The process of SEO is as follows:
- Keyword research (one to two weeks; revisit periodically). Discover the words and phrases your target audience is typing into search engines, so you can create content that aligns with what people actually search for. Use free tools like Google Trends to find popular keywords.
- On-page optimization (one to four weeks; ongoing). Use tactics such as adding internal links, making sure your content is readable, and adjusting your webpage titles, headings, and text to be more friendly to both readers and search engines. These on-page efforts provide value to readers and help search engines understand what each page is about.
- Technical SEO (two to four weeks for initial fixes; ongoing). Ensure your site’s structure, speed, and security are up to par. Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool to check for speed issues and make sure your site is mobile-friendly. Fix broken links, use HTTPS for security, and keep everything well-organized for both users and search engines.
- Link building (one to six months or longer). Seek high-quality links from reputable websites, ideally those within your industry. These links signal to search engines that your content is trustworthy and authoritative. Create shareable resources like how-to guides or original research, and consider guest posting on industry blogs to gain relevant backlinks.
- Measurement and refinement (ongoing). Track your site’s performance using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Focus on what works best and improve any underperforming pages. If a page has high traffic but few conversions, revise your calls to action or adjust the content in another way.
SEO is an ongoing process, and these steps may overlap or repeat. By refining each stage, you’ll steadily increase your website’s visibility. Start with detailed keyword research, optimize your on-page elements and site structure, build quality backlinks, and keep measuring your performance. Over time, these efforts can help your site rank higher and attract the right audience.
Further reading: How to Do SEO for Beginners