SEO Fundamentals & Keyword Strategy
1. What is SEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of improving your website so that it appears higher in search engine results when people search for topics related to your business.
Good SEO means more free (organic) traffic from Google, Bing, and other search engines.
2. How Search Engines Work (Simple View)
• A user types a query into Google.
• Google scans billions of pages and chooses the most relevant and helpful ones.
• Pages are ranked based on many signals: relevance, content quality, user experience, and backlinks.
Your goal with SEO is to show search engines that your page is the best possible answer for a specific search.
3. What is a Keyword?
A keyword is a word or phrase that people type into search engines, for example:
• “best running shoes for women”
• “how to start a blog”
• “digital marketing course online”
When you optimize a page for a keyword, you are telling search engines:
“This page is the best answer for people searching for this phrase.”
4. Types of Keywords
– Short‑tail keywords
• 1–2 words
• Example: “shoes”, “marketing”
• High search volume, very high competition, usually not targeted.
-Long‑tail keywords
• 3+ words, more specific
• Example: “best running shoes for flat feet”, “digital marketing course for beginners”
• Lower search volume, lower competition, higher conversion rate.
For beginners and small businesses, long‑tail keywords are usually the best place to start.
5. How to Find Good Keywords (Simple Process)
1\ Start with a topic related to your business.
• Example: online marketing, fitness, web design.
2\Use free tools to get ideas:
• Google Keyword Planner
• Google “People also ask” and “Related searches”
3\Look for keywords that are:
• Relevant to what you offer
• Searched by real people
• Not dominated by huge brands only.
6. Basic Keyword Strategy for a New Website
- Choose 1 main keyword for each page or blog post.
- Use your main keyword in:
• Page title
• First paragraph
• URL (slug)
• 1–2 sub‑headings
• Meta description
- Avoid “keyword stuffing” (repeating the keyword in every sentence). Focus on natural, helpful content.
7. Practical Exercise
At the end of this lesson:
1. Write down one main topic for your website (for example: fitness coaching, marketing services, online courses).
2. Use Google search to find 5–10 long‑tail keywords related to that topic.
3. Choose one keyword that you will use to create your first optimized page or blog post.