What is SEO, and why is everyone talking about it?

SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization.” It’s basically the practice of optimizing a website so it shows up higher in organic search results. The whole point is to increase traffic by making content easier to find. That usually happens through creating valuable content and using the right keywords that match what people are searching for.

Why do I think it matters?

For me, SEO is important because it decides how easy it is for people to discover what I share online. Think about it, most online experiences start with a search engine, and if your content is not on that first page, chances are it won’t even be seen. People also tend to trust the top results more, which means ranking higher helps build credibility.

Another reason I see SEO as powerful is cost. Paid ads disappear the moment you stop paying, but SEO builds long-term visibility. On top of that, SEO overlaps with user experience—things like site speed, mobile optimization, and navigation—which not only improve rankings but also keep visitors happy. And from a competitive standpoint, if someone else in my field is optimizing and I’m not, they’re taking the traffic that could have been mine.

Practicing SEO in Real Time

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. I’m not just telling you about SEO, I’m showing you how I’m applying it in this very post.

Keyword integration: You’ll notice that phrases like SEO techniques and search optimization show up naturally in the headline, intro, and body. That’s intentional. I want search engines to recognize the topic without stuffing keywords.

Headings and readability: See how the post is broken into sections? Headings help search engines understand the structure, and short paragraphs make it easier for you to scan. That balance improves both ranking and engagement.

Images and alt text: If I were adding images here, I’d make sure each one had descriptive alt text. For example, a chart showing traffic growth might have alt text like “Google Analytics graph showing SEO traffic growth.” Alt text not only makes content accessible for visually impaired readers but also helps search engines index images.

Linking strategies: I could link to an article from HubSpot to show you where some of these best practices come from, but I’d limit external links because my goal is to keep you here. Internal links are just as valuable. If I had another post on the marketing mix, I’d link to it to increase time on site and lower bounce rate.

Expert mention: I also like to bring in expert voices. Ann Lewnes, former CMO of Adobe, once said, “creativity is the great untapped opportunity in business.” I think that applies perfectly to SEO because creative content design can be just as powerful as technical tweaks.

Engagement and connection: SEO isn’t only about ranking; it’s about keeping readers engaged. So, I’ll ask you: how do you use SEO in your own projects? Do you focus more on keywords, or are you testing design elements like alt text and site structure? Share your thoughts.

Experimenting with style: Variety matters too. Short sentences. Even one-word ones. Why? Because breaking rhythm keeps you reading, and engagement tells search engines this content is worth ranking.

Collaboration: Lastly, I believe SEO gets stronger when it’s shared. My colleague at work, has been exploring how video content affects search rankings. By linking to their work, I can support them while also adding another perspective to this conversation.

Wrapping it up

For me, SEO isn’t a checklist. It’s a strategy. By mixing keyword use, alt text, linking, expert voices, engagement, and style, this very post becomes a live example of how SEO works in practice.