What is SEO?
Search engine optimization is the ability for search engines to find and display your website. Have you ever searched for something in Google and wondered why certain websites come up? There was a time not so long ago that a search engine would often present you with websites and pages that seem unrelated to the topic you are actually searching for or don’t really answer the question you asked. These days we have an enormous amount of good quality resources available at the click of a few buttons.
How does Google decide what to display when you type something into the search bar?
The exact formula is not publicly known, it’s like the Colonel’s secret herbs and spices, a very well kept secret and a mix of different ingredients at unknown ratios. Search engines use algorithms and complex data analysis to deliver websites and pages that are ranked based on relevance.
What DO we know about search engine algorithms?
Google wants us to have a really good user experience so we keep coming back. They often release updates and sometimes gives us some clues as to how we can improve our websites so they will rank better. Google will often release information that hints at how we can better manage the traffic to our website. With the ‘helpful content’ update, they have come out and said outright that they want to show pages that are actually useful and provide a good user experience and not just full of spammy ads and links or AI generated content.
Why does SEO matter to my website?
There is no point having a great looking website if nobody can find it! If your website is slow and outdated or does not provide a positive user experience it will not be indexed as highly as a page or site that answers the questions people are searching for and provides genuine value and quality content.
How can I improve my Google ranking?
The great thing about search engines constantly improving and becoming more sophisticated is that when you put in the work to make your website high quality and informatively engaging, they will reward you with a ranking higher than those that put in minimal effort and just repeat a bunch of keywords that might not even be relevant to the content. If you don’t have the time or knowledge to do it yourself, it is worth hiring a professional to manage your website’s SEO performance. It is not so much about knowing a special magical formula but it genuinely takes real and consistent work to rank a website and keep it there.
What are the benefits to hiring a SEO specialist?
SEO is a dynamic and ever-changing area and it can be a lot of work to keep up with the latest update announcements let alone trying to decipher the data analytics from your website traffic and work out a plan forward. It is very easy to become lost in the confusion, especially if you are trying to run your own business and already have enough work on your plate.
A good professional can really elevate your business and drive traffic to your website. SEO should really be a big part of any business marketing plan and it is never too early to start. If you are thinking SEO from the beginning of your website journey you can optimize your website systematically as your business grows.
If you are interested to find out more about the SEO services we offer, you can get a free consultation by filling out the form in the ‘Contact Us’ section of this website. Or if you want to take control and have a go yourself, we also have some great resources listed to help you on your journey.