A Beginners Guide To SEO That Isn't Overwhelming

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) might sound like a daunting term, but it doesn’t have to be. And to be honest… SEO is everywhere we look. Think of it as the art and science of helping your blog or website show up in search engines like Google. If you’ve ever wondered how some websites seem to appear at the top of search results, SEO is the magic behind the curtain.

Let’s break it down into simple, manageable steps so you can get started without feeling overwhelmed.

Close-up of the Google homepage on a screen showing search options.

Search Engine Optimization

What Is SEO, Really?

At its core, SEO is about making your content easy for search engines to find and understand. When you optimize your website, you’re helping search engines know what your content is about and why it’s valuable to people searching for information.

Imagine someone Googling “easy chocolate chip cookie recipe.” Your goal is to make sure your blog post about cookies appears near the top of the search results.

At the beginning of my blogging and digital marketing journey, I thought I could get away with skipping the SEO portion of my courses. Let me be the one to tell you… SEO is the most important part of your website or social media.

Step 1: Start with Keywords

What Are Keywords?
A keyword is a word or phrase that people type into a search engine (like Google or Pinterest) to find specific information. It’s essentially the topic or idea that your blog post, webpage, or social media content is focused on.

For example:

If someone types “easy dinner recipes” into Google, that phrase is the keyword.
Keywords can be short (“blogging tips”) or long (“how to start a blog for beginners”)—longer ones are often called long-tail keywords.

Why keywords matter:

When you create content, including relevant keywords helps search engines understand what your page is about, so they can show it to people searching for those terms. This can help drive traffic to your website or blog!

Real life example:

By including this keyword in your blog title, headings, and content, search engines are more likely to show your post to people searching for those terms.

If you write a blog post titled “5 Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights”, the keyword could be “easy dinner recipes” or “dinner recipes for busy weeknights.”

How to Find the Right Keywords:

Use free tools like Google’s Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Answer the Public.
Think about what your audience might search for. If you blog about lifestyle, terms like “modern home decor ideas” or “self-care tips for busy moms” could be great starting points.

Natalie’s Tip: Pick one primary keyword for each blog post and sprinkle it naturally throughout your content, like in the title, headings, and body text. But remember, don’t overdo it. Write for humans first and search engines second!

Step 2: Create High-Quality Content

Google loves helpful, engaging, and original content. Your job is to create posts that answer questions, solve problems, or entertain your readers.

Tips for High-Quality Content:

Write blog posts that are at least 1,000 words long if the topic calls for it. Longer posts often perform better in search rankings.
Use headings and bullet points to make your content easy to scan.
Include images, videos, or infographics to enhance the reading experience.

Pro Tip: Write with your audience in mind. What do they care about? What problems can you solve for them? Try to avoid talking too much about yourself because at the end of the day…people don’t really care about your life.

Step 3: Optimize On-Page SEO

On-page SEO refers to the tweaks you can make directly on your website or blog. Here’s what to focus on:

Title Tag: Make your blog post title clear and include your keyword. For example, “A Beginner’s Guide to SEO That Doesn’t Feel Overwhelming.”
Meta Description: This is the short description that appears under your title in search results. Write a catchy, keyword-rich summary of your post.
Headings: Use H1 for your main title and H2 or H3 for subheadings.
Alt Text for Images: Add descriptive text to your images. For instance, “a close-up of chocolate chip cookies on a baking sheet” helps search engines understand what’s in the image.

Step 4: Build Backlinks

Backlinks are links from other websites to yours, and they’re like votes of confidence in the eyes of search engines.

How to Get Backlinks:

Share your posts on social media.
Collaborate with other bloggers to exchange guest posts.
Reach out to websites that have linked to similar content and suggest your blog as a resource.

Step 5: Track Your Progress

SEO isn’t a one-and-done task. It takes time to see results, so it’s important to monitor your efforts.

Tools to Use:

Google Analytics: Tracks your website traffic.
Google Search Console: Shows how your site is performing in search results.
Yoast SEO (for WordPress users): Helps optimize your content as you write.

Step 6: Stay Consistent

The most important part of SEO is consistency. You don’t need to master everything at once. Start with the basics and build from there.

Here’s a simple action plan:

Pick one blog post to optimize this week.
Research a keyword for it.
Update the post with your keyword, a strong meta description, and better headings.

SEO might feel intimidating at first, but it’s really just about making your content visible and valuable to your audience. Start small, stay consistent, and celebrate the little wins along the way like seeing your blog inch closer to the top of search results.

Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Every successful blogger started as a beginner. The key is to keep adjusting and refining your strategy.

XO,