Since 2012, I have been working with information technology, developing some blog projects, but without knowing what SEO was, my projects never had reach or visibility on the internet.
If you’ve ended up on this article, it’s likely that you are also studying or seeking to understand what this SEO thing is all about.
In this article, I aim to explain the basics of what SEO is and give some important tips for those of you who are starting or thinking about launching a website, blog, or online store.
SEO – Being Found by Those Who Are Looking for You
In the past, when we needed to find something or determine whether a product was good, we would ask friends, family, or colleagues, but that has changed.
With the internet, we now have access to information instantly and quickly, right at our fingertips. A quick search on Google provides the information we need.
Now try to imagine how Google works and how it finds the information that ends up on your computer, tablet, or phone screen. It seems complicated, doesn’t it?
Actually, the logic is quite “simple.” What I do is tell Google what I want to know, and it shows me the content it can find.
SEO – Understanding How Google Works
Think of Google like a clerk serving you in a hardware store. You walk in and ask if they have a paintbrush.
The clerk will probably look in their stock or on the shelves and will say yes, then show you the sizes, materials, etc., so you can make your choice.
Google has a similar process. You enter the information you are looking for, it looks on the shelves (the data from websites it has stored), and then shows you the results.
It’s that simple.
SEO is a strategy for optimizing a website so that Google can find the content published there. It’s about organizing a website’s information in a way that Google can understand.
So, if you have a website or are planning to create one for your business, keep in mind that working on SEO is extremely important to succeed and be found by those who are searching for what you offer.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an optimization for search engines that follows strategies and techniques to get search platforms to recommend websites, bringing in organic and free traffic.
Ranking on Google – SEO
The goal of any website is to appear on Google’s first page, but the competition is intense in the vast universe of the internet. Those who rank higher are the ones with better optimization.
To rank (classify) a site, Google’s robot analyzes several factors on the site. Google does not openly disclose its ranking criteria, but we can identify a few key points:
1 – Performance
Yes, a faster website tends to appear in better positions on Google. This happens because the algorithm (the bot) analyzes how fast each page loads.
Slow loading equals a bad user experience, and the bot’s mission is to provide a good experience. That’s why slower websites are less favored, and faster ones are preferred.
TIP – Proper hosting is a determining factor for the success and effectiveness of any website.
2 – Responsive Website
Mobile-first means that Google tends to favor websites that are responsive and work well on all devices.
Currently, most Google searches are done on mobile devices (smartphones), so it makes more sense for the bot to prioritize websites that perform well on these devices.
TIP – Aim to develop a responsive and visually attractive website for any device, whether it’s a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
3 – User Experience (Audience)
Google’s bot wants us to have a positive experience when visiting a site it recommends, similar to someone offering us something to eat and waiting for feedback on whether we liked it or not.
In this case, Google analyzes how users navigate a site and, based on certain parameters, determines whether the site provides a good or bad browsing experience.
TIP – Focus on developing a site with a great user experience. Provide a fast, responsive, visually pleasing, and user-friendly site. Both users and Google’s bot will appreciate it.
4 – Use of Images
A well-designed site with a well-structured layout tends to attract more attention and convey greater trust to users, while also providing a better browsing experience.
Images also help convey ideas and information, making communication more complete, which is better for users.
TIP 1 – Images are the biggest enemy of site performance, so always try to use light, optimized images with appropriate sizes.
TIP 2 – Google also indexes your images, so use alternative text for all images on your site.
5 – Keywords
Keywords are the most important element in optimization, if I can say that, since I believe everything is important in SEO.
The first things Google analyzes are titles, descriptions, and text. Therefore, it is essential to have keywords in these elements.
When someone searches for a keyword that’s present on your site, the chances of appearing on Google are higher.
TIP – Understand your target audience and the keywords they search for on Google, so you can determine the best keywords and strategies.
Conclusion
For a website to be well positioned and ranked by Google, a solid SEO strategy is necessary.
I hope this helps you understand SEO better, and that the tips provided are useful for you.
Keep an eye on my blog, where I’ll bring more SEO topics with more information and tips.
If you need a professional to develop your website, focusing on performance and SEO, get in touch with me and schedule a chat. I’d be happy to talk to you.
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