top of page
DAISY_LOGO_DARKAsset 1.webp
Voice Search Friendly

Long-tail keywords match how people speak to voice assistants like Siri and Alexa

Better Targeting

Attracts visitors who are
looking for exactly what you offer

Higher Conversion

People using specific search terms are often closer to making a purchase

Less Competition

More specific keywords are easier to rank for than broad, highly competitive terms

SEO Made Simple

This short video introduces our SEO Made Simple Guide - A comprehensive guide to understanding and applying Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) principles to improve your website's visibility and ranking on search engines.

​

Get Stuck In! If you want to discuss give us a shout!

What is SEO and Why Does It Matter?

What does SEO stand for?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation - a way of improving your website so it ranks higher in Google search results. The better your SEO, the more likely people are to find your business when they search online.

What does "ranks higher" actually mean?

When someone searches on Google, they rarely go past the first page of results. In fact, studies show that 75% of users never scroll past the first page. If your website appears on page one you have a much better chance of getting clicks and customers (and sales). The higher your ranking, the more visible your site is (No.1 is the first available slot on page one).

Why is SEO important?

Imagine you own a bakery. If someone searches for "best cupcakes near me," ideally you want your website to show up on the first page of results. Good SEO helps Google recognise your site as relevant and trustworthy, so it ranks higher and brings in more customers—without paying for expensive advertising (this is called 'organic search ranking).

What's the difference between organic and paid search?

  • Organic search results appear naturally based on SEO factors (content quality, credibility, relevance, etc.). They are earned, not bought.

  • Paid search results (Google Ads) are advertisements businesses pay for to appear at the top of search results.

 

While paid search gives instant visibility, organic search traffic is more sustainable in the long run because you don’t have to keep paying for it.

ca8c05e4-4db9-4454-938a-2b368f3baeab.jpg

How does Google decide which websites to show?

Google’s job is to provide the best answers to people’s questions. It scans (or ‘crawls’) billions of web pages and ranks them based on different factors, like credibility, content quality, and user experience.

 

Here’s a breakdown of key ranking factors and how they work:

SEO table 1.png

Site Structure Vs Schema Markup: Which Matters More?

Site Structure

A well-organised website with clear H1, H2, and H3 headings makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your content. This improves discoverability and ranking potential.

Screenshot 2025-03-01 at 09.35.44.png

Schema Markup

While Google doesn’t ‘read’ content the way humans do, Schema helps translate it into structured data, allowing search engines to understand context, categories, and relationships between content.

Screenshot 2025-03-01 at 09.36.03.png

Which is More Important?

A Well Structured Site

This is essential for basic SEO and ensuring your content is indexed correctly.

Boosted Visibility

Schema Markup boosts visibility by making your content eligible for rich results (like featured snippets, review stars, and FAQs in search results).

Both site structure and Schema markup play a key role in how Google understands your website, but they serve different purposes.

​

For best results, use both: a clear site structure for readability and Schema Markup for deeper search engine understanding.

Understanding Keywords: Types & Best Practices

What are keywords?

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google. If your site includes these terms naturally, Google is more likely to show it in search results.

 Are all keywords the same?

Not quite! There are different types of keywords, and choosing the right ones makes a big difference:

​

  • Broad Keywords  - These are general terms like “yoga studio.” They have high search volume but lots of competition, making it hard for your website to rank organically. Since the goal is to appear on page one of search results, targeting broad terms alone is often ineffective.

  • Specific (Long-Tail) Keywords - These are more detailed, like “best beginner yoga studio in Leeds.” They attract a smaller but more relevant audience and have a higher chance of ranking.

 

Example:

  • A broad keyword like “yoga studio” is too generic. Your site could get lost in millions of search results.

  • A more refined phrase like “best beginner yoga studio in Leeds” is easier to rank for and targets the right audience.

  • However, if you go too specific, like “beginner-friendly hot yoga classes on Tuesdays in Leeds” you might limit your audience too much.

What’s the benefit of long-tail keywords?

Long-tail keywords (3+ words) are becoming more popular because they match how people search, especially with voice search. They help attract visitors who are actively looking for exactly what you offer.

How do I choose the right keywords?

Think like your customer! If you own a yoga studio, your customers might search for:

​

  • “Best beginner yoga classes near me”

  • “How to start yoga at 50”

  • “Yoga for stress relief”

  • ​

(e.g., "best beginner yoga studio in Leeds") are more specific and often lead to higher rankings and better audience targeting.

As noted, being too specific may limit search volume, so it's essential to strike the right balance, this will come with practice and, where possible, monitoring results.

 

Tools like Google’s Keyword Planner, Moz, SemRush and Ubersuggest can help identify the most effective search terms for your audience. By effective we mean the keywords that have sufficient search volume monthly to merit using (how high varies by industry but the more specific you become the lower the volume, normally 500 - 1000 searches for many is the sweet spot).  Also a good trick to note is that lower performing keywords can be 'grouped together' (not actually grouped but simply considered as the 'whole') to create a higher overall volume (say for example you find 3 words that have a search volume of around 300 each a month. That then gives you a aggregate of 900 a month from your chosen keywords. The same as using one worth 900). 

Screenshot 2025-03-01 at 10.50.59.png

Free SEO Tool Checkers

There are a lot out there. Here are just some of our favourites. Especially Google which has a lot of useful resources, all FREE!

SEO Drawbacks: What You Should Know

SEO takes time

Results don’t happen overnight

Google’s rules change

What works today might not work next year

Competition is tough

Big businesses invest heavily in SEO

 It’s ongoing

You need to update and maintain your SEO regularly

SEO vs. AEO: The Future of Search

What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) and why does it matter?

As AI-powered search tools like Google’s featured snippets and voice assistants grow in popularity, search engines are shifting towards Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO). AEO is the next generation of SEO, designed to provide direct answers rather than just a list of websites.

​

Instead of simply ranking pages, AEO ensures that your content appears in voice searches, featured snippets, and AI-generated answers, positioning your brand as a trusted source of information.

What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)?

AEO focuses on providing direct answers to user questions - perfect for voice search and AI-driven results. 

 

Example: If someone asks Google, “What’s the best way to improve SEO?” AEO ensures your content appears as the direct answer in a featured snippet or voice search result.

At a Glance

second table.png

We have a full AEO Guide available if you would like to find out more about this important subject.

Default Image

Here To Help

DIY: If you decide to manage your own SEO we hope this guide has proved useful. Let us know!

DIFY (Do it for you):As with everything, if you decide you don't want to manage this yourself,  we would be happy to help. We offer both SEO setup (in fact this is our normal approach to fully optimise your content as part of the recommended website development) and the ongoing maintenance.  Contact us today!

Contact

* We will alm to get back to you within 24 hours during the working week.

Call:

+44 7396 984 711

By Form:

Also subscribes

Daisies strip

Google & SEO Blogs

More FAQs

How long does it take to see SEO results? SEO is a long-term strategy. Typically, it can take 3-6 months to start seeing noticeable improvements, depending on competition, keyword difficulty, and the effectiveness of your optimisation efforts.

Can I do SEO myself, or do I need an expert? Basic SEO can be done independently using tools like Google Search Console and Yoast SEO. However, for more advanced strategies, hiring an SEO expert can save time and help achieve better results.

Is SEO a one-time task? No, SEO is an ongoing process. Search engines constantly update their algorithms, and competitors continuously optimise their websites. Regular updates, fresh content, and technical maintenance are necessary.

Does social media affect SEO? While social media doesn’t directly impact rankings, it helps drive traffic to your site, increases brand awareness, and can lead to more backlinks—indirectly benefiting SEO.

Glossary of Terms (used on this page)

Backlinks – Links from other websites pointing to yours, improving credibility.

Bounce Rate – The percentage of visitors who leave a site without interacting.

Crawling – When search engines scan and index pages on your site.

Domain Authority – A ranking score predicting how well a site will perform in search.

Indexing – The process of adding pages to Google’s search database.

Keyword Density – How often a keyword appears within content.

Long-Tail Keywords – Specific, detailed search phrases with lower competition.

Meta Description – A short summary of a webpage shown in search results.

Organic Traffic – Visitors who come from unpaid search results.

Schema Markup – A form of structured data helping search engines understand content.

​

bottom of page
```html ```