What is SEO and Why Does It Matter?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization - the practice of improving your website to rank higher in search results. When someone Googles what you sell, SEO determines whether they find you or your competitor.

How Search Engines Work

Google sends "crawlers" to scan websites, understand their content, and add them to an index. When someone searches, Google's algorithm decides which pages best answer the query.

The algorithm considers hundreds of factors, including:

• Relevance of content to the search query
• Quality and authority of the website
• User experience (speed, mobile-friendliness)
• Links from other reputable websites
• Freshness and comprehensiveness of content

Why SEO Matters for Business

• High-intent traffic - People searching for "plumber Hougang" want a plumber NOW
• Cost-effective - Organic traffic doesn't cost per click like ads
• Trust signal - Top rankings convey credibility
• Long-term asset - Good SEO compounds over time
• Competitive necessity - If competitors rank and you do not, they get the business

Basic SEO Checklist

• Keywords research - What are your customers searching for?
• Title tags - Include keywords in your page titles
• Quality content - Answer what searchers want to know
• Mobile-friendly - Essential for ranking in 2025
• Fast loading - Speed is a ranking factor
• Google Business Profile - For local businesses

SEO is a long game - typically 3-6 months to see significant results. But it is worth the investment.

SEO is not magic or manipulation - it is making your website the best answer for what people are searching for. Start with the basics, create helpful content, and be patient.