What is SEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of improving your website and content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

When someone searches for something on Google, Bing, or another search engine, SEO determines which pages appear first — and which get buried on page 10.

Why SEO matters

Organic search is one of the most valuable traffic sources for any website:

Free traffic: Unlike ads, you don't pay per click
High intent: People are actively searching for what you offer
Compounds over time: A well-optimized page can drive traffic for years

The three pillars of SEO

1. On-Page SEO

Everything on your actual page: keywords, headings, meta descriptions, content quality, internal links.

2. Off-Page SEO

Signals from outside your site, primarily backlinks (other sites linking to you).

3. Technical SEO

How well search engines can crawl and index your site: page speed, mobile-friendliness, site structure.

SEO for blog posts

For content creators, the most important aspects are:

Keyword research: Find what people are searching for
On-page optimization: Include keywords naturally in titles, headings, and content
Content quality: Write genuinely useful content that answers the search query
User experience: Make content easy to read and navigate

Common misconceptions

"SEO is just about keywords"
Keywords matter, but so does content quality, user experience, and backlinks.

"SEO results are instant"
It typically takes 3-6 months to see significant results from SEO efforts.

"SEO is a one-time thing"
Search algorithms change, competitors publish new content, and your rankings can shift. SEO requires ongoing attention.