Definition:
SEO is a process of improving a website so it can rank higher in search engine results.
What is SEO Exactly for Beginners?
It is stands for Search Engine Optimization. SEO allows to rank websites higher. When someone searches on Google, the search engine shows the most relevant pages.
For example, if someone searches for “best camera shop in kl”, search engines will show websites that are relevant to that search. Businesses that have optimized their websites using SEO are more likely to appear in these results.
Why is SEO important?
SEO is important because it helps your website become more visible on search engines like Google Search. When your pages rank higher in search results, more users can discover your content, leading to consistent organic traffic without relying on paid ads.
In addition, SEO helps build trust and credibility. Websites that appear at the top of search results are often seen as more reliable, which can improve user confidence and engagement. Unlike paid advertising, SEO also provides long-term results, making it a cost-effective strategy for sustainable growth. Understanding the importance of SEO can help businesses focus on strategies that drive long-term success online.
SEO vs SEM (Organic Traffic vs Paid Advertising)
Speaking of SEO being able to generate organic traffic, according to semrush there is also SEM, which includes both SEO and paid search advertising. To understand the key differences, check out our post on SEO vs SEM: Key Differences Beginners Should Know for more details.
Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a digital marketing strategy that promotes businesses on search engines through both unpaid and paid methods.
SEO and PPC are subsets of a SEM:
- SEO – Focuses on generating organic traffic to improve your website’s ranking on search engine without paying for ads
- Pay-Per-Click (PPC) – Focuses on paid advertising by setting up ad campaigns to generate traffic to your website. These ads are usually appeared as “Sponsored”
Paid ads can be seen in search engine with the label “Sponsored” or “Ad” as shown below
How Do Search Engine Work?
Search Engine have 3 primary functions: Crawl, Index, and Rank. These functions work together to help satisfy users’ queries by delivering the results they are expecting.
- Crawl – Search engines use web crawler “spiders” or “bots” to crawl and explore your website to discover new or updated pages. They follow hyperlinks, also known as internal links, to find additional pages.
- Index – After discovering pages, search engines store, organize, and categorize your content in their database.
- Rank – When a user enters a query, the search engine determines which pages are most relevant to that query and displays them in order.
In a simple real-life analogy, Crawl is like a librarian exploring the library to find new books. Index is where they organizing the books in a catalog for easy reference. Finally, Rank is where they recommending the most relevant books when someone asks
What are the Basic Steps in the SEO Process?
Keyword Research
First, start with Keyword Research which is one of the SEO best practices. Begin by identifying niche keywords related to your blog, website, or business and what your target audience is likely to search for. Explore what keywords your competitors are using as well. Once you have a list, use SEO tools to check each keyword’s search volume and ranking difficulty. This will show you approximately how many people search for that keyword each month and help you choose the best opportunities to target.
Free SEO Tools that you can start with:
- Google Keyword Planner
- Ubersuggest
- Google Trends
Paid SEO Tools:
- Ahrefs
- SEMRush
- Moz Pro
On-Page Optimization
On-page optimization is the process of optimizing elements within your website. It focuses on how and where you place your keywords effectively in your content. Keywords are important for on-page SEO because they help search engines and users understand how relevant your content is.
Adding your keyword to your body content and the following location is when it is natural to do so is best practice:
- Title tag: The HTML page title that can appear in Search Engine Result Page (SERPs)
- Meta description: Is the HTML page summary that can appear in SERPs
- H1 tag: The HTML element holds the main title of the page and also main keyword
- Subheading tags: HTML tags that contain subheadings below H1 tag (H2, H3, etc.)
- Alt text: HTML image descriptions
- URL slug: The unique part of the webpage address
Off-Page Optimization
The main focus of off-page optimization is to make your website more trustworthy and authoritative to both users and search engines. This is where backlinks come in. Backlinks are links from other sites that point to yours. They are like a shout-out from another page or a recommendation from a trusted friend. Therefore, the more high-quality backlinks you have, the more credible and authoritative your site becomes.
Few examples of Off-Page Optimization Task:
- Building Backlinks – Reaching out to other author of the website to include links that points back to your site.
- Guest Posting – Writing an article for other website and include link back to your related website.
- Social Media Promotion – Sharing out your content on social media platform like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, etc.
- Influencer Outreach – Collaborating with influencer to mention or link your website.
Technical SEO
It ensures that your website loads quickly, is easy for search engines to crawl and index, and is mobile-friendly and secure. It improves your website performance, search rankings, and overall user experience.
- Using meta robots tags and robot.txt is telling the search engine which page can be access
- Creating and submitting an XML sitemap is to allow search engines to discover all your pages easily
- Building internal links is to connect related pages and help both users and search engines navigate your site
By implementing these technical optimizations, you create a smooth and enjoyable experience for users visiting your website, which can increase engagement, reduce bounce rates, and encourage visitors to stay longer.
Example of SEO in Real Life
To better understand SEO, consider a simple example.
When a user searches for “best running shoes in Malaysia” on Google Search, search engines analyze and rank pages based on their relevance and quality. Websites that have strong on-page optimization, relevant keywords, and useful content are more likely to appear at the top.
For example, a blog that provides detailed reviews, comparisons, and answers user questions will perform better than a page with little or no optimization. This shows how applying the right SEO strategies can directly impact your visibility in search results.
How Long Does SEO Take to Work
SEO is a long-term strategy, and results typically take 3 to 6 months for most beginners to start seeing noticeable improvements. However, the exact timeline depends on your competition, website authority, and content quality.
In the first 2 to 4 weeks, search engines may begin crawling and indexing your pages, but you usually won’t see significant ranking changes yet.
Between 1 to 3 months, your content may start ranking for low-competition keywords, especially if your website is properly optimized and you follow SEO best practices.
By around 3 to 6 months, you should begin seeing more consistent traffic growth and better rankings, particularly if you continue producing high-quality content and building authority.
For highly competitive keywords, it can take 6 to 12 months or more to achieve top rankings.