What is SEO? Basics of Search Engine Optimization | Mailchimp (2024)

What is SEO? Basics of Search Engine Optimization | Mailchimp (1)

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Search engines help people find what they’re looking for online. Whether researching a product, looking for a restaurant, or booking a vacation, search engines are a common starting point when you need information. For business owners, they offer a valuable opportunity to direct relevant traffic to your website.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of orienting your website to rank higher on a search engine results page (SERP) so that you receive more traffic. The aim is typically to rank on the first page of Google results for search terms that mean the most to your target audience. So, SEO is as much about understanding the wants and needs of your audience as it is about the technical nature of how to configure your website.

Here are the basics.

How do search engines work?

Search engines provide results for any search query a user enters. To do so, they survey and “understand” the vast network of websites that make up the web. They run a sophisticated algorithm that determines what results to display for each search query.

Why SEO focuses on Google

To many people, the term “search engine” is synonymous with Google, which has about 92% of the global search engine market. Because Google is the dominant search engine, SEO typically revolves around what works best for Google. It’s useful to have a clear understanding of how Google works and why.

What Google wants

Google is designed to deliver the best search experience to its users, or searchers. That means providing the most relevant results, as quickly as possible.

The 2 core elements of the search experience are the search term (the user input) and the search results (the output).

Let’s say you search “Mailchimp guides and tutorials.” This is a clear, unambiguous search. Google understands what you’re asking for, and it delivers a useful page as the top organic result—Mailchimp’s own page with that title.

From Google’s perspective, this is a very good search result and a positive user experience, because it’s likely that the user will click the top result and be happy with the outcome.

How Google makes money

Google profits from people trusting and valuing its search service. It achieves this by delivering useful search results.

Google also provides businesses with the opportunity to pay for an advertorial placement at the top of search result pages. The word “Ad” indicates these listings. Google makes money when searchers click on these pay-per-click (PPC) advertisem*nts, which you purchase through AdWords. You’ll see these ads on more generic queries in particular.

Other than the small label, these search results look almost indistinguishable from other search results. Of course, this is intentional, as lots of users click on these results without realizing that they’re ads.

This is what Google counts on. Advertising revenues accounted for more than 80% of the $182.5 billion that Google generated in 2020. So while search functions remain its core product, it depends on its advertising business.

The anatomy of search results

SERPs consist of paid search results and “organic” search results, where the organic results don’t contribute to Google’s revenue. Instead, Google delivers organic results based on its assessment of a site’s relevance and quality. Depending on the type of search query, Google will also include different elements on the SERP, like maps, images, or videos.

The volume of ads on a SERP depends on what users have searched. If you were to search the word “shoes,” for example, you’d likely find a substantial number of the top results are ads. In fact, you’ll probably have to scroll down the page to find the first organic result.

A query like this usually generates so many ads because there’s a strong chance that the searcher is looking to buy shoes online, and there are lots of shoe companies willing to pay for a feature in the AdWords results for this query.

On the other hand, if you search for something like “Atlanta Falcons,” your results will be different. Because this search is mostly tied to the professional American football team by that name, the top results relate to that. But it’s still a less clear query. You’ll find news stories, a knowledge graph, and their homepage. These 3 kinds of results at the top indicate that Google doesn’t know the precise intention of your search, but provides quick pathways to learn about the team, read their latest news, or go to their website.

Since there appears to be no purchase intent behind the query, advertisers are not willing to bid for the keyword, so there are no AdWords results.

However, if you change the query to “Atlanta Falcons hat,” which signals to Google that you might be shopping, the SERP results change to feature more sponsored results.

The role of SEO

The goal of SEO is to raise your ranking in organic search results. There are different practices for optimizing AdWords, shopping, and local results.

While it may appear that so many competing elements taking up real estate on SERPs push the organic listings down, SEO can still be a very powerful, lucrative effort.

Considering that Google processes billions of search queries daily, organic search results are a very large slice of a very large pie. And while there is some up-front and ongoing investment required to secure and maintain organic rankings, every click that sends traffic to your website is completely free.

Written by Patrick Hathaway for Mailchimp. Patrick is a co-founder of Sitebulb, a technical SEO auditing tool.

What is SEO? Basics of Search Engine Optimization | Mailchimp (2024)

FAQs

What is SEO basics? ›

SEO is the process of growing a website's organic search traffic. You do this by ranking in organic search results. SEO is important because you're unlikely to rank well without it. Ranking high gets you free, passive, and consistent traffic month after month.

What is SEO and how it works? ›

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the art and science of getting pages to rank higher in search engines such as Google. Because search is one of the main ways in which people discover content online, ranking higher in search engines can lead to an increase in traffic to a website.

What are the 4 types of SEO? ›

Explore the four types of SEO and learn how to optimize your site.
  • On-page SEO. Our Beginners Guide to SEO outlines the basics of search engine optimization, and on-page SEO is one of the easiest and most common ways to boost site visibility. ...
  • Off-page SEO. ...
  • Local SEO. ...
  • Technical SEO.
Jan 5, 2023

How can I start SEO as a beginner? ›

SEO Step-by-Step Tutorial
  1. Step 1: Find keywords.
  2. Step 2: Put keywords in the page title.
  3. Step 3: Put keywords in the page URL.
  4. Step 4: Put keywords in your meta description.
  5. Step 5: Put keywords in your H1 text.
  6. Step 6: Use keywords in the page's content.
  7. Step 7: Build links to your website.
  8. Step 8: Monitor your rank.
Jul 21, 2022

Is SEO good for beginners? ›

SEO is not easy. But it's no rocket science either. There are things you can implement right away and there are concepts that will take much more time and effort. So yes, you can do SEO on your own.

Can I do SEO on my own? ›

If you've wondered, “Can I do SEO myself?” the answer is definitely. You don't need to hire an outside agency to improve your SEO, and this guide gives you some basic SEO tips to get started.

What are the 3 types of search engines? ›

There are three main types of search engines, web crawlers, directories, and sponsored links. Search engines typically use a number of methods to collect and retrieve their results. These include: Crawler databases.

What are examples of SEO? ›

SEO strategy examples: 9 examples of what a good SEO strategy includes
  • Keyword optimization. First is keyword optimization. ...
  • Optimizing on-page elements. ...
  • Improving the backend of your site. ...
  • Creating user-friendly pages. ...
  • Creating content. ...
  • Building links. ...
  • Analyzing your competition. ...
  • Optimizing for voice search.
Dec 5, 2020

What are the 3 C's of SEO? ›

Simply put, the fundamentals of SEO can be boiled down to The 3 Cs: content, code and credibility.

What are 3 main areas of SEO? ›

The three kinds of SEO are:
  • On-page SEO – Anything on your web pages – Blogs, product copy, web copy.
  • Off-page SEO – Anything which happens away from your website that helps with your SEO Strategy- Backlinks.
  • Technical SEO – Anything technical undertaken to improve Search Rankings – site indexing to help bot crawling.
May 25, 2021

Which is the most powerful SEO tool? ›

Users and SEO experts agree that Semrush is one of the most powerful and feature-rich SEO tools available today. Use Semrush for keyword research as well as for conducting in-depth audits of your website, creating and tracking PPC campaigns and improving your overall rankings in search engines.

How do I master SEO skills? ›

Now that we have that out of the way, let's dive into the step-by-step process of mastering SEO.
  1. Step 1: Master The Basics. ...
  2. Step 2: Dive Deeper Into The Technical Side. ...
  3. Step 3: Create An SEO Process. ...
  4. Step 4: Optimize Your Content. ...
  5. Step 5: Build Your Backlinks. ...
  6. Step 6: Don't Forget About Humans. ...
  7. Step 7: Never Stop Learning.
Oct 16, 2022

How can I learn SEO for free? ›

Free SEO Courses with Certification
  1. Semrush Academy. Semrush Academy is one of the best courses available. ...
  2. HubSpot Academy. HubSpot Academy contains a more content-oriented set of courses, including videos on inbound marketing, email marketing and even Instagram marketing. ...
  3. Udemy SEO. ...
  4. Codecademy. ...
  5. Coursera SEO.
Aug 4, 2022

Can you get an SEO job with no experience? ›

To become an SEO specialist, you don't need any specific background experience. People who work in SEO often come from various backgrounds, including marketing and communications, business, and information technology.

How do I become a SEO expert with no experience? ›

Steps to Become an SEO Expert
  1. Learn the basics of how search engines work.
  2. Understand SEO strategies and concepts.
  3. Participate in SEO training.
  4. Keep up with industry trends and news.
  5. Get familiar with SEO tools.
  6. Experiment with SEO tactics on your website or blog.
  7. Show employers your efforts and results.
Feb 22, 2023

Can I learn SEO without coding? ›

The short answer is: no, SEO typically doesn't require much (or any) hands-on coding. You can absolutely do a fine job of SEO without touching code.

What is the most difficult part of SEO? ›

Keyword Cannibalization

One of the serious SEO challenges is keyword cannibalization, where you're using the same keyword on several pages.

How much time does it take to learn SEO? ›

Experts say it usually takes one to three months to learn the foundations of SEO and a year or more to master the practice fully. The length of time it takes to learn the basics of SEO depends upon several factors.

How many hours does it take to do SEO? ›

By investing the recommended 4-15 hours of work per week into SEO, on average, results should start showing up in months 6-12. As Lee Grant, CEO of Wrangu, puts it: “Six to twelve months should be enough time for SEO to start showing results. It's a long-term investment that demands regular upkeep and attention.”

How much does a beginner SEO make? ›

Average starting Salary for SEO in India is around ₹0.2 Lakh per year (₹1.7k per month).

Is SEO a monthly fee? ›

78.2% of SEOs charge monthly retainers for some or all of their services. 54.5% of SEOs only offer one pricing model (i.e., hourly, retainer, or per-project). $501–$1,000 is the most popular monthly retainer. $75–$100 is the most popular hourly rate.

How do you make SEO from scratch? ›

Check out these seven simple ways to build a strong SEO strategy:
  1. Know Your Keywords. First things first. ...
  2. Write High Quality Content (Naturally) ...
  3. Use Keywords in Your Website Page URLs. ...
  4. Don't Overlook Page Titles. ...
  5. Review Every Page for Additional Keyword Placement. ...
  6. Improve User Experience. ...
  7. Hire an Expert.
Apr 19, 2016

What are the 5 commonly used search engine? ›

List of Top 12 Best Search Engines in The World
  • Google. Google Search Engine is the best search engine in the world and it is also one of most popular products from Google. ...
  • Bing. Bing is Microsoft's answer to Google and it was launched in 2009. ...
  • Yahoo. ...
  • Baidu. ...
  • AOL. ...
  • Ask.com. ...
  • Excite. ...
  • DuckDuckGo.
Nov 11, 2016

What are the 5 most commonly used in search engine? ›

Top Search Engines
  • Google.
  • Bing.
  • Yahoo!
  • Yandex.
  • DuckDuckGo.
  • Baidu.
  • Ask.com.
  • Naver.
Feb 9, 2023

What are the 5 top search engines? ›

Here are the top search engines in the world.
  • The Best Search Engine in The World: Google.
  • Search Engine #2. Bing.
  • Search Engine #3. Baidu.
  • Search Engine #4.Yahoo!
  • Search Engine #5. Yandex.
  • Search Engine #6. Ask.
  • Search Engine #7. DuckDuckGo.
  • Search Engine #8. Naver.
Apr 10, 2022

What are some SEO keywords? ›

Top Keywords
  • Fashion Keywords.
  • Music Keywords.
  • Energy Keywords. Internet Games Keywords.
  • Sales Keywords. Electronics Keywords. Landscaping Keywords.

What are the two main parts of SEO? ›

SEO is divided in two parts: On-page SEO and off-page SEO. On-page SEO refers to all techniques that can be implemented on your website to improve your ranking in SERP (search engine results pages), whereas off-page SEO refers to everything that can be done outside of your website to improve its visibility on the web.

What is the golden rule of SEO? ›

Well-written content engages the reader, increases search engine rankings and traffic, and increases the likelihood of quality links from other sites.

What is the Golden Triangle in SEO? ›

The Golden Triangle is a distinct area of intense eye scan activity that is shown in the diagram below. It's important to understand that the Golden Triangle pattern is seen in first time visits to a results page. I find it easiest to think of it as a storm map. The darker the area (Red) the higher the eye traffic.

What are the 12 things to know about SEO? ›

12 SEO Tips to Boost Your Organic Rankings & Traffic
  • Target Relevant Primary and Secondary Keywords. ...
  • Write Quality Original Content. ...
  • Format Your Content for Search Engines & Target Featured Snippets. ...
  • Optimize Your Page Title and Meta Description. ...
  • Use Short, Descriptive URLs.
Feb 4, 2022

Which SEO technique should be avoided? ›

Don't over-prioritize keywords

Keyword research has long been considered a cornerstone of SEO. Creating content that features the keywords and terms your target audience are searching for seems like the most logical approach. However, using these keywords to excess will seriously harm your SEO strategy.

Which businesses need SEO the most? ›

Businesses are forever competing, so it is vital to be unique or trend-setter. So what industries need the most SEOs? However, others need SEO more than others, including restaurants, online businesses, professional services, real estate, home repairs and renovation, the medical industry, etc.

Is Alexa a SEO tool? ›

ABOUT ALEXA RANK CHECKER BY SMALL SEO TOOLS

The tool is developed by specialized web engineers who profoundly understand the ins and outs of web analytics and it is thus built to be distinctively reliable.

Which is the best free SEO tool for beginners? ›

You don't need many tools to do SEO. As a beginner, you want to ensure you're not spending a lot of money on unnecessary tools.
...
Here's my list of the best SEO tools for beginners:
  • Pagespeed Insights.
  • Screaming Frog SEO Spider.
  • Proranktracker.
  • SEMrush.
  • Answer The Public.
  • Google Analytics.
  • Clicky Web Analytics.
  • Majestic.
Oct 28, 2021

What is SEO checklist? ›

The checklist also covers information about best practices for title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and more for on-page SEO. We explain how to do keyword research and incorporate keywords into your content. We cover off-page SEO strategies as well, including the importance of building backlinks.

How hard is it to learn SEO? ›

SEO is not that hard to learn, but it can be confusing and overwhelming to get started. Learning SEO means learning about a long list of individual digital marketing strategies, which can feel a bit like adding new weapons to your arsenal as you learn how to wield them.

What is one tip for learning SEO? ›

Complete Keyword Research

All of your website pages, blogs, and even social media posts should use keywords to help rank for those terms and appear higher on search engine results pages. While researching keywords, look for ones that have a high search volume but low ranking difficulty.

Can I learn SEO in one day? ›

No, it's not rocket science, but you will also not learn how to do it overnight, or even in a year. If you start getting into doing your own SEO, you will most likely hurt your rankings and end up in a worse position than before.

Can SEO be done without website? ›

Many SEO strategies like increasing traffic for higher ranking by SERPs involve using a website. Can SEO be done without a website? Yes. SEO works well with websites but does not mean that you cannot take advantage of its capacity without a website.

Does Google have SEO certification? ›

Google does not provide any kind of general SEO specialist certification. However, they do recommend some SEO courses and have their own learning platform called Digital Garage, where you can improve your knowledge in the areas of digital marketing, career development, and data analysis.

What is SEO basics on Wix? ›

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) means making your website more readable to search engines so they can better index your site. This improves search accuracy and the relevance of search results.

Is SEO difficult to learn? ›

SEO is not that hard to learn, but it can be confusing and overwhelming to get started. Learning SEO means learning about a long list of individual digital marketing strategies, which can feel a bit like adding new weapons to your arsenal as you learn how to wield them.

What are the two main types of SEO? ›

The three kinds of SEO are:
  • On-page SEO – Anything on your web pages – Blogs, product copy, web copy.
  • Off-page SEO – Anything which happens away from your website that helps with your SEO Strategy- Backlinks.
  • Technical SEO – Anything technical undertaken to improve Search Rankings – site indexing to help bot crawling.
May 25, 2021

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