SEARCH ENGINES USE HUNDREDS OF FACTORS TO COMPARE THE RELEVANCE OF YOUR WEBPAGE.

What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization is the practice of optimising the components of your online business to help your website rank higher in organic (unpaid) search results.

Search engines use hundreds of factors to compare the relevance of your webpage to the search query. Many of these factors are known only from experience because Google modifies their algorithm all year round, with micro updates occurring almost daily. Some of the known factors include the relevance of the keywords your website and ads are using, the way your website is connected via hyperlinks, and the hidden metadata of your images and webpages. This means that SEO is an ongoing commitment and it takes time to convert your SEO strategy into material results.

Why do you need SEO?

The increase in internet and smartphone access is propelling online business into the forefront of customers’ minds, and SEO is the way of accessing these customers. SEO will help you to convert customers who are searching for keywords related to your business.

But SEO is not simply about directing traffic to your website – it’s also about the quality of the traffic. Potential customers may be searching with keywords that are common and relevant to your website, but wouldn’t necessarily benefit your business. Having an SEO planning and monitoring strategy is vital to ensure that your business, as well as your unique brand, are visible to the right audience for your business.

How long does it take to get results?

SEO is a medium to long-term investment, so be prepared to invest a minimum of 6 months into the process if you want to reap the full benefits. This requires a clear plan for developing your brand’s online presence and reputation, as well as monitoring and optimising along the way. It is also important to consider how you will track and measure the success of your SEO component.