Ever wonder how the top results appear on Google when you search for a phrase or topic? Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, helps rank websites on search engine platforms so brands can better reach their target audiences. In today’s digital age, having a presence on Google is absolutely necessary for all brands.
As of September 2023, Google is used most frequently worldwide and has about 83.5% of the global search engine market share. Top marketing leaders know the different types of SEO, examples of its use and steps to get started. When done right, SEO can increase rankings on a search engine results page (SERP) and overall visibility.
Types of SEO
Understanding the four main types of SEO helps marketers understand how website pages rank and the combination of SEO types that can help improve ranking and visibility in the SERPs. These main types (with examples) include:
On-page SEO
This type of SEO involves website content that improves rankings, such as using relevant keywords in headlines, HTML tags, and images. As well as making sure content adheres to Google’s algorithm E-E-A-T standards, which means high-quality expertise, experience, authoritativeness and trustworthiness.
Off-page SEO
This SEO type involves what is done outside your website to improve rankings, such as building backlinks, receiving good reviews, gaining exposure through social media platforms or the news and more. Off-page SEO also helps with Google’s E-E-A-T standards.
Technical SEO
Technical SEO involves what is done technically to improve rankings, such as making your website’s page loading time shorter, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly, submitting your sitemap to Google and more.
Local SEO
Businesses that serve a specific region or have a physical location, such as medical services, law offices, and restaurants, benefit from local SEO strategies. These include ensuring sure your Google profile is optimized and up to date, using local keywords, and creating relevant content for your region.
According to HubSpot’s latest marketing report, marketers understand SEO is a long game that provides results, and 88% of those who already do SEO work plan to increase or maintain their investment in 2023.
Steps to Get Started With SEO
SEO marketing doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Whether you’re new to marketing or a seasoned professional, you can use the following steps from Semrush to guide you on your SEO journey.
- Use Google Analytics to research how visible your website is currently.
- Use free or fee-based keyword research tools to perform keyword research and find relevant search queries for your website content.
- Publish high-quality content that includes valuable keywords in the proper places, relevant media, and content that follows the E-E-A-T standards of Google’s algorithm.
- Examine the backlinks (links on other sites that point to your site) and ensure the content is helpful, reliable and people-first. You can use a free or fee-based tool to analyze backlink information.
- For your website pages to rank on SERPs, the pages need to be discovered, crawled, and indexed. Therefore, you need to mitigate technical issues, such as the ability for search engines to easily crawl your site.
SEO is not a stagnant field because search engines frequently update their algorithms which can affect how pages show up on SERPs. Top marketing professionals keep track of SEO changes and work toward making their brand websites as visible as possible.
Learn Digital Marketing Best Practices At Concordia University Chicago
One way to expand your digital marketing knowledge is to earn a graduate degree in digital marketing. Concordia University Chicago’s online MBA with a specialization in Digital Marketing equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to land in-demand marketing roles like digital marketing manager and social media manager.
According to GMAC’s 2023 Corporate Recruiters Survey, MBA graduates are most in demand among global employers, even out-ranking candidates with business master’s degrees or industry experience.
To learn more about Concordia-Chicago MBA in Digital Marketing degree visit our overview page or fill in the contact form below.
