Beginner SEO tips for normal individuals
Find out the basics of SEO for people who are not tech-savvy. They will teach how you can organically expand your business long-term, increase website traffic, and get more sales.
I dipped my toes into the realm of SEO by accident. It was the year 2016, and I was launching the blog to share my travel experiences to fulfill a dream. There was no marketing strategy nor a budget. I'd had no idea about SEO.
One day, I noticed that a post was getting only a couple of clicks on Google.
I was impressed that people actually found my work , and this thrilling flow of organic search traffic had me intrigued and I decided to plunge headlong into the SEO rabbit hole.
SEO has a reputation for being complicated, but I'm living proof you can improve your rankings with basic strategies that won't have you recoding your whole website, acquire a marketing Ph.D., or compromise your values.
In this guide will look at the basics of SEO, its purpose and why it's important, and some beginner SEO tips that you can apply to increase the success of your business long term.
Is SEO a thing?
SEO stands for the term "search engine optimization. At its core, SEO is a series of methods you utilize to communicate to the search engines what your website is about.
It could result in a higher spot in the results of searches, or SERPs.
SEO is typically divided into three types: on-page SEO, technical SEO as well as off-page SEO.
On-page SEO:This means the content's quality and the way it's optimised for search terms.
Technical SEOThis refers to behind-the-scenes measures like speed of the site website layout,
Off-page SEOThis refers to how much authority search engines give your web page and can be improved by gaining hyperlinks from trusted sources.
In order to show how SEO functions, let's take a quick detour to the kitchen.
If you want to create chocolate chip cookies at home You open Google and enter "How to create chocolate chip cookies" in the bar of search.
(Since that more than 90% of all web searches are conducted via Google this is the most popular web search engine that we'll be focusing on in this post.)
On the very first page there are tasty recipes as well as posts.
Google recognizes that these blogs have valuable information about how to make chocolate chip cookies, so the algorithm displays them according to your request.
* Google's algorithm is proprietary , so any statements that are deemed to be definitive in this or any other piece on SEO is made with the warning that they're just guesses. These are data-backed predictions based on extensive testing by other marketers however, they are still guesses.
What are the reasons why SEO vital?
Your efforts are focused on creating the best value for your clients.
SEO can make it simpler for users who are constantly searching for your solutions to find them.
In addition to getting increased attention to your website as well, your SEO actions can also help you increase steady revenue. 53% of customers make use of search engines to investigate the products prior to buying, so it's no wonder that 69% of marketers have invested in SEO by 2021.
When you're done with the day, a strong SEO presence could be a sign of more loyal customers as well as many more customers who appreciate the effort you have put your heart into.
Your ideal clients will find you
By using SEO Your clients, readers and potential customers can locate your content when they are in need of an item or service you offer.
You share it on social media, and some of your followers have kids who love coloring. However, not everyone fits your target segment. In addition certain of your fans don't check social media often which means they might miss this altogether.
Let's imagine that you wrote the exact post using best SEO practices to target the keyword "best coloring books that are printable for children".
In time, your blog article starts ranking as more people who search for the topic find your blog's post. This brings in a consistent group of people who are already looking for your product.
Who is the most likely buyer? I'd wager it's the one looking for you in the first place.
SEO is an evergreen strategy
Contrary to other marketing methods that use digital media, SEO is a way to promote your content with no need for any end date.
Think about your best-performing posting on social media from the previous year.
Sure, you might have received some interest and sales, but the chances are your post isn't leading to conversions anymore.
When a post ranks well in search engine results and attracts traffic to your website for months, weeks or for years to come. This means a steady stream of clients, sales and potential customers.
SEO is inexpensive
It was a huge motivator to prioritise SEO.
Since a few years back, I began offering printable resources for classroom teachers. As with many other creators I had a dream to build an income stream that would make me money when I lay in bed.
Where where were the duffle bags of guaranteed passive income?
I played around with advertisements on social media that were paid, however I didn't have a big budget.
Instead, I put time into making blog posts optimized to cover topics related to my printables. I packed them full of useful info and sprinkled my own product links all over.
It worked! The content on my blog attracted more readers in my target demographic, and some of them were able to buy products. And the nice part was that after the articles were published the posts didn't need much maintenance.
My largest expense was time, and frankly the process didtake a lot of time. The other cost was for an online tool to research keywords. I use one called Keysearch and it costs just $17 per month this was lower than the amount I spent on paid ads.
If you're on an unfathomably small budget, and you're able to put in time in the beginning, SEO has high potential and low initial costs.
How to get started: Seven SEO basics for beginners
Let's look at some beginner SEO tips you can employ to prepare yourself for success.
As we dig in take note that the Google algorithm employs more than 200 factors to determine rankings.
Even the experts don't know exactly how it works, but the steps below are widely considered to be the best practice which will help you get started in the right direction.
Also, SEO is slow. It's normal to wait several months, or even years to realize the full effect of your actions. If you don't see immediate results, stick with it.
SEO is a long-term plan that is worthwhile in the end.
1. Pick a niche
From the SEO strategy perspective, having a single niche topic at the center of your site content will help search engines to understand what you're all about.
Your store, your website and your products must focus around a singular offering.
Emily Mills, the creator of Sketchnote Academy illustrates this clearly.
From her header to her author bio, it is clear what she's brand's focus is. Her workshops are focused on teaching people to master sketchnoting.
A laser-focused approach to just one area pays off: The Sketchnote Academy is one of the best results you can find when searching for "sketchnote Course".
Google is a good way to create comprehensive web content with a single focal point allows content creators to dig in depth and showcase their understanding.
It can be difficult for multi-passionate creators who want to impart their expertise in many areas. However, I'm sure it's simpler to build out one topic first before adding others.
2. Understand user intent
The search engines are designed to show results that correspond to the search intent of the person searching.
Wherever you head to the search bar or the search bar, there's an end goal in mind. Perhaps you're looking to find out what kinds of dog breeds there are and also research the latest book you should purchase and then search the lyrics to the tune you've been listening to.
It is your goal to find a piece of information on the internet and Google is becoming pretty proficient in finding it.
The intent of the user could be:
informationalA person wants to find out more information about a certain subject (i.e., "how to cultivate tomatoes" or "biggest type of tree").
TransactionalA person is interested in buying some thing (i.e., "green running shoes" or "MacBook Air").
Navigational:A person is looking to find a particular site (i.e., "Amazon" or "Pinterest").
As a creator, think about what kind of data your clients are looking for.
What are they hoping to achieve? What are their main issues? How can they formulate the questions they have when seeking the answers?
Understanding user intent can help you create contents that are in line with what your customers want, resulting in more visitors and customers.
3. Find the right keywords
Keywords refer to phrases, words or even questions people type into the search bar. They're among the most efficient tools to optimize your site's content for search.
Ideally, you should keep one primary keyword in mind for every product or article you design.
There are two primary types of keywords you'll find:
Head keywords:Short, general keywords that are high volume and highly competitive (i.e. Black shoes, cake)
Long-tail keywords:Specific phrases that are three or more words in length and possess a lower search volume but also have lower level of competition (i.e. How to scrub black shoes with scuffs and easy chocolate cake recipe)
Using a head keyword as the primary keyword is challenging. The majority of these keywords aren't very specific, as well as the competition is intense.
I'd suggest searching for long-tail keywords. 69.7 percent of all requests that users actually use have four words or more.
By targeting more specific phrases and phrases, you stand a greater likelihood of being discovered to the correct people.
Where do you look for these unicorn-themed long-tail words?
Get started by brainstorming all of the main themes of your business. These topics are your head keyword.
Imagine that you are taking an online knitting course for beginners. Some of your keywords for the head might be "knitting", "knitting classes" and "knitting classes".
With your head keywords in the back of your mind, launch Google. Input your search term into the search bar, and you'll see a box that appears with suggested results. These are common queries associated with that particular word.
To describe the term "knitting course", we can already recognize that adding words such as "online" as well as "beginner" could be a good idea.
Then, scroll all way to the bottom of the page that is titled "Related search terms". You'll be able to see examples of long-tail keywords related to your primary topic.
Take note of words that you think could be beneficial to your business.
Next, you can employ keyword research tools in order to determine which keywords have high search volume and relatively low competition.
The term "volume" refers to the amount of times a keyword is searched during a given month.
It is a measure of how difficult it is to rank the particular phrase. If there's a significant number of established, big websites that are targeting the same phrase and it has an increased score for competition.
Google Keyword Planner: This is a tool for free that displays the monthly volume of searches and the competition score of keywords.
Ahrefs Keyword Generator It is a no-cost tool which displays the volume of keywords and the difficulty of up to ten phrases.
Moz Keyword Explorer: This is a free tool that displays keyword volumes along with difficulty, as well as related ideas for up to 10 phrases every month.
Keysearch It is a paid program that is an excellent choice for people who wish to dive deeper into SEO as well as they offer an opportunity to try it for free so that you can test it out prior to buying.
Ubersuggest It is an very popular tool that is user-friendly for searching keywords which is available in an unrestricted free version.
Check out the following results from Ahrefs Keyword Generator . The key word difficulty (keyword difficulty) number tells you how popular the keyword is on a scale from 1-100 1 which is the least popular. Volume refers to the volume of searches that occur each month.
The bottom line is to spend an hour or so playing with phrases to find a keyword that is appropriate for your website. In the next article, we'll look at what to do with them.
4. Tips for SEO on-page
Now that you have your perfect keyword now is the time to make it more effective.
No need to overdo it. Stuffing a keyword in every crevice and corner is referred to as keyword stuffing, and it's a big no-no in SEO the world of SEO.
Include your keyword of choice in the following locations, then you're heading in the right direction:
Page titles: Use your keyword in the title, preferably at the beginning in the name. It is also referred to as the "H1 Title Tag".
Headings Make use of your key word within the heading. The main headings are identified as "H2" while subheadings are "H3".
Body: The keyword should be placed in the introduction portion of your content. I usually put mine in the first paragraph when it makes sense.
The following is an example of how to build a website using the builder for websites. It is possible to build a complete site with our no-cost plan, so sign up for a free account right now and get going .
Meta description A meta description (also known as a meta tag) is the description of content that appears on the results page of a search. The description should inform the searcher what your article is about and make them click.
To add this in to your site, go to "Pages" and then select "Site setting". It is possible to add your meta description to the "Search Description" box.
URL: In the event that it is possible to, you must include your keywords in the URL of your content. URLs that contain a keyword are click-through rates that are up to 45% than those that don't
Once you have this, you can go back and insert keyword variations in the text of your article when it's appropriate to do this.
Keyword variations can refer to any other relevant words you came across in your research that didn't be as popular or were more competitive.
If you choose to use "knitting classes for beginner knitters" as your target keyword. The variations of keywords could include:
Beginner knitting courses
Online knitting courses for beginners
Knitting for beginners: How do you go about it?
Use a gentle finger use a gentle hand here. Make sure that the language is so natural that you keep from sounding robotic or even worse, an obnoxious keyword spammer.
If remembering where to put your keywords feels overwhelming Tools like Yoast and Rank Math can help. They are SEO-friendly plugins for free for WordPress that can help you optimize articles in a few clicks.
When it comes to blogs, the final requirement to be successful at SEO is excellent content.
5. Create quality media
For most keywords, the most prominent spots will be given to relevant, thorough, and updated content.
The articles you create for your readers should be thoroughly researched and lengthy enough to cover the topic in depth.
A 2020 study from 11.8 million Google search results found that, in average, the top results were around 1,400 words long.
The content ranking of spot one was even longer: The average position for a single article was 2416 words .
Furthermore, every article should be designed with the same goal that is expressed in the keyword.
If your piece is focused on knitting needles with the highest quality you don't need to include a section on the best crochet needles. It will confuse your viewers and search engines.
Finally, it's important to check regularly your website and update any information that might be out of date.
According to Hubspot, making changes and optimizing posts from the past has increased organic traffic that those posts received more than 100% .
Plan to comb your site once a year to ensure the information you've posted is up-to date and the information you're sharing is still pertinent.
6. Prioritize user experience
User experience refers to the way your audience interacts on your site. An enjoyable experience on the web encourages users to stick for a while and return in the future.
But your audience isn't the only one that cares about an enjoyable user experience. Search engines also consider things like site speed, site layout, as well as the structure of your links in assessing your website.
No personlikes slow websites and especially not search engines.
Google has recently launched the Google Core Web Vitals update which stressed the importance of speedy websites, however speed is always been an important factor in ranking.
When using mobile devices, over half of users will abandon the website when it takes more than three seconds for loading or load. If that's your website, it could have lost readers.
To determine the speed of your website using the tool PageSpeed Insights .
It will display the current load time of your page as well as suggestions for improvement.
Another aspect that affects your user experience is how your website is designed and is. Your website should be well designed and intuitive to navigate . Web pages should feature a menu in the header that has the homepage, important pages, as well as categories that are easy to access.
This website by John D Saunders is an excellent example since it has everything you'll need presented within the navigation at the top.
In your blog posts, make use of short paragraphs that allow your readers to scroll through your content quickly. Choose fonts with clear lines that are simple to read, and stay clear of colour combinations that make your text difficult to see.
The structure of the internal links on your site is the final essential element to be considered for the user experience. Every page of your site should contain links to relevant posts and webpages on your site.
The connection of your content to other sites creates a web of links that show Google your website to be more extensive.
A strong internal link is beneficial for your visitors since they'll be able to discover other posts that might be helpful for your readers. When they click on those pages and stay longer on your site and send signals to Google that your site is providing pleasant satisfaction.
51 percent 51% of SEO experts suggest the use of two or three internal links in each blog post. This is what we've been doing with, as well which has been a huge successes.
7. Link construction and backlinks
In the SEO world to get other sites that link to your web information is known as link building.
Google considers links to be signals of trust that come from other websites. Pages with a large number of hyperlinks to it is presumed to be of higher quality in comparison to pages with none.
According to the Backlinko study, the first result on google featured an average of 3.8x more backlinks than the page results.
Let me let you in on an undiscovered fact: 95% of the pages on the web don't have a single backlink. This is fantastic news for you as a writer since even if you just receive one backlink for your website, you're performing better than most.
Here are some legit ways to build links to your website:
Guest posting:You write a piece of content for another site, and in the post, there are links back to your page.
help a reporter to help a reporter (HARO):When you subscribe to HARO and receive emails from reporters seeking expert quotes and opinions. If your answer is featured within an article or article, you might receive a link.
Create great articles:When you write helpful material, people will are likely to link to it. The most frequently linked to content on my blog was about how to get from city A towards City B. It wasn't particularly creative, but it was helpful and thorough, which is why a lot of sites linked to it.
Simply put, creating more high-quality links increases your credibility in the eyes of the search engines, which will result in higher ranking in the future.
An introduction to the basics of starting your SEO adventure
Good SEO is a powerful strategy to boost your website's visitor count, gain new customers as well as set yourself up to be successful over the long term. The following SEO basics for beginners are a great place to start:
Niche down and focus on a single topic within your business
Understand user intent so you're able to offer your readers the solutions they're looking for
Find keywords to research and then use long-tail keywords that will attract an audience that is niche
Make content that is relevant as well as comprehensive and up to date
Take into account user experience, prioritizing navigation on the site as well as loading speed and structure
Build backlinks to your content to establish an authority
Taking these steps will put you on the way to SEO success. You never know, you could even become an SEO geek too.