Search engine optimisation (SEO) is all about making a website more visible on search engines like Google. The higher a site appears in search results, the more people will visit it without needing to pay for ads.

How SEO works

SEO involves different techniques to help a website rank better. These can be grouped into three main areas:

On-page SEO

This focuses on improving individual pages on a website. It includes:

• Using relevant keywords that people search for
• Writing engaging and useful content
• Optimising titles and descriptions
• Making sure the site loads quickly
• Ensuring the site works well on mobile phones

Off-page SEO

This is about building a website's reputation outside of the site itself. The main focus is:

• Getting links from trusted websites (backlinks) to boost credibility
• Encouraging shares and mentions on social media

Technical SEO

This improves how search engines understand and process a website. Key aspects include:

• Organising the website structure so it is easy to navigate
• Using special coding (schema markup) to give search engines extra details
• Ensuring the site is fast and secure (HTTPS)

Why SEO matters

SEO helps businesses get more visitors without relying on paid ads. People who find a site through search engines are often more interested in what it offers. A well-optimised site builds trust and credibility, leading to more customers and higher revenue.

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into search engines when looking for information, products, or services. They help search engines figure out what a webpage is about and whether it is relevant to what someone is searching for.

How to use keywords effectively

To make the most of keywords, there are a few important steps:

Research

• Find out what words people are searching for in your industry
• Focus on keywords that match what your potential visitors need

On-page optimisation

• Naturally include keywords in titles, headings, descriptions, and page content
• Avoid overloading the page with keywords, as this can hurt rankings

Content creation

• Write useful and engaging content that includes keywords naturally
• Answer common questions people have about the topic

Understanding user intent

• Make sure the content matches what people are actually looking for
• If someone searches for "best running shoes," they likely want recommendations, not a history of running shoes

Why keywords matter

Using keywords correctly helps a website appear in search results, bringing in more visitors without paid ads. The more relevant the keywords, the better the chances of attracting the right audience and turning visitors into customers.

Placing keywords in the right spots on a website helps search engines understand the content and rank it higher in search results. This makes it easier for people to find the site.

Important places to use keywords

Page title

• The title is one of the first things search engines and users see
• A clear and keyword-rich title helps improve ranking

Meta description

• This short description appears under the title in search results
• Including keywords here can make the page more appealing to users

Headers (H1, H2, etc.)

• Headers help organise content and make it easier to read
• Using keywords in them helps search engines understand the main topics

URL slug

• The part of the web address after the main domain (for example, "website.com/keyword-example")
• A short and keyword-focused URL makes the page easier to find

Body content

• Keywords should appear naturally in the text without overuse
• Writing for people first, rather than search engines, keeps the content engaging

Image alt text

• Describes images for search engines and visually impaired users
• Including keywords helps improve ranking in image searches

Internal links

• Linking to other pages on the same website using keywords makes navigation easier
• This also helps search engines understand the structure of the site

Why keyword placement matters

Placing keywords in the right areas helps search engines rank the site higher, leading to more organic traffic. This means more people can discover the website without needing paid ads.

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is not an instant process. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to see noticeable changes in search rankings. Some small improvements may happen quickly, but major results take longer.

What affects SEO speed

Several factors influence how fast SEO changes take effect:

Website age and authority

• New websites usually take longer to rank than older, well-established ones
• Websites with strong reputations tend to see faster improvements

Competition

• If many businesses are competing for the same keywords, it takes more time to rank higher
• Less competitive keywords can show results more quickly

Quality of changes

• Well-optimised content, good keyword use, and technical improvements speed up results
• Poorly done SEO or low-quality content will not have much impact

Search engine crawls

• Search engines need to find and process changes before rankings improve
• Regular updates and high-quality backlinks can encourage faster crawling

Existing SEO condition

• If a website already has a strong SEO foundation, changes will take effect faster
• Websites with technical problems or poor content may take longer to improve

How long until you see results

• Small updates like changing meta tags or adding new content may show some effect in a few weeks
• Bigger changes like redesigning a website or gaining strong backlinks can take three to six months or longer

SEO is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. Consistency and patience are key to getting lasting results.

Plenty of Stuff Studio helps businesses get noticed online by improving search rankings and attracting more visitors.

What we offer

Keyword research

• Finding the best words and phrases to help people discover your website

On-page search engine optimisation (SEO)

• Optimising content, headings, and descriptions to improve search rankings
• Making sure the website loads quickly and works well on mobile devices

Off-page SEO

• Building high-quality links from other websites to boost credibility
• Strengthening online reputation with external sources

Website audits

• Checking for technical issues that might affect search rankings
• Fixing problems to improve performance

Local SEO services

• Plenty of Stuff Studio also helps businesses rank higher in local search results, making it easier for nearby customers to find them.

How we improve local rankings

• Optimising the website and Google My Business profile with relevant keywords
• Adding local citations to boost credibility in location-based searches
• Creating content that focuses on the business's area and target audience

Why local SEO matters

• Increases visibility in searches made by people nearby
• Helps attract more local customers
• Encourages more foot traffic to physical locations
• Boosts revenue by reaching the right audience in the right area

SEO is an ongoing process, and we focus on long-term results to help businesses grow online and offline. Get in touch with our team to learn more.