Hello everyone, I am new to SEO and currently in the process of learning more about it. I have a question regarding the initial stages of SEO. Specifically, how do you go about researching or analyzing a website/product-service before starting SEO work? I am not referring to the technical aspects such as on-page SEO fixes or backlinks, but rather the overall mindset when beginning SEO on a new website. What considerations do you take into account? What key questions do you ask yourself to guide the process? For example, if I were optimizing a clothing website, I would try to put myself in the shoes of a potential customer and think about what they might search for on Google to find that site. I hope this is clear, and I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this topic.
Answer:
When beginning SEO for a new website, it’s essential to adopt a holistic approach that considers both the website’s current state and its target audience. This initial research phase involves understanding the website’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
Key Questions to Guide the Process:
- What is the website’s primary purpose? What products or services does it offer?
- Who is the target audience? What are their demographics, interests, and online behavior?
- What are the website’s existing traffic sources? How much organic traffic does it receive, and from what keywords?
- What are the website’s competitors? What are their SEO strategies and strengths?
- What are the user’s search intent and journey? What keywords are users searching for when they find the website?
By analyzing these factors, you can identify potential areas for optimization. For instance, if the website receives minimal organic traffic from relevant keywords, you might focus on improving on-page SEO to increase its visibility in search results.
Putting Yourself in the User’s Shoes:
Imagine yourself as a potential customer seeking the products or services offered by the website. What would you search for on Google? What questions would you ask? Understanding the user’s search journey helps you tailor your content and keyword strategy to meet their needs.
This initial research lays the foundation for a successful SEO strategy. By understanding the website’s context and target audience, you can create a plan that drives organic traffic, improves user experience, and ultimately achieves business objectives.