What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?

Why do you need it? Well, the better the search engines can see what’s on your site the better your site’s content can be ranked when someone searches for you. So the more “search engine friendly” your site is, and the better the content is, the higher your site will rank. Higher ranking results in your site listed first in the search engine’s results which means users will find your site before they find your competitors. And the easier it is for users to find your site, the more likely they will convert into customers.

Sounds great, right? So what is Search Engine Optimization, exactly? What are the techniques and how hard are they to implement? There are two basic types of Search Engine Optimization techniques: On-site and off-site.

On-site techniques are the easiest to implement because you can control the content of your own pages. If you are using a blog application like Word Press, there are a few administration settings you can modify to increase your ranking. But most importantly, your site’s content is what matters.

Off-site techniques are little bit more difficult because they involve references to your site on other sites you do not own. Meaning, articles you posted on someone else’s sites, comments you make in forums with your website link, reciprocal links, your social network profile, and much much more. Please note that it’s generally not a good idea to post your web address and toot your own horn in any sort of Internet posts; however, you can absolutely provide a contact information and a website address in the author’s section or your bio.

Now, we want to make it clear that SEO is not every programmer’s cup of tea. It’s a science as much as it’s an art form. Don’t feel a need to rush out and fire your web person because he doesn’t know it. Every technical person has their own specialty. Understand your needs and evaluate whether you should seek professional SEO expertise.