SEO Explained Without the Jargon
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of making your website show up higher in Google search results. When someone searches for what you sell, SEO determines whether they find you or your competitor. Here’s what you need to know as a business owner.
How Google Works (Simply)
Google sends robots (crawlers) to read every website on the internet. It then ranks those websites based on hundreds of factors to determine which best answers each search query. SEO is about aligning your website with what Google’s ranking factors reward.
The Three Pillars of SEO
Technical SEO
Your website needs to work well: fast loading, mobile-friendly, secure (HTTPS), and organized logically. Think of this as the foundation of a house — nothing else matters if the foundation is broken.
Content
Google ranks content that best answers the searcher’s question. You need pages that target the keywords your customers search for, with comprehensive, helpful information that’s better than what competitors offer.
Authority
Google trusts websites that other websites link to. These “backlinks” are like recommendations. The more reputable sites that reference yours, the more Google trusts your content and ranks it higher.
What to Expect from SEO
SEO is not instant. Expect 3-6 months before seeing significant results. But once rankings are established, organic traffic is essentially free and compounds over time. It’s the highest-ROI marketing channel for most businesses.
What to Look for in an SEO Partner
Transparent reporting, realistic timelines, proven results, clear strategy, and no guaranteed rankings (anyone who guarantees #1 rankings is lying).
