Search engine optimization, often abbreviated as SEO, is the process of optimizing a website so that it ranks high in search engine page results, or SERPs. SEO is a blanket term that covers strategies from keyword optimization to back linking.

To get started optimizing a site, you first need to know where your site ranks. There are many free tools for this that can be found with a quick web search. Another way is to simply use a page rank checker, but these tools vary in accuracy and reliability.

A website ranks according to search terms, or keywords. A website ranks differently for different keywords, but if it ranks highly for a broad range of keywords, that means the traffic to the site is immense and monetization strategies are nearly endless. Free keyword tools like Google’s Keyword Planner, and paid options like Market Samurai and others can all help to plan what keywords you want to rank for. The keyword would need to appear in the title of the website, preferably the URL too, and with an appropriate density throughout the rest of the site. This is done in hopes that when a user types the keyword into Google, your website appears as the number one result.

Google’s search result page is the main one that matters. While Yahoo and Bing do have some influence, the majority of all search traffic comes from Google. However, Google has not revealed the search algorithms used to determine how pages are ranked. What SEO practices there are come from years of trail and error, but one thing is known for sure: quality content ranks higher than spammy content. If you consistently create high quality, excellent content that helps your readers, your page will rise through the ranks.

The newly unveiled Google Author plays a role in SEO ranks, as well. The content of an author that is ranked highly will be placed above other content; author rank is determined by how many social shares content receives and how well Google rates the content.

By taking advantage of the different SEO strategies, it is possible to come in on the first page of Google, and that’s all that matters. Users rarely venture beyond the first page of results, so ranking at the top ensures a high amount of traffic to your website.