Diving into the world of SEO can be exciting yet overwhelming. As someone early in their SEO journey, I’ve realized the importance of grasping the business context, mastering search intent, understanding technical basics, and conducting hands-on research before jumping into using AI tools.
Working in SEO means constantly staying on top of trends in a fast-paced, marketing-focused industry. When I started, it often felt like navigating without a map. However, establishing a strong foundation made all the difference.
SEO is multifaceted, with specializations emerging as one advances in their career — including local, technical, content, and more. However, as a newbie, I found it beneficial to first gain a broad understanding of SEO before delving into specific areas.
1. Start with the Business
When I begin an SEO project, whether in-house or at an agency, it’s tempting to jump straight into optimizing meta tags or backlinks. But instead, I’ve learned to start by thoroughly understanding the business itself.
Key questions I consider while exploring the website include:
- What product or service is being offered?
- Who is the target audience?
- What sets the company apart from its competitors?
If I get the chance, I always ask broader questions about the company’s goals and plans to better tailor my SEO strategies.
2. Be Curious, Ask Questions
SEO touches nearly every aspect of digital marketing, making curiosity a critical trait. I continuously ask questions not only to expand my understanding but also to foster collaboration with other departments.
Asking questions, no matter how basic they seem, is a great way to learn quickly and thoroughly.
3. Build from the Foundations of SEO
Starting with basics like understanding website fundamentals and how Google displays search results was crucial for me. Analyzing competitors’ search rankings provided practical insights and helped improve my SEO strategies.
Trying simple exercises, like comparing search results with current page optimization, helped me identify areas for improvement and align more closely with what Google values.
4. Get Technical and Network with Developers
While diving into the technical side of SEO can seem daunting, I found learning from developers to be incredibly rewarding. Building these relationships opened doors for deeper technical insights and support.
Coding courses and personal projects enabled me to enhance my technical skills at a comfortable pace.
5. Familiarize with Google’s Search Features
The evolution of Google’s search result presentations introduced me to a diverse range of features, challenging my ability to optimize different types of content effectively.
Understanding these features not only enhanced my SEO approach but also kept my strategies aligned with Google’s user-focused developments.
6. Understand Query Intent
Grasping the varying intents behind search queries allowed me to create content that aligns more closely with user needs, improving engagement and relevance.
Using Google’s guidelines to classify intents significantly refined my keyword strategies and content planning.
7. Conduct Research Independently Before Using AI
While AI can streamline SEO tasks, I’ve found invaluable learning by initially executing projects manually. This hands-on experience has been critical to my strategic development and understanding of SEO complexities.
Resisting the allure of AI solutions early on helped me build a solid foundation that AI could later enhance without overshadowing the fundamentals.
8. Know How GEO/AEO Differs
Understanding the distinctions between traditional SEO and emerging channels like GEO/AEO has equipped me to advise on brand visibility throughout diverse platforms and optimize accordingly.
Exploring how LLMs work, their training data, and how to effectively influence their output, has added a strategic layer to my SEO toolkit.
Laying the Groundwork for SEO Success
By focusing on the core elements of business understanding, search results, and user intent, I’ve laid a robust foundation that continuously supports my SEO growth and adaptability.
Engaging deeply with the basics has empowered me to navigate the complexities of SEO strategically and effectively.
Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
