Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of enhancing the visibility of websites and webpages on the internet. Numerous search engines help users locate websites, and SEO ensures that these sites appear prominently in search results. By optimizing a website, SEO makes searches more effective, so when users enter relevant terms, they find the desired site or page at the top of their search results. This process drives traffic from search engine results.
SEO consists of two main components:
- On-Page SEO: These ranking factors are entirely within the publisher's control, such as content quality, keyword usage, and site structure.
- Off-Page SEO: This involves strategies to increase the website's visibility externally, like backlinks and social media engagement.
For example, after creating a new website, the next step is to improve its ranking to attract more visitors. SEO is essential because most web traffic comes from search engines. Social networking sites also play a crucial role in driving traffic, given their large and active user bases worldwide.