08 Feb SEO FAQs: Answering Questions For Beginners

When you’re just starting, learning about SEO can feel like you’re standing at the bottom of Mount Everest. It’s a lot! The digital landscape is constantly evolving, so there’s always something to learn – even for experienced marketers. To help you start the climb, here are basic FAQs you should know about SEO.

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimisation is a form of digital marketing that helps improve your website and tells Search Engines, such as Google, that you exist. The process boosts your site’s visibility by improving rankings for relevant search terms. When done right, you can enjoy organic traffic from internet users searching for terms associated with your brand, which can help you convert them into customers or clients.

Does My Business Need SEO?

If like 99% of the internet, you use Google to answer all your questions, you’ll understand just how important it is to have your business ranking on search engines like Google. There are numerous benefits to ensuring your business has SEO, including having a competitive advantage. If your competitors are investing in SEO and ranking higher than you in search results, you’re likely missing out on potential customers.

For example, the search term: photographers near me receives around 2000 average monthly searches. If you’re a photographer looking for customers and your photography business isn’t ranking with this search term, you may be missing out on business.

Users also perceive businesses and websites as more trustworthy and credible if they’re at the top of search results. By ranking well in Google or Bing, you can build brand awareness and trust with your audience, establishing your business as the authority in your industry.

What Are Keywords?

Keywords are words or phrases that users type into search engines when looking for information, products or services online. Keywords are vital because they help search engines understand the content and relevance of web pages. When learning to choose the right keywords for your website, it’s important to understand the “why” behind the search query. There is always an intention behind every search. This is known as search intent. Search intent can be divided into three main categories: informational, navigational, and transactional. Here are a few examples:

Informational Intent:

Query: “How to tie a tie”
Intent: The user is seeking information or answers to a question. They are not necessarily looking to make a purchase but want to learn something.

Navigational Intent:

Query: “YouTube”
Intent: The user is trying to navigate to a specific website or online destination. They already have a destination in mind and are using the search engine to find the website quickly.

Transactional Intent:

Query: “Buy iPhone 13”
Intent: The user is ready to make a purchase. They have a specific product or service in mind and are looking for options to buy it.

When you understand the intention behind a query, you’ll be more effective in tailoring your content and SEO Strategy to provide value to users, ensuring an incredible experience on your website.

How Do I Find Keywords?

To help you rank higher, you need to do your homework. Keyword Research is crucial to finding which keywords your business should be targeting. This can provide valuable insight into what your audience is searching for. When you have the right keywords, you can create a content and SEO strategy that helps you outrank your competition.

Google Keyword Planner is a versatile tool offered within Google Ads, but can also be a great tool to use even if you’re not planning your next campaign. It provides valuable insights into keyword ideas, search volume data, and competition levels. It also helps users identify relevant keywords, assess search volume trends, and gauge competition levels to optimise your website’s content for better organic search performance.

Here are a few tips and tricks to use when doing your keyword research:

Analyse Competitors: Look at the websites of your competitors to see what keywords they are targeting. Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs allow you to analyze your competitors’ keywords and see which ones are driving traffic to their sites.

Consider Long-Tail Keywords: Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that typically have lower search volume but higher conversion rates. They can be valuable for targeting niche audiences and capturing quality traffic. For example, instead of targeting “running shoes,” you might target “best running shoes for flat feet.”

Organize Keywords: Once you have a list of keywords, organize them into categories or groups based on relevance and search intent. This will help you create targeted content and optimize individual pages of your website for specific keywords.

Monitor and Refine: Keyword research is an ongoing process. Continuously monitor your website’s performance in search results, analyze keyword trends, and refine your keyword strategy accordingly to stay competitive and relevant.

What Are Common SEO Mistakes To Avoid?

If you’re looking to avoid a few common SEO mistakes, here are some suggestions:

Don’t Target Difficult Keywords: A big mistake is thinking you can simply rank for any keyword without considering the competition. There are always a few keywords that everyone wants to rank for, which will make it more difficult for your website to rank. The key is to choose less competitive keywords, ones that have a lower search volume. This allows you to slowly build up to those competitive keywords.

Poor Quality Content: Low-quality, thin, or duplicate content not only provides a poor user experience but also affects your search rankings negatively. Aim for high-quality, engaging content that provides value to your audience.

Neglecting On-Page Optimisation: Missing out on optimising title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and image alt tags can hinder your website’s visibility. Pay attention to on-page SEO elements to improve your site’s relevance and crawlability. If you’re curious about this, make sure you read our guide on meta titles and descriptions.

Don’t Forget Your Internal Links: Internal links are important because they allow users to navigate your website. Because Google is big on ensuring users are shown valuable and relevant content, internal links provide it with the information it needs to understand the context of your webpage. For more context, here’s a look at internal and external links.

What are Important Google Ranking Factors?

Here’s a look at the most important Google Ranking Factors:

Relevance: High-quality, relevant, and comprehensive content that meets user intent is crucial. Focus on creating valuable content that addresses users’ needs and provides authoritative information.

Quality: Google prioritises websites it deems as authoritative within an industry. Backlinks from relevant websites serve as a vote of confidence for your site’s credibility and authority. Quality over quantity is key, so prioritize acquiring backlinks from reputable sources.

Usability: Factors such as mobile-friendliness, page speed, site structure, and navigation contribute to a positive user experience. Again, Google prioritises websites that deliver a good user experience, which means providing visitors with a seamless experience.

Final Thoughts

From keyword research to understanding search intent, there are a range of factors that influence how successful your SEO Strategy will be. However, if you want to get ahead of competitors, reach more customers and boost conversions, understanding the ins and outs of SEO is an excellent start.

We understand that dipping your toes into the vast ocean that is SEO can be scary. Thankfully, SOMS Digital Agency is here to help! Our team of SEO experts are ready to guide and build an SEO Strategy that works for your business and goals. Speak to us today!