SEO Basics at a Glance

Confused by SEO? Let’s Break It Down

Looking to get a basic handle on SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and what it’s all about? With all the jargon and technical terms thrown around, it’s easy for anyone in NZ to feel a bit overwhelmed and confused. But surprisingly, the core idea isn’t that different from traditional marketing. The methods and tools are definitely digital, but the end goal is pretty much the same: getting your business noticed by the right people.

Approaching SEO: What’s It All About?

Before diving into the technical bits of search engine website optimisation, let’s get a good grasp on what it actually means and why it’s so important for online marketing.

SEO vs. Conventional Marketing

Web marketing is all about standing out. In the old days (and still today, to some extent), businesses did this with telly ads, billboards, newspaper spots, and so on. In the online world, standing out usually means one key thing: getting your business website to the top of search engine results (like on Google) when people search for terms related to your products or services.

The Goal: Online Visibility (Ranking High on Google)

Think about your own habits – when you’re looking online for a service or product, where do you usually go first? Most Kiwis would say “Google.” Being right there at the top of the Google results page massively increases your chances of being found by potential customers, who rarely bother clicking through to the second or third page.

Why Top Rankings Matter

Higher visibility online leads directly to more website traffic, which means more enquiries, more business, and ultimately, more opportunity for growth and profit. That, in a nutshell, is what SEO aims to achieve.

Can You DIY SEO? Understanding the Complexity

Even if you’re the most computer and internet-savvy person around, fully understanding the complex inner workings of search engine optimisation is tough. Not only that, but search engines like Google are constantly updating and tweaking their ranking algorithms, making it hard to always know the latest and most effective strategies for website optimisation.

For many businesses, it makes sense to entrust this task to SEO experts who have the necessary knowledge and experience. However, that doesn’t mean you should go about the whole process blind – far from it!

Having a good basic understanding of SEO and how it works is always beneficial when engaging with web marketing.

SEO Basics for Your NZ Business Website

For starters, think of your online marketing efforts a bit like running a physical shop:

You need to make your shop known to potential customers.
You need to attract those customers to actually come into your shop and see what you offer.

Well, that’s essentially what website optimisation is about. Your website is your virtual shopfront online. SEO involves using various strategies to drive as many relevant people to your website as possible. Let’s look at some basics:

Key Elements of Basic SEO:

Website Design & Usability: SEO is closely tied to your website design. Your site shouldn’t just look good; it needs to be easy for visitors to navigate and use. A positive user experience is crucial.
Keywords: Your website content should naturally include relevant and popular keywords that potential customers use when searching, making it easier for search engines to understand what your pages are about. But don’t overdo it! Cramming too many keywords onto your site (“keyword spamming”) is a common mistake that can get your site penalised or even blacklisted by Google.
Website Promotion Tools: Various tools are essential for promoting your website online. This includes strategies like Pay-per-Click (PPC) advertising (like Google Ads), social media marketing, and broader search engine marketing (SEM) efforts. There are free and paid methods, but be cautious – investing without a clear strategy can quickly drain your budget.
Backlinks: These are links from other websites pointing to yours. They are vital for SEO, helping drive traffic directly and signalling to search engines that other sites see your content as relevant and high-quality – like a vote of confidence.

Learn More About SEO

This covers just the basics. SEO is a deep and constantly evolving field. If you’d like to learn more about how search engine optimisation can help your NZ business thrive online, explore our other blog posts or get in touch with the team at RANK.