Organic SEO: The Key to Long Term Success

Thursday, 03-10-24, Nick Zoumpoulis

Organic SEO is the strategy that allows a website to achieve high rankings in search engines without having to pay for ads. This is achieved through the creation of high-quality content, proper website structure, and the improvement of user experience. Unlike paid ads, organic SEO is a time-consuming process and requires patience and constant testing. However, when applied correctly, the results are impressive and include significant increases in website visitors, longer time spent on site, enhanced brand awareness, and increased sales of products and services. The key to success lies in creating unique and fresh content, using headings and meta tags correctly, and having a user-friendly and fast navigation environment that is well-structured across all browsing devices (responsive web design).

What Is Organic SEO?

Organic SEO (Organic Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimizing a website to appear high in search results without ads and paid promotions. It involves using techniques that help search engines, like Google, to properly read, evaluate, and ultimately display the content in their search listings.

Fun fact: Organic SEO achieves significantly better Click Through Rates (how many people searched on search engines, saw the website, and visited it) and Conversion Rates (how many visits were converted into goals, e.g., sales) compared to paid search. For example, the average CTR of a paid ad in search results is around 3.14%, whereas if the site ranks first organically, it skyrockets to 37.15%! Even if your site appears on the first page (among the top 10 organic results), the difference in visit probability is still considerably greater.

Unlike paid search, where a website appears through paid ads, organic SEO is based on evaluating the site in a "natural way" by considering the value of the content and the user experience during their visit.

Differences Between Organic SEO and Other Practices

The main difference with organic SEO is that the results are not immediate, but long-lasting and maintained through continuous improvement and adaptation to Google’s algorithm changes.

• Organic SEO: Focuses on optimizing the website for long-term improvement and more stable visibility in search engines.
• Paid Search: In paid ads, e.g., Google Ads, the website only appears as long as the campaign is paid for, and the cost is higher and sometimes even unprofitable if the competition is very intense.
• Social Media Marketing: While it is related to increasing traffic, it does not directly affect organic search results.

Proper Page Structure, Environment, and User Experience (UX)

The page structure is fundamental for organic SEO. A good structure helps both users and search engines to understand the content and the architecture of the website. Here are some key points to pay attention to:

• Proper headings (H1, H2, H3): The page title (H1) and other headings should be clear and describe the content of the page. Proper use helps categorize the content.
• Meta tags: Title tags and meta descriptions should be concise, informative, and include the main keywords. These "tags" are the first factor a user sees in search results, so they must be appealing.
• Friendly URL structure: URLs should be simple and include keywords, without unnecessary symbols or codes.

User experience (UX) is equally important, as a website that loads quickly and is easy to use has a greater chance of keeping users engaged and improving its ranking. The key is to allow the visitor to reach valuable content in a very short amount of time.

Loading Speed and SEO

The loading speed of the website is one of Google’s primary ranking factors. Users abandon websites that take too long to load, which negatively affects the site's ranking in search results. Key ways to improve speed include:

• Image compression: Large images slow down the loading of the page. You can use compression techniques or new technologies (such as webp), without compromising their quality.
• Cache utilization: By caching data, the website loads faster on repeated visits.
• Using a CDN (Content Delivery Network): Use content distribution networks that reduce loading time by distributing the website's files across different servers worldwide.

The Importance of Quality and Valuable Content

Content is perhaps the most crucial factor for success in organic SEO. Search engines, like Google, evaluate the quality, relevance, and uniqueness of content to determine a website’s ranking. Here are some key points to consider:

• Unique content: Copying content from other sources can result in penalties from search engines. Always create original content that reflects your voice and knowledge and adds value to the reader.
• Fresh content: Regularly updating the website with new content shows search engines that the site is active and updated.
• Proper use of keywords: Keywords should be used naturally in the text, headings, and meta tags. However, be cautious as overuse (keyword stuffing) can have negative consequences.

Patience and Continuous Testing

Organic SEO does not offer immediate results, but requires patience and continuous monitoring. Search engine algorithms are constantly changing, meaning you need to track the performance of your website and run tests (A/B testing) to see which changes produce the best results.

Frequently Asked Questions About SEO Based on Organic Results

• How long does it take to see results from organic SEO? Organic SEO results can begin to appear in 3 to 6 months, depending on the competition and keyword difficulty.
• Which is more effective: organic SEO or paid ads? Organic SEO offers long-term and stable results, achieving far more visits, while paid ads provide immediate but temporary results. Both tactics have their place in a marketing strategy.
• How can I improve the loading speed of my website? Using image compression, enabling caching, and utilizing a CDN are some of the ways to improve loading speed.
• What role do backlinks play in organic SEO? Backlinks (links to your website) from other trusted websites enhance your site’s credibility and help improve its ranking in search results. It is crucial that backlinks are acquired gradually and naturally (e.g., through a highly interesting article on your site that attracted attention and was shared through a link to your website from others).

With a well-structured SEO strategy, your website can rise in organic results, offering long-term benefits and steady traffic. At INTERNETi, we specialize in website development of high-quality features with all the latest standards and technologies.