{"id":3222,"date":"2023-04-11T15:28:59","date_gmt":"2023-04-11T05:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/?p=3222"},"modified":"2023-06-10T12:32:59","modified_gmt":"2023-06-10T02:32:59","slug":"basics-of-seo-fundamentals-for-business-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/basics-of-seo-fundamentals-for-business-owners\/","title":{"rendered":"Basics of SEO: Understand How Search Engines Work and Why It Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In today&#8217;s fast-paced digital world, having a strong online presence is more important than ever. Knowing the basics of SEO will let you make better business decisions regardless if you do the work yourself or if you hire an <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/brisbane-seo-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"159\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SEO specialist<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help you navigate the complexities of online visibility, this article will provide an overview of the fundamentals of search engine optimisation (SEO). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By understanding how search engines work and why SEO matters, you can understand the power of the internet to drive organic traffic to your website and grow your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide you will learn:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#basics-of-seo-what-is-seo-and-why-it-is-important\">Basics of SEO &#8211; What is SEO and Why it is Important?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-do-search-engines-work\">How Do Search Engines Work?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-role-of-keywords-in-seo\">The Role of Keywords in SEO<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#on-page-and-off-page-seo\">On-page and Off-page SEO<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#definition-and-components-of-off-page-seo\">Definition and Components of Off-page SEO<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#importance-of-both-on-page-and-off-page-seo-for-overall-ranking\">Importance of Both On-page and Off-page SEO for Overall Ranking<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-importance-of-mobile-optimisation\">The Importance of Mobile Optimisation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-value-of-high-quality-content\">The Value of High-Quality Content<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#seo-fundamentals-for-business-owners-summary\">SEO Fundamentals for business owners &#8211; Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"basics-of-seo-what-is-seo-and-why-it-is-important\">Basics of SEO &#8211; <strong>What is SEO and Why it is Important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"definition-of-seo\">Definition of SEO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Search engine optimisation, or SEO, is the process of enhancing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is achieved by optimising various elements of a website, including its content, structure, and performance, as well as building high-quality backlinks from reputable sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"benefits-of-higher-search-rankings\">Benefits of Higher Search Rankings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When your website ranks higher in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/seo-glossary\/#serp-search-engine-results-page\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SERPs<\/a><\/strong>, it becomes more visible to potential customers searching for products or services related to your business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This increased visibility leads to a boost in organic traffic, which can then translate into higher conversion rates, more sales, and ultimately, increased revenue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, top-ranking websites are often perceived as more credible and trustworthy, which can help strengthen your brand&#8217;s reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"competitive-advantage-for-businesses\">Competitive Advantage for Businesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>By optimising your website for search engines, you can stay ahead of your competitors, attract more customers, and grow your business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/invest-in-seo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">investing in SEO<\/a><\/strong> can help you achieve a better return on investment (ROI) compared to traditional marketing methods, such as print advertising or billboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, we&#8217;ll dive deeper into search engines algorithm and explore the essential components of a successful SEO strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-do-search-engines-work\">How Do Search Engines Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"overview-of-search-engine-algorithms\">Overview of Search Engine Algorithms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo utilize complex algorithms to crawl, index, and rank websites based on their relevance and authority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These algorithms are designed to provide users with the most accurate and useful search results possible, and they&#8217;re constantly being updated to improve the overall search experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obviously, Google is the most important as it gets according to <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>ahrefs research<\/strong><\/a>, it has 90% of all internet traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to stay on top of your SEO, it is always a good idea to check the most recent Google announcement about the incoming update. This way you can better prepare for the upcoming changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"factors-considered-in-website-ranking\">Factors Considered in Website Ranking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Various factors are taken into account when search engines determine how to rank websites. Some of these factors include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Content quality and relevance<\/strong>: High-quality, informative, and engaging content that provides value to users is favoured by search engines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>User experience (UX)<\/strong>: Websites that are easy to navigate, load quickly, and are mobile-friendly tend to rank higher.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/seo-glossary\/#backlink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Backlinks<\/a><\/strong>: The number and quality of inbound links to your website can signal its credibility and authority to search engines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social signals<\/strong>: Engagement on social media platforms, such as shares, likes, and comments, can indirectly impact search rankings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>On-page optimisation<\/strong>: Properly optimised title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags can improve your website&#8217;s visibility.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>All the above you can do by yourself by following simple web design and SEO guidelines. However, when you have more content and your website is growing, seek help from a freelance web developer and SEO engineer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"role-of-crawling-indexing-and-ranking\">Role of Crawling, Indexing, and Ranking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Search engines perform three main tasks to provide users with relevant search results:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/seo-glossary\/#crawling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Crawling<\/a><\/strong>: Search engines use automated bots called &#8220;crawlers&#8221; or &#8220;spiders&#8221; to discover new and updated web pages by following links from one page to another. So, internal linking is super important. Make sure to link to your other pages whenever you create a new article.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/seo-glossary\/#indexing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Indexing<\/a><\/strong>: Once a web page is crawled, it&#8217;s indexed and stored in a massive database, which allows search engines to quickly retrieve relevant information in response to user queries. By default, with SEO plugins like RankMath, most of your website pages are indexed. There are a few exceptions though like duplicated pages, login, registration, password recovery pages, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/seo-glossary\/#ranking-factors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ranking<\/a><\/strong>: When a user enters a search query, search engines evaluate the indexed web pages and rank them based on their relevance and authority, using their algorithms to determine the best results to display. If users stay longer on the page it is a clear signal to Google it is high-quality content.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-role-of-keywords-in-seo\">The Role of Keywords in SEO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"importance-of-keywords-for-search-engines\">Importance of Keywords for Search Engines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Keywords are the basics of SEO that everybody knows about. Why they are so important?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keywords and their semantic meaning are the only way that search engines can understand the content and purpose of your website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By strategically targeting relevant keywords in your website&#8217;s content, you can help search engines identify which search queries your web pages should rank for, increasing your online visibility and driving organic traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"keyword-research\">Keyword Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Conducting thorough keyword research is a crucial step in any successful SEO strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This process involves identifying high-traffic, relevant keywords that your target audience is likely to use when searching for products or services similar to yours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are various tools available, such as <strong>Google Ads Keyword Planner<\/strong> (free), <strong>SEMrush <\/strong>or <strong>ahrefs <\/strong>(paid), which can help you find the right keywords for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"including-keywords-into-website-elements\">Including Keywords into Website Elements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve identified your target keywords, it&#8217;s essential to strategically incorporate them into your website&#8217;s content and various elements, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Page titles<\/strong>: Craft descriptive, keyword-rich titles that accurately reflect the content of each web page. Your main keyword should be in the page title.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Meta descriptions<\/strong>: Write compelling meta descriptions that incorporate target keywords and entice users to click on your search result.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Header tags (H1, H2, H3)<\/strong>: Break up your content into sections using header tags, ensuring that they contain relevant keywords.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Image alt tags<\/strong>: Include keywords in your image alt tags to help search engines understand the content of your images.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>URL structure<\/strong>: Optimise your URL structure by incorporating target keywords and keeping it short and descriptive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"on-page-and-off-page-seo\">On-page and Off-page SEO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"definition-and-components-of-on-page-seo\">Definition and Components of On-page SEO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On-page SEO refers to the optimisation of individual web pages on your website, focusing on both the content and the HTML source code. Here, at Cloude, we always start from on-page optimisation to make sure your website benefits in the long term. After, we focus on off-page SEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key components of on-page SEO include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"keyword-optimisation\">Keyword optimisation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Keyword optimisation is the most important feature of a good <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/free-strategy-session\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2818\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SEO strategy<\/a><\/strong> It refers to including target keywords in your content, titles, meta descriptions, headers, and URLs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, not only that. First, you have to know what keywords to select for your new article or blog post. For that, as we mentioned you use Google Search, Google Keyword Planner or other paid tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, reviewing existing pages and tweaking them for the best keywords is the strategy we take. Sometimes, if the content is old or irrelevant and it does not get ranked in the first one hundred pages on Google we simply delete it.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-top-left-radius:30px;border-top-right-radius:30px;border-bottom-right-radius:30px;border-bottom-left-radius:30px;background:var(--global-palette7, #EDF2F7);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-info-svg-icon, .kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, .kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:30px;}.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);background:var(--global-palette7, #EDF2F7);border-color:var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-radius:200px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:20px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-blocks-info-box-media .kadence-info-box-image-intrisic img{border-radius:200px;}.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover .kt-blocks-info-box-media{color:var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 h2.kt-blocks-info-box-title{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:5px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin:10px 0px 10px 0px;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-info-box_7f2925-f0 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-box_7f2925-f0\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-left kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media-container\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media kt-info-media-animate-flip\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-icon-container kt-info-icon-animate-flip\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-icon-inner-container\"><span class=\"kb-svg-icon-wrap kb-svg-icon-fe_checkCircle kt-info-svg-icon\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"  fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" ><path d=\"M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14\"\/><polyline points=\"22 4 12 14.01 9 11.01\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"kb-svg-icon-wrap kb-svg-icon-fe_checkSquare kt-info-svg-icon-flip\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"  fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" ><polyline points=\"9 11 12 14 22 4\"\/><path d=\"M21 12v7a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h11\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\"><strong>SEO Tip<\/strong>: Publish the same page three times but with a different title and main keyword to see which page ranks better. Once you know, delete the other pages.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"content-quality\">Content quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Content quality is what users want when they find your website. Creating informative, engaging, and high-quality content that provides value to your target audience is key to ranking high with Google.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"internal-linking\">Internal linking <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Using internal links to connect your web pages makes it easier for users and search engines to navigate your site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pages that don&#8217;t have internal links are called orphan pages, and Google may never find them for indexing.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-top-left-radius:30px;border-top-right-radius:30px;border-bottom-right-radius:30px;border-bottom-left-radius:30px;background:var(--global-palette7, #EDF2F7);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-info-svg-icon, .kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, .kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:30px;}.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);background:var(--global-palette7, #EDF2F7);border-color:var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-radius:200px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:20px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-blocks-info-box-media .kadence-info-box-image-intrisic img{border-radius:200px;}.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover .kt-blocks-info-box-media{color:var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 h2.kt-blocks-info-box-title{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:5px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin:10px 0px 10px 0px;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-info-box_39e9cf-47 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-box_39e9cf-47\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-left kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media-container\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media kt-info-media-animate-flip\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-icon-container kt-info-icon-animate-flip\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-icon-inner-container\"><span class=\"kb-svg-icon-wrap kb-svg-icon-fe_checkCircle kt-info-svg-icon\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"  fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" ><path d=\"M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14\"\/><polyline points=\"22 4 12 14.01 9 11.01\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"kb-svg-icon-wrap kb-svg-icon-fe_checkSquare kt-info-svg-icon-flip\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"  fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" ><polyline points=\"9 11 12 14 22 4\"\/><path d=\"M21 12v7a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h11\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\"><strong>SEO Tip<\/strong>: When creating a new page, always add a least 2 internal links to your existing content. Also, make sure your new page can be found on another page by clicking on the link.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also Read<\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/internal-linking-internal-link-juice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mastering Internal Linking: Building Your Link Juice<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"meta-tags\">Meta tags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Crafting relevant and compelling meta titles and descriptions that include target keywords. This helps Google to understand what is the page about. Always include the main keyword in the meta description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"image-optimisation\">Image optimisation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are things to take care of with image optimisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Compressing images for faster load times<\/strong>  &#8211; We suggest that image size should be no more than 70 kb. There are various techniques and plugins (Smush) to achieve the result. We simply resize the image with some free tools like Paint and then compress it with <a href=\"https:\/\/imagecompressor.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Optimizilla<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Adding alt tags with target keywords<\/strong> &#8211; it is as simple as making your keyword part of the alt text, e.g. best-seo-tools. Using dashes is recommended as Google can easily split the text and extract the keyword.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-top-left-radius:30px;border-top-right-radius:30px;border-bottom-right-radius:30px;border-bottom-left-radius:30px;background:var(--global-palette7, #EDF2F7);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-info-svg-icon, .kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, .kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:30px;}.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);background:var(--global-palette7, #EDF2F7);border-color:var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-radius:200px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:20px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-blocks-info-box-media .kadence-info-box-image-intrisic img{border-radius:200px;}.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover .kt-blocks-info-box-media{color:var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 h2.kt-blocks-info-box-title{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:5px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin:10px 0px 10px 0px;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-info-box_d88651-f3 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:3px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-box_d88651-f3\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-left kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media-container\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media kt-info-media-animate-flip\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-icon-container kt-info-icon-animate-flip\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-icon-inner-container\"><span class=\"kb-svg-icon-wrap kb-svg-icon-fe_checkCircle kt-info-svg-icon\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"  fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" ><path d=\"M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14\"\/><polyline points=\"22 4 12 14.01 9 11.01\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"kb-svg-icon-wrap kb-svg-icon-fe_checkSquare kt-info-svg-icon-flip\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"  fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" ><polyline points=\"9 11 12 14 22 4\"\/><path d=\"M21 12v7a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h11\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\"><strong>SEO Tip<\/strong>: The image is also part of your website and has its own URL. Before uploading the file make sure the file name has your keyword as part of it.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"definition-and-components-of-off-page-seo\">Definition and Components of Off-page SEO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Off-page SEO involves activities that take place outside your website and contribute to your site&#8217;s authority and online reputation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key components of off-page SEO include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/seo-glossary\/#link-building\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Backlink building<\/a><\/strong>: Acquiring high-quality, relevant backlinks from authoritative websites that point to your site.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social media marketing<\/strong>: Promoting your content on social media platforms to increase engagement and visibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Influencer outreach<\/strong>: Collaborating with influencers in your industry to gain exposure and build credibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Guest posting<\/strong>: Writing valuable content for other, highly rated websites in your niche, including a link back to your own site.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Online reputation management<\/strong>: Actively monitoring and responding to reviews, comments, and mentions to maintain a positive brand image.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/basics-of-seo-off-page-seo-components.jpg\" alt=\"basics-of-seo-off-page-seo-components\" class=\"wp-image-3301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/basics-of-seo-off-page-seo-components.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/basics-of-seo-off-page-seo-components-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/basics-of-seo-off-page-seo-components-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/basics-of-seo-off-page-seo-components-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Off-page SEO activities can take a lot of time and effort. Some of them like promoting your content on social media can be scheduled well in advance, but usually, others take a lot of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, guest posting takes the following steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Find websites that are in your niche.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Searching for webmaster or owner email.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Writing a guest post proposal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Writing a guest post.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>These days, there are fewer and fewer free guest post opportunities as everyone wants to be paid for the link to your website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s why it is recommended to outsource some of these activities and focus on creating high-quality content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"importance-of-both-on-page-and-off-page-seo-for-overall-ranking\">Importance of Both On-page and Off-page SEO for Overall Ranking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Both on-page and off-page SEO are essential for improving your website&#8217;s overall search engine ranking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While on-page SEO focuses on optimising your website&#8217;s content and structure to make it more attractive to search engines, off-page SEO helps to build credibility, authority, and trustworthiness through external sources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Combining these strategies ensures that your website is well-rounded and more likely to achieve higher rankings in search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-importance-of-mobile-optimisation\">The Importance of Mobile Optimisation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"increasing-mobile-internet-usage\">Increasing Mobile Internet Usage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With the majority of users now accessing the internet via mobile devices, it&#8217;s crucial to optimise your website for mobile browsing. Failing to do so may result in a poor user experience, leading to a decrease in traffic and lower search engine rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"responsive-design-and-fast-load-times\">Responsive Design and Fast Load Times<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure your website is mobile-friendly, implement a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/seo-glossary\/#responsive-design\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">responsive design<\/a><\/strong> that automatically adjusts to fit the screen size of the device being used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, optimise your site&#8217;s load times by compressing images, minifying code, and utilizing caching techniques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Faster load times not only improve the user experience but also contribute to better search engine rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more about <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/user-experience-optimisation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">creating an effective website user experience<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"user-experience-across-devices\">User Experience Across Devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A seamless user experience across all devices is essential for maintaining visitor engagement and encouraging conversions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure that your site&#8217;s navigation, layout, and functionality are consistent and user-friendly, regardless of whether users are accessing it via a desktop, tablet, or mobile device. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By optimising your website for mobile use, you&#8217;ll enhance your online presence and increase the chances of attracting and retaining customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recently, Google put more and more focus on web core vitals so <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/fix-google-core-web-vitals\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1152\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fixing all web core vitals<\/a><\/strong> is something you want to put on your list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-value-of-high-quality-content\">The Value of High-Quality Content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"role-of-content-in-seo-success\">Role of Content in SEO Success<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>High-quality content plays a vital role in the success of your SEO efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Search engines like Google prioritize websites that offer valuable, informative, and engaging content to their users. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By consistently producing and updating your content, you&#8217;ll not only attract more visitors but also signal to search engines that your website is a reputable and reliable source of information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"engaging-and-relevant-content\">Engaging and Relevant Content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To create engaging and relevant content, focus on addressing the needs, interests, and pain points of your target audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conduct thorough research to understand what your potential customers are looking for and tailor your content accordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Utilize various content formats, such as blog posts, infographics, videos, and podcasts, to cater to different preferences and keep your audience engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"content-as-a-driver-of-organic-traffic\">Content as a Driver of Organic Traffic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>High-quality content is a key driver of organic traffic, as it attracts users searching for information, solutions, or entertainment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By consistently providing valuable content that resonates with your audience, you&#8217;ll encourage users to visit your site, share your content on social media, and potentially even link to it from their own websites \u2013 all of which can boost your search engine rankings and drive additional traffic to your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"statistics-and-tools-key-things-to-get-free-backlinks\">Statistics and Tools &#8211; Key Things to Get Free Backlinks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, we mentioned already that getting free backlinks these days is very difficult. Indeed, but what if you have something really valuable that everyone wants it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can be a website tool like SEO Calculator, Mortgage Calculator, Diet Calculator or Crypto Conversion Tool. Create a simple page with the calculator on it and promote it on social media. I bet there will be people that want to link to your page. Simple and easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other things that are really popular are any sort of statistics. Use an authoritative website on the internet, collect that data and prepare an informative page with tables, graphs and infographics. Share it with your audience and that&#8217;s all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"seo-fundamentals-for-business-owners-summary\">SEO Fundamentals for business owners &#8211; Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, understanding the <strong>basics of SEO<\/strong> and how search engines work is crucial for businesses looking to boost their online visibility and drive organic traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By implementing effective on-page and off-page SEO strategies, optimising your website for mobile use, and consistently producing high-quality content, you&#8217;ll be well on your way to improving your search engine rankings and achieving online success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you&#8217;re equipped with the knowledge of SEO fundamentals, it&#8217;s time to put these strategies into action and unlock the full potential of your online presence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By investing time and effort into learning your SEO fundamentals, you&#8217;ll not only gain a competitive advantage in your industry but also drive sustainable growth and long-term success for your business. So, don&#8217;t wait \u2013 start optimising your website today and reap the rewards of a strong online presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you ready to perform an SEO check for your website? &#8211; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/seo-checklist\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1520\">Read our SEO checklist<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In today&#8217;s fast-paced digital world, having a strong online presence is more important than ever. Knowing the basics of SEO will let you make better business decisions regardless if you do the work yourself or&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3300,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[13],"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/basics-of-seo.jpg",800,600,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Marius Pecak","author_link":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/author\/marius\/"},"comment_info":27,"category_info":[{"term_id":5,"name":"SEO","slug":"seo","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"SEO - Search Engine Optimisation","parent":0,"count":14,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":5,"category_count":14,"category_description":"SEO - Search Engine Optimisation","cat_name":"SEO","category_nicename":"seo","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":13,"name":"Link Building","slug":"link-building","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":13,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":5,"filter":"raw"}],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":5,"label":"SEO"}],"post_tag":[{"value":13,"label":"Link Building"}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3222"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3222"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3222\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3885,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3222\/revisions\/3885"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloude.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}