Simplified Guide: Understanding SEO and Getting Started

You've finished your website, refined the design, and written your content… it's finally time to publish. But what's next? Welcome to the world of SEO — Search Engine Optimization.

This simplified guide will help you understand the basics of SEO and give you the keys to effectively position your site in search results.

🎯 Key Points

• SEO aims to improve your site's visibility and attract organic (non-paid) traffic.
• It includes: keyword research, on-page, off-page, and technical SEO.
• It's a long-term effort that requires monitoring your performance, staying updated, and regularly optimizing your content.

🔍 What is SEO?

It's a set of techniques that allow your site to appear higher in search engine results like Google. The goal: capture maximum qualified traffic, for free.

Search engines evaluate three main criteria:

• Content relevance
• Site credibility
• User experience (speed, mobile accessibility…)

📈 Why is SEO Important?

• Generate free and sustainable traffic
• Become an authority in your field
• Offer an optimal user experience
• Stay ahead of competitors

🔑 Keyword Research: The Foundation of SEO

Keywords are the expressions your users type on Google. Use tools like Originality.ai, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to:

• Identify relevant keywords
• Analyze search intent (informational, transactional, etc.)
• Target long-tail keywords that are more specific and less competitive

🧱 On-Page SEO: Optimize Your Content

• Titles & Meta-descriptions: include main keywords from the start
• URL Structure: clear, short, with hyphens
• H1, H2, H3 Tags: to organize content
• Internal Links: to improve navigation
• Image Optimization: compression and ALT tags
• Responsive Design: essential for mobile

🔗 Off-Page SEO: Strengthen Your Authority

Off-page SEO relies on backlinks — links from other credible sites:

• Write guest articles
• Collaborate with influencers or journalists
• Create unique, high-value content

Beware of dubious link techniques that violate Google's rules.

⚙️ Technical SEO: Optimize Performance

• Loading speed: Google favors fast sites
• XML Sitemap: to facilitate indexing
• Google Search Console: to detect errors

📊 Tracking & Analysis

SEO is a continuous process. Use these tools:

• Google Analytics: traffic, bounce rate
• Search Console: indexing errors
• Originality.ai: optimization scores
• Ahrefs / SEMrush / Moz: keyword and backlink tracking

Important metrics to track:

• Organic traffic
• Keyword rankings
• Click-through rate (CTR)
• Bounce rate
• Domain Authority (DA)

🚀 Ready to Get Started?

SEO is a long-term investment. Results aren't immediate, but consistent efforts pay off.

Stay informed, optimize your content, and prioritize quality over quantity.