What Is SEO and Why Does Everyone Keep Talking About It?
Let’s be honest.
You’ve seen SEO pop up in conversations, emails, podcasts, maybe even at that last meeting where someone said, “We’ve got to optimize our SEO.”
And you nodded. Maybe even muttered, “Yeah, definitely.”
But inside, you were thinking: “I still don’t know what SEO is.”
No shame. You're in great company.
What Is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, a fancy way of saying, "making your stuff easier to find on Google.”
That’s it.
It’s not code. It’s not witchcraft. It’s just a set of things you can do so that when someone types something into a search engine (Google. Yahoo, Bing), like “best tacos near me” or “how to unclog a sink”, your website (or blog or product or video) shows up higher on the list.
Why Does SEO Matter?
Because most people don’t go past page one of Google.
If your stuff is on page two, it might as well be on page ninety-seven.
So if you run a business, write a blog, sell handmade candles, or just want people to actually see what you put online, SEO helps.
Think of it like this:
Imagine your website is a tiny little shop on a huge street. SEO is the sign, the lights, the sandwich board on the sidewalk, and maybe someone waving a flag out front.
Without it? You’re still there. But no one knows.
Is SEO Just About Keywords?
That’s part of it. Keywords are the words people type into search bars. If you sell sneakers, you want words like “comfortable sneakers,” “running shoes,” or “best walking shoes” to show up on your site.
But SEO also includes:
How fast your site loads
Whether it works well on a phone
Whether you’re answering real questions people search for
Whether people stick around and actually read your content
Whether other websites link to you
It’s a mix of content, design, and, yes, a little technical know-how behind the scenes. But you don’t have to tackle all of it at once.
Do I Need to Hire Someone?
Not necessarily.
If you’re just starting out, you can do a few basic things that go a long way:
Use clear, simple words your audience actually searches for
Write helpful content that answers real questions
Make sure your website works on mobile and loads fast
Share your content in places where people can find and link to it
If you start to grow and want to get more advanced, that’s when it might be worth bringing in an SEO pro to fine-tune things.
The Bottom Line
SEO helps people find you online without you constantly having to chase them.
You don’t have to become an expert. But knowing what it is, and how it works, gives you a serious advantage.
So the next time someone says, “We need to work on our SEO,” you can say:
“Cool. Let’s make sure Google knows we exist.”
