If you’re reading this, I assume you’re already quite familiar with the term ‘web design’ and how it relates to creating websites. But what might be more unfamiliar is the fact that creating a functional and attractive website is only the first step in ensuring you make the most of your presence on the internet.

As the name suggests, website marketing involves the use of marketing techniques (including paid advertising) to drive traffic to a website. Essentially, you can think of website marketing as ‘online salesforce’ for your business.

In today’s digital world, it’s essential to utilize all available platforms to drive business. This includes everything from SEO to social media marketing to influencer marketing – and the list goes on.

If you’re looking to take your online marketing to the next level and truly understand how to drive performance from every aspect of your digital presence, then keep reading.

The Basics Of SEO

Search engine optimization, or SEO for short, is the process of driving traffic to your website naturally through organic (non-paid) searches on search engines like Google or Bing. Essentially, SEO improves your ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs) so when a user types in a search term (typically three words), their web browser instantly transports them to your website.

The better your SEO and the more you invest in it, the more you will find yourself climbing the ranks and enjoying greater search engine visibility. This in turn benefits your business in two ways. First, you will enjoy greater exposure to potential customers searching for the products or services you offer. Second, you’ll find it easier to be found by those customers thanks to superior organic rankings.

The Difference Between SEO and Digital Marketing

You might be wondering how SEO and digital marketing overlap, and why you need to know the difference between the two. If so, you’re in luck because I’m going to tell you. Here’s the gist:

SEO can be thought of as ‘search engine optimization’. That is, it’s the process of driving traffic to your website naturally through organic (non-paid) searches on search engines like Google or Bing. Sounds familiar? If so, you’ve probably already begun your journey into SEO. You might consider yourself already an expert at SEO and simply need to learn the finer details of digital marketing.

On the other hand, digital marketing is a broad term that includes all online marketing efforts, whether paid or organic. In simple terms, it’s everything from SEO to email marketing to content marketing. Naturally, there’s some crossover between the two but mainly because they’re all facets of electronic marketing.

So, if you’re already an expert at SEO, you might consider spending a little extra time understanding the fundamentals of digital marketing.

Why You Need To Understand SEO

As I mentioned above, SEO can be thought of as a ‘digital marketing’ technique, but that doesn’t mean it’s limited to digital marketing. There are many other areas of your business that you can optimize for (and yes, even your human resources department).

Take a look at your typical office space: Are you happy with the organization of your desktops and chairs? How about the way your computer monitors display your work? Are you pleased with how your phones connect to your laptop via wireless networks?

All of these questions have something to do with digital marketing, and yet they don’t require a computer science degree to answer. SEO, on the other hand, is much more difficult to understand and implement. That’s why if you’re interested in expanding your knowledge in this area, it’s important to study under an experienced SEO tutor.

What Is An SEO Tutor?

An SEO tutor is someone who has mastered the science of optimizing a website for search engines like Google or Bing. They might also teach you advanced techniques for improving your SEO and take the time to explain the underlying theory behind each tip.

If you’re serious about taking your online marketing to the next level and truly want to understand SEO and how to apply it to your business, then consider studying online with an SEO tutor. Not only will you learn the ins and outs of SEO but you will develop a resource for yourself as you grow your business.

SEO Vs. Social Media

If you run a business, you no doubt already understand the importance of social media platforms in today’s digital world. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook allow you to connect with existing and potential customers on a personal level.

By regularly posting engaging content to your social media channels, you give yourself the opportunity to connect with your audience and encourage them to engage with you. This is what makes social media so special and so valuable in today’s digital world.

Now, it’s not wrong to assume that all social media users are potential customers for your business. But if you want to go that extra mile and enjoy the full benefits of social media marketing, it’s important to tailor your content to appeal to as many people as possible – especially when you consider the vast audience of one social network in particular.

This is where SEO comes in. When someone searches for your product or service on a search engine, your business’ website will appear in the SERPs (search engine results pages). When this happens, you want to make sure your website is designed to maximize your performance in organic search results.

For instance, if someone were to search for ‘computer monitors’, your business’ website would appear in the search results page. When they click on your website, they are taken to a page with information on your company and the products you offer.

On the other hand, if someone were to search for ‘Apple products’, a completely different set of results would appear. Since your business is not associated with apple products in any way, your website does not appear in the results page.

Advanced SEO Techniques For 2020

If you’re looking to take your SEO to the next level in 2020, here are a few advanced tips to help you optimize your website.

Firstly, don’t just optimize for the most popular search terms. Instead, consider optimizing for a combination of words and phrases. For example, if you’re selling vitamins, you might want to consider optimizing for terms such as ‘vitamin supplements’ or ‘purple vitamin C’.

Secondly, don’t just focus on the number of times your chosen keywords appear in your articles and website content. Instead, look into the ‘volume’ of traffic they bring in.

Thirdly, don’t just focus on attracting people to your website via organic search. Instead, consider paid advertising to drive more traffic to your site. There are plenty of options for digital marketing and advertising on social media platforms like Google Ads.

Finally, make sure your website is accessible on all the major mobile devices. If you’re worried about whether or not your content will display correctly on a smartphone or tablet, then consider using a mobile-friendly template.

In 2020, SEO will continue to evolve and change as Google and other search engines continue to optimize for the best user experience. As you build out your strategy in the coming months, keep in mind these seven tips for going above and beyond with your SEO.