What is SEO and how does it help my small business?

Curious to know what search engine optimization (SEO) is and how it can help your Kingston business? SEO is one of the most proven marketing tools available today. So what is it? Search engine optimization refers to the process of allowing your website to be found by search engines. Search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo etc. are always looking to provide the most relevant and reputable results for their users. In this article, you will also learn more about the contributing factors that affect your website’s ranking on these search engines. 

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which is the practice of optimizing your website to increase the quantity and quality of traffic through organic search engine results. 

SEO can be broken down into two different categories:

On-Page SEO: All on-page SEO strategies happen on your website

Off-page SEO: All off-page SEO strategies happen off your website

Both on-page and off-page SEO strategies work together to make your website more user friendly and trustworthy, to users and search engines. When search engine “crawlers” see how friendly your website is to them and users, it increases the chances that it will rank well for different search queries.

What do search engines look for?

Some of the most important SEO factors that must be considered are:

• Responsive design
• Page load speed
• Mobile friendly
• Internal links and backlinks
• Website security (SSL certificate)
• Accessibility
• The right target keywords and key phrases
• Optimized content
• + over 200 more ranking factors
  

What is SEO and how does it help my business?

The power of SEO lies in the intent of search engine users. When a search engine user submits a search query to Google for a product or service, they are usually ready or close to being ready to make a purchase. 

There are actually three types of search queries, navigational, informational, and transactional. While navigational and informational queries serve their purpose, business owners should focus on the third, transactional. If a user is searching for, let’s say, “chiropractor kingston ontario”, they have high intent to book an appointment. The only users searching for services with no intent to purchase, are likely SEO specialists forming a strategy.