If you’re new to SEO, you may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of terms and strategies out there. If you’re unsure what works and what doesn’t, look no further. Below, we’ll cover three SEO strategies that anyone can use to boost website traffic.
The first step in SEO is researching keywords and understanding search intent. Keywords are the exact terms people type into Google when looking for products or services like yours. For example, if you run a shoe company, relevant keywords might include “cushion,” “comfort,” and “stylish.” Once you’ve found your keywords, include them naturally on your site—such as in product descriptions or blog posts. But don’t stop there. Search intent is just as important as the keywords themselves.
For instance, if your research shows people are searching for “top shoes,” you might think that “top” should be one of your keywords. But if you Google that phrase, most of the results are list-style blog posts recommending different brands—not product pages. Since you sell shoes rather than write reviews, optimizing for “top” wouldn’t bring you the right audience. This is why keywords and search intent must always go hand in hand. Your business needs to match both the word and the intent behind it.
The next strategy is competitor research. Look at the businesses ranking higher than you and study what they’re doing well. You may notice they target certain keywords, cover specific topics, or structure their content differently. Analyzing competitors doesn’t just reveal what you should be doing—it also helps uncover opportunities they’ve missed. Maybe your product offers something unique they don’t. Or perhaps they all take the same approach to a topic, leaving space for you to cover it from a fresh perspective. The goal here is balance: learn from your competitors while also highlighting what sets you apart. Copying too closely can backfire, but blending best practices with your unique angle is a proven way to climb the rankings.
Backlinks are another critical piece of SEO. These are links from other websites pointing to yours, and Google sees them as a signal of trust and authority. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more likely you are to rank higher. The best way to earn backlinks is by creating content worth linking to. Write high-quality blog posts that people want to reference, design simple graphics or charts that other sites can use, or even offer a free tool or resource that others will share. When your content is valuable, backlinks tend to come naturally.
Now that you know three proven SEO strategies, it’s time to put them into action. Start applying them consistently, and you’ll see your rankings improve. Or, if all of this feels like too much, let us handle the SEO work for you—so you can focus on the parts of your business you enjoy most.
