What Should Beginners at SEO Focus on First?

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Written By Robert Dunford
I am a Marketing Consulting in the Great Toronto Area with over 25 years experience in building and implementing marketing plans for small business.

What Should Beginners at SEO Focus on First.jpgSEO is one of those buzzwords that many have heard, but few understand. SEO, or “search engine optimization,” is a key strategy that any aspiring online marketer must master to get results.   Getting good at SEO is a process that takes a lot of time and effort, and even then, you will need to brainstorm on how to best handle challenges that arise. There are constant changes and variables to take into consideration, and with so much going on, many who are starting might wonder what SEO beginners should focus on first?

The best way to become proficient is to understand the SEO basics upon which everything is founded.   Knowing the key principles and concepts that any SEO strategy is based on will help you see the broader picture and avoid getting lost in the details.   Let’s have a look at some of the core SEO tips to be mindful of when starting your SEO strategy.

Know Why You Are Doing It

There are numerous technical elements to pay attention to when optimizing for SEO. These include headers, keywords, links, page structure, meta tags, images, formatting, etc. The list can seem endless and quite daunting to someone who is just starting. However, all these elements share a common goal, and that is making it easier for users to find what they need. Every SEO strategy is based around practicality and user navigation.   Keep that in mind when tackling the various aspects of SEO, and you will soon get the hang of them.   These details help people find your business, service, or product with a few simple searches.

Semantics Matter

It is important to note that Google has a very complex algorithm working (and changing) all year round to bring the best experience to both businesses and users.   Professionals in SEO are aware that Google does much more than just match search terms with keywords.   It takes semantics into account.   The powerful RankBrain looks at more than words.   It matches up search history with possible word meaning and combination to help people find what they are looking for.   This means that adding necessary keywords is not enough, and you need to make sure to adjust it semantically as well.

Master the Fundamentals

Make sure you have a firm grasp of the fundamental elements that affect a site’s ranking. Cutting corners will not get you anywhere, and there is no single strategy to stick to. Know the factors that can be affected, how to work with them, and how to best optimize your site.   These include things such as content, links, social signals, metadata, images, design, etc.   You do not have to be a master in all of these areas.   However, you should make sure to know enough to navigate and identify problems.

These three SEO tips will get you well underway to mastering SEO.   The process might take some time and effort, but with consistent application, you will be able to make progress.   If you wish to start enjoying good results for your business faster, don’t hesitate to contact me.   I’d love to discuss your marketing strategy and help in any way I can.

Rob Dunford is a Marketing Consultant in the Great Toronto Area with over 20 years of experience in implementing marketing plans for small businesses.

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