# About Name: Osama Nayyar's Blog Description: Osama writes about all things sales, marketing, product, growth, SaaS, Web3 and personal branding. URL: https://www.osamanayyar.com # Navigation Menu # Blog Posts ## What Is SEO / Search Engine Optimization? Your Step-By-Step Guide! Author: Osama Nayyar Published: 2022-01-26 Tags: marketing, digital marketing, content marketing, SEO, copywriting, content writing, on-page seo, off-page SEO, keyword research, link building, backlinking, on-page optimization, site architecture optimization, semantic markup, what is SEO?, ranking factors for SEO URL: https://www.osamanayyar.com/null If you are here, chances are you have come across this term called SEO.  More so with the sudden shift to the online world due to the pandemic, SEO is catching up even more.  So if you are here to get an idea of what these three letters mean and how they rule the online world, here's a brief guide to help you out! If you have a website or plan to make a new one or simply need to revive the one sitting on the old dusty shelf, it might be time to learn a few things about SEO.  Contents * [What is SEO?](#what-is-seo) * [SEO - How does it work?](#seo-how-does-it-work) * [Ranking Factors for SEO](#ranking-factors-for-seo) * [SEO & Marketing - How is it important?](#seo-and-marketing-how-is-it-important) * [On-Page and Off-Page SEO](#on-page-and-off-page-seo) * [On-Page SEO](#on-page-seo) * [Some of the on-page SEO factors:](#some-of-the-on-page-seo-factors) * [Off-Page SEO](#off-page-seo) * [Off-Page tactics include:](#off-page-tactics-include) * [Search Engine Optimization Techniques](#search-engine-optimization-techniques) * [Keyword Research](#keyword-research) * [Content Marketing](#content-marketing)  * [Link Building](#link-building) * [On-Page Optimization](#on-page-optimization) * [Site Architecture Optimization](#site-architecture-optimization) * [Semantic Markup](#semantic-markup) What is SEO? ------------ To put it simply, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.  A Search Engine is a software system that helps you to carry out searches on the internet.  It takes your queries, finds the relevant information, and assists in sorting the number of content on the internet.   You're probably thinking Google, which is true. Google is the biggest search engine, and most people work to optimize their website according to its algorithms.  However, other search engines like Bing, Yahoo, Baidu, and DuckDuckGo also exist.  ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xqmX4L6-Zj-JFgjwXkSqfzcdAP_Ava55Dn8gNZpKSHMHpu3IGf0GYSUtr0otJN5c26_1KRWcaiJXxGBi9-VMKPIP3vGOgEa-OigJroTdU-Z0ONsx_ork4apR1rcu5u1h7Ldp9OmU) There you have it, SEO is optimizing for search engines. You increase your reach, make your business more visible to everyone sitting behind the screen.  Once you garner enough attention, you will have a better chance at gaining leads, retaining customers, attracting prospective customers, and building a trustworthy brand image.  The positioning of your website on the search engine is more important than ever today.  You can either use organic strategies like content marketing, keyword research to get your website to rank or simply use the paid ad features to come first on the results.  SEO is associated with organic traffic, which is the traffic you get without spending any money.  Whereas, traffic that comes through Paid Search is referred to as Search Engine Marketing (SEM) or Pay-per-click (PPC).  As most of us use search engines for anything and everything we want to search, SEO is an integral part of marketing.  A good SEO strategy not only increases traffic but also leads to more quality leads and conversions.  SEO - How does it work? ----------------------- You know that Search Engines rank your website, but how do they do it? And why has it become so important? ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4myH9dBK4kE1c0KxAkjMdqw7r0YTTpsQLgZF23TJZvL1nRmtG0mHRb5Ty0AjbMqTqrWrVvtPfP5uWja-5Ex_lhAUBVVNEN-UnMifgg8TnvJHpNCZGrqqQIOGOubQ6fuiGUictzVY) Google, Bing and other search engines make use of bots/spiders to crawl all the pages on the website. This essentially means they go to each website on the internet, gather information about what the page is all about, and submit them to an index.  The crawler initiates from a web page and then goes through all the internal and external links, to pages on other websites as well. It records the content, context, and any other element which might help to decipher what the page is all about.  The index is a collection of all the possible information available. Think about it as a vast library that can pull out anything that you are searching for. The algorithm analyzes the pages collected in the index database and sorts them as per the various ranking factors into the different positions on the search engine.  When you put your search in the box, the algorithms work to ensure that the most accurate results show up. The algorithms keep updating and with that, the behaviour and ranking factors keep evolving as well.  SEO success depends on a number of factors like user experience, content quality, keyword research implementation, loading speed, crawlability, site architecture, etc.  Let's take a look at some of the Ranking Factors for SEO. ### Ranking Factors for SEO 1. Content Freshness, Uniqueness, & Quality 2. Crawlability of the Pages 3. Mobile Optimization 4. Backlinks 5. Domain Authority  6. Search Intent 7. Anchor Text 8. Loading Speed 9. Keyword Implementation 10. Trustworthiness ![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/gkHkuNOi_3fVGuKkCjzhsvAF6dbGKRkwGUn--VhK8Q0wUs57GzYEd1HjslZmADO6dc6BuUkgru5nAa6ZwyNzZjjOQP0H6MaOINm1jGvP6nK3263UAySEEeluNubpuNpzvs95pl2m) SEO is understanding the ranking factors to devise search marketing strategies with a combination of technical, on-page, and off-page practices.  It is essential to use non-manipulative ranking tactics, keep up with the evolving behaviour, and understand user search intent to maintain a high ranking.  SEO & Marketing - How is it important? -------------------------------------- The importance of SEO has manifold in the previous years, and more so with the up and coming age of digital marketing.  People have been searching more, which means the competition to rank is greater than ever. And it makes sense too.  Higher ranking leads to greater visibility which gives your business an edge and marks it higher than the competition.  Moreover, search is an essential source of digital traffic and impacts all the other social channels as well.  SEO is the foundation of a holistic marketing ecosystem.  The better you can understand the needs of your website visitors, the better you can implement campaigns across all platforms.  On-Page and Off-Page SEO ------------------------ Search Engine Optimization can be divided into two broad categories; On-page SEO and Off-Page SEO.  ![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Ew32U_B4xl7ScvdR7vTSNZYft63pFIicimilmpsm8-JC6UQhAMytObzEFlERiDBUe2-Pxs8A-2F-OptI78Vt9IWtN6xQU2jmt0YAKJFausBhUf7VwcRK0rmP8maZ5X9hhVgXOoA7) ### On-Page SEO On-Page SEO is a type of optimizing web pages to rank higher in search engines.  It is mainly used to optimize content and HTML source code. These are ranking factors that are easy to adjust and optimize.  ### Some of the on-page SEO factors: 1. Title tags  2. URLs  3. Meta descriptions  4. Keywords 5. Header tags (H1, H2s, H3s, etc.)  6. Internal linking 7. Duplicate content 8. Crawlability 9. Page loading speed  10. Mobile user experience 11. Content length  12. Readability 13. Videos 14. Images  15. Social media share buttons  16. Markups  ### Off-Page SEO Off-Page is, as I like to describe, what lies outside your website. It is all the actions taken to impact and improve the ranking.  These include promoting the website through influencers, third-party websites, and more.  ### Off-Page tactics include: 1. Public relations (PR)  2. Link building  3. Content marketing  4. Influencer marketing  5. Frequenting forums 6. Guest posting ### Search Engine Optimization Techniques Here are a few Search Engine Optimization techniques that help a site improve its ranking: ### Keyword Research Keyword Research is an extremely integral part of SEO.  It basically involves looking for keywords that are industry-specific with a number of people searching for them. Identifying the terms provides the correct direction in which you can optimize your content and even decide the content strategy.  Keyword Research also includes competitor research, so you can make your content rank better.  ### Content Marketing  Keyword Research is the first step - then comes the OG - Content Marketing.  It involves updating content, curating new pieces, and including various types of content.  Make sure your content adds value to the customer experience, 'cause that's how you can climb the ranks on Search Engines.  Moreover, content that adds value is also more shared and attracts a larger audience.  ### Link Building If you have quality and relevant links that redirect people to your website, it increases the chances of ranking.  That is precisely why backlinking is one of the core ranking factors, and people work very hard to obtain high-quality backlinks.  You can reach out to other websites, make relationships with webmasters, submit the website to suitable web directories, and release press releases.  ### On-Page Optimization We have already had a look at the On-Page SEO and what it entails.  These are essential factors that improve the structure of the page and can greatly enhance the website ranking.  For example, updating title tags & meta tags, optimizing URLs, using alt attributes to describe the images, etc.  On-Page Optimization is excessively essential to come in the 'good books' of the search engine and make it easier for them to find you.  ### Site Architecture Optimization If you're working on making the external links as authentic as possible, internal links shouldn't be left on seen.  Optimizing the site architecture is exactly what it says it is - it optimizes your site's design.  For instance, it makes sure the internal pages are correctly linked, relevant anchor texts are used, and creates a sitemap.  ### Semantic Markup A good SEO Strategy should include semantic markup. It helps to briefly explain the meaning behind the content, thereby, making it easier to identify the topic or the type of content.  For instance, when you search for a specific query, you often get a snippet on the first search page that almost immediately answers it.  It can greatly assist in increasing organic traffic and improve CTR from search.  That’s pretty much what SEO is all about! It gets more interesting to decipher and dissect how a search engine works and behaves.  If you have more questions, take a look at my other marketing and SEO [related articles!](https://www.osamanayyar.com/what-is-marketing-7-types-of-marketing-that-you-should-know-ckyr5sx7l09551jo38n903r6e/) To get a head-start on your 6 month SEO strategy, refer to this really cool piece of advice by Roberto Digital here - [Get me the 6 months SEO strategy!](https://roberto.digital/newsletter/issues/6-month-seo-plan-issue-019/)​ Get an insight into the real world of marketing, sales, branding, and more! --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## What is Marketing? 7 types of marketing that you should know! Author: Osama Nayyar Published: 2022-01-23 Tags: marketing, digital marketing, content marketing, affiliate marketing, traditional marketing, inbound marketing, outbound marketing, voice marketing, video marketing, SEO, copywriting, content writing, google home, alexa URL: https://www.osamanayyar.com/null Marketing is a word that has seen exponential growth in terms of importance and application.  As more people opt for this vast field, many are very intrigued by its definition and implications.  So if you're here to understand what marketing is, let me take you down the path of marketing, its types, principles, and some successful marketing examples.  Now, let's get down to the basics of marketing before tackling the complicated jargon.  Marketing, defined by google, is 'the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.'  Every company now has a marketing department that employs various marketing techniques to drive more sales.  ![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/k_BxPq--jbJeKNvNGiWUTIbQGlj8cuY6J9UHClPOQbKfl499X7lnfoKEtb9XLqGQz5QzvyIxPfshSmq_Z3twubP-xqu9Fpt0q1oNc1C8QkP7w2TtfOrFrvrM7hguTM5eVLGuqpKF) The general consensus is to put marketing, advertising, and sales under the same umbrella.  Many individuals define marketing as selling which is not wrong but is not the greatest way to describe the term.  Marketing is not the only part where you sell the product and make sales but includes product distribution, promotion, content, research, and much more.  There are many branches of marketing, each having its own sub-branches, and the list goes on.  Marketing can be best understood as a broader term that includes all the activities that help an organization achieve its objectives.  It reiterates that marketing is an essential tool, and should be a part of every core strategy.  As Adam Erhart puts it, Marketing is the single most important element to business success.  Contents * [How does Marketing work for your business?](#how-does-marketing-work-for-your-business) * [But how does marketing work?](#but-how-does-marketing-work) * [So how do you make marketing work?](#so-how-do-you-make-marketing-work)  * [The Different Types of Marketing](#the-different-types-of-marketing) * [1\. Traditional Marketing](#1-traditional-marketing) * [2\. Inbound & Outbound Marketing](#2-inbound-and-outbound-marketing) * [3\. Digital Marketing](#3-digital-marketing) * [4\. Content Marketing](#4-content-marketing) * [5\. Affiliate Marketing](#5-affiliate-marketing) * [6\. Video Marketing](#6-video-marketing) * [7\. Voice Marketing](#7-voice-marketing) * [Looking for more Marketing Content?](#looking-for-more-marketing-content) How does Marketing work for your business? ------------------------------------------ You are aware that marketing involves many tasks and procedures that help a business achieve its objectives.  If you're looking to sell more products, generate more leads, provide services, or make sales & revenue, marketing is the way to go for it. ### But how does marketing work? Let's take a brief look into it! Marketing is communicating the best aspects of your business/brand to the world while maintaining a positive light.  Every email, newsletter, social media post, advertisement, and blog - every communication leads to an impression among your customers or prospects.  If you believe sales and advertising are marketing, you're missing a huge point.  That's like saying taxing is the entire accounting. There's an overlap in sales and advertisement, but marketing is a much broader term.  Marketing is communicating your value to the ideal target market, putting on the best show, and revealing how a consumer can benefit from them.  In communicating all of this, you can show a customer how your business helps them achieve their goals or needs.  Marketing works to understand the buyer; it's all about the other person.  You have to make an effort and research about the person.  Understand where they are coming from, what they're going through, and how your business can solve their issue.  The better you understand your customer, the better you'll be able to communicate your value.  So, customer-centric marketing is what can work wonders for your business - bring in more sales and make you more valued in the market.  That's what marketing does; It helps create an image that ultimately helps to get more customers and bring more revenue. We have already learned that marketing is several things - but what we don't realize is that it also involves science.  There is psychology, economics, buyer behavior, design, and maybe even history and art. It's an amalgamation of many things, but when you break it down, it comes down to people.  And people are complicated, and you cannot understand each of them.  ### So how do you make marketing work?  You understand your specific market, your business, and your customers that are unique to your selling points.  Marketing involves taking a chance and being courageous. At the end of the day, you are communicating, which opens a lot of ground for criticism.  While some feedback can work to better the business, a lot of it is just noise that can make it even harder to make a marketing strategy.  I believe marketing makes you better and stronger because at the core of communication lies the possibility of being unaccepted.  That shouldn't deter you from reaching out. That's why marketing is important and how you can beat the competition.  True and honest communication, guys.  It goes a long way! The Different Types of Marketing -------------------------------- We have expressed and focused on communicating that marketing involves a number of things.  The varied exposure has led to the emergence of many different types of marketing, some new, some traditional, and some extremely popular.  There may be more than 50 types of marketing, which can honestly be very tiring to keep a track of, especially if you are beginning to grasp the vastness of it.  To make matters simple, I am just outlining the most important types of marketing.  ### **1\. Traditional Marketing** Do you remember billboards, flyers, and those radio jingles that are still hard to shake from memory?  That's what marketing was all about for several reasons.  Offline channels were the main deal, and everyone wanted the busiest roads, the print was very common and even television ads held a considerable percentage of importance.  It was before technology and the internet made a breakthrough and changed the game altogether.  ### 2\. Inbound & Outbound Marketing It is a very common terminology thrown around in the marketing spectrum. Let's see what it is all about.  Inbound marketing is focused on attracting customers in such a way that you do not interrupt them.  They don't have to watch the ad before the YouTube Music but can come across a blog about the various benefits of your products while researching.  The main idea is to create engaging and attractive content that provides value, and if possible, a solution.  The next step; the customers are delighted to find out you provide what they are looking for!  On the other hand, Outbound Marketing is the complete opposite. In fact, it is also known as interruptive marketing.  It initiates conversation with the customer in ways of intrusive promotion. Examples include cold calls, email, advertisements anywhere.  It is also considered to be the annoying version of traditional marketing.  ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jv96RUSAZCv-B75_87ImkduHA8hCDUQayF4IMLvrDt4ChYxIq4QAlAn1URpAYE6M0rA96FOoznLRkSjpR_Pcvnkre_10QVChDayaDaTwwtrwSbVkkvnSFmxBTvxZZZ5A3bvPPP5e) That being said, it is not 100% ineffective.  But that's a topic for another day! ### 3\. Digital Marketing Digital is a really broad term that is used to describe any kind of marketing that uses an electronic device.  Digital Marketing is everything that appears on your devices, from the Facebook Ad to the pop-ups you experience while playing games.  The many forms of digital marketing include social media, paid ads, search engine marketing, display ads, email marketing, content marketing, and every other online campaign.  It is different from traditional marketing, which includes billboards and flyers. Television is a gray area and combines both - the traditional and digital forms of marketing.  ### 4\. Content Marketing Content Marketing is a part of digital marketing as well as inbound marketing.  It involves everything that you can think about content anywhere.  ![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/OuVSsDjBzraurDlym43pHPFOjQNrvdA2ZKuiKagz-0YStJpRLqAmp1TfOlgPGWObS6kxuvYf5-tETLkGAKIxMAhpVJiUOWv56G4wNHMnNRdK_qQvgTMJ8TFChW_-vMXnv4D3uixp) It involves creating, publishing, and distributing content to lure your audience through different channels.  These channels include platforms, blogs, videos, webinars, podcasts, and more! There are also Content Management Systems (CMS) that assist with the vast world of content and its implementation.  ### 5\. Affiliate Marketing Affiliate Marketing is essentially a marketing arrangement in which they pay commission to an external website when sales or traffic is generated.  ![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/SDUmLjA-41uAfukhNza4sIckn70jqu9T41GYWS8cfr-NsEqkJijYSukCFLtqOpJS0QiKMbs6_auEdj3s8xbznXL47ygN8mQX8yqpyzrRje2OowsqQ4DMEd8TIUujScMoYhKfQUzK) It's a popular way among influencers to earn money, as they leverage their own followers to promote a brand and drive traffic to the website or bring sales to the business.   Affiliate Marketing is useful for marketing assets that are performing well so that they can be leveraged to further the sales.  It's a cost-effective way of spreading brand awareness, and you can earn a good number of loyal customers! ### 6\. Video Marketing The average attention span of a person is 12 seconds - and that's how much time you have to engage the user. Moreover, video content has proven to get a positive ROI.  Video is a great way to increase brand awareness, YouTube channel following, social media, generate leads and sales.  ### 7\. Voice Marketing 'Alexa, turn off the light'; Remember that?  And your Google Home assistance, and the Uber Alexa that allows you to request a ride with a simple voice request.  Voice Marketing can do wonders to reach the target audiences by incorporating the right keywords, strategies, and tactics.  The idea is to make use of voice-controlled devices to meet the needs and expectations of the customers by adjusting marketing content and messaging.  Looking for more Marketing Content? ----------------------------------- Sign up to our email list and get regular insights into the real world of marketing, sales, branding, product, and more! Here's a blog on "what is marketing and its purpose?" from a company with one of the most successful marketing in the world - [Hubspot](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/what-is-marketing)​ Follow me on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/osama-nayyar/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/DadaMacroSamjho) for a daily dose of generalist gyaan. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---