What Is SEO? The Beginners Guide With Examples in 2025

White Hat and Black Hat SEO are two different approaches to search engine optimization (SEO). White hat SEO is based on using ethical, transparent techniques to build your pages’ rankings. This means following Google and other search engines’ rules regarding website and position optimization.

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• SEO (search engine optimization) is the practice of optimizing the performance of a website by changing its structure and content to increase its visibility and web traffic.
• But to keep things simple, you want to structure your on-page optimizations around one keyword.
• And this mini SEO checklist will help ensure that your page is optimized for SEO.

By February 21, our comprehensive approach delivered impressive results across all targeted locations. Your website isn’t just a digital brochure—it’s the engine that powers your local SEO success. While your Google Business Profile (GBP) acts as the front door, your website is the foundation that tells search engines exactly who you are, where you serve, and why locals should choose you. These listings are prime real estate for local businesses, often leading to higher click-through rates and conversions. Local SEO is the backbone of digital marketing for businesses that operate in specific geographic areas.

This includes things like building backlinks, guest blogging, and social media marketing. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving a website’s organic visibility on search engines. SEO can support other aspects of your digital marketing strategy, and vice versa.

But I knew that comprehensive content had a MUCH better chance of ranking #1 in Google than a short post. So, if you wanted to compete for this keyword, you’d likely need to create a similar format of article. This way, you can create valuable content that’s likely to connect with your audience. And that makes it WAY more likely to convert them into customers. Backlinks show the total number of links a page has received and Domains shows the total numbers of websites linking to each page. Essentially, you need to compare the quality the content currently ranking with yours.

So I can’t cover everything there is to know about finding keywords here (I have a separate dedicated article all about SEO keywords for that). But even when written content is the answer, you need to ensure it’s the right type of written content for your target audience. In fact, we regularly publish content on Backlinko that’s specifically designed to rank in Google.

Content Optimization

Though the sites may rank more quickly than those that are optimized properly, these sites are often penalized or banned by search engines rather quickly. When it comes to SEO, there are two different approaches that organizations take to optimizing their sites for the search engines – black hat vs. white hat SEO tactics. The more people trust your content, the more the search engines will as well. And it can also give your search engines a better understanding of your content. Start off by creating a few blog posts and work to build a following on social media. By creating more engaging and effective SEO-focused content, you can increase your chances of bringing in more targeted organic website traffic.

Relationship with Google

Unfortunately, most people just spam links on Twitter… and wonder why no one clicks over. And you can check your content against that list to make sure you’re using those same terms in your article. This tool scans your content for SEO issues (like basic technical SEO problems and whether or not your content is over-optimized). Basically, these are BHS Links terms that tend to “show up” next to your target keyword. In my experience, this is tough to do if your content is already written. And if that happens often enough, Google will downrank you for that keyword.

A secure website instills confidence in users and search engines, contributing to improved rankings and reputation. SEO (search engine optimisation) marketing is the process of optimising your website and its content for visibility. In other words, optimizing your site for SEO makes it easier for internet searchers to find your content, products, and services.