Most people think of search engine optimization (SEO) as a way to game the Google system and influence search rankings. While you do want to influence search rankings, you want to do so in a manner that provides value to your readers, customer base, or those searching for your services. Since I am new to the field, hopefully I can explain what SEO is in terms that are fairly easy to understand.

According to Wikipedia, “Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via “natural” (“organic” or “algorithmic”) search results.” SEO consists of optimizing your site so that your business or brand ranks on the first page of the search engine results page (SERP) for top-searched keywords. The process can be long, difficult, but very interesting - and very worth it.

Why Use SEO

I can tell you that SEO consists of optimizing your site to rank higher over and over but knowing the why and how is far more important. There are countless studies that show people rarely make it past the first page of a Google search. I’m sure you are in the majority of people that refine your search if you haven’t found what you are looking for from the first or second page. (If you are not, I am amazed by your patience) Basically, if you are not found in that first page, you will not get traffic and

No Traffic = No Leads

No Leads = No Business

No Business = No Profit

SEO goes beyong usability convienence for your customer base. SEO takes an additional step making your site Google friendly. On-page optimization ensures web crawlers can locate your site, understand and index your content, and present your content in relevant searches. Unless Google, Yahoo, and MSN can understand your content, ensuring it makes the first page of SERPs will be impossible.

Conclusion

SEO ensures your content ranks as high in search results (organically) as possible for popular search terms. First page results in more clicks and more leads and we all know the trickle effect from there. Now that you know the what and why, next, we will talk about the tactics used during SEO (the How) – which is probably the more heated topic for those trying to understand the SEO process.