Beginner’s Guide to SEO: Essential Steps to Get Started

If you haven’t started with SEO yet, it’s crucial to begin now. Ranking high in search engine results is essential for ensuring that potential customers can find your website online. Without a solid SEO strategy, you might struggle to attract the traffic you need to grow your business.

So, how do you get started with SEO, especially if you’re launching a brand-new site? In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the 7 essential steps to set up an effective SEO strategy. These steps will help you build a strong foundation and improve your site’s visibility in search engine results.

Additionally, if you prefer learning through videos, we have a detailed compilation video available. This video walks you through the process of starting with SEO, providing visual guidance on each step. You can choose to watch the entire video or navigate to specific sections that address your particular needs.

By following these steps and utilizing the video resources, you’ll be well on your way to establishing a successful SEO strategy and enhancing your site’s online presence.

 

How to start with SEO?

If you’ve just launched your first website and want to make it visible to the world, starting with SEO is essential. Here’s how to begin:

 

1. Install Yoast SEO

If your site is on WordPress, the first step is to install the Yoast SEO plugin. This plugin helps ensure your site is accessible and easily found by search engines. Yoast SEO addresses several technical SEO issues right from the start. It also assists in structuring your site so that Google can better understand and rank it. Yoast offers both a free and a premium version. As a beginner, the free version should be sufficient, though the premium version could save you time and offer additional features as you progress.

 

2. Get Your First External Link

For Google to recognize your new website, you need at least one external link pointing to it. Google discovers new sites by following links across the web and adding pages to its index. Without external links, your site won’t be included in Google’s index, making it invisible to search engine users. To address this, secure at least one link from an external site to help Google find and index your site.

 

3. Identify Your Target Keywords

To attract the right visitors to your website, start by understanding who your target audience is. Determine who you built the site for, what terms they use when searching on Google, and what kind of content they are seeking. This process, known as keyword research, is crucial and can be challenging.

Use keyword research tools to assist with this task; some are free while others come with a cost. However, while these tools can simplify the process, you cannot rely solely on them. It’s important to think critically about your audience and the search terms they use. Also, analyse the search results pages for your chosen keywords. This phase is essential and requires careful consideration to compile a comprehensive list of keywords to target.

 

4. Set Realistic Expectations

Ranking high can be particularly difficult for a new website. Established sites have a history, authority, and numerous backlinks, which makes it easier for Google’s crawlers to find them. New sites must be patient, as it takes time to build credibility. Some search terms may be too competitive for a new site to rank for effectively.

Focus on long-tail keywords, which are more specific and have less competition than broader terms. For example, targeting niche keywords related to your topic can be more achievable. As your site gains traction and starts ranking for these long-tail keywords, you can then aim to target more competitive, broader keywords.

 

5. Internal Linking

Google follows links to understand your website’s structure, including internal links. A well-organised internal linking structure helps Google navigate your site and can improve your rankings. For a new website, it’s crucial to plan this structure carefully. Think of it like setting up a new closet; decide which pages are most important and ensure they are well-linked. Prioritise your key pages by linking to them from other relevant pages.

 

6. Content Creation

To rank well, you need quality content. Focus on writing content that targets the keywords you want to rank for. The Yoast SEO plugin can assist with writing SEO-friendly and readable content. Incorporate your target keywords in headings, the introduction, and conclusion. After drafting your content, optimise your SEO title and meta description with the help of Yoast SEO to ensure they are compelling and effective.

 

7. Building External Links

External links are crucial for improving your search engine rankings, but acquiring them can be challenging. Create content that is valuable and shareable to increase the likelihood of others linking to it. Additionally, actively reach out to relevant people and promote your website to generate external links. For more details on building a successful link strategy, explore further resources on link building techniques.

 

And then what?

SEO involves more than just these initial steps. The steps outlined are just the starting point. To achieve and maintain high search engine rankings over time, you’ll need to put in ongoing effort. This includes producing high-quality content, maintaining a well-structured site as it grows, and continually building external links. The key to long-term success is ensuring that your website provides value and a positive experience for your visitors. Aim to make your site the best it can be to achieve top rankings. Good luck!