SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is the practice of improving your website and its content so that it is easily discovered, understood, and trusted by search engines like Google and Bing, as well as AI search interfaces. The ultimate goal is to earn higher, organic (unpaid) visibility in search results. [1, 2, 3]
Here is a breakdown of how it works and the three main pillars involved: [1]
How Search Engines Work
Search engines send out automated programs (called “crawlers” or “spiders”) to scour the internet, gather information about web pages, and organize them into an index. When a user types a query, the search engine’s algorithm sifts through this index to deliver the most relevant and helpful results. SEO helps align your site with what those algorithms look for. [1, 2, 3]
The 3 Pillars of SEO
- On-Page SEO: This involves optimizing the content on your pages. It focuses on targeting the right keywords, satisfying the user’s search intent, and organizing content with clear headings and formatting so humans and algorithms can read it easily. [1]