Internal vs. External vs. Technical SEO Explained

Introduction to SEO

SEO, short for Search Engine Optimisation, is like a secret code that helps websites become more visible on search engines like Google. When you search for something online, SEO is what decides which websites show up first in the results. It's all about making a website easy to find and stand out among the many others on the internet.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. It's like giving your website a special power to show up higher when people search for things online. By using the right keywords and organising content well, SEO helps websites get noticed more easily.

Why is SEO Important?

SEO is crucial because it helps people find information quickly and effortlessly. Imagine if you were looking for your favourite toy in a messy room – SEO is like cleaning up the room and putting the toy in plain sight. It ensures that your website is the easiest to spot among many others, making it more likely for people to visit and explore.

Types of SEO

SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, comes in different types, each serving a unique purpose in enhancing a website's visibility on search engines. Let's delve into the three main types of SEO: Internal SEO, External SEO, and Technical SEO.

Internal SEO

Internal SEO focuses on optimising elements within the website itself. This includes using relevant keywords strategically throughout the content, organising the website's structure for easy navigation, and ensuring that each page has unique and descriptive meta tags. By implementing internal SEO techniques, websites can improve their search engine rankings and make it easier for users to find what they're looking for.

External SEO

External SEO is all about building credibility and authority for a website from sources outside of the site itself. This is typically achieved through link building, where other reputable websites link back to your site. Search engines see these backlinks as "votes of confidence" for your site, indicating that it offers valuable and trustworthy information. The more high-quality backlinks a site has, the better its chances of ranking higher in search results.

Technical SEO

Technical SEO deals with the behind-the-scenes aspects of a website that impact its search engine visibility. This includes optimising website speed, ensuring mobile-friendliness, implementing schema markup for rich snippets, and creating XML sitemaps for search engines to easily crawl and index the site. Technical SEO is crucial for ensuring that a website meets search engine guidelines and provides a seamless user experience.

SEO Strategies

In this section, we will look at different strategies to make SEO work well. It's like having a game plan to win the SEO game.

Keyword Research

Finding the right words people are searching for is important. This helps in making content that people want to read. By knowing what keywords are popular, you can create content that matches what people are looking for, making your website more visible in search results.

Content Creation

Creating interesting and useful content will attract more visitors. Good content keeps people coming back. When you create valuable and engaging content, visitors are more likely to spend time on your site, increasing the chances of them returning in the future. This also helps in building a loyal audience who trusts your website as a reliable source of information.

Link Building

Getting other websites to link to your site helps improve your site's reputation. When other reputable websites link back to your content, search engines see your site as more trustworthy and valuable. This can boost your site's ranking in search results, making it easier for people to find.

SEO Best Practices

Here, we will discuss the best practices for SEO. These are the habits and techniques that help improve SEO effectively.

Regular Updates

Websites need to be updated often with fresh content. This keeps the site interesting and relevant. When a website is regularly updated, search engines see it as active and valuable, which can improve its ranking in search results. Updating content also gives visitors a reason to come back to the site and can help build a loyal audience.

Mobile-Friendly Design

Ensuring the website works well on mobile devices is crucial. Many people use their phones or tablets to browse the internet, so having a mobile-friendly site is important for reaching a wider audience. Search engines like Google also prioritise mobile-friendly websites in their rankings, so having a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes is essential for SEO success.

Fast Loading Speed

Websites should load quickly to provide a good user experience. Slow-loading sites can frustrate visitors and lead them to leave before even exploring the content. Search engines also consider page speed as a ranking factor, so having a fast-loading website can improve SEO. To optimise loading speed, you can compress images, minimise HTTP requests, and use caching techniques to make sure your website loads efficiently.

Technical SEO Techniques

An XML sitemap is like a map that helps search engines navigate your website more easily. It lists all the pages on your site, making it simpler for search engines to understand the structure of your website.

Robots.txt

The robots.txt file is a set of instructions for search engine robots on which pages of your website to crawl and index. It tells search engines which pages are open for exploration and which should be left alone.

Page Speed Optimisation

Page speed optimisation is all about making your website load faster. When a website loads quickly, visitors are happy because they don't have to wait. Search engines also like fast-loading sites because they provide a better user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In this section, we will answer common questions that readers might have about SEO.

What are keywords?

Keywords are specific words or phrases that people type into search engines like Google when looking for information. For SEO, using the right keywords on your website helps search engines understand what your content is about. This makes it more likely for your site to appear in search results when someone searches for those keywords.

How often should I update my website?

It's important to update your website regularly to keep it fresh and relevant. Adding new content, such as blog posts, articles, or product updates, not only provides value to your visitors but also signals to search engines that your site is active and up-to-date. Aim to update your website at least once a week to maintain engagement with your audience and improve your SEO ranking.

Can I do SEO on my own?

You can attempt to do SEO on your own by following best practices, conducting keyword research, creating quality content, and building relevant links, you can improve your website's visibility on search engines. However, if you find SEO overwhelming or don't have the time to dedicate to it, seeking professional help from an SEO agency like FEM Digital can also be a valuable investment.