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What should I know about SEO for basic knowledge and survival?

Most commonly, every recent update in the search algorithm subsequently delivered by Google usually brings much frustration among the webmasters and website owners. The previous major updates (like Panda and Penguin), as well as the most recent one (known as Fred), caused lots of severe drops in organic traffic for some websites, or at least sudden spikes shaking the world of SEO and making the question even more reasonable. So, let’s have a brief review of the SEO and basic knowledge needed both for a quick-fix over the central issues of current importance, and to survive the next updates looming over your website’s traffic performance.

Keep an eye on your website’s traffic

It comes without saying, that you should keep monitoring your website’s organic traffic and its actual numbers. Keep in mind, however, that you need to pay some more precise attention, with reference to every algorithm update eventually delivered by Google. Use your Google Analytics account, or any other tracking tools to analyze the latest history for any noticeable hikes in traffic correlated to the actual dates of algorithm changes.

That way, you would know exactly what updates might have crashed your on-site performance, or brought the most severe issues you were probably penalized for. Knowing your enemies, you will be able to read the guidelines correctly and finally fix it all.

seo basic knowledge

Consider removing massive ads and affiliates

The most recent improvement of Google’s algorithm (Fred) is seen to be among the major quality-control updates, as the most severe impact was registered particularly for those websites (most commonly, blogs), which had their primary focus on landing too much ads and gaining affiliate profit, at the expense of high-quality content, and hence fine and handy user experience. In fact, such websites with too poor content yet still too heavy with different commercials are seen now by Google as hardly capable of delivering any actual value to the users. As a result, in the foreseeable future, we could reasonably expect that too annoying or deceptive ads can drive possibly any website down the list of top search results, sooner or later.

Considering SEO and basic knowledge to avoid this penalization, I suggest removing those most burdensome ads intruding upon a good user experience. If you have ones, try to get rid of the most annoying ads landed in the middle of the page, any autoplay videos, and other deceptive advertisements, for example, cloaked to look like download buttons. Even if you were lucky to avoid the penalty this time, you’d better clean up your website right now.

Become SEO-friendly. Basic knowledge for better user experience

Most commonly, the primary purpose of nearly every recurrent update by Google is to evolve the Internet into safer and cleaner place to browse on. Here are the backbone issues of SEO and basic knowledge you will need to do the following stuff:

  • Use Schema Markup to make the users feel well-aware on what they are going to get on your web pages once they see your website in the SERPs.
  • Create an XML Sitemap for better indexing. It will help Google’s crawling bots find your web pages quicker and understand your content. That usually leads to better ranking.
  • Keep working on the logical structure of your website. Make sure your URLs and web pages are relevant and reflecting your site’s structure in full.
  • Have a double-check on your content to rework any thin or low-quality writings, so that your brushed articles will become more valuable and engaging for the users.
  • Check your web pages are well-optimized for all devices and platforms. Make sure everything is accessible and user -friendly on your desktop version, as well as running well on the tablets and smartphones.

Local SEO. Basic knowledge to be always visible

Today, the actual location of the user making search has become even more decisive for what search results will be generated by Google. Now it’s even easier to find what you are looking for close at hand, thanks to the recent local search update (known as Possum). I mean now most of every search results are heavily driven by the physical location of the search request, and its proximity to the input query used to find any business location or service provider nearby.

Now handling a proper local SEO needs basic knowledge to make sure all your contact information used for local search is always up-to-date. I suggest doing the following stuff:

  • Don’t hesitate to invest some time on handling a competitor research. Just check your regional opponents, as if you were an independent user. Check what keywords are used more frequently, and compare them against the main set of your ones. To see exactly what search results are most likely to be displayed in your local area, use special rank tracking software.
  • Considering that the recent local search update by Google supports certainly more options to the similarly-looking search queries, make sure you are ranked well for every possible variant. Should you face any difficulties on that issue, use tracking tools to find and target your most relevant local keywords and key phrases.
  • Of course, don’t forget to create your personal page on Google My Business. Work well in every category. Also, make sure to get listed in all local directories. I recommend using a link building software to help you get more local directories your business is listed in. At last, check how accurately your business name, address, and location mentioned in any third-party directories.

basic seo

In conclusion

Google keeps working on its search algorithm every day, and there is no time to rest. Nevertheless, considering that only significant updates usually bring the most severe impact, you can always keep your eye on the current state of affairs, to stay one step forward keeping your website well-prepared for every next algorithm update. Fortunately, it’s a manageable task to survive in the ever-changing world of SEO. Having basic knowledge of Google’s major algorithms and applying for use-proven sets of actions will help you do that.

Jenny Jones
Thank you all for your comments! I'm glad you found the article helpful.
David Smith
Great article, Jenny! You covered all the essential basics of SEO in a concise manner.
Emily Johnson
I agree with David. The article is easy to understand, especially for beginners.
Michael Thompson
I found the section about keyword research very useful. It's crucial to choose the right keywords for SEO success.
Hannah Davis
I have a question regarding backlinks. How important are they for SEO?
Robert Turner
Backlinks are crucial for SEO success, Hannah. They help search engines understand the relevance and quality of your website.
Adam White
Backlinks are still an important factor for SEO. They help search engines determine the credibility and authority of your website.
Sarah Green
Agreed, Adam. Backlinks from reputable and relevant websites can significantly improve your search engine rankings.
Mike Brown
What about on-page optimization? How should we approach that?
Natalie Adams
Mike, for on-page optimization, ensure your content is well-structured, include relevant keywords, use descriptive meta tags, and optimize your images.
Jenny Jones
On-page optimization is crucial for SEO, Mike. It includes optimizing your website's content, titles, meta tags, and URLs to improve its visibility in search results.
Linda Clark
I liked the section on site speed optimization. It's often overlooked but can have a significant impact on user experience and rankings.
Jenny Jones
Absolutely, Linda! Site speed is becoming increasingly important, and optimizing it can lead to higher search engine rankings and better user engagement.
Benjamin Adams
Does mobile optimization play a role in SEO?
Jenny Jones
Yes, Benjamin. Mobile optimization is crucial for SEO since search engines prioritize mobile-friendly websites. Make sure your site is responsive and provides a seamless experience on mobile devices.
Ella Evans
I have a question about SEO tools. Which ones do you recommend for beginners?
Jacob Miller
SEMrush and Moz are excellent SEO tools for beginners, Ella. They provide valuable insights and analysis to improve your website's performance.
Jenny Jones
There are several great SEO tools available, Ella. Some popular ones are SEMrush, Moz, Ahrefs, and Google Analytics. They can help you with keyword research, analyzing backlinks, and monitoring your site's performance.
Eric Roberts
Jenny, could you explain the concept of on-page SEO vs. off-page SEO?
Jenny Jones
Sure, Eric! On-page SEO refers to optimizing elements within your website, such as content, HTML tags, and site structure. Off-page SEO, on the other hand, involves building backlinks, social signals, and other external factors that influence your site's ranking.
David Smith
Jenny, would you recommend hiring an SEO professional for small businesses or learn and implement SEO techniques themselves?
Rachel Harris
David, learning and implementing basic SEO techniques themselves can be a great option for small businesses to save costs initially.
Jenny Jones
For small businesses with limited resources, learning and implementing basic SEO techniques themselves can be a cost-effective option. However, if they have the budget, hiring an SEO professional can provide more expertise and save time.
Emily Johnson
I appreciate your advice, Jenny. Small businesses can often benefit from understanding the basics of SEO before deciding whether to hire an expert or handle it themselves.
Jenny Jones
Exactly, Emily. It's important to have a good understanding of SEO even if they choose to outsource it later on.
Mark Wilson
Jenny, thank you for this informative article. I've learned a lot about SEO basics!
Jenny Jones
You're welcome, Mark! I'm glad you found it helpful.
Amy Martin
I enjoyed reading this article, Jenny. It provides a solid foundation for anyone starting their SEO journey.
Jenny Jones
Thank you, Amy! I wanted to create a comprehensive guide for beginners to get started with SEO.
Paul Thompson
This article is a great resource for beginners like me. Thanks, Jenny!
Jenny Jones
You're welcome, Paul! If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.
Olivia Hall
I appreciate the clarity of your explanations, Jenny. SEO can sometimes feel overwhelming, but this article breaks it down nicely.
Jenny Jones
Thank you, Olivia! I wanted to make it accessible and less intimidating for beginners.
Andrew Wilson
Jenny, could you provide some tips for optimizing website content?
Michelle Thompson
In addition to Jenny's tips, Andrew, make sure your content is unique, relevant, and provides value to your target audience.
Jenny Jones
Of course, Andrew! When optimizing website content, it's important to focus on relevant keywords, create valuable and engaging content, use headings and subheadings, and incorporate internal links to improve navigation.
Sophia Davis
Jenny, I found your article really helpful. Are there any SEO trends we should keep an eye on?
Emma Harris
Another trend to watch out for is featured snippets, Sophia. Google often displays them at the top of search results, increasing visibility and attracting more clicks.
Jenny Jones
Thank you, Sophia! Yes, some SEO trends to watch out for are voice search optimization, mobile-first indexing, and the rise of video content.
Daniel Adams
Jenny, should we focus more on on-page SEO or off-page SEO for better results?
Sophia Anderson
Jenny, I appreciate your efforts in explaining complex concepts in a simple manner. Great article!
Hannah Davis
Thanks for the response, Robert. I'll focus on building high-quality backlinks.
Mike Brown
Thank you, Natalie. I'll keep these tips in mind while optimizing my website.
Ella Evans
Thanks for the recommendation, Jacob. I'll check them out.
Eric Roberts
Thanks for clarifying, Sophie. That helps me understand the difference better.
David Smith
I appreciate your input, Rachel. It makes sense to start with a DIY approach and then decide if professional help is needed.
Andrew Wilson
Thank you, Michelle. Valuable content is indeed key to attracting and retaining visitors.
Sophia Davis
Thanks, Emma. I'll keep an eye on that and aim to optimize for featured snippets.
Chris Turner
Voice search optimization is becoming increasingly important, Sophia. People are using voice assistants like Siri and Alexa to perform search queries.
Sophia Davis
Indeed, Chris. Optimizing for voice search can give businesses a competitive advantage.
Laura White
Video content is on the rise, Sophia. It's an engaging format that can help improve user experience and increase website rankings.
Sophia Davis
Thank you, Laura. I'll explore incorporating more video content into our SEO strategy.
Jack Harris
Sophia, rich snippets are also worth considering. They provide additional information about your page in search results, increasing visibility.
Sophia Davis
Great point, Jack. Rich snippets can enhance click-through rates and attract more targeted traffic.
Timothy Evans
Sophia, don't forget about mobile-first indexing. Google now prioritizes the mobile version of websites for indexing and ranking.
Sophia Davis
You're right, Timothy. Mobile optimization is no longer optional for SEO success.
Melissa Turner
Sophia, user experience is becoming a crucial factor in SEO rankings. Make sure your site is easy to navigate, fast-loading, and provides a seamless experience.
Sophia Davis
Absolutely, Melissa. User experience is intertwined with SEO and can greatly impact website visibility.
Jennifer Wilson
Sophia, the rise of mobile search and browsing makes it essential to design websites with a mobile-first approach to improve user experience.
Sophia Davis
Definitely, Jennifer. Optimizing for mobile devices has become a necessity rather than a luxury.
Tom Davis
Sophia, don't forget about the importance of local SEO. For businesses targeting specific geographic areas, optimizing for local searches is crucial.
Sophia Davis
Great point, Tom. Local SEO can help businesses attract nearby customers and improve visibility in their target locations.
Jenny Jones
Daniel, a balance between on-page and off-page SEO is crucial. On-page optimization helps search engines understand and rank your site, while off-page factors like backlinks demonstrate its credibility and authority.
Sophie Green
Jenny, is it better to have more backlinks or focus on quality?
Daniel Adams
Jenny, your article gave me the confidence to start learning and implementing SEO techniques. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
Jenny Jones
Sophie, quality is more important than quantity when it comes to backlinks. Focus on acquiring natural and relevant backlinks from reputable sources.
Oliver Clark
Jenny, by following your article, I was able to optimize my website's SEO and saw a noticeable improvement in rankings. Thank you!
Jenny Jones
That's wonderful to hear, Oliver! I'm happy that my article helped you achieve positive results.
Peter Johnson
Jenny, your step-by-step guide made it easy for me to implement basic SEO techniques. Thank you!
Oliver Clark
Jenny, are featured snippets difficult to obtain, or can any website rank for them?
Jenny Jones
You're welcome, Peter! It's great to know that the guide was helpful and easy to follow.
Jenny Jones
Thank you, Sophia! Making SEO concepts accessible to beginners was my goal.
Liam Carter
Jenny, how does mobile-first indexing affect SEO rankings?
Sophia Anderson
Jenny, is it possible to regain search rankings if they drop due to algorithm updates?
Jenny Jones
Liam, mobile-first indexing means Google primarily uses the mobile version of a website's content for indexing and ranking. If your website isn't mobile-friendly, it may impact your search engine rankings negatively.
Jessica Adams
Jenny, is there a way to optimize for voice search?
Jenny Jones
Jessica, optimizing for voice search involves considering natural language queries, creating conversational content, and optimizing for long-tail keywords that match spoken queries.
William Davis
Jenny, do you have any tips for optimizing video content for SEO?
Jenny Jones
William, when optimizing video content, use descriptive titles, tags, and descriptions, provide transcripts or captions for accessibility, and ensure fast loading and responsiveness across devices.
William Davis
Jenny, how frequently should we monitor our site's SEO performance?
Jenny Jones
Oliver, while ranking for featured snippets requires meeting certain criteria, any website can potentially rank for them if they provide relevant and concise answers to commonly asked questions.
Jenny Jones
Sophia, it is possible to recover search rankings after algorithm updates by analyzing the changes, making necessary adjustments, improving overall SEO efforts, and providing high-quality content.
Jenny Jones
William, monitoring your site's SEO performance regularly is recommended. Depending on your website's size and industry, monthly or quarterly assessments can help you identify areas for improvement.
Sophie Green
Natalie, don't forget about optimizing your website's URL structure for better SEO. Use descriptive and keyword-rich URLs.
Natalie Adams
Excellent point, Sophie. A clean and well-structured URL can positively impact click-through rates and search rankings.
Melissa Turner
Natalie, don't neglect optimizing your website's images. Use descriptive file names and alt tags to improve accessibility and SEO.
Natalie Adams
You're absolutely right, Melissa. Image optimization is often overlooked, but it can contribute to a better user experience and search engine visibility.
Ethan Wilson
Natalie, don't forget to compress and optimize your website's images for faster loading speed. Large image files can negatively impact user experience.
Natalie Adams
Thanks for mentioning that, Ethan. Image compression is vital for improving site speed and overall user satisfaction.
Olivia Davis
Michelle, don't overlook the importance of internal linking for SEO. It helps search engines navigate and understand your site's structure.
Michelle Thompson
You're absolutely right, Olivia. Internal linking strengthens the overall SEO of your website and helps distribute link authority.
Liam Carter
Michelle, internal linking can also improve user navigation, allowing visitors to easily find related content on your website.
Michelle Thompson
Definitely, Liam. Smart internal linking enhances user experience and encourages visitors to stay on your site longer.
Sophie Roberts
Emma, featured snippets are becoming more prominent in search results. Optimizing for them can increase your chances of being featured.
Emma Harris
You're right, Sophie. Featured snippets can significantly boost your organic traffic and improve brand visibility.
James Thompson
Emma, to increase the likelihood of appearing in featured snippets, structure your content to answer common questions directly and concisely.
Emma Harris
That's a valuable tip, James. Creating content that directly addresses user queries can increase the chances of Google selecting it for featured snippets.
Emma Harris
Good point, Laura. Implementing structured data markup can improve your content's visibility and attract more clicks.
Jenny Jones
You're welcome, Daniel! I'm thrilled to hear that my article motivated you to dive into SEO. Best of luck with your learning journey!
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