What Is SEO? Search Engine Optimization Best Practices

When a group of websites link to each other, usually using automated programs, in the hopes of artificially increasing search rankings. A box that appears at the top of, or on the right rail (desktop only), of Page 1 of Google’s search results for relevant queries. This panel contains facts and information on people, places, and things, as well as links to related websites or Google searches.

Off-page SEO covers the efforts taken outside your website to improve its rankings in search results. When people talk about SEO, they often have optimization for Google in mind. The short answer is yes if you run a small to medium-sized BHS Links website. All you need is some time to learn and practice SEO, plus good SEO tools that offer vast and accurate data.

Improve your on-page, off-page, and technical SEO

With a team working non-stop on improving Google’s search engine, the focus moved from factors like keyword density to user experience and high-quality content. These algorithm updates are still very much a part of the SEO field, with Google releasing a new one (or multiple) every year. You can expect this to be a continuous process where search engines adapt to current search behaviour and adjust their algorithms to keep showing users the best results for their search query.

According to Backlinko, custom meta descriptions can increase click-through rates by 5.8% — without changing your page’s ranking at all. That means better results, more traffic, and stronger visibility with just a few lines of text. This evolution from old-school SEO strategies to newer approaches was driven by key algorithm updates that transformed how search engines process and rank content. With semantic markup, internal linking, and a solid in-depth examination of a topic, you can make it easier for search engines to better understand and rank your site more effectively. Google’s algorithms now analyze entities and how they relate to each other rather than words in isolation. This shift enables search engines to provide improved results, even for ambiguous or vague searches.

• Avoiding keyword stuffing—forcing in keywords where they do not belong—is also important because Google considers this a spammy practice.
• Understanding SEO’s definition is only the beginning of understanding how it works.
• However, if you are spamming blogs, forums, and other places with links to your content, this can count against you when it comes to your SERP ranking.
• A meta description is a brief description that summarizes the content of a webpage.

Google Search Quality Rater Guidelines

Reach out today to learn how we can transform your local presence into a powerful engine for success. In short, a well-executed local SEO strategy not only increases your digital footprint but also drives real-world sales and enhances your brand’s presence within the community. When your listing appears on Maps, you’re not just gaining visibility—you’re positioning your business to capture high-intent customers at the exact moment they’re ready to act. According to Google, 76% of people who search for something nearby visit a related business within 24 hours, and 28% of those searches result in a purchase. These numbers highlight the immense power of Google Maps as a driver of local business growth. A meta description should ideally be between 150 and 160 characters long.

Freelancers typically specialize in specific areas of SEO, such as content creation, link building, or technical SEO. Costs can vary significantly, typically ranging from $50 to $300 per hour, depending on the freelancer’s experience and the complexity of the project. Additionally, content must be created with search engines in mind, meeting the criteria for ranking high in search results. In contrast, programmatic SEO uses automation to quickly create large numbers of web pages, each targeting specific keywords or keyword variations. These pages are generated from a template and populated with data from a database. Make sure that your title tag and meta description doesn’t exceed the recommended maximum characters.

To learn more about technical SEO, consider enrolling in a technical SEO course (there are free and paid options). SEO Can Put You Ahead of The Competition – If two websites are selling the same thing, the SEO optimized website is more likely to have more customers and make more sales. SEO Is Good For The Social Promotion of Your Website – People who find your website by searching Google or Bing are more likely to promote it on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media channels.

Inbound Link

SEO friendly means that a text is optimized for search engines, meaning using formatting, technical aspects and more that aim to please search engines. Search engines prioritize contextual relevance, so forcing keywords unnaturally into content no longer works. Instead, optimizing for semantic content means ensuring readability, user engagement, and meaningful topic coverage.