What do you do when you don’t know the answer to something? Google it. Google seems to know everything these days. Think about it: how often do you visit a search engine when you’re on the Internet? Your answer is most likely “a lot.” How often does a search engine come up with the answer to your question? A lot. What makes this possible, you might ask? Search Engine Optimization, better known as SEO.
To put it into the simplest of terms, search engines produce relevant results by crawling and indexing websites’ pages. The search engine “crawls” a site and deciphers the information on the site, then indexes that information for later use.
So, why is SEO so important? Let’s say your company is the most successful digital marketing agency specializing in healthcare in the United States. When someone types “healthcare marketing agency” into a search engine, your company comes up as the last listing on the page. How do you fix this, you ask? There are multiple factors contributing to SEO that influence a website’s position in search engine results. In this blog we will take a look at five key components of a successful SEO strategy!
Keywords
Keywords are words and phrases used throughout website content that makes it possible for searchers to find your site via search engine. Using relevant keywords can make or break your search engine ranking.
Keyword research is important, as simply guessing keywords can cost a company money and time. Think about what people might search for online that would lead them to your website. Utilize Google’s Keyword Planner to search for appropriate keywords and see how they might perform.
Also, keep in mind not to flood your content with keywords. Search engines such as Google penalize sites that overuse keywords. These penalties can range from a lower search result or your site being removed completely.
Link Building
Linking back to your website is a simple way for search engines to build your rank based on a variety of factors. Some believe that the quantity of links is the best way to improve their SEO, but quality of the links actually outranks the amount of them.
A search engine can determine the popularity of a page by analyzing the number and popularity of the pages linking to them. Metrics that influence the quality of these links include trust, spam and authority of the linking pages.
Use your social media channels and blog to link back to your website, and vice versa – when search engines see that other sites are linking back to yours, it builds credibility for your website.
In addition to attracting those quality links, a site should always remove spammy links. These types of links can show up in comment sections and go unseen by website users, but are still seen by search engine robots.
Blog & Social
Blogging consistently is an easy way to generate optimized content, and posting fresh content regularly keeps you relevant in Google’s eyes. To that end, sharing the content that you’re producing and linking to it can greatly contribute to your SEO strategy.
Once you’ve created a blog post that focuses on at least one of your target keywords, share it! Implement it into your social media strategy and share it on your social channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to link back to this content, and include images so you can share it on Pinterest, as well!
Content
Content is still king—but quality is what rules the rankings. Search engines favor content that’s original, helpful, and written with the user in mind. Simply stuffing keywords into your pages won’t get you far—in fact, it can hurt your rankings.
Focus on creating content that is clear, valuable, dynamic, and tailored to your audience’s needs. Use natural language, answer real questions, and aim to provide genuine insight or solutions. Strong content not only attracts users, but also encourages shares, backlinks, and return visits—all of which contribute to SEO success.
Remember: content isn’t just blog posts. It includes landing pages, white papers, videos, infographics, case studies, and more. The more variety and depth you provide, the more opportunities you create to show up in search results.
User Experience (UX)
A great user experience doesn’t just keep visitors happy—it directly impacts your SEO. Google rewards websites that are easy to navigate, fast, mobile-friendly, and accessible. If users leave your site quickly because it’s slow or hard to use, search engines take note.
Key UX factors that influence rankings include page speed, mobile responsiveness, clear site navigation, and content readability. Google’s Core Web Vitals also measure things like load time and visual stability—sites that perform well here are more likely to rank higher.
In short, a smooth, intuitive user experience is a valuable part of your SEO strategy and ultimately improves engagement, sends positive signals to search engines, and boosts your visibility in search results.
Key Takeaways
Search Engine Optimization isn’t just about keywords—it’s about creating a holistic, high-quality experience for your audience. From targeted keyword use and trustworthy backlinks to fresh blog content and a seamless user experience, all of these elements work together to boost your visibility and credibility in search engines.
Want to improve your SEO strategy but don’t know where to start? Let us help. Contact us today to optimize your site and start climbing the rankings.
Updated: Apr 23, 2025