How does SEO work?

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) means making sure your website is easy to find in search engines such as Google.

What does Google do?

1. Google visits your website and reads all its pages: text, titles, images and links.
2. Google tries to understand what each page is about and who it’s useful for.
3. When someone searches, Google shows the pages that best answer that question.

So above all, Google wants one thing: to help the searcher as well as possible. If you write for your visitors, you’ll usually write well for Google too.

What has Plug already done for you?

The technical foundations are built into your website:

• a fast, secure website (https) that works well on smartphones;
• a clean structure that search engines can read easily;
• fields for the title, description and share image on every page;
• a sitemap: a list of all your pages for search engines.

On top of that, at launch we’ve usually already written and filled in the SEO titles and descriptions and the copy of your website. So your website starts off well.

What can you do yourself?

A website doesn’t stay easy to find on its own. From launch onwards you manage the content yourself, and that’s where these pages make the difference. Use them especially when you add a new page or change existing text:

1. Fill in the title and description for every new page, and update them when a page’s content changes.
2. Write good copy that answers your customers’ questions.
3. Give images a good name and alt text, and keep them light.
4. Keep page addresses short and clear.
5. Get found locally with a Google Business Profile.
6. Keep your website up to date. A website that regularly gets new or updated content shows that your business is active.

SEO takes patience

A change doesn’t have an immediate effect. Google visits your website regularly, but it can take a few days to a few weeks before you see a difference in the search results. Nobody can guarantee a first place on Google.

Everything at a glance? Use the SEO checklist.