to Know
If you have a website, you probably already know at least a little about search engine optimization (SEO).
Well known SEO strategies such as developing quality content, link building, and website functionality are fundamental to effective SEO. However, each of these strategies relies on a keen understanding of the top 3 SEO components you need to know: your goals, your audience, and the search engine.
Your Business Goals
Let’s talk a little bit about your goals as a business. You want to have a clear sense of what you hope to achieve in your business and ultimately your SEO strategy. Without goals, you’re flailing in the dark. Marketing goals will drive your SEO strategy and will also help you to understand how to measure the success of your SEO.
Additionally, you need to know how your competitors are performing – not only competitors in your business, but competitors in your SEO.
Your SEO strategy should reflect your unique goals, brand, and expertise so that you can reach quality visitors easily.
Your Audience
Who is search for you and are you reaching them? Knowing your audience is not just a pillar of SEO but also a pillar of marketing. Searchers come in all shapes and sizes, so your SEO must be targeted to the folks that are looking for whatever it is you’re selling. When you know your audience, their behaviour, their needs and wants, you can develop an SEO strategy that is relevant to them.
When it comes to SEO, there is a lot of talk of “keywords.” Don’t get me wrong, keywords are an important component of your SEO strategy; but, if you take a step back and look at content from a broader perspective you’ll deliver more engaging content. Search engines aren’t just scanning for keywords anymore. Each page of your website can reflect a relevant topic that your audience wants to know more about.
You should also think more comprehensively about the psychological and socioeconomic makeup of your audience. When you speak to the needs and concerns of your audience, they will find you. They will engage with you. And they will share your information. All this helps to boost your SEO.
The Search Engines
Finally, SEO absolutely must reflect how search engines rank results.
Google is looking for sites that are easily indexed, provide relevant and quality content, and that delivers an engaging experience to its visitors.
Most search engine developers will provide release notes and tools or tips for improving your ranking which ultimately will help you develop more refined SEO. You have to do your research so that you can effectively use links, content development (that engages users and is error free behind the scenes), queries, and other design features to improve your SEO.
Most importantly, understand that your SEO strategy is dynamic and needs to change as search engines become more sophisticated. A website that doesn’t update as the search engines update will not be ranked well. Full stop.
SEO is an ever-changing, technical process that relies on a sound understanding of your business goals, your target audience, and the search engines themselves. These are the top 3 components of SEO you need to know.
