The term SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) relates to increasing your website’s exposure in Google search results for relevant keywords or search phrases. SEO helps to generate natural site traffic. When searching for a service or product online, people are more likely to click on one of the first ten results. These ten results are favoured since they are well-written and heavily optimised for SEO. There are around 12 main methods of SEO that help websites rank higher on search engine results pages.

Types of SEO

There are a total of twelve forms of SEO. A brief summary and advantages of each are provided below.

1. On-Page SEO (On-Site SEO): 

On-site SEO is the technique of optimising aspects on a website, such as content and HTML code, in order to boost search engine ranks and attract more relevant visitors. This differs from off-site SEO, which focuses on external characteristics like as backlinks and social media signals.

SEO Keyword Research

It is about finding relevant search phrases (keywords) that consumers are looking for and carefully inserting those keywords into website content to boost search engine exposure and relevancy.

Quality SEO Content

Quality SEO content entails developing material that is both user and search engine friendly by concentrating on the target audience’s demands and interests, employing relevant keywords, and attracting links and shares to boost search engine rankings.

Internal Linking For SEO

Internal linking for SEO is putting links within a website to connect related pages, which improves user experience and helps search engines comprehend the website’s structure and content.

Metadata SEO Optimization

Metadata SEO optimisation entails optimising HTML components such as title tags, header tags, and meta descriptions to properly and concisely represent the page’s content to both search engines and people. To make the page more visible and relevant in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Image SEO Optimization

Image SEO Optimisation is the practice of optimising website photos using informative file names, alt tags, and captions to enhance both user experience and search engine visibility, with the purpose of increasing traffic to a website through Google image searches.

URL Structure 

URL structure refers to the organisation and design of a website’s URLs, which includes important keywords to assist search engines comprehend page content and enhance rankings, as well as enhancing user experience and enabling link-building activities.

2. Off-Page SEO (Off-Site SEO): 

Off-page SEO, often known as off-site SEO, is the process of increasing a website’s search engine rating by optimising elements other than the website itself. This may be accomplished by creating high-quality backlinks, advertising the website on social media, and using other means of internet marketing.

The objective is to improve the website’s authority, reputation, and relevance in the eyes of search engines, which can lead to higher ranks and more organic visitors.

Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is a frequent off-page SEO tactic for generating backlinks.

It happens when you publish an article for another website and provide a hyperlink to your own in exchange. This can boost your website’s exposure and authority, resulting in more visitors.

H.A.R.O

Responding to journalist and reporter queries to acquire media exposure and backlinks to improve SEO.

Competitor Research and Analysis

Analysing rivals’ backlinks, content, and keywords to obtain insights and enhance one’s own SEO strategy.

Internet Ads

Paid advertising on external websites and search engines to drive traffic and create leads for a website or business, therefore increasing its online presence.

Press Distribution

Share press releases with appropriate media outlets to gain backlinks, acquire new consumers, and boost brand awareness.

Brand Signals

In SEO, brand signals relate to a brand’s online presence and reputation, which is built through activities such as social media involvement, online directory listings, and references on other websites. These signals can assist search engines identify a brand’s authority and credibility, hence improving search engine ranks.

3. Technical SEO

Technical SEO is the process of optimising a website so that search engines can crawl and index it more readily, hence enhancing its search engine ranking. This involves responsibilities like optimising site load time, ensuring robot.txt files are properly setup, and appropriately configuring redirects.

The purpose of technical SEO is to improve a website’s accessibility and usability for both search engines and visitors.

Site Load Time

Site load time optimization entails enhancing website speed and performance to give a better user experience and get higher search engine results.

Mobile-Friendliness

Mobile-friendliness refers to a website’s design and functionality that is optimised for use on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. It guarantees that the website responds to various screen sizes, loads quickly, and is simple to use on mobile devices.

Crawl Error Identification 

Crawl error identification is the process of identifying and correcting faults that hinder search engines from accessing page content. These mistakes might include broken links, missing pages, and other flaws that reduce search engine visibility. Fixing crawl problems can help website owners boost their search engine rankings and general visibility.

Keyword Cannibalization Audit

A keyword cannibalization audit is the process of detecting and resolving situations in which numerous pages of a website compete for the same or related keywords, resulting in reduced search engine exposure and overall organic performance.

Duplicate Content Audit

A duplicate content audit is finding and removing instances of duplicate material from a website that might harm search engine results.

Site Structure

Site structure is the process of building a clear and organised website structure that allows visitors and search engines to access and interpret website content. A clear site layout may also enhance the user experience by making it easier for visitors to discover the content they need.

4. International SEO

International SEO increases your website’s organic traffic from many regions and languages. If you want to thrive in international SEO, you must consider your target market’s cultural background and allow them to do transactions in their own currency and language.

Use the appropriate format for dates and times based on where they are listed. If they are concerned, communicate in their own language. International SEO seeks to provide a positive online experience for your target demographic.

5. Local SEO

Local SEO strategy for local businesses is one of the most significant forms of SEO since it increases the business’s visibility in Google’s local search results.

Local SEO assists firms in reaching their local audience by analysing their behaviour over billions of searches. If you employ local SEO tactics, your local business will be able to rank better in both search results and the local map pack. This, in turn, helps to expand your business and drive visitors to your website.

6. E-commerce SEO

E-commerce SEO is one of the most effective strategies to increase visitors through sponsored search, but SEO expenses are substantially lower. It helps your online store website rank better when people search for a product or service.

It is crucial that your website appear in the SERPs; otherwise, you will lose valuable access to potential and qualified ecommerce consumers. If rivals’ research, homepage SEO, and website architecture are done correctly, ecommerce SEO may optimise your website to enhance traffic and search volumes.

7. Content SEO

Content SEO is another term used to describe many sorts of SEO. It refers to providing original material, such as text, pictures, or videos, to help organise your website and rank better in SERPs.

Working with content SEOs requires three considerations: copywriting, site structure, and keyword strategy. It is critical to strike a balance between the three since your website will not rank well in search results if it lacks excellent content.

Furthermore, it is just as vital to examine the material after posting as it is before publishing. Keep track of how your content performs. Make the required improvements, add new items, and implement a variety of techniques to increase the reach of your website.

8. Mobile SEO

Mobile SEO is a concept that refers to optimising a website for search engines while also ensuring that it is adequately visible on mobile devices and tablets.

If a client has a negative experience with a brand on their mobile device, they may never return. If you want your clients to have the finest possible experience, use this form of search engine optimisation. It is critical to ensure that your site’s look, structure, and page speed do not cause mobile consumers to reconsider their minds.

9. White-Hat SEO

When someone says white-hat SEO, they imply SEO tactics that comply with the terms and regulations of the main search engines, including Google. White-hat SEO enhances your SERP ranking while adhering to the search engine’s terms of service.

White-hat SEO strategies are the most effective way to build a profitable website. Here are a few white-SEO techniques that you should rigorously follow:

• Use keyword-rich and descriptive meta tags.
• Offer great services and content to website visitors.
• Make your website easier to navigate.

10. Black-Hat SEO

Black-hat SEO takes use of flaws in Google’s search algorithm to rank higher in the search results. Spammy or sponsored link-building schemes, keyword stuffing, cloaking, and other tactics are used to improve search engine rankings. These tactics produce fast results, but if Google detects them, they might have a negative influence on your website. Hence, it is advisable to avoid black hat SEO.

11. Gray-Hat SEO

It is a higher-risk SEO approach than white-hat SEO. Gray-hat SEO methods do not fall into either the white-hat or black-hat categories since the criteria and conditions around the issue are ambiguous.

However, utilising grey-hat SEO tactics will not result in a search engine ban. Simply put, the information or content that you post in line with gray-hat SEO is ill-defined. Knowing about gray-hat SEO methods helps prevent your website from losing visitors since you will be aware of the negative effects, allowing you to embrace fair practices.

12. Negative SEO

Negative SEO is an unattractive and immoral type of SEO employed nowadays. Negative SEO aims to reduce your competitors’ search ranks, allowing you to overtake or gain an edge over them.

Breaking into someone’s site and establishing an unusually high number of low-quality links to it, as well as writing bad feedback or reviews about them on multiple internet forums and discussion boards, are all examples of poor SEO methods. A person found conducting improper SEO might face a range of legal consequences.

Conclusion

If you want to be an SEO expert, you must know much more than simply the many forms of SEO. Simplilearn’s Post Graduate Programme in Digital Marketing will teach you more sophisticated SEO and digital marketing ideas and abilities.

FAQs

1. What type of marketing is involved with SEO?

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is one method for increasing the visibility of your website in Google search results. It is a key component of digital marketing. SEO is utilised in all digital marketing initiatives.

2. Does My Business Need SEO?

Most businesses need SEO to thrive. Because many purchasing journeys involve search.

Take a niche product like “premature baby clothes.

Without SEO, it’s likely that your competitors will outrank you for relevant keywords. And you miss out on valuable exposure and traffic.

Pay-per-click advertising (PPC) offers another way to appear in search results. But it tends to be less cost-effective than SEO.

Click-through rates (CTRs) are usually lower. According to Semrush’s State of Search 2023 report:

• Average CTR for paid results = 1.8% on desktop, 0.02% on mobile
• Average CTR for organic results = 45.1% on desktop, 43.1% on mobile

And you’ll have to pay a cost per click (CPC).

For example, “premature baby clothes” advertisers paid around 54 cents per click in June 2023. According to Semrush’s Keyword Overview tool.