1. SEO Basics: What You Need to Know

SEO is how search engines like Google determine whether your website is worthy of being on the first page. It’s made up of three main pillars:

✅ On-Page SEO – Everything on your website (content, keywords, structure).
✅ Off-Page SEO – Everything happening outside your site (backlinks, partnerships).
✅ Technical SEO – The behind-the-scenes work (site speed, mobile optimization, indexing).

Why does SEO matter?
Because 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search results. If you’re not up there, you’re losing traffic, leads, and sales.

2. Keyword Research: The Foundation of SEO

If SEO is a game, keywords are the rules. The right keywords help you target the right audience and bring in organic traffic that converts.

🔎 How to Find Keywords That Work:

1. Use Google Search – Type your topic and check the autocomplete suggestions.

2. Explore People Also Ask – Google literally tells you what users are searching for.

3. Try Keyword Tools – Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, or SEMrush.

4. Look at Your Competitors – What are they ranking for? Can you do it better?

🎯 Pro Tip: Go for a mix of high-search, low-competition keywords + long-tail keywords (e.g., “how to do SEO for small businesses” instead of just “SEO”).

3. On-Page SEO: Optimizing for Success

Once you have your keywords, it’s time to optimize your content. Here’s the formula for SEO-friendly pages:

📌 Title Tag – The headline users see on Google. Keep it under 60 characters and include your main keyword.
📌 Meta Description – The short description under your title. Make it catchy, under 160 characters, and keyword-rich.
📌 Headers (H1, H2, H3) – Structure matters! Use headers to make content easy to read.
📌 URL Structure – Keep it clean. A good URL: yourwebsite.com/seo-guide instead of yourwebsite.com/page1234.
📌 Internal Links – Link to other relevant pages on your site. It boosts engagement and keeps users on your website.
📌 Alt Text for Images – Google can’t “see” images, so describe them with alt text to help with rankings.

🚀 Pro Tip: Always write for humans first, search engines second. Don’t stuff keywords—make it natural.

4. Technical SEO: The Stuff No One Talks About

This is where things get a little more… technical. But don’t worry, we’re keeping it simple.

🔧 Mobile Optimization – Over 60% of web traffic is from mobile users. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, Google won’t rank you well.
🔧 Site Speed – Slow websites kill conversions. Use Google PageSpeed Insights to check and fix loading times.
🔧 Secure Your Site (HTTPS) – If your site isn’t secure, both Google and users will avoid it.
🔧 Fix Broken Links – Use tools like Broken Link Checker to find and remove dead links.
🔧 Sitemap & Indexing – Submit your site to Google Search Console so Google can crawl and rank your pages properly.

🚀 Pro Tip: SEO isn’t just about ranking—it’s about user experience. A fast, mobile-friendly, secure site keeps visitors engaged.

5. Off-Page SEO: Building Authority

Google ranks sites based on trust and credibility. The best way to build that? Backlinks.

🔗 What Are Backlinks?
They’re links from other sites pointing to yours. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more Google trusts your site.

💡 How to Get Backlinks:
✔ Guest Blogging – Write valuable content for other sites and link back to yours.
✔ Networking & Partnerships – Collaborate with influencers and brands in your industry.
✔ Content Marketing – Create shareable, high-value content that people want to link to.
✔ Fix Broken Links – Find outdated links on other websites and offer them your content as a replacement.

🚀 Pro Tip: Focus on quality over quantity. One backlink from a high-authority site is worth more than 100 low-quality ones.

6. Content Strategy: SEO & Content Go Hand in Hand

Content is the fuel that drives SEO. But not just any content—high-value, engaging, and optimized content.

📌 What Type of Content Works for SEO?
✔ Long-Form Blogs (1,500+ words) – More in-depth = better rankings.
✔ How-To Guides – People love practical, actionable content.
✔ Lists & Checklists – Easy to read, easy to share.
✔ Case Studies & Success Stories – Build credibility and trust.
✔ Videos & Infographics – Google ranks diverse content higher.

🚀 Pro Tip: Update old content regularly to keep it fresh and relevant for rankings.

7. Tracking & Improving SEO Performance

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. SEO is a long game, so track your progress and optimize along the way.

📊 SEO Tools You Need:
✔ Google Analytics – Tracks traffic, user behavior, and conversions.
✔ Google Search Console – Helps with indexing and technical issues.
✔ SEMrush / Ahrefs / Ubersuggest – Advanced keyword & backlink research.

🚀 Pro Tip: Keep testing. A/B test your headlines, meta descriptions, and content formats to see what works best.

Final Thoughts: SEO is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

SEO isn’t one and done. It’s an ongoing process of optimizing, tracking, and adjusting.

Start with the basics, stay consistent, and over time, you’ll see your rankings, traffic, and conversions grow.

💡 Need help with SEO for your business? Let’s talk. At MLT Marketerra, we specialize in SEO strategies that drive real results. 🚀