What Is SEO? The Simple Guide to Getting Found on Google
TLDR;
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps your website rank higher on Google so more people can find you—without paying for ads. It’s made up of on-page SEO (content and keywords), off-page SEO (backlinks and credibility), and technical SEO (site speed and mobile-friendliness). While it takes time, SEO brings free traffic, long-term results, and a competitive edge if done right. Focus on creating great content, optimizing your site, and earning backlinks, and you’ll see your rankings grow.
Ever wondered how some websites always seem to pop up first when you search for something on Google? That’s not luck—it’s SEO.
If you’ve got a website (or plan to), SEO is what helps people actually find it. Without it, your site is basically a hidden gem… buried under a mountain of other search results.
But don’t worry—I’m going to break it down in plain English so you can start using SEO to your advantage. Let’s go.
So, What Is SEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is how you get your website to rank higher on search engines like Google. The better your SEO, the more people will find your site organically (meaning without paid ads).
Think of Google as a giant library. When someone searches for something, Google wants to show them the most relevant, helpful, and trustworthy "books" (websites). SEO is how you convince Google that your site deserves to be one of those top recommendations.
The Three Main Parts of SEO
SEO isn’t just one thing—it’s a mix of different strategies that all work together to make your site more visible. Here are the big three:
1. On-Page SEO (Stuff You Control on Your Website)
This is all about optimizing your actual website content. Here’s what matters most:
✅ Keywords – These are the words and phrases people type into Google. If you want to rank for “best coffee in Toronto,” you need to use that phrase naturally in your content.
✅ Quality Content – Google loves useful, well-written content. The more valuable your content, the better your chances of ranking.
✅ Headings & Structure – Breaking up your content with clear headings (H1, H2, H3) makes it easier for both Google and readers to understand.
✅ Internal Links – Linking to other pages on your own website helps visitors (and Google) navigate your site better.
2. Off-Page SEO (Stuff That Happens Outside Your Website)
Even if your site is amazing, Google wants to know if other people think so too. That’s where off-page SEO comes in.
✅ Backlinks – When other websites link to yours, Google sees that as a vote of confidence. More high-quality backlinks = better rankings.
✅ Social Signals – While social media itself doesn’t directly boost SEO, having people share your content can lead to more traffic and backlinks.
3. Technical SEO (The Behind-the-Scenes Stuff)
This is about making sure your website runs smoothly and loads fast—because if it doesn’t, Google (and your visitors) won’t be happy.
✅ Site Speed – If your site takes forever to load, people leave. And Google notices.
✅ Mobile-Friendliness – More people browse on phones than desktops, so your site must work well on mobile.
✅ Secure Website (HTTPS) – Google prefers secure websites. If you don’t have that little padlock 🔒 in your URL, it’s time to fix that.
Why SEO Actually Matters
So, why should you care about SEO? Simple:
✅ Free traffic. Unlike paid ads, SEO brings in visitors without constantly spending money.
✅ Higher credibility. People trust websites that rank high on Google. If you’re on page one, you’re automatically seen as an authority.
✅ Long-term results. Good SEO keeps working for you over time. A well-optimized blog post can bring traffic for years.
✅ Beats the competition. If your website is SEO-friendly and theirs isn’t, guess who’s getting more clicks? (Hint: you.)
How Long Does SEO Take?
SEO isn’t an overnight thing—it’s more like planting a tree. It takes time to grow, but once it does, it keeps giving you results. Depending on your industry, competition, and strategy, it can take anywhere from a few months to a year to see major progress.
But the best time to start? Right now.
Final Thoughts: Get Started with SEO Today
SEO might sound complicated, but it all comes down to this: create great content, make sure your site runs smoothly, and get other websites to vouch for you.
If you’re just getting started, focus on these three things:
Find keywords people are searching for.
Create high-quality content around those keywords.
Get backlinks by sharing your content and networking with other sites.
Do that consistently, and over time, you’ll see your rankings climb. 🚀
Want to learn more? Stick around—I’ll be diving deeper into SEO strategies in future posts. Let’s get your site the attention it deserves!
