Search Engine Optimization: Chapter 1

How Fishing Relates to SEO

As someone who has lived in New Hampshire her entire life, going fishing is something I’ve always enjoyed, especially with my two younger brothers. Our favorite spot is a small, quiet lake in Francestown, which is actually the same lake I learned how to swim in as a kid. It’s always a friendly competition to see who will catch the biggest or most amount of fish, but at the end of the day, it allows us to spend quality time with one another. As a current marketing student, I got to thinking how the process of fishing and marketing using search engine optimization are one in the same. Now you may be wondering: What exactly is search engine optimization, and how does it relate to fishing?

When my brothers and I are specifically fishing for bass, we always make sure to pack spinnerbait and topwater lures in our tacklebox. This is because over time, we found that we’d usually catch the most bass with such bait. In order to optimize your site for search engines, specific keywords should be chosen in the same way. The goal is to conduct keyword research and select keywords (ones) that are relevant to users’ search queries in order to attract them to your site. This is what will drive quality and relevant traffic to your business.

Keep Keywords Relevant

The relevance aspect of keywords is what truly reels people in, and determining what is relevant takes a considerable amount of time. Consumer preferences are constantly changing, so it’s important to stay up-to-date about what needs you can satisfy or pain points you can solve. You may use the process of trial and error to understand which keywords gain traction and which ones don’t. This is similar to experimenting with different lures and scoping out different locations on the lake. Tracking and understanding what is relevant will also help your business remain relevant in the minds of consumers.

With Consistency Comes Patience, With Patience Comes Results

When you are fishing, you are patiently waiting for something good to happen at the end of your line; a bite. Fish don’t always bite the second after you cast, so it’s important to not get discouraged and give the process time. This is what leads to the big catch, which always pays off! It’s crucial to be consistent and patient when it comes to your SEO efforts as well. If content is not being regularly posted or keywords aren’t frequently being updated, then the search engines likely won’t rank your site as highly. Results are not going to come right away, which can become frustrating, but the payoff being a larger ROI will be worth the wait.

In this first segment of the SEO series, I will guide you through the basics of search engine optimization and how to drive more relevant traffic to your site.

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) put simply is the process of organically improving the visibility of your website, so that when people search for terms related to your products, services, and business, you appear at the top of their search results! As a result of these efforts, more relevant visitors will be intrigued about what your site has to offer, increasing the chance of retaining loyal customers and experiencing more revenue. It’s important to note that developing and implementing an effective SEO strategy takes time, consistency, and patience, as these efforts are unpaid.

Why You Need SEO

Building an effective SEO strategy has never been more important. According to Smallbizgenius, 75% of searchers don’t click past the first page of search engine results. This is why there has been an increasing emphasis of optimizing web page content so that your business appears on the first page! In this way, your ideal audience will have an easier time finding you when they need you. Organic search is also more often than not the primary source of website traffic, which further emphasizes why improving your website’s visibility in search results is crucial. When your products or services on your website are made known to users that need what you have to offer, your business will thrive.

My next SEO segment will dive deeper into the importance of external and internal links, so make sure to stay tuned!