If you want people to find your website through Google, you need to know the basics of SEO. These are simpler than you might think. Keep reading to learn what SEO is, how to set things up for success, and how to get indexed. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of growing a website’s organic search traffic. It’s where you do things that help you show up and rank higher in a search engine’s organic results. Why is SEO important? People are likely searching for what you do, and you can attract customers by ranking for those terms.
But you’re unlikely to
Rank without effort, as others are trying to do the same. This is why SEO matters. It helps show Google that you most deserve to rank. What are the benefits of SEO? Most people click one of the first few search results, so higher rankings usually lead to more traffic. Unlike other channels, search traffic tends to be consistent and passive. That’s because the number of searches is usually quite consistent month to month. Most SEOs recommend a self-hosted, open-source platform like WordPress because: It’s customizable. You can edit the open-source code how you like. There’s also a vast community of developers who know the platform inside out.
There are millions of plugins
Extending its functionality, including many SEO plugins. That said, if you value ease of use and support, a hosted solution might be a better fit. All the big ones provide enough SEO capabilities for most people. Use a good web host If you’re using a hosted solution, you’ll need a web host. These store your site on a hard drive that anyone with an internet connection can access. Consider the three S’s when choosing one: Security. Make sure you get a free SSL/TLS certificate.
The very least, support for Let’s Encrypt—a nonprofit supplying free certificates. Server location. It takes time for data to travel between the server and visitor. So it’s best to choose a host with servers in the same country as most of your traffic. Support. 24/7 support is ideal. Test how good their support is by asking the above before you sign up. DID YOU KNOW? You can optimize server location with a content distribution network (CDN). This creates copies of your site on servers around the world so it’s always served from close to the user. So don’t fret about this too much. If you find that speed is an issue, you can invest in a CDN later on. Create a positive user experience Google wants to rank pages that give visitors a positive experience.
