Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

and Why Your Business Needs SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to an ongoing effort to improve your overall website rankings and individual web page rankings in popular search engines. Google, Yahoo and Bing list millions of websites and web pages in their respective systems. When someone does a search for a topic, service or product, for example (we call them “keywords”), the search engines will list websites that are relevant to that search. However, where your website falls among those results will depend on over 200 factors that are taken into consideration among each search engine. Among the most important factors are the quality of the content on your website or web page, how reputable or creditable your site is, the quantity and quality of other websites that refer or link to your website, and the number of similar websites to yours. These are just a few.

The major search engines, especially Google, update their ranking systems often. The complexity, frequency, and purpose of their respective algorithms will have an effect on the placement of your website, as well as the other websites in the index of each search engine. It can be a challenge to stay on Page 1 of the search engines’ results.

SEO is an ongoing effort. It’s necessary and recommended for you to be on an SEO Plan to maintain your rankings. SEO is geared toward the “organic” or “free” listings area of the search engines. If you want to pay to be listed, then you need to consider “SEM” or Search Engine Marketing, where you pay to be in the “Sponsored” section.

How does Website Optimization differ or relate to SEO?