How to do seo

When I first tried to understand SEO, it felt like learning a secret code for the internet. But trust me, it’s not as complex as it seems once you break it down! This guide is all about helping you figure out how to do SEO effectively, whether you’re working on your personal blog, an e-commerce store, a YouTube channel, or even a TikTok presence. We’ll cover everything from the basic principles to platform-specific tips, making sure you’re equipped with the latest strategies to get your content seen.

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is basically the process of making your website, videos, or online content more visible when people search for things on platforms like Google, YouTube, or even TikTok. The main goal? To rank higher in search results, ideally landing on the first page, so you get more organic unpaid traffic. And why does that matter? Well, over 53% of all website traffic comes from organic search, making SEO a massive driver of online visibility. Plus, the top result on Google often snags a significant chunk of clicks – around 27.6% – and most people never scroll past the first page! So, getting your content to show up there is a must for attracting visitors and reaching your audience.

In 2025, SEO isn’t just about technical tweaks. it’s deeply tied to creating helpful, high-quality content that genuinely serves your audience. Google’s algorithms are always getting smarter, focusing on understanding user intent and providing the most relevant and valuable results. So, while the technical side is still crucial, remember that quality content and user experience are at the heart of any successful SEO strategy.

Let’s break down how you can start doing SEO yourself.

Understanding the Pillars of SEO

Think of SEO as a house with several foundational pillars. If any one of them is weak, the whole structure might not stand as strong. These main pillars are:

1. Keyword Research: This is your blueprint. It’s about figuring out what words and phrases your potential audience is actually typing into search engines.
2. On-Page SEO: This involves optimizing the content and elements on your website pages to make them more appealing to both users and search engines.
3. Technical SEO: This is the behind-the-scenes work, ensuring your website is technically sound, fast, secure, and easy for search engines to crawl and understand.
4. Off-Page SEO: This covers activities outside your website that build its authority and reputation, mainly through backlinks and social signals.

Let’s explore each of these in more detail.

1. Mastering Keyword Research: The Foundation of Your Strategy

Before you write a single word or create a video, you’ve got to know what people are searching for. Keyword research is essentially the process of identifying the words and phrases your target audience uses to find information, products, or services online.

One of my favorite tricks? Just start typing something into Google or YouTube’s search bar, those autocomplete suggestions are basically a peek into what people are actually looking for. Don’t forget to check the “People Also Ask” section and related searches too!

Here’s how to do keyword research the right way: How to Do SEO Research for Etsy

• Brainstorm Initial Ideas: Start with topics relevant to your business or content. If you sell artisanal coffee, you might think of “best coffee beans,” “how to brew coffee,” or “espresso machine reviews.”
• Use Keyword Research Tools: While there are paid tools like Semrush and Ahrefs that offer deep insights, you can start with free options. Google Keyword Planner is a classic. You can also use Google Trends to see the popularity of search terms over time. These tools help you understand:
  • Search Volume: How many people are searching for this keyword each month?
  • Keyword Difficulty or Competition: How hard will it be to rank for this keyword? High-volume keywords often have high competition.
  • Related Keywords & Long-Tail Keywords: These are longer, more specific phrases e.g., “best portable espresso maker for camping” instead of just “espresso maker”. While they might have lower search volumes, they often attract more qualified traffic and can be easier to rank for. In fact, over 29% of keywords with over 10,000 monthly searches consist of 3+ words.
• Analyze Search Intent: This is huge! What are people really trying to accomplish when they type a keyword? Are they looking for information “how to make coffee”, wanting to buy something “buy coffee beans online”, or trying to navigate to a specific website “Starbucks home page”? Matching your content to search intent is crucial for ranking well.
• Spy on Competitors: See what keywords your competitors are ranking for. Tools can help you uncover these, giving you ideas you might not have thought of.
• Look at Your Existing Rankings: If you already have a website, check Google Search Console to see what keywords you’re already getting traffic for. You might find some “low-hanging fruit” keywords where you’re on page two that you can easily push to page one with a bit more optimization.

Once you have your list of keywords, prioritize them based on relevance, search volume, and difficulty.

2. On-Page SEO: Optimizing Your Content and Pages

This is where you apply your keyword research directly to your website content. On-page SEO involves optimizing everything on your actual web pages to help search engines understand what your content is about and how valuable it is to users.

Here’s a quick checklist for on-page SEO:

• High-Quality, Helpful Content: This is number one. Google consistently emphasizes creating “helpful, reliable, people-first content.” Your content should answer user questions, provide value, and be well-researched. Aim for depth and originality. Longer content over 3,000 words often earns more traffic, shares, and backlinks.
• Title Tags: This is the clickable headline that appears in search results. Make it compelling, include your primary keyword ideally near the beginning, and keep it between 50-60 characters so it displays fully. Google sometimes rewrites titles, but a well-optimized one gives you the best chance.
• Meta Descriptions: This is the short summary beneath your title in search results. While not a direct ranking factor, a good meta description encourages clicks, so include your main keywords and write an engaging summary to entice users.
• H1 Tags Headings: Your H1 tag is your main on-page headline. Every page should have one, clearly describing the content. It’s different from your title tag and appears directly on your webpage. Use it to tell both users and search engines what the page is about.
• Subheadings H2, H3, etc.: Break up your content with subheadings to improve readability for users and help search engines understand the structure and main points of your page. Include relevant keywords naturally in these.
• URL Structure: Keep your URLs short, descriptive, and include your primary keyword. Use hyphens to separate words for better readability and SEO. Avoid random characters or overly long URLs.
• Image Optimization: Images aren’t just for aesthetics!
  • File Names: Use descriptive file names with keywords e.g., best-coffee-beans.jpg instead of DSC001.jpg.
  • Alt Text: This describes the image for visually impaired users and search engines. Include relevant keywords here to help your images rank in Google Images.
  • Compression: Large image files slow down your site, so compress them to improve page speed.
• Internal Linking: Link to other relevant pages within your own website. This helps search engines discover your content, passes “link juice” authority between pages, and keeps users on your site longer. Use descriptive anchor text the clickable text that includes keywords.
• External Links: Don’t be afraid to link out to other high-authority, relevant websites. This shows Google you’re a good citizen of the web and that your content is well-researched.
• Readability: Write in clear, simple language. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and bold text to make your content easy to scan and understand.
• Mobile-Friendliness: With 63.31% of all web traffic coming from mobile devices as of March 2025, your site must look and function perfectly on phones and tablets. Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing.
• Schema Markup Structured Data: This is code you can add to your website to help search engines better understand your content and display “rich snippets” enhanced search results like star ratings, recipes, or FAQs.

3. Technical SEO: The Silent Backbone

Technical SEO is all about the backend of your website, making sure search engines can efficiently crawl, index, and understand your pages. Without good technical SEO, even the best content might not get seen.

Here are the key technical aspects to consider: How Do I Run SEO on My Website?

• Page Speed: How fast does your website load? Slow pages hurt user experience and rankings. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix issues.
• Crawlability and Indexability: Search engines use “crawlers” bots to discover pages. If they can’t crawl your site, they can’t index it, and if it’s not indexed, it won’t appear in search results.
  • XML Sitemaps: This is a list of all the important pages on your website that you want search engines to crawl. Submit it to Google Search Console.
  • robots.txt File: This file tells search engine bots which pages or sections of your site they shouldn’t crawl. Use it carefully!
• Website Architecture: A clear, logical site structure helps both users and search engines navigate your site. Think of it like organizing a library – everything should have a logical place.
• HTTPS SSL Certificate: Make sure your website is secure. Google prefers HTTPS sites, and it builds trust with your visitors.
• Broken Links: Regularly check for and fix any broken internal or external links on your site. These create a poor user experience and can hinder crawling.
• Duplicate Content: If you have identical or very similar content on multiple pages, it can confuse search engines. Use canonical tags to tell Google which version is the preferred one.
• Core Web Vitals: These are a set of metrics from Google that measure user experience, including loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability. Optimizing these is crucial for ranking.

4. Off-Page SEO: Building Authority Beyond Your Site

Off-page SEO refers to all the actions taken outside your website to boost its credibility, authority, and relevance in the eyes of search engines. It’s like getting recommendations or votes of confidence from other reputable sources.

The most critical off-page factor is backlinks – links from other websites pointing to yours. Think of them as votes. the more high-quality votes you get, the more authoritative your site appears to Google.

Here’s how to build a strong off-page SEO strategy:

• Link Building: Focus on acquiring high-quality backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites in your industry.
  • Guest Posting: Write articles for other reputable blogs in your niche and include a link back to your site in your author bio or within the content. This gets your brand in front of new audiences and earns valuable links.
  • Broken Link Building: Find broken links on other websites and suggest your relevant content as a replacement. It’s a win-win: they fix a broken link, and you get a backlink.
  • Create Link-Worthy Content: Produce amazing, shareable content like in-depth guides, original research, or compelling infographics that others will naturally want to link to.
• Social Media Engagement: While social shares aren’t direct ranking factors, they can indirectly impact SEO by increasing your content’s visibility, driving traffic, and building brand awareness. Engage with your audience and promote your content across platforms.
• Content Marketing: Beyond just creating content for your site, think about sharing it across other channels. This can include document submissions PDFs, presentations on platforms like SlideShare.
• Local SEO Citations & Reviews: If you have a physical business, optimizing for local search is key.
  • Google Business Profile: Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile with accurate information Name, Address, Phone – NAP.
  • Local Citations: Get your business listed in online directories like Yelp, G2, and Capterra. Ensure consistency across all listings.
  • Online Reviews: Encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews on Google, Yelp, and other relevant platforms. Reviews build trust and are an important local ranking factor.
• Influencer Outreach: Collaborating with influencers in your niche can expand your brand’s reach and credibility, leading to mentions and potentially backlinks.

SEO on Specific Platforms

SEO isn’t just for websites anymore. it’s crucial for various online platforms too. How to Check Google Ranking of Keywords: Your Essential Guide

How to do SEO for YouTube

YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine. Optimizing your videos is vital for getting more views and subscribers.

• Keyword Research for YouTube: Don’t just rely on Google. Use YouTube’s search bar suggestions, analyze competitor videos, and use tools like TubeBuddy or VidIQ to find relevant, high-volume keywords. Focus on long-tail keywords too.
• Video Titles: Make them engaging, include your primary keyword ideally at the beginning, and keep them concise.
• Video Descriptions: Treat this like a mini-blog post! Include your main keyword within the first 25 words, write a detailed description at least 250 words, and use your keyword 2-4 times naturally. Add timestamps, links to relevant content, and call-to-actions.
• Tags: Use relevant tags, including a mix of broad and specific keywords.
• Thumbnails: Create custom, eye-catching thumbnails. These are crucial for click-through rates.
• Captions and Subtitles: Adding captions improves accessibility and provides more text for YouTube’s algorithm to understand your video.
• Playlists: Organize your videos into playlists with keyword-rich titles and descriptions. This encourages binge-watching and increases watch time.
• Engagement: YouTube’s algorithm prioritizes engagement likes, comments, shares, watch time, audience retention. Encourage viewers to interact with your content.
• Promote: Share your YouTube videos on other social media platforms and embed them in your blog posts.

How to do SEO on Shopify

Shopify is a fantastic platform for e-commerce, and it has built-in SEO capabilities. Most general SEO principles apply here, but with a product-focused twist:

• Product-Specific Keyword Research: Think like your customer. What would they type to find your product? Use tools to find keywords for individual products, collections, and blog posts.
• Optimize Product Titles & Descriptions: Include your target keywords in product titles, descriptions, and meta descriptions. Write compelling descriptions that sell the product but also provide valuable information.
• Image SEO: Optimize product images with descriptive alt text and compressed file sizes.
• Collection Pages: Optimize your collection page titles and descriptions with relevant keywords to help customers find groups of products.
• Blog Content: Use Shopify’s blog feature to create helpful content around your products, answering customer questions, and building topical authority. For example, if you sell artisanal coffee, a blog post on “how to choose the right coffee grinder” can attract potential customers.
• Reviews: Encourage product reviews. These not only build trust but also add fresh, keyword-rich content to your product pages.
• Mobile-Friendliness: Ensure your Shopify store is perfectly responsive on all devices.

How to do SEO on Squarespace

Squarespace is known for its beautiful designs and user-friendliness, and it offers solid SEO tools.

• Connect Google Search Console: This is vital for monitoring your site’s performance in search and identifying any issues.
• Keyword Research: Just like any website, thorough keyword research is your starting point.
• Site Title & Description: Make sure your overall site title and description are optimized.
• Page SEO Titles & Descriptions: Each page on your Squarespace site should have unique, keyword-optimized SEO titles and meta descriptions.
• URL Optimization: Keep your page URLs clean, short, and include keywords. Squarespace can sometimes generate generic URLs if you don’t title pages immediately, so be mindful to edit them.
• Use Headers Correctly: Structure your content with H1 for your main title once per page and H2, H3 for subheadings.
• Image Optimization: Add descriptive alt text to all your images.
• Start a Blog: A blog is one of the best ways to continuously add fresh, keyword-rich content and build topical authority on Squarespace.
• Mobile-Friendly Design: Squarespace templates are generally mobile-responsive, but always double-check your site’s appearance and functionality on different devices.
• Local Listings: If applicable, list your physical address on your contact page and optimize your Google Business Profile.

How to do SEO on Etsy

Etsy is a unique marketplace, and its search works a bit differently from Google, but SEO principles are still highly relevant.

• Etsy Keyword Research: Think about what shoppers type into Etsy’s search bar. Use Etsy’s search suggestions, look at competitor listings, and consider tools that help with Etsy-specific keywords.
• Listing Titles: Your titles should be descriptive and packed with relevant keywords. Imagine you’re writing for both a human and Etsy’s algorithm. Use long-tail keywords here.
• Tags: Etsy allows you to use multiple tags. Maximize these, using all available slots and including a mix of single words and phrases that relate to your product.
• Product Descriptions: Write detailed, engaging descriptions that include your keywords naturally. Highlight features, benefits, and anything a customer might search for.
• Categories & Attributes: Fill out all relevant categories and attributes accurately. This helps Etsy understand and categorize your products.
• Shop Sections: Create organized shop sections with keyword-rich titles to help buyers navigate your store and for Etsy to understand your offerings.
• Image Optimization: Use high-quality, clear images. While Etsy’s search isn’t image-based like Google Images, good photos are crucial for conversion, which indirectly helps your listing’s performance.

How to do SEO on TikTok

TikTok, while primarily a social media platform, is increasingly used as a search engine, especially by younger audiences. TikTok SEO focuses on optimizing your short-form video content for discoverability within the app’s search and its “For You” page. Mastering SEO: Your Ultimate Guide to Keyword Research

• Keyword Research for TikTok: Look at trending sounds, hashtags, and phrases. Use TikTok’s search bar for suggestions. Think about what users might type to find your type of content.
• Video Captions: Include relevant keywords in your video captions. This helps TikTok’s algorithm understand your content and recommend it.
• Hashtags: Use a mix of broad and niche-specific hashtags. Trending hashtags can give your content a boost.
• On-Screen Text & Video Titles: These provide valuable context for TikTok’s algorithm.
• Sounds/Podcast: Trending sounds can significantly increase visibility.
• Engagement: TikTok’s algorithm heavily prioritizes engagement metrics like likes, comments, shares, and watch time. High engagement signals to TikTok that your content is valuable.
• Video Completion Rate: The longer people watch your video, the better. Hook viewers early and keep them engaged.
• Focus on Trends: Stay updated with trending topics and sounds on TikTok and create content that aligns with them.

Measuring and Monitoring Your SEO Performance

SEO isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of thing. It requires ongoing monitoring, analysis, and adjustments.

• Google Search Console: This is your essential free tool from Google. It shows you which keywords you’re ranking for, how many clicks you’re getting, any crawl errors, and much more.
• Google Analytics: This tool tracks your website traffic, user behavior, conversions, and more. It helps you understand how visitors are interacting with your site.
• Keyword Rank Tracking Tools: Tools like Semrush or Ahrefs can help you track your keyword rankings over time, allowing you to see if your efforts are paying off.
• Analyze Your Competitors: Keep an eye on what your competitors are doing in terms of SEO. What keywords are they targeting? What kind of content are they producing?
• Regular Content Audits: Go back and update old content. Refreshing existing articles with new information, keywords, and better optimization can significantly boost their performance.
• Stay Updated: SEO is constantly . Google makes algorithm updates regularly, and new trends emerge like the impact of Generative AI and Google AI Overviews. Staying informed is crucial.

By consistently applying these strategies and keeping an eye on your performance, you can significantly improve your online visibility and drive more organic traffic to your website, products, or content. It takes patience and persistence, but the long-term rewards are definitely worth it!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SEO and why is it important for my business?

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of optimizing your online content like websites, videos, or product listings to rank higher in search engine results. It’s super important for your business because it drives organic traffic—people who are actively searching for what you offer. This traffic is often highly qualified, meaning visitors are more likely to convert into customers or followers. With over 53% of all website traffic coming from organic search, getting your content to appear on the first page of results can dramatically increase your visibility, brand awareness, and ultimately, your sales. The Astronomical Rise of Jung Hae-in: Unpacking His $14 Million Fortune

How long does it take to see results from SEO efforts?

Honestly, SEO is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. You might start seeing some initial improvements in rankings and traffic within a few months, but significant results typically take 6 to 12 months, or even longer. It depends on factors like the competitiveness of your industry, the quality of your content, your budget, and the consistency of your efforts. Think of it as building a strong foundation for your online presence – it takes time and continuous work, but the results are sustainable.

Do I need to be a technical expert to do SEO myself?

Not at all! While there are technical aspects to SEO, you don’t need to be a developer to get started. Many basic and intermediate SEO tasks, like keyword research, content optimization on-page SEO, and even some technical checks like mobile-friendliness or page speed with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, can be done by anyone willing to learn. Platforms like Squarespace and Shopify also handle much of the underlying technical SEO for you. For more complex issues, you might eventually need to consult an expert, but you can definitely achieve a lot on your own.

What are the most important factors for ranking high on Google in 2025?

In 2025, several factors remain critical for ranking high on Google. These include high-quality, helpful, and relevant content that satisfies user intent, a fast and mobile-friendly website Core Web Vitals, a strong backlink profile from authoritative sites, and excellent user experience UX. The increasing role of AI in search results also highlights the importance of clarity, context, and well-structured data. Google’s E-E-A-T Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness guidelines are also more important than ever.

How often should I update my website content for SEO?

Regularly updating and adding fresh content is definitely a good practice for SEO. While there’s no magic number, I’d say aiming to update your core pages or publishing new blog posts at least once or twice a month can be very beneficial. More frequently, if possible, for things like news or trending topics. Updating older content to keep it current and relevant, adding new information, or improving its readability can also significantly boost its ranking. This signals to search engines that your site is active and provides up-to-date information.

Is SEO still effective with the rise of social media and paid ads?

Absolutely! While social media and paid ads are powerful marketing channels, SEO remains incredibly effective and is often considered the most sustainable long-term strategy. Over 53% of all website traffic comes from organic search, making it the top driver of web traffic. Organic traffic is “free” aside from your time and effort and continues to bring visitors long after an ad campaign ends. Social media and paid ads can complement your SEO efforts by driving initial awareness and traffic, which can then help boost your search rankings indirectly through increased engagement and brand signals. SEO provides a consistent, cost-effective stream of targeted visitors who are actively looking for solutions. What is an SEO Title: Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Noticed Online

Can I use AI tools for my SEO efforts?

Yes, you definitely can! Many SEO professionals are embracing AI as a powerful tool. In fact, studies show that 65% generate improved SEO results using AI tools, and 67% of businesses see improvements in content quality when working with AI. AI tools can assist with keyword research, content ideation, structuring your content, analyzing search intent, and even drafting initial content outlines. Platforms like ChatGPT can help you discover and categorize keywords. However, it’s crucial to remember that AI should assist your efforts, not replace human creativity, expertise, and ethical considerations. Always review and refine AI-generated content to ensure it’s accurate, helpful, and truly reflects your unique voice and authority.