What is SEO? And how does it works.

 SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.

It is the process of optimizing a website or online content so that it appears higher in search engine results (like Google, Bing, etc.) when people search for related topics.

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Why SEO matters

Most users click on results that appear on the first page of search engines. Good SEO helps:

• Increase website traffic

• Attract the right audience

• Build trust and credibility

• Improve sales or conversions without paid ads

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How SEO works (step by step)

Search engines follow three main steps:

1️⃣ Crawling

Search engines use bots (called crawlers or spiders) to discover web pages by following links.

🔹 Example: Google finds your blog post by crawling links from other sites or your sitemap.

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2️⃣ Indexing

After crawling, the search engine:

• Understands your page content (text, images, videos)

• Stores it in its database (called an index)

If a page isn’t indexed, it won’t appear in search results.

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3️⃣ Ranking

When a user searches for something, the search engine:

• Analyzes indexed pages

• Ranks them based on relevance and quality

Pages that best match the search query appear at the top.

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Main types of SEO

🔹 1. On-Page SEO

Optimizing content and HTML elements on your website.

Includes:

• Keyword research & usage

• Title tags & meta descriptions

• Headings (H1, H2, H3)

• Quality content

• Internal linking

• Image optimization

📌 Example: Using “Best Running Shoes” naturally in your article title and content.

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🔹 2. Off-Page SEO

Actions taken outside your website to improve authority.

Includes:

• Backlinks (links from other websites)

• Social media signals

• Brand mentions

• Guest posting

📌 Example: A popular blog linking to your website.

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🔹 3. Technical SEO

Improving the technical structure of your website so search engines can crawl it easily.

Includes:

• Website speed

• Mobile-friendliness

• Secure site (HTTPS)

• XML sitemap

• Fixing broken links

• Structured data (schema)

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Key ranking factors (simplified)

Search engines consider:

• Content quality & relevance

• Keywords usage

• Backlinks quality

• Page speed

• Mobile usability

• User experience (time on page, bounce rate)

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Simple SEO example

If someone searches:

“How to bake a cake”

Google will rank pages that:

• Clearly explain cake baking

• Use related keywords naturally

• Load fast

• Are mobile-friendly

• Have good backlinks

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SEO vs Paid Ads

SEO	Paid Ads
Free (organic) traffic	Pay per click
Long-term results	Instant but temporary
Builds trust	Stops when ads stop

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