Maybe it's time for a little SEO

Millions of websites are clamoring to be found. Search engine optimization (SEO) covers many methods to help people find your website when they're using a search engine. "Just Google it" is how most of us prefer to research, learn about and buy products and services.

But what is SEO, really? It's a continually changing methodology--changing because the search algorithms are modified frequently. 

There's on-page SEO and off-page. Some use paid search--from Google AdWords to Facebook ads. There are proponents of social links, back links and guest posts on blogs. It's endless. But there are also basics everyone should incorporate.

What are people searching for? How are they searching?

• Most people use phrases to search: "how do I ... ", "what's the best ..." 

• They're using their own words and descriptions, which may not be the same as your industry terms

• They're likely trying to solve a problem, look for a solution

• They're choosing to click through based on the page title and page description that show up as search results

Your website will be a ghost if

• Your content doesn't answer the questions being asked

• Page titles and page descriptions don't match the words and phrases being used

• Content is filled with industry terminology that's not used by your audiences

• You're not providing value (in human terms) as a result of a search

Google penalizes sites using old SEO techniques like keyword stuffing. Google's goal (and they're the source for the majority of searches) is to provide a good user experience. When your website fulfills on that experience, you are more likely to rise to the top of a search.

Bring the ghost back to life

We've put together a quick reference to basic keyword optimization. Choose keywords and phrases that match what people are searching for, then build your content around those ideas and topics to help your website rise in search results. Our guide includes the number of characters for page titles and page descriptions, and other tips for basic keyword SEO.

We also offer SEO tips in a blog post about writing a website that's both SEO-friendly and easy-to-read.

Use the link below to get our reference to SEO basics.Talk to us when you're ready to take your website to the next level, and put it at the heart of your marketing.