Types of SEO: What Every Business Should Know

Scrolling through Google, we realise that some websites are at the top while others are impossible to find. Why? SEO- Search Engine Optimisation.

What some businesses do not realise is that SEO is not just one thing, but it is made up of different types, each working differently for different parts of the online presence.

Whether you are a startup or a big firm, understanding the types of SEO can help you make smarter decisions about where to focus your digital marketing efforts.

In the blog, learn about the four core types of SEO- On-Page, Off-Page, Technical and Local.

Key Takeaways

• SEO consists of four types, each targeting a different aspect of the website.
• On-Page SEO focuses on the content and page structure.
• Off-Page SEO builds trust and authority through external signals.
• Technical SEO ensures search engines can access the site properly.
• Local SEO helps get discovered by customers in the city or neighbourhood.
• White Hat SEO is the only safe, long-term approach. Black Hat, on the other hand, leads to penalties.

Types of SEO

Every business, to succeed, needs proper SEO these days. Your online presence can be more beneficial than your offline presence. It is all about doing the right thing and choosing the right SEO services. Here are the different types of SEO that your business needs:

1. On-Page SEO

On-Page SEO is something your website cannot ignore. It is everything you do directly to your web pages to make them more visible and relevant to search engines and users.

Think about it as writing a well-organised book. The title needs to be clear, the chapter needs to be logical with proper headings, and the context needs to genuinely answer what the reader is looking for.

On-Page SEO includes:

• Title Tag
• Meta Description
• Header Tags
• Keyword Placement
• Image Alt Text
• Internal Linking
• URL Structure
• Content Quality

These need to be well taken care of if you want effective organic traffic. Write content that clearly answers the user intent. Include the primary keyword in the title, the first paragraph and at least one heading.

2. Off-Page SEO

It refers to everything that happens outside the website that influences how Google perceives your authority and trustworthiness. The most important Off-Page signal is backlinks. These links can be the backbone of your SEO.

Backlinks are other websites pointing to yours. When a credible website links to you, Google treats it as a vote of confidence, so the more quality votes you have, the higher you tend to rank.

Some key Off-Page strategies include:

• Link building
• Guest posting
• Brand mentions
• Business directory listings
• PR and media coverage

Quality always wins, no matter what you say. One link from a respected publication is far more worthy of twenty links from low-quality directories.

3. Technical SEO

It is about making sure search engines can actually find, crawl and understand the website without obstacles.

It optimises a website’s infrastructure, server, code, and architecture to ensure search engines can efficiently crawl, index, and render pages. It acts as a foundation for higher rankings by focusing on speed, mobile usability, security (HTTPS), and structured data, rather than content or backlinks.

Key components include;

• Crawlability and indexing
• Site structure
• Page speed
• Mobile-friendliness
• Structured data
• Security

Proper technical SEO prevents issues like duplicate content, crawl errors, and broken links, which can prevent a site from ranking.

4. Local SEO

is the process of optimising a business’s online presence to attract more customers from relevant, location-based searches, primarily appearing in Google Maps and localised search results. It focuses on proximity and location-based signals to help brick-and-mortar stores or local service providers connect with nearby, high-intent customers.

Some strategies include:

• Google Business Profile: It claims, verifies, and fully optimises your Google Business Profile with accurate hours, address, phone number, and category.
• Online Reviews: Actively encourage customers to leave reviews on Google and respond to them to build trust and authority.
• Mobile Optimisation: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, as most local searches occur on mobile devices.
• Local Keywords: Incorporate location-specific keywords into website content, meta descriptions, and headers.

It is especially powerful for businesses like clinics, salons, law firms, restaurants and coaching centres.  If the customers are near you or in your neighbourhood, your SEO must focus on this.
Look for a professional SEO company that can help you with your SEO. It is essential to focus on these aspects because every SEO type deals with different types of things, whether your focus is on your neighbourhood or worldwide, SEO can help.