What Is SEO? A Beginner’s Guide

Have you ever questioned why certain websites appear on the first page of Google while others are hidden far down in the search results? The reason is SEO - Search Engine Optimization. So what is SEO...

So, What is SEO?

SEO is simply making your website more visible in search engines. The reason why, is so that more people can find your website, which will showcase your content, products, or services. This is one way you generate leads. One of the main reasons why SEO is a great indicator of quality and trust, is that search engines reward websites that produce great content that is clear, simple, and easy for the reader to understand and use. SEO is a valuable skill that brings you more traffic, leads, and opportunities your way.This guide is here to help you learn exactly what SEO is, why it matters, and how to get started with simple steps.

Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding SEO

Step 1: Understand What SEO Is

• Explanation: SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is about improving your website’s visibility in search engines so it appears higher in search results.

• Remember: Avoid “black hat” tactics like keyword stuffing or buying backlinks. These can get your site penalised.

• Tips:

  • Understand that SEO is a long-term strategy.

  • The focus should be on helping people and not trying to play the search engines.

  • You should aim to balance high-quality content with effective optimisation.

• Tools: Google Search Central (free SEO learning hub).

Step 2: Learn How Search Engines Work

• Explanation: Search engines crawl websites, index pages, and rank them in what is searched based on relevance and quality. What they feel is best for the person who searches, they will show higher.

• Remember: If your site can't be crawled because settings are blocking it, Google won’t index it.

• Tips:

  • Make the website simple and easy to navigate. This helps the user and the search engine.

  • Create content on topics people search for and provide value in your content.

  • Update your website regularly.

• Tools: Google Search Console, Screaming Frog (for crawling).

Step 3: Master On-Page SEO Basics

• Explanation: On-page SEO is about optimising what’s on your site (content, titles, and keywords, etc.)

• Remember: Don’t keyword stuff—This makes content unreadable and it will be picked up on.

• Tips:

  • Your titles and meta descriptions should be clear and easy to read. A short description letting the reader know what they are clicking into. 

  • Structure your content with heading tags (H1, H2, H3)

  • Add internal links to guide readers to other pages within your site.

• Tools: Yoast SEO (WordPress plugin), Ubersuggest, SEMrush.

Step 4: Explore Off-Page SEO (Backlinks & Authority)

• Explanation: Off-page SEO builds your site’s reputation with backlinks (links from other websites). This will help increase your domain authority

• Remember: Avoid backlinks that are low quality—Google may penalise you if they seem spammy or scammy.

• Tips:

  • Build relationships with other site owners through your site.

  • Guest post on relevant blogs and gain links back to your website.

  • Share your content on social media to gain visibility and links from soical pages which generally have a higher domain authority.

• Tools: Ahrefs, Moz Link Explorer.

Step 5: Learn About Technical SEO

• Explanation: Technical SEO ensures your site runs smoothly in the back end of your website (speed, mobile-friendliness, security).

• Remember: Technical SEO can make a start with the basics.

• Tips:

  • Use HTTPS at the start of your url. This is key for your website being secure

  • Make sure your site loads quickly; websites that take longer than 3 seconds might see 

  • People use their mobiles more and more; make sure your site is mobile-friendly. 

• Tools: Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix.

Step 6: Track and Measure Results

• Explanation: SEO takes time, so tracking is crucial to know what works and what doesn't. 

• Remember: Results don't come overnight—SEO takes time, just like results in the gym.

• Tips:

  • Use Google Analytics to track organic traffic.

  • Keyword research is important to know what you rank for and what to improve on.

  • Use data to review your strategy

• Tools: Google Analytics, Google Search Console.

Troubleshooting: Common SEO Mistakes

• Keyword stuffing → Solution: Write for humans, then optimise.

• Not mobile-friendly → Solution: Use a responsive theme and optimise for mobiles.

• Ignoring site speed → Solution: Compress the size of images.

• Neglecting backlinks → Solution: Build relationships with other websites, don't use spam links.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How long does SEO take to work?

A: It depends on the situation of your site, but you will see results within a few weeks, but it requires consistent effort over a long period of time. Just like gaining muscle or losing weight. You have to keep at it.

Q: Do I need to hire an SEO expert?

A: No, you don't have to - But a good expert or agency will get you quicker results, but a great one will educate you as well.

Q: Can I do SEO without coding?

A: Yes! For most of these improvements,s coding is not needed.

Q: Is SEO better than ads?

A: Both bring traffic and leads, Ads work quicker but success is not promised, SEO brings stability and it's organic.

Q: What’s the #1 SEO tip for beginners?

A: Focus on creating high-quality content for people.

Glossary of SEO Terms

• SEO: Search Engine Optimization.

• SERP: Search Engine Results Page.

• Backlink: A link from another website to yours.

• Meta Description: A short text shown under a link in Google.

• Crawling: How search engines discover your site.

• Indexing: Storing and organizing your pages in a search engine.