Just what is organic search engine optimization or ‘SEO’? This is a question tens of thousands of small business owners have asked. If you’ve heard someone refer to SEO, or seen this abbreviation on the Internet, it stands for search engine optimization. Basically, this is the process of optimizing a web page so that it is found when a user searches online using a search engine such as Google, Yahoo or Bing. In other words, a website, blog, article, or other content can be found naturally or organically via search, rather than through paid advertising.
When you do a search on Google, notice that in the results, the right-hand side of the page contains ads. In some cases, you will also see ads at the top of the page that are either highlighted, or say “ad.” Below that and in the center of the page are the “natural” results, or those deemed by Google or whatever search engine you used to be the most relevant or trustworthy pages where users can find the product, information, or services they’re looking for.
So, how do Kansas City companies achieve these first-page results? First of all, there are only ten results per page, which means that if there are 100,000 companies in your industry who sell the same product or service you do, the fight to be in those coveted first ten positions will be fierce. Naturally, if you sell only in a specific area, say for example Kansas City or Overland Park, you will only compete against others in your geographic location. Search engine optimization is still vital, though, because you want to be at the top of the search engine results pages when someone searches for what you have to offer. This means more traffic for you!
Effective Kansas City search engine optimization services are a combination of tactics used to help search engines and users find what they’re looking for. Keyword research is vital; when you know the keywords, terms, or phrases potential customers are using to find you, you can then optimize your website pages for those keywords/terms. SEO in Kansas City involves both on-page or on-site strategies, and off-site strategies.
So, what are these on- and off-page strategies? Here are a few, although the following is far from all-inclusive:
As already mentioned, using keywords in page content is vital. Without key terms such as “quality web design” or “affordable silver jewelry,” search engines (and users) would not find relevant or meaningful results.
Today, quality content is key in ranking, as search engines want users to enjoy the most relevant, useful results that provide answers to their questions. Whether on website pages, blogs, articles, or in video, content should be original and compelling.
Content also gets “shared” today via social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and other social networking sites. The more engaging, useful, interesting, or even controversial your content is, the more people will like it – and share it with others.
Building quality inbound links also demonstrates to search engines the importance of your website’s content. When someone in an industry relevant to your own links to your content from their own website, blog, or article so they can share it with their readers, that is a “vote” for your site in Google’s eyes. Strong links coming into your website are important in SEO.
This is the bare minimum of what search engine optimization is; in fact, the more you read about it online, the more you will see various opinions and find out that while it is simple, SEO is also complex. If you are a small business owner, you may want to leave search engine optimization in the hands of professionals.
If you are searching for an SEO company in Kansas City, contact us today – we are owned an operated by an Internet marketing professional that is not only a Duct Tape Marketing Certified Consultant, but also one of the region’s top Internet marketing and search engine optimization experts.
