If you're somewhat familiar with digital marketing, you've probably encountered the terms “SEO” and “Search Engine Optimization”. But what do these terms really mean, and why do they often seem difficult to define? We'll delve into that in this article.

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What is SEO?

“SEO” is an abbreviation for “Search Engine Optimization” in English, which translates to “søkemotoroptimalisering” in Norwegian. So, it involves optimizing for search engines, but for many, understanding stops there. It may seem redundant to talk about “SEO optimization”, though the phrase is commonly used!

To better understand this concept, one needs some grasp of the digital landscape. There are servers worldwide where domains can be purchased and websites hosted. However, a website is of little value if it can't be found—this is where search engines come in. With approximately 1.13 billion websites, and around 200 million active ones, it's clear that help is needed to locate specific sites.

While there are many search engines competing with Google, the size differences are significant. As of December 2023, Bing held 7.1% of all searches in the United States, making it the second largest search engine. Therefore, SEO efforts primarily target Google's search engine algorithm. This algorithm determines the order of web pages in search results when you search for terms like “SEO optimization”. From a marketing perspective, ranking high on Google’s list is crucial, as users tend to trust and click on top-ranked pages.

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How to Work with SEO?

There are several concrete methods for working with SEO, involving technical, on-page, and off-page strategies. These can be complex to implement effectively, making it valuable to consider hiring a company for SEO assistance.

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Technical SEO Measures

Technical SEO ensures your website is structured for easy indexing and ranking by search engines. Key measures include:

• Sitemap and robots.txt: Ensure your site has an up-to-date sitemap and correctly configured robots.txt files.
• Mobile Friendliness: Optimize your site for mobile devices, as Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites.
• Page Speed: Improve loading times by compressing images, using caching, and minimizing heavy scripts.

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On-page SEO

On-page SEO focuses on optimizing content and HTML code to appeal to both search engines and users. Important measures include:

• Keyword Optimization: Use relevant keywords naturally in titles, headings, meta descriptions, and content.
• Content Quality: Create high-quality, informative, and engaging content. Quality matters more than quantity.
• Internal Links: Link relevant content within your site to help users and search engines navigate.

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Off-page SEO

Off-page SEO involves actions outside your website to boost visibility and authority on Google. Key measures include:

• Backlinking: Earn quality backlinks from authoritative sites to build credibility.
• Social Sharing: Be active on social media to increase visibility and drive traffic.
• Guest Posts: Write on relevant blogs to gain exposure and backlinks.

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Continuous Optimization

SEO isn't a one-time task but a continuous process. Regularly monitor your site's performance using tools like Google Analytics and Search Console. Adjust your strategies based on analytics to ensure your site always performs well.

WeAssist provides comprehensive SEO services to improve your rankings, increase organic traffic, and enhance conversion rates. Our experts focus on technical SEO, content optimization, and backlink strategies to meet the latest SEO standards. Contact us today to learn more about improving your digital marketing strategy through effective SEO.