SEO starter guide: What is it, how Does it work, and where to begin?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is one of the most important modern online marketing tools. If you have a website or an e-shop and want to attract more visitors, SEO is the very first step towards better visibility on Google or other search engines. This article is a perfect starting point for anyone wanting to understand what SEO is, how it works, and where to begin.

What is SEO?

SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that it appears as high as possible in search engine results for your targeted keywords. Good SEO helps you organically (for free) attract more potential customers, boost brand awareness, and build trust.

Simply put: SEO means making it easier for Google and other search engines to see, understand, and evaluate your website.

How Do Search Engines Work?

Before you start optimizing, it’s important to understand how search engines function:

1. Indexing – Search engine bots “travel” across web pages, collecting information and storing it in their database (index).
2. Ranking – When someone searches, the search engine analyzes millions of indexed pages and sorts them according to many criteria (ranking factors).
3. Displaying Results – The user is shown the pages that best match their query.

Types of SEO

SEO can be divided into three main areas:

1. On-page SEO

• Keyword research and usage (title, meta descriptions, text)
• High-quality, relevant, and user-friendly content
• Proper heading structure (H1, H2, H3…)
• Link structure, internal links
• Image ALT texts, page speed, mobile-friendliness

2. Off-page SEO

• Earning backlinks from other websites
• Increasing brand awareness on social media
• Reviews and recommendations

3. Technical SEO

• Website loading speed
• SSL certificate (https)
• XML sitemap, robots.txt file
• Proper site structure
• Mobile responsiveness

Most Common SEO Mistakes

1. Using too many or too few keywords
2. Duplicate or low-quality content
3. Slow website loading speed
4. Unoptimized images
5. Lack of internal links
6. No mobile version

Key Steps to Start with SEO

Identify which keywords are important for your business.

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs.

Optimize your homepage and internal pages.

Write clear and appealing titles, meta descriptions, and create quality content.

Improve your website’s technical setup.

Make sure your site loads fast, is mobile-friendly, and has an SSL certificate.

Build quality backlinks.

Create valuable content, participate in guest posting, and build partnerships.

Continuously monitor your results.

Use Google Analytics and Search Console to track changes in rankings and visitor traffic.

Useful Glossary

Keyword – A word or phrase people enter into search engines.

Meta Description – A short description of a page, visible in search results.

Backlink – A link to your website from other sites.

ALT Text – An alternative description for images, important for both SEO and accessibility.

SERP – Search Engine Results Page.

SEO is a long-term strategy, but the investment pays off: you’ll get more traffic, more clients, and better brand visibility. Starting isn’t difficult – the main thing is to consistently follow best practices and be open to learning new things. If you don’t know where to begin, just follow the steps in this article!