When you’re involved in online marketing or run a business website, you will have undoubtedly heard about SEO. The term is used so frequently that it’s impossible to ignore. Rather confusingly, it tends to be referred to as if everyone already knows what it is, what it achieves, and how it can help your website. If you don’t know all there is to know about SEO, then you can find yourself rather stuck.
If you find yourself left out in the cold by these conversations, then the answers to these frequently asked questions about SEO should help to put you back in the picture. Let’s jump in and get you the information that you need.
What Is SEO?
SEO stands for “search engine optimization”, which refers to the process of ensuring a website appears as high as possible in search engine rankings. Most SEO focuses on Google — as Google truly do dominate the search engine usage numbers — but is also beneficial for Bing and Yahoo.
Why Does SEO Matter?
Research has suggested that if a site does not appear near the top of search rankings, then very few people will click on the link. As most websites are designed to draw traffic, and business sites are used to generate links, this is very important.
Can You DIY Your SEO?
It is theoretically possible to learn to manage some of your own SEO, but realistically, you’re going to need an experienced, reputable SEO agency to help bring reliable, organic search traffic to your website. Why do you need professional help? Simple: SEO is incredibly complicated, so if you’re inexperienced, you would have to dedicate hours and hours of your time to learning what you can– and even then, you wouldn’t be able to learn 5% of what a professional knows.
So while you can DIY your own businesses’ SEO, it’s worth asking yourself if you should. You may be better off outsourcing, and turning your own focus to the overall operations of your business.
What’s Black Hat SEO?
Black hat SEO is a term used to describe SEO tactics that are effectively scams. Rather than using genuine promotional methods, black hat SEO tries to “game” Google, using tricks — that many consider unethical — to get to the top of search engines.
Most black hat SEO techniques are banned by Google. If a site is caught using black hat SEO, the website will be removed from rankings forever. So while it might be tempting to see a huge, almost overnight improvement in your search engine rankings, it’s just not worth the risk.
How Long Does It Take To See Traffic Improvements With SEO?
Good SEO — always known as white hat SEO — takes time. It may be months, or even years, before SEO methods begin to deliver reliable results. SEO is an investment in the future; don’t expect an immediate turnaround in search engine performance or a surge in income as a result.
The saying “good things come to those who wait” is apposite here. You may have to wait awhile for white hat SEO techniques to pay off, but when they do, your business will greatly benefit.
Hopefully, the above will prove to be useful to your efforts with your business website.
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