The term SEO is often used interchangeably with the terms search engine optimization, website optimization, and internet marketing. However, there are some key differences in their definitions that you should know about before you begin your search for a professional SEO company.
SEO - Search Engine Optimization
The term SEO (search engine optimization) is often used interchangeably with search engine marketing (SEM), which means using paid search ads to promote your site on the search engines. SEO refers specifically to optimizing or improving the ranking of a web page for a specific keyword phrase in search results.
There are
many different ways a website can be optimized for search engines. These methods include adding keywords to the content on the website, ensuring all links point back to the home page, linking out to other relevant sites, and submitting an XML sitemap to give each individual page a unique URL. The goal of any SEO campaign is to improve the rankings of your site so that it will appear higher in the results when users type in a keyword or keyphrase related to your business. This can increase traffic to your site and bring new customers who have searched for what you offer.
Website Optimization
This is also referred to as web development, web design, or web programming. When it comes to optimizing a website for search engines, this refers to making sure the code behind the website is written correctly. A good example of this would be when someone types "best hotel" into Google's search bar and your website appears at the top of the results. It may even make sense to optimize your website for certain keywords, but only if those words are related to the products or services offered by your company. If you sell cars, then you might want to optimize your website for "cars." If you sell jewelry, then focus on keywords like "jewelry," "gold," and "silver."
A good way to optimize a website for search engines is to use keywords throughout your content. You should also make sure each link on your site points back to your homepage. This ensures that anyone looking for information on your site will find it easily. Finally, submit an XML sitemap to Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and other major search engines. Doing these things will ensure your pages are indexed properly and show up in search results. This way, visitors won't need to search for your website manually.
Paid Search Advertising
If your website isn't optimized properly, people searching online for information on your product or service won't find it. In order to get people to visit your website, you'll need to advertise it on the Internet. There are two main options available: Pay-per-click advertising and pay-per-impression. Pay-per-click advertising is where advertisers bid on certain keywords. For instance, if you run a restaurant, you could bid on the word "restaurant." Then, whenever someone searches for that keyword, your ad will pop up in the results. You don't actually have to click through the ad to see more information because you're only charged for every time someone clicks on your ad.
With pay-per-impression advertising, you simply pay for every visitor who comes to your website. When someone visits your website and decides they want to purchase something from you, you can track them using an IP address lookup tool. Once they click through to your checkout page, you'll receive a credit card number and billing information. At this point, you'll charge the person $1 per sale. Although pay-per-click advertising is cheaper, it has its drawbacks. Because you only pay when someone clicks on your ad, it can be difficult to determine whether your ad was effective. With pay-per-impression advertising, however, you can track how much money you've made per month and per sale. Although both forms of advertising are effective in bringing traffic to your site, pay-per-impression is typically more cost-effective over the long haul.
Internet Marketing
As we mentioned earlier, the term "internet marketing" refers to getting businesses found on the internet. One popular form of internet marketing involves running pay-per-click advertisements. Another is article writing, where you write articles about your industry and post them to directories like EzineArticles.com or ArticleBase.com. Some companies hire freelance writers to create articles.
Another common form of internet marketing includes blogging. Many companies and organizations now use blogs to generate leads and build brand awareness. Blogs are usually short posts that contain valuable information related to your business. People read them regularly, so they're a great way to stay in front of potential clients.
Social Media Marketing
Finally, social media marketing is another growing trend in the marketing world. Social media websites allow you to connect directly with your customers and potential customers through a variety of online platforms such as Facebook. By creating a presence on these sites, you can develop relationships with your customers and gain insight into what they want and need. As a result, your sales will increase.