What is SEO?

The question "What is SEO?" is one that interests nearly every business that has heard about SEO services. Many business owners are curious about SEO services and how they can enhance their digital marketing efforts. In doing so, several interesting questions arise:

• What is SEO?
• Why should I use SEO?
• What are the benefits of SEO?

In this article, we will answer these questions and explain what SEO is. As Make.az, we have been managing SEO optimization processes for companies working in both domestic and international markets for many years. Over this time, we have gained significant experience in the field of SEO. In this article, you’ll learn about SEO directly from the experts.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it encompasses all the processes conducted to ensure that your website ranks higher in search engines like Google. SEO refers to optimizing your website according to the rules of search engines, the needs and behaviors of users, and the overall marketing goals of your brand.

Why is SEO important?

The importance of SEO can be explained through a simple example. When we search for the term "apartment rentals" on Google, we see several websites in the search results. Some of these websites are ranked at the top, while others are lower down the list. Typically, the website that ranks first on Google gets the most traffic, which directly impacts the sales potential of that website.

How is it determined which site ranks first?

There are many factors, but the primary one is SEO.

The better the SEO of your website, the better it will rank for relevant keywords in searches. Of course, other factors such as the age of the website, the overall digital marketing activities of the brand, Google’s search algorithms, and user behavior also play a role.

To ensure your website is highly rated by Google:

• The overall SEO level of your site must be good.
• Your site should be enhanced through strong off-page SEO (backlinks).
• Your site should be optimized for the most commonly used keywords that users are searching for.
• Your site must be in a better condition compared to competing sites.
• Technical issues on your site must be resolved, and it should be in SEO-friendly condition.

Of course, many more points could be added to this list. Although Google does not disclose exactly how it evaluates websites, SEO experts understand many of the factors that contribute to a site’s SEO success.

What can SEO do for you?

Many business owners don’t realize what they can achieve through SEO, leading to missed opportunities. Now that we know what SEO is, let's answer the key question.

SEO:

• Attracts quality traffic to your website.
• Puts your site in front of potential customers.
• Increases your sales.
• Provides long-term results and reduces the need for large advertising budgets.
• Gives you a competitive edge.

You may wonder, how does SEO deliver these results?

In reality, SEO is a complex process. It requires patience and effort. A complete SEO campaign typically takes at least one year to yield significant results. This means that during the first year, a brand may only achieve 35-50% of the full potential of SEO. During this phase, SEO specialists optimize the website for Google, improving the site’s overall condition.

If the developed SEO strategy is fully and correctly implemented, the brand will begin to experience long-term benefits from SEO. Once a website secures the top positions for key keywords, it becomes very difficult to displace it.

That’s why SEO is a long-term, effort-intensive, but ultimately rewarding investment marketing strategy.

Why is SEO important?

SEO is essential for all businesses, and the main reason is the increasing cost of advertising every day. Brands need to invest in SEO to avoid relying solely on paid advertising. Continuous investment in SEO helps a brand secure top positions in Google search results, reducing the need for Google Ads spending.

SEO is also crucial for increasing website traffic, attracting potential customers, strengthening brand presence, and ultimately boosting sales.

When can you expect results from SEO?

If you are considering investing in SEO, you might wonder when this service will start yielding results. This depends on the speed of work by the SEO provider, the scope of the work done, Google’s evaluation of the efforts, and the goals of the brand.

Companies typically begin seeing results from SEO within the first 3-4 months. However, it generally takes 6-12 months to achieve full and accurate results. During this time, many changes occur on the site, and fluctuations in traffic are observed.

Ultimately, to see the best results from SEO, you need to engage in intensive SEO activities for at least one year.

How is SEO done?

SEO is a comprehensive process, and the answer to "how is SEO done" is as complex as the question itself. SEO is not a single task; it’s a combination of many tasks. When an SEO specialist works on your site, they focus on:

• Optimizing the on-page elements.
• Off-page SEO enhancements.
• Ensuring that the site’s content is high-quality and SEO-friendly.
• Fixing technical issues.

Additionally, an SEO specialist or agency continuously monitors the site, conducts tests, and makes changes based on the test results.

What is on-page SEO?

One of the most important aspects of SEO is on-page SEO. This refers to the optimization of the visible parts of the website that users interact with. During on-page SEO, all important pages are optimized based on user search intent. On-page SEO includes processes like keyword research, proper keyword usage, content creation, optimizing topic headings, and improving meta-data. On-page SEO is the largest part of the SEO campaign, and managing this process correctly is crucial for getting good SEO results.

What is off-page SEO?

Off-page SEO refers to the optimization activities that take place outside of your website. You might ask, "What are we doing outside of our site that could impact our site’s SEO performance?" In off-page SEO, we build backlinks from highly visited, thematically related websites to increase the strength and reputation of our own site. Quality backlinks from other sites act as a type of endorsement for your site, and Google validates your site’s quality based on the signals it receives from these external sites.

While off-page SEO is important, mismanaging this process can lead to negative consequences. Spammy or low-quality links can cause long-term damage to your site. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully manage off-page SEO during the overall SEO process.

What tools are used in SEO?

SEO specialists use various tools and programs throughout the SEO process. The most commonly used tools in SEO campaigns include Semrush, Ahrefs, Moz, Screaming Frog, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console. These tools help with tasks such as keyword research, market analysis, competitor analysis, link analysis, and technical audits.

Who is an SEO specialist and what do they do?

An SEO specialist is someone who provides SEO services for businesses or individuals. A specialist should be knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of SEO. An experienced SEO expert should be able to improve the site’s ranking in Google, increase website traffic, and drive more sales for the brand.

How can you measure SEO results?

There are many tools available to measure the results of SEO efforts. Two of the most popular are Google Analytics and Google Search Console. With these tools, you can see daily website traffic, understand which keywords are driving traffic, and monitor the overall health of your site.