What is SEO on Google?

Google is
The Book of the Internet

All search engines work alike, but I'm focusing on Google so we don't get into the weeds about the differences between Bing, Yahoo, GoDuckGo or any other search page.

Google visits every site it can find - billions! - and adds every word on every page to a master index. Then it also evaluates the content and context of each page.

What Google considers is actually a trade secret because it wants to return the best, most current information to its visitors.

Google invites you to enter a word, a phrase, or a question in whatever format you choose!

From the user's point of view, the blank box is a challenge:

Google tries to guess what you want!

Google makes a best guess for selecting what it thinks the user is asking. The guess is based on what is typed into the box, what else that person has search for, and what other people have previously asked about!

Google presents a Table of Contents of the entire World Wide Web based on information compiled in the Google index.

This "Table of Contents" is also known as the "Search Engine Results Page" (SERP). The art of getting mentioned there is "SEO."

SEO = Search Engine Optimization

You want your website to appear first on any results page. Here are your mental gymnastics for SEO:

1. What is your website offering? Information? Something for sale?
2. What words will people type into Google to find it?
3. Why do you think Google will see your website as the best answer to those words?

Where do you begin SEO?

First, Search for Your Website URL

The first step is to determine whether Google knows your website exists. You do this by typing your domain name into the search box. If any part of your website shows up, then Google has indexed it! 

Yippee! The URL for this blog is abcinc.pw. Google has already found my website.

And that is your only take-away for this exercise: Has Google found you? 

Second, Search With Your URL Plus Key Words

This particular article is about SEO, so I'm naturally curious whether Google  "knows" that I give SEO advice. I just added one more word to the box.

Shazaam: I am impressed with the search results! Not only did it find specific articles on this website but Google also found other websites that I own that contain my name and the "SEO" acronym.

• www.abcinc.pw > 2017/07
• www.abcinc.pw > 2019/03 > "Socail media is atool you use."
• abettercomputerinc.com > Internet 
• abettercomputerinc.com > "Web consutlants serving ..."
• mywordpresswebpage.com > add-content > seo
• www.linkedin.com > rickjaggers
• .....

You: try different key words that you know exist on your web page.

And that is your only take-away for this second exercise: Does Google know what you do? 

Finally, Search For ONLY Key Words

This is where your SEO really begins. This really has two components.

[1] What would someone type into the Google search box that you think should take them to your website? This could be a word, or a phrase, or a question.

[2] Why would Google consider one page on your website as the best answer?

Here are the results when I enter "SEO" without a reference to my website:

• The first four listings are paid advertisements
• Next is one site: moz.com > beginners-guide-to-seo
• "People also ask"
• What is SEO and how it works?
• What SEO means?
• How can I do SEO for my website?
• How do you do SEO marketing?
• Next is 8 more links to websites
• The last links are more paid advertisements
• Searches related to SEO
• (These suggestions are filled into the search box.)

None of my websites appeared on the first page, or the 2nd page. I scanned a total of 13 additional pages: I'm not listed.😐

Vocabulary lesson: "SEO" is a key word. If your website appears in a key word search that does not include your website name, then your website is said "to rank" for that key word.

SEO: End Notes

I do not recommend spending too much time to "Rank" on Google. Remember, your web page is competing among billions of other web pages in Google's index! Any changes that you think will change your ranking may takes 6-12 months to show up.

Instead, spend your time on creating quality content. Keep your content timely, thorough and easy to understand. Avoid jargon. Let Google decide when your website is "good enough."

Marketing your website is your responsibility. Use the URL on signs, printed material and signature blocks.