Starting a new website can be daunting (after all, there are millions and millions of websites to compete with!) – but understanding the basics of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can make all the difference.
Think of SEO as a map, guiding search engines and users to your site. Without it, even the best content goes unseen.
Begin With SEO Basics – Learn The Essentials
Here’s a practical guide to help new website owners get a solid SEO foundation, with actionable tips and strategies to get started.
- Start with Keyword Research
Before you create any kind of content, you need to know what people are searching for.
Keywords are the backbone of SEO, helping your site match what users are looking for. But it’s not just about picking random words – it’s about targeting the right ones.
For example, Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or Semrush can show you keywords with high search volume and low competition.
If you’re starting a blog about fitness, “beginner home workouts” might be a good keyword to target.
Note that long-tail keywords are often the best for new sites. These are longer, more specific phrases like “easy home workouts for busy moms”, rather than generic terms like “workouts”, which may have an extremely high difficulty.
- Create Content That Matters (And is Easy to Read)
Once you’ve got your keywords, the next step is to create high-quality content with them.
But what does that mean? It’s not about writing long articles filled with fluff and content duplicated from other sources – it’s about providing value.
For example, let’s say your target keyword is “how to bake sourdough bread”. Instead of writing a basic recipe, go deeper.
Cover the science of sourdough to help users better understand how sourdough bread works, eventually helping them to master the recipe even better.
Statistics have shown that longer, more comprehensive posts tend to rank higher.
Posts over 1,500 words are more likely to be on the first page of Google – but they must also be scannable and easy to read.
Use headings, bullet points and images to break up the text and improve user experience. Don’t forget to include multimedia elements, like videos or infographics.
For example, embedding a YouTube video about SEO basics can keep visitors on your site longer, which tells Google that your content is valuable.
When streaming such content, consider using a VPN application to bypass the geo-restrictions and get access to the best resources available.
- Optimize Your Pages
On-page optimization is the process of refining individual pages to make them search engine-friendly.
Start with your title tags and meta descriptions. These are the first things users see in search results, so they need to be both compelling and keyword rich.
For example, instead of titling a blog post “Welcome to My Website”, opt for something like “Beginner’s Guide to Home Workouts: Tips for Busy Moms”.
Keep your meta description under 160 characters and include your primary keyword naturally – don’t force it.
- Technical SEO
Technical SEO can seem scary (especially to the less tech-savvy among us), but it’s just about making sure your site is easy for users and search engines to navigate.
Start with site speed – nobody likes a slow site. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to find areas to improve, like reducing image sizes or enabling browser caching.
Mobile optimization is also an absolute must. Over half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices, so a responsive design is non-negotiable.
A site that looks great on a desktop but is hard to navigate on a mobile will lose visitors fast.
Finally, create an XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console.
This helps search engines crawl and index your site more efficiently. Tools like Yoast SEO can generate sitemaps for you so you don’t have to.
- Build Backlinks for Credibility
Backlinks – links from other sites to yours – are one of the strongest signals search engines use to determine your site’s authority.
But not all backlinks are created equal. A link from a high authority site, like a news outlet, is way more valuable than multiple links from low-quality blogs.
To get backlinks, focus on creating shareable content. For example, an in-depth guide or a researched infographic is more likely to be shared by others.
You can also guest post on other sites, which is when you write an article in exchange for a backlink.
- Monitor and Tweak
SEO isn’t a one-off task; it’s an ongoing process that requires regular monitoring and tweaking.
Tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console will give you insights into how your site is doing.
Conclusion
SEO takes time, but it’s worth it.
By doing keyword research, creating good content, optimizing your pages and building backlinks, you’ll be setting your site up for long-term success.
Do this and you’ll be well on your way!
