340 Reading Rd.Suite WestCincinnati, Ohio 45202emediadesign.co@emediadesignco866.700.8585

WHAT IS SEO? THE MYSTERY ENDS HERE

Tired of Wondering “What is SEO?”…

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a fancy way of describing the practice of making your website’s content more attractive to search engines. When SEO is done well, search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo will be much more likely to find it, and give it a higher ranking on an organic search engine result page (SERP).

Sounds easy, right? Well, yes and no. Some SEO efforts are relatively quick and simple, but others can get pretty complicated—mainly because there are so many different approaches and strategies to choose from. And one approach doesn’t fit all… a company’s best SEO approach will depend on a multitude of factors, like their goals, industry, target audience, budget, and the total cups of coffee they’ve consumed that day (okay, not that last one, we just wanted to make sure you’re still paying attention). The one certainty of search engine optimization is that there are no shortcuts to success, no matter how long you look for them.

SEO Techniques- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

I know, I know, we said there are no shortcuts… but the more accurate statement is there are no ETHICAL shortcuts. There are some bad (“black hat”) SEO techniques out there, where website owners and/or SEO strategists try to cheat their way to higher rankings. Search engines have wised up to these unsavory approaches, and have started cracking down on black hat tactics by supporting and rewarding white hat techniques. At eMedia Design, we focus purely on ethical “white hat” SEO practices for positive, longer-lasting results.

Content Still Reigns Supreme

It may sound trite, but content is indeed king. When the quality of your written content is better, it becomes like tantalizing food for hungry search engines. When writing copy for your website, we start by doing our homework to pinpoint the most relevant keywords for your industry—the ones your customers (and your competitors’ customers) are using to search for what you’re selling. Next, we craft compelling, keyword-optimized copy that not only fuels search engines and boosts website visibility, but also engages your target audience. Websites that regularly post fresh, quality content are far more likely to reach their target audiences and turn them into loyal buyers.

340 Reading Rd.Suite WestCincinnati, Ohio 45202emediadesign.co@emediadesignco866.700.8585

On-Page Website Optimization

If content is king, website structure is queen. This process involves arranging the formation and wording of your content for better positioning in search engines. The ingredients in this winning recipe include creating keyword-focused title tags, captivating meta descriptions, canonicalization of duplicate content, short and keyword rich URL structures–we could go on and on, but we saw your eyes start to glaze over a few commas ago.

Off-Page Website Optimization

This process involves efforts like creating back-links to pages on your website to improve search engine rankings. A back-link is created when a separate website includes a hyperlink back to your website. Also called an inbound link, these links are important in determining the popularity/importance of your website. Websites with many high quality back-links can be considered more relevant, leading to a higher rank in search results pages.

Social Signals

You already know that social media is a great way to build your brand and get customers talking—but did you know that it’s also an SEO strategy? There has been a lot of speculation about whether social signals factor into the Google search algorithm. As part of off-site optimization, social media can be a very consistent form of link building. Almost all of the links you get from social media sites are “no-follow”—but they still have value. Any social media mention, link, picture or check-in can help increase your digital footprint.

The most effective SEO campaigns combine both on-page and off-page optimization techniques. But remember, there are no shortcuts to having successful search results. Visual learners, we’ve got you covered. Take a few minutes to watch this quick video created by our friends at Search Engine Land, which covers the basics of understanding SEO and how search engines work.