How to explain SEO to your boss? Or to anyone

By Rahul Bakaya

Are you a young marketer looking to understand SEO and contribute more at work? Or you could be a frustrated veteran, trying to explain SEO to the non-marketers who just don't seem to get it. Maybe you are a visionary wanting to pitch the coolest idea for boosting the company's online presence to your boss but need a bit of finesse with the SEO tactics.

Whatever be your purpose, I welcome and congratulate you on taking your first step on the "SEO is simple" journey. This journey will train your mind in the concepts of search engine optimization (SEO) and your soul with the willingness and enthusiasm to apply the concepts in your website strategies. And I am happy to be by your side as we conquer the highs and lows of this amazing learning adventure that SEO brings forward.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tablo Publishing
• Release date: Jul 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685834081

Book preview

Foreword

The business dynamics have changed tremendously, especially after the pandemic. More people search for things they want to know and buy online more than ever. My own instinct is to look something up on the internet before going to the store to buy it. And that’s why SEO is so crucial and has the power to take your business to the next level. As a marketer, it’s not difficult for me to understand SEO. But that doesn’t stand true for the non-marketers. Most of my (and yours, I'm sure) friends, family members and esp. clients are not from the marketing field; that’s why it is rather an uphill journey to explain why SEO is important for their business.

I remember reading Rahul’s LinkedIn posts on how he explains SEO by giving real-life analogies. And suddenly, SEO wasn’t that difficult to explain anymore to the clients. After every LinkedIn post of his, I was left wanting to read more. So, imagine my delight when I learned that he is writing this e-book.

How to Explain SEO to anyone is a holy grail for not just marketing professionals but also for anyone looking to understand SEO. The book contains analogies that make SEO concepts easy to understand and grasp. Simple words but prodigious impact. By the end of this book, you’ll be able to teach the ABCs of SEO to anyone.

Rahul has been my colleague for only two years now, but it feels like I’ve always known him (it’s a cliche, I know). His way with words always leaves me amazed, and this book is no different. There are numerous books out there on SEO, but this book presents an out of the box approach. This book is not your regular how-to guide. But an easy yet stellar read that you can enjoy with a cup of tea (like Rahul and me) or coffee.

Dedication

I want to dedicate this book to my dear wife Prashansa and my son Daiwik. 

That day, I was enjoying my cup of strong ginger tea and cribbing about how people don't understand SEO. 

Looking at my frustration, my wife asked if I could explain SEO to her (I was like, damn, now she will ask me so many questions, as she is an auditor by profession). So, I did what any good husband would do; abide by my wife's request and explained SEO to her(and that's what a good husband should do).

I presented her with the concept of SEO by simply giving her an example of buying a bag from a store. To buy a bag, she will search for the bag she wants on Google and consider things like price, size, colour, etc. Then I told her Look, based on your search behaviour (e.g. brand, style, price, location etc), Google will suggest pages that align best with your answer. 

And voila, I had hit the mark. She uttered the golden words, Ah, so that's what SEO means, now let's go and buy a bag. Well, I didn't get the bag (that's a story for a different day and a different book), but that's what prompted me to write this e-book. SEO is not rocket science; a simple change in perspective is all we need. And that’s what I’ve tried to capture in this e-book. So Prashansa, thank you, I swear I will get you that bag, and I love you.

Preface

Are you a young marketer looking to understand SEO and contribute more at work? Or you could be a frustrated veteran, trying to explain SEO to the non-marketers who just don't seem to get it. Maybe you are a visionary wanting to pitch the coolest idea for boosting the company's online presence to your boss but need a bit of finesse with the SEO tactics.

Whatever be your purpose, I welcome and congratulate you on taking your first step on the SEO is simple journey. This journey will train your mind in the concepts of search engine optimization (SEO) and your soul with the willingness and enthusiasm to apply the concepts in your website strategies. And I am happy to be by your side as we conquer the highs and lows of this amazing learning adventure that SEO brings forward.

Oh, who am I? I am your friendly [I would say neighbourhood, but that's already taken by some spider guy] guide, Rahul.

Together we shall explore all the major aspects of SEO, from researching the industry terms and unique phrases (keywords) that bring unpaid visitors to your website (organic traffic) to crafting your website to market your unique brand voice.

The SEO world is constantly evolving and thus deemed complex. Still, one can easily learn the basics, especially when you amass your willpower to learn and choose to master industry-applied and ever-effective SEO strategies.

Even the smallest SEO strategies can bring a great positive difference to your website. Knowledge is power, and for surviving in this digital era, and running a business, knowing and understanding SEO is crucial. And this book will help you uncover and understand the importance and power of SEO.

Introduction: What Is SEO?

I know you want to get into the intriguing, meaty stuff, but good health means eating your veggies first. So before we proceed, let's understand SEO in the broader sense. [Feel the zen of the journey already? We're just getting started!]

Before we start building our SEO knowledge from the ground up, it's necessary to have a strong foundation. So, let's dive into basic SEO knowledge and cement your confidence as we move ahead.

What In The World Is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. In the simplest sense, it is the practice of using strategies that improve your website's visibility on search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc., so that people can easily find your products and services in the ocean of business competition.

The Internet is vast and endless, with countless websites. And if a person is trying to buy a product or service you sell, how do you ensure that finding your business is not like finding a needle in a haystack? Well, or more like a needle in a needlestack.

Enter, SEO, to the rescue.

SEO opens the door to opportunities for your website. It is the process of enhancing both the