How to understand SEO and SERP: A few quick and simple tricks

Have you ever started your own website, business, or blog?

Have you ever searched your product or service and wondered why your site may not pop up?

I have, and it can be extremely frustrating and debilitating to your business. So, because of this, I would like to give you some quick and dirty tricks to maximize SEO and SERP.

But first, what even is SEO?

SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization. Basically, it is how you try to get your website to be in the top three search results, also known as the "Local Pack." SEO is an art and a science on making sure key words and phrases on your site are found by search engines and given the highest ranking possible.

And second, what is SERP?

SERP is short for Search Engine Results Page. It is quite literally, the page you see when you search something on Google. SEO and SERP go hand-in-hand, so no need to get too confused.

3 key results that we want:

1. Acquisition --> Getting people to your page.

2. Conversion --> Getting them to do what you want them to do (i.e. purchase, subscribe, etc.).

3. Retention --> Strengthening your relationship with your customer (i.e. add value).

How to:

1. Make sure your site is mobile friendly.

• Your navigation function should be easily visible and easy to use for mobile users using their fingers.

• Nice spacing to avoid user frustrations.

2. Focus on user experience and quality.

• Make sure you have no error messages when loading.

• Distribute your content throughout the site.

3. Create personas for your target market and use them to answer any questions that may be asked on your site.

• Look at your competitors sites and understand common characteristics or content that comes up.

• Look at what seems to be the most relevant topics or content that is covered.

4. Make sure your site is accessible and reliable.

• Create ALT tags for images that describes what the image shows in simple, easy to understand language.

• Use backlinks --> including a link to a reliable databases or website and that website also having a link to your page. This shows the search engine that your page is trust worthy.

• Example Alt tag: Golden Retriever dog laying on green grass.

5. Technical tips.

• Try to minimize the amount of images you use on your site.

• More images and bigger files on your page = longer loading time.

• Create a uniform URL that is easily found.

• NO orphan pages (i.e. pages on your site that are not linked to other pages on your site)

I know this is overwhelming and a little difficult to understand (trust me, I have been there). But, I promise you, you will thank yourself later for the time you put in now. It will be worth it. Now, I think we all deserve a nice break (drink, anyone?). If anyone has any other tips and tricks, leave a comment below!