Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website content to help it perform better in search engine results. This involves making it easier for search engine bots to read, understand, and index your website data.

Key Notes Before Starting

• SEO is never complete. It is an ongoing effort that requires continuous investment of time or resources.

• Be patient. Brand new websites take time to appear prominently as search engines determine your site's reliability and authority.

• Focus on relevance, not just Rank #1. Search rankings are highly dynamic and vary based on the user's location, device, and search history. Be wary of anyone guaranteeing top rankings.

Getting Started: The 6-Step SEO Foundation

Follow these steps to build a solid SEO foundation for your website:

1. Perform Keyword Research

Find out exactly what terms your target audience is using to find websites like yours.

• Tools: Use free tools like Google’s Keyword Planner to find the average monthly search volume for different terms.

• Long-Tail Keywords: Look for specific, long-tail keywords (e.g., "Restaurants in New York with Saturday happy hour"). While they have lower search volume, they are highly valuable because they reveal exactly what the user is looking for.
  

2. Write Keyword-Rich Content

Use your keyword research to craft the content on your pages (Home, About, Services, etc.).

• Focus on People: Always write for your human visitors first. Include search terms only if they read naturally within the text. How to write quality content.

• Avoid Keyword Stuffing: Dragging too many keywords onto a page is an awkward practice that can result in search engine penalties.
  

3. Optimize Your Website’s Metadata

Metadata is hidden code that helps search engine bots understand your page content. You can easily modify this within the platform's editing tools.

• Meta Title (Max 70 characters): The blue clickable text that appears in search results. It should be an attention-grabbing summary that includes your main keywords.

• Meta Description (Max 250 characters): The black text that appears under the Meta Title. Use this space for a more detailed, keyword-rich description of the page's content.

• Image Alt Text: Since bots cannot "see" images, Alt Text describes the image to them. This is another opportunity to naturally add keywords. How to add Image Alt Text.
  

4. Set up Google Analytics

Google Analytics is the best way to track your site's performance and determine whether your SEO efforts are working.

• Action: Set up a Google Analytics account and link it with your website.
  

• Analysis: Use the reports to see where users found your site and how they interacted with your pages. Learn how to read your Google Analytics reports to refine your strategy.
  

5. Submit Your Sitemap in Google Search Console

Submitting your sitemap ensures that Google can find and index your pages quickly, which is much faster than waiting for them to find your site naturally.

• Action: Follow these steps to set up your Google Search Console profile.
  

• Submission: Once verified, follow these steps to submit your sitemap.
  

• Tip: Every time you make a substantial content update, re-submit your sitemap to ensure Google crawls your new changes immediately.
  

6. Redirect Legacy URLs

If you have an existing website, a permanent 301 redirect passes the majority of the former page's SEO value to your new site.

• Benefit: By creating Legacy URL redirects, you prevent users who have bookmarked old pages from seeing an error message, and you preserve the ranking power you've already built up.

• Action: Use the legacy URL tool​ to map old URL paths to their new pages.
  

How to Continue Your SEO Efforts

After completing the foundation, take these steps to maximize your site's potential:

• Start a Blog: Regularly creating unique, keyword-rich blog posts shows search engines that your site is consistently updated. Engaging content also helps with link building, as other websites are more likely to cite or link to your pages.

• Control Your Local Listing Presence: Ensure NAP consistency (Name, Address, and Phone number) across all third-party listings (Yelp, YellowPages, etc.). Inaccurate data on these sites can hurt your credibility with search engine bots. Learn more about NAP consistency.

• Promote on Social Media: Use social media to engage viewers and drive referred traffic to your website.