Search Engine Optimization

The first step in mastering SEO is understanding the difference between organic results and paid ads because SEO exclusively affects organic results. Until recently, you could distinguish between organic and paid results by the orange background below paid results. However, Google has recently changed this display, making the difference less visually prominent. Currently, paid ads can be recognized by a small text box below the title that says “Ad.”

Organic results depend on your website’s quality and are considered the most important source of information and traffic on search engines. You can influence them through good optimization, but the entire process requires a lot of time and effort. However, the payoff is substantial because websites positioned on the first page of results receive up to 92% of the traffic, while that traffic drops by 95% on the second page of results.

Search engine optimization can be approached in two ways: onsite optimization and offsite optimization. Onsite optimization involves all the changes you make to your website and is entirely under your control, while offsite optimization involves links to your site from other sources and is not entirely within your control.

Onsite optimization is often the first step in search engine optimization and should precede offsite optimization and website advertising. Following this rule will ensure long-term success and save you money on advertising.

Onsite optimization consists of four essential elements, which we’ll explain below: keywords, titles, link structure, and image optimization.

After completing onsite optimization, it’s time for offsite optimization, which is as crucial as onsite optimization. Its importance stems from a simple rule: quality content is worth sharing. Therefore, if many other websites want to share your content, your content is good.

Offsite optimization involves two methods: backlinks from other websites and social media marketing. Although both methods aim to bring more users to your website, they are not equally simple and are influenced by your control to varying degrees.

Great content is the primary prerequisite for successful search engine optimization, but a few tricks can help enhance your offsite optimization strategy. Start by contacting your partners, distributors, and collaborators, asking them to link to your website whenever they mention your company. The same practice can be applied when working with bloggers, influencers, and media outlets. Although you might not have as much control when collaborating with them, try to encourage them to use links to your website whenever possible.

As a long-term strategy, social media marketing is an excellent way to bring new users to your website. Invest time in building a user community that will follow, support, and share your content. The more effort you put into creating a community, the more success you’ll achieve. Social media platforms enable you to control the content you publish about your company, and if it’s good, users will eventually share it.

Before you start sharing your links anywhere, remember that offsite optimization also has its downsides. Placing links on low-quality websites could lower your Google rank or even result in Google penalties. Therefore, conduct research and ensure that the websites containing links to your site are of high quality, relevant to your keywords, and align with the image you want to create for your company.