If you are just getting started in the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), there is a lot of jargon to learn. Here are some basic terms to know before you dive into Search Engine Optimization.

SERP: An acronym that stands for Search Engine Results Page. This is the page you see when you search for something on search engines like Google

Organic Ranking: This is the position that your website naturally appears on a SERP.

Keyword: A word or phrase that users enter into search engines. Keywords are central to SEO, guiding content creation and optimization efforts.

Backlinks: Links from other websites pointing to your site. A common example would be if you list your business on Yelp, the website link on your directory listing is a backlink.

Page Speed: The time it takes for a web page to load completely. Faster page speeds enhance user experience and can improve search rankings.

Search engines like Google decide what websites to show in search results by looking for pages that are most relevant and helpful to the user’s search. The factors that determine where your website will appear in the search results can get pretty complex.

At a very basic level, using relevant keywords, ensuring your webpages load quickly, and having backlinks to your site on other high quality websites is a very good place to start.

Creating content is important for improving your organic ranking. High-quality, relevant content helps search engines understand what your website is about and makes it more likely to show up when people search for topics related to your business. Content like blog posts, service pages, or FAQs can attract visitors and build trust with your audience.

However, all content is not created equal. Updates to your website must be done intentionally to ensure that they actually have a positive impact on your websites search rankings.