What is SEO and how does it work?
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a collective term for all processes that improve the organic find ability of a web page in search engines. By effectively using SEO techniques it is possible to attract not only more, but also the right visitors to desired web pages. Parts of an SEO strategy include link building and keyword optimization. Many businesses that operate online depend on SEO because they want to generate digital traffic from keyword engines.
Wait, what is SEO?
Sorry if we went a little too fast; we now try to explain a little more calmly what SEO is. SEO is an abbreviation that stands for Search Engine Optimization, or Search Engine Optimization in Dutch. It actually means nothing more than optimizing websites in such a way that they are shown higher in searches in search engines such as Google or Bing.
Okay, now I know what the meaning of SEO is, but how does SEO work?
In order to tell you how SEO works, we actually have to explain to you how the techniques work that ensure an SEO optimized website . Optimizing your website consists of various actions that together ensure that the general SEO value of your website increases. These actions include:
- Optimizing for the most important keywords
- Writing clear and relevant content
- Link building
- Using a clear meta data
Below we briefly explain strategies.
Optimize for important keywords
When users search in Google, they fill in keywords. The goal is that your website will be found for those keywords. For example, if someone searches for 'Bakery Amsterdam', and you have a bakery in Amsterdam, you probably want to be shown on that search with your website. This is not easy; you need to show Google that your web page is relevant to this search. After all, Google's goal is to make it as easy as possible for the user by providing the most relevant information.
Write content for your visitors
Initially, you always want to write your web page for the reader. Therefore, make sure that the content on the page is relevant to read. For example, when you sprinkle keywords all over your page in an attempt to optimize your website, this is at the expense of the content. Search engines such as Google see to what extent visitors appreciate your content and adjust their ranking accordingly. For example, Google keeps track of how long visitors are on your website and with what frequency they click through. However, if your content is not good, your web page will not rank high in the search results.
Get started with link building
One of the most important SEO techniques is link building . Because search engines basically want to treat all websites equally, it is difficult for them to see which websites are more important than others. Looking at links is one of the ways they can still indicate which pages are more relevant than others. For example, if there is a Wikipedia article on a popular topic, and your website is listed as an important resource, Google will rate your information slightly higher than similar websites without a Wikipedia entry. Generating and maintaining these types of links is an essential part of SEO, called link building.
Use clear meta data
In short, the meta data is the entire structure of a website, minus the content. Remember to use the correct formatting of the following elements:
- Page titles
- Meta descriptions
- URL’s
- Breadcrumbs
- Internal links
Search engines use robots, also known as crawlers, bots or spiders, to scan your website and understand what the subject of your website is. Neat and optimized meta data ensures that the robots understand your website better. A search engine such as Google will therefore show your website higher in the search results page than websites where this data has not been optimized.
Why is SEO important for your business?
To reach your target audience and generate leads, you need to be visible in the search engines. Almost 95% of Dutch people start their search for information, a product or a company in a search engine. That makes SEO an indispensable part of your online marketing strategy.