I want to work in an SEO firm, and I’ve started studying digital marketing. I know it’s important to learn the fundamentals, and I want to get comfortable with the basics of how search engines work and how they rank content. I’d also like to learn some working strategies for building better links. What should I start focusing on to build the foundation of a good SEO strategy?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of ensuring that your site and web pages achieve high rankings in search engines. The higher a site ranks in search engines, the more traffic it’s likely to generate. This makes SEO crucial for every site owner who wants to be successful.

SEO efforts are generally driven towards organic (unpaid) search results. SEO is a big part of any online marketing strategy, and it accounts for how search engine algorithms operate as well as for targeted keywords. SEO can be used to target any kind of search results, including image and video content. There are several concepts involved in SEO and ways to measure the effectiveness of your efforts. Let’s start with a basic metric.

Domain Authority (DA) is a Moz metric created to evaluate websites and individual pages for their likelihood to rank in search engine results pages (SERPs). DA is measured by a score of 1-100 with higher scores being more likely to rank. One of the biggest factors in determining DA is the number of backlinks a site has as well as the DA scores of those links.

A backlink is essentially a link that goes from one website to another. If other sites have links to yours, then you have backlinks from them and vice versa. Sites with similar content or audiences frequently create links to each other, which can boost the DA scores for all involved.

You’ll need to keep in mind that DA is a comparative metric rather than an absolute indicator of quality, though. It’s possible to still rank high in SERPs with lower scores so long as you’re outperforming your direct competitors. DA is determined by an aggregate of factors, which means it’s much easier to improve on lower scores than higher ones. 

There’s an old saying that “content is king,” and you’re going to need regular content updates for your site to stay relevant. You’ll also need this content to contain keywords that will attract your target audience. To generate some initial keywords, you can look at search engines from a customer’s perspective and imagine what they could search that would lead to your site.

For example, if you’re running a tech site, you might have keywords and phrases like MacBook Pro, software reviews, latest games, and system requirements. Creating content with appropriate keywords will increase the chances that users will find your site.

There are several online tools you can use to help create more keywords. It’s important to use them in ways that seem natural and fit your content, however. Try making blogs or video posts that appeal to your audience’s interests. You could also try guest blogging or working together with similar sites in your niche to expand your audience. You can’t do it all on your own, though. You’ll need some help from outside sources.

You’ll mainly want high-quality links from other sites to quickly rise through the rankings. You can link to big influencers and other sites in your industry to build relationships, which can always be helpful. You may even get some links in return, though it’s generally best not to directly ask for them as this may come off like you’re trying to use the other party.

If you need to, you can always look for some expert assistance with your link building. Link Laboratory, for instance, can help with link building campaigns as well as content creation. Even if you have a good start on your link building, they may be able to help find ways to improve your strategies or offer complimentary ones.

Regardless of your goals online, you’ll need a strong SEO campaign to reach your target audience and turn site visits into conversions.