Search engine optimization, or SEO, is exactly what it sounds like. It is optimizing your website and brand for the best rankings in search engines. SEO is measured repeatedly and sends positive signals to search engines like Google.
The mathematical formula used by Google scores websites according to quality and optimizing for search is key to catching rankings through this algorithm. Websites must offer the information users are seeking.
Algorithms score for website quality, links to your website from other sites, and the trust that people place in your site. The key to scoring higher than other similar sites is scoring higher in each of the categories.
When your website scores the highest in quality, authority (links and searches), and the trust that users will find what they want when they visit your website.
Each of the categories has subcategories, and all of the scores are added up within Google’s algorithm. You can study your website’s score in different categories and make improvements in each area. The best SEO has the highest score in as many categories as possible.
It is true that some categories have more pull than other categories, but the biggest areas of focus are in three areas. These are quality, trust, and authority. A website is considered to have a better quality when it offers something unique or provides better information than others in the same niche. Quality pays attention to content. If your website sells a particular product that is also sold by other websites, your site has to offer a better description of the pages and products.
It will not matter if your product looks or genuinely is better than the others if the content that describes it does not outshine the content used by similar websites. People want content that stands above the others.
You can offer better content by offering more variety, detail, and instructions for care. Is your product guaranteed to last longer? Is it useable for a specific area, or can it be used in a variety of ways? Is your product seasonal? Does it come in a variety of styles and sizes? Can it be personalized? All of these are information users want to know, and the answers can make the difference between being noticed and being overlooked.
To inspire high scores for quality, you can get users involved by asking them to contribute their thoughts and reviews of your product and the information you provide. Use marketing strategies such as celebrity or expert endorsements. If someone that is popular and respected likes your website, it is safer for algorithms to assume your site has quality. Add something unique for searchers and customers, and the quality area of your SEO will reflect your contributions.
Another main area of SEO is trust. Trustworthiness is based on good reviews, original information, and quality links. If your website gets bad reviews from visitors, uses content taken from other websites, or does not have links from other trusted sites, your website will be penalized and given lower scores. Google wants to offer the best information and links to searchers, and if your website does not measure up, the result will be lower rankings in the search results. Be sure to show trustworthiness to Google’s algorithm by obtaining links from high ranking sites, news articles, customers, and partners. When visitors and customers brag about what you have to offer, Google pays attention. When your website uses unique content, Google’s algorithm will trust you more. When you have great back-links, Google recognizes your credibility.
The third main area of SEO is authority. The more popular your website is, the more Google wants to feature it in search results. If people love the products and information you offer and show it by visiting and reviewing it positively. Offer those signals that show your popularity.
Your authority gets higher points from having a fan base. Social networking is a popular way to build up your fan base. When people post about your website and products in messages and pages, comment, and post photos of themselves wearing or using your product, you will obtain visitors from social networks and raise your ranking in Google’s algorithm. Encourage those on social networks to comment about you and link to you. This proves your popularity and trustworthiness, which results in higher points in the authority area of your SEO.
In the simplest of terms, search engine optimization is a means of proving that you have the best website based on the quality, trust, and authority you offer. When you continue to offer excellent SEO, search engines will rank your links higher and display your site and information higher on the first page of search results. Since searchers start visiting websites at the top of the list, your website will receive more visitors, and you will continue to see more in profits.