Pop Quiz: Why is it that, when you key in a search query into your web browser, some websites appear higher up in the list of sites returned, while others come in way down the pecking order?
The answer: A neat little process called Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
What is SEO?
As highlighted by our pop quiz question, SEO is what goes on behind the scenes in your webpages and websites. When done right, SEO is responsible for ensuring that your web pages rank higher-up in organic search results than your competitor’s.
Although search engines like Google consider a long list of factors to determine proper site optimization for search, as a website owner, here’s what SEO means to you:
Your site is visible to search engines
It is structurally sound – well laid out, with no broken links or missing pages
It has content that search engines locate quickly when users query for them
Your pages rank higher (for relevant content searches) than your competitors
There’s content that users find useful and informative
The site makes good use of social signals (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.) to promote it
You have high-quality backlinks that point back to your site
You use optimized images across the site
