Navigating the SEO Maze: A Chill Guide for Newbies
So, you've got this shiny new website, but where the heck is everyone? Enter SEO – your ticket to getting noticed in the vastness of the internet. Buckle up, and let's break down some SEO basics for beginners without the techy jargon.
1. Keyword Quest: Speak the Search Engine Language
Keywords are like the secret handshake to get into the search engine party. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or whatever floats your boat to find words and phrases people are typing into search bars. Aim for keywords that are popular but not crazily competitive.
2. On-Page SEO: Spruce Up Your Pages
Think of on-page SEO like giving your webpage a makeover. Toss in keywords naturally in titles, meta descriptions, and headers. Make your URLs cool and user-friendly. Throw in some internal links to connect your content like a pro.
3. Tech Talk: Behind-the-Scenes Magic
Technical SEO is like the backstage crew making sure everything runs smoothly. Make your site mobile-friendly because phones rule. Speed things up with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. Submit a sitemap so search engines don't get lost, and use canonical tags to avoid content duplicates.
4. Content Coolness: The Heart and Soul
Content is the rockstar of SEO. Create killer content that your audience will love. Keep it fresh by updating regularly. Oh, and don't forget to jazz up your images and multimedia – it's like putting sprinkles on your SEO cupcake.
5. Link Lovin': Building Trust with Backlinks
Link building is like collecting stamps, but cooler. Get high-quality backlinks from trustworthy sites. Quality beats quantity, and watch out for shady links that can tarnish your website's street cred.
6. Local SEO (if you're a local hero): Put Yourself on the Map
Got a physical store? Local SEO is your jam. Set up a Google My Business profile and make sure your info is the same everywhere. It's like putting your business on the local map – literally.
7. Social Media Shenanigans: Spread the Word
Social media won't directly boost your SEO, but it's like the cool sidekick. Share your stuff on social platforms, get noticed, and who knows – maybe you'll catch the algorithm's attention.
8. User Experience (UX): Be the Host with the Most
Think of UX as throwing a killer party. Make it easy for guests (aka visitors) to navigate your site. Spruce up the place, so they stick around and have a good time.
9. Analytics Adventure: Track Your Wins
Set up Google Analytics – it's like your website's personal stalker (in a good way). Check who's visiting, what they're up to, and use the info to tweak your game plan.
10. Security: Fortify Your Castle
Secure your site with HTTPS – it's like putting a moat around your castle. Regularly update and patch things up to keep the digital dragons at bay.
In the wild world of SEO, patience is your BFF. Results won't pop up overnight, but by keeping it real and working on these tips, your website will start rocking the search engine charts. Happy optimizing, and may the SEO odds be ever in your favor! 🚀✨
Additional Resources:
SEO
Chat GPT
Postface:
I created this SEO basics blog post entirely by using Chat GPT 3.5. I am learning to use AI to increase my productivity and to help with my mission of making SEO and website optimization easier to understand for non-tech people i.e. my clients. For anyone interested the 3 prompts I used to create this blog post are below:
3 Chat GPT Prompts used
Prompt 1: I asked Chat CPT for a summary of SEO tasks for someone with a new website
Prompt 2: I asked Chat GPT to write a 500-word piece based on the summary that explains the topic to beginners
Prompt 3: I asked Chat GPT to modify the tone of the answer above to make it sound more informal and ta-da see SEO article below