How to do basic SEO

Basic SEO comes down to three interconnected areas: making your site technically sound, creating content that targets what people actually search for, and building signals of authority through links and mentions.

Start with technical foundations. Your site needs to load fast—aim for under 3 seconds on mobile. Use a mobile-first design since Google primarily indexes the mobile version of your site. Make sure your site architecture is logical with a clear hierarchy so Google can crawl important pages easily. Create an XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console, where you'll also monitor crawl errors and index coverage. Fix any broken links, redirect old URLs properly with 301 redirects, and ensure your robots.txt file isn't accidentally blocking search engines from important pages. Use HTTPS everywhere. These basics aren't glamorous, but they remove barriers to ranking.

On-page optimization focuses on matching content to search intent. Research keywords your target audience actually uses—not just high-volume terms, but phrases that show purchase intent or problem-solving. For each target keyword, create content that genuinely answers what someone is searching for. Include the keyword naturally in your title tag, first paragraph, and headings, but prioritize readability over keyword density. Write meta descriptions that accurately summarize the page and encourage clicks from search results. Optimize for related keywords and semantic variations—Google understands context now, not just exact matches. Aim for substantial content (typically 1,500+ words for competitive topics) because depth signals authority to Google and users.

Building authority requires external signals. Earn backlinks from relevant sites by creating content worth linking to, reaching out to industry publications, and building genuine relationships with other site owners. Don't buy links or pursue low-quality link schemes. Google's algorithms catch these quickly. Improve your local presence if applicable by claiming your Google Business Profile and ensuring consistent name, address, and phone information across the web.

Monitor your progress through Google Search Console, which shows which queries bring traffic, your average ranking position, and click-through rates. This data reveals optimization opportunities better than guessing. Start with these fundamentals, measure results, and iterate. Most ranking improvements come from consistently executing basics well rather than chasing algorithm secrets.