Search engine optimization, also known as ‘seo’ is the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in search engines via the “natural”, “organic” or “earned” internet marketing methods as opposed to paid advertising. In general terms, the earlier (or higher ranked on search results pages), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine’s users.
Search Engine Optimization is not an appropriate strategy for every website, and other Internet Marketing strategies can be more effective like paid advertising and email marketing.
SEO may target different types of search, including image search, local search, video search, academic search, news search and industry-specific vertical search engines. SEO differs from local marketing in that the latter is focused on optimizing a business’ online presence so that its web pages will be displayed by search engines when a user enters a local query for products or services.
It may also include all the ongoing processes to continually improve a site’s organic visibility in the “free,” “paid” and/or other types of listings on applicable search engine result pages (SERPs).
What Is The Difference Between Paid Ads & SEO?
Paid ads are advertisement space sold to advertisers to promote their products or services. SEO is one of the many channels that can be used to promote your products or services, usually through a cost-per-click fee model.
Paid ads may come from a variety of sources which include search engines and social media channels. SEO is performed with the goal of having a site show up on pages of relevant organic (non-paid) search results. In general, paid ads are more expensive than SEO campaigns because you’re paying for each click versus generating traffic to your website organically.
Organic Search Engine Optimization
Organic search engine optimization involves the use keywords, backlines and other factors intended to improve a site’s visibility in SERPs. As an advertiser, if you purchase ad space on a certain keyword related to your business, it’s an indication that your ads are showing in response to a user’s query containing specific keywords. On the contrary, organic SEO is all about keeping the website owner and the users happy by providing relevant information that answers users’ questions.
If you just purchased ad space on a keyword but you’re not seeing any results there, then it’s an indication that your ads aren’t targeting people searching for specific keywords related to your business and/or service.
Note: CTR (click through rates) can also help determine whether optimized ad text is more effective than no optimized ad text. Optimized ad text is the practice of drawing attention to certain keywords by repeating them in an advertisement–just like you would in a webpage’s content, but limited to 20% or less of your ad’s copy. The CTR for optimized ads was 67% higher on average than no optimized ads.
An example of this would be the following:
- No optimized Ad Copy =
- “Get High Quality Laptops at Cheap Prices Today!”
- Optimized Ad Copy = “High Quality Laptops at Cheap Prices!” vs “High Quality
- Laptops Here” or “Cheap Prices on Laptops!” ..
You should always keep SEO best practices in mind when managing your site because it keeps the users coming back for more versus getting them to come once and never come back.
A paid ad campaign can direct traffic to your site. But without proper SEO, you won’t have a steady stream of visitors that are interested in purchasing your products or services. If you’re already running an AdWords campaign but not seeing any conversions, then maybe you need to consider using other keywords oriented around your business’s main product/services categories so that potential customers are able to find you organically instead of having them click on an ad first.
Note: CTR (click through rates) can also help determine whether optimized ad text is more effective than nonoptimized ad text. Optimized ad text is the practice of drawing attention to certain keywords by repeating them in an advertisement–just like you would in a webpage’s content, but limited to 20% or less of your ad’s copy. The CTR for optimized ads was 67% higher on average than nonoptimized ads.
An example of this would be the following:
- Nonoptimized Ad Copy =
- “Get High Quality Laptops at Cheap Prices Today!”
- Optimized Ad Copy = “High Quality Laptops at Cheap Prices!” vs “High Quality Laptops Here” or “Cheap Prices on Laptops!”
What is On Page SEO?
On Page SEO refers to the process of optimizing web-page content. HTML elements, and Meta data, for both crawling and indexing by search engines. The various components that are typically part of on-page optimization include. Page title tag, headings, keywords in body text (and H1 headings), alt text. Meta data (meta description and meta keywords), canonicalization of duplicate content, and robot exclusions.
On-page optimization differs from off-page optimization. On-page optimization is done primarily on pages within the site. While off-page SEO refers to outside sites linking back to it.
It also differs from off-site optimization. In that on-page optimizes individual pages of a website while off-site typically applies to an entire site.
What is Off Page SEO?
Off Page SEO refers to all activities related to search engine rankings other than on page factors backlinks. Social media mentions and engagement as well as timely content development and publishing. In some cases gaining higher Google rankings can be easier. Through off page optimization than on page optimization because it requires less effort or knowledge of HTML code.
However, sometimes the opposite is true. This all depends on how popular your chosen keywords already are. And if there is enough authority (backlinks) already pointing at the page you want to rank. If the keywords you are trying to rank for are highly sought after. Then off-page optimization will most likely not be enough on its own. To get your page rank without doing some on page SEO as well. Most search engine optimizers have both on-page and off-page techniques at their disposal when working with clients.
The difference is that On Page SEO refers to optimizing a web page for getting higher rankings in Google. Whereas Off Page SEO includes all activities related to Search Engines other than On Page Optimization/SEO. A few things that may help in understanding this better are: –
- Off Page SEO Includes : Backlinks, Social Media Mentions & Engagement, Timely Content Development & Publishing.
- On Page SEO Includes : Page Titles, Meta Descriptions, H1 tags, Keywords in Body Text & Canonicalisation of Duplicate Content.
- Hope this helps!!
More About On Page SEO?
On Page SEO refers to the process of optimizing web-page content. HTML elements, and meta data, for both crawling and indexing by search engines. The various components that are typically part of on-page optimization include. Page title tag, headings, keywords in body text (and H1 headings), alt text, meta data (meta description and meta keywords). Canonicalization of duplicate content, and robot exclusions.
On-page optimization differs from off-page optimization in that on-page optimization. While off-page SEO refers to outside sites linking back to it. It also differs from off-site optimization in that on-page.
- Optimizes individual pages of a website while off-site typically applies to an entire site.
- Off Page SEO Includes : Backlinks, Social Media Mentions & Engagement, Timely Content Development & Publishing.
- On Page SEO Includes : Page Titles, Meta Descriptions, H1 tags, Keywords in Body Text & Canonicalisation of Duplicate Content.