Can anybody help me understand the very basics of SEO with off-page action plan for beginners?

Yes, I can help you complete the primary optimization works related to this so-called “external-level” SEO using off-page plan of actions, which is listed below. But before we start, let’s begin with getting some initial understanding. What off-page SEO and its external ranking factors actually stand for? Well, let’s see.

Basics of SEO: Off-Page Optimization Planning

Off-page SEO – is also known as off-site or “external” optimization for online search. This term refers to all actions and considerations taken outside of your own web pages with a single primary goal – to give a positive impact to your organic rankings in Google’s SERPs. In other words, if you want to have a proper website or blog which will be well-optimized for the main off-page ranking factors, you should improve Google’s, as well as the user’s perception of your relevance, trustworthiness, popularity, and authority in the global online community. Put simply, the whole outer realm of SEO and its off-page strategy planning are both revolving around top relevant and popular places on the Internet (like the whole sites/blogs, separate web pages, a given industry influencer or the leading expert in a given field/business). Ultimately – to link to/from them, in line with providing extensive online promotion via “vouching” for the quality of a given website content. That’s it.

Initial SEO: Off-Page Plan of Actions for Beginners

The thing is that unlike the ever-changing reality of on-page SEO with constantly changing ranking algorithms, all about “external-level” SEO and off-page strategy planning is much more straightforward yet challenging at the same time. I mean that not too many different areas for you to start optimizing for. Here they are.

• Natural Links – should be an integral part of every action plan in off-page optimization. Basically, natural links can be “earned” with your high-quality content without any additional action from your side as a website/blog owner. The most important patterns here is to provide a fully enticing and engaging content (to be shared/mentioned), or to get link back with a trusted (i.e., high domain authority, and strong PageRank) third-party source having pure relevancy to your subject/business industry.
• Manual Links – this type of manually created links is commonly related to building links deliberately. This includes actions like making your clients/followers/subscribers link and share with your articles or posts – and get a valuable link in return. You might as well turn to the leading niche influencers or the industry experts related to your subject discussion and consider creating mutually benefitting references. 

• Self-Created Links – such links can be easily created by self. Most commonly, self-created links are acquired through adding a backlink in related online directories, relevant forum discussions, guest blogging, blog commenting, press releases, etc. The only thing to remember – is creating a well-optimized text anchor for each link. Doing so, be particularly careful with “exact-match” keyword-based link anchors. As for me, I would avoid having them at all, simply because of highly probable duplicate content issue, rising a red flag with Google.
• Non-Link Off-Site SEO – don’t forget to support your basic link building strategy with any activities that occur outside your own site and can be potentially helpful for elevating your search ranking positions over time. Consider delving deeper in Social Media Marketing, in line with developing linked brand mentions to somehow create a reference to you, as well as building stronger online presence with wider public awareness – and you’re done.