SEO (search engine optimization) is a method of raising the visibility or prominence of web pages, or a specific website, on the organic (organic meaning the natural, not paid-for) listings in search engines.

Good search engine optimization targets a websites’ specific customer type. Part of this is done through using the ‘key words’ that potential customers would type into a search engine browser to find what they are looking for. But, very good SEO goes beyond simple key word inclusion. SEO can be an entire campaign of events related to the website (such as including pay-per-click advertising). Or it can be a simple matter of blogging frequently.

Depending on the importance of drawing potential customers to a site over other, similar sites, a good SEO plan can involve many functions. The opposite of this would be having a service-type of site that readers access via other channels and methods requiring little to no search engine optimization.

SEO programs can be time consuming and intricate; but having a website on the internet that does not get visitors is a waste.

If you bring a lot of visitors to the site with good SEO practices, then the next step is to ensure that the visitor converts to a ‘customer’. This is a different subject entirely, related to marketing / sales technology.

Marketing – on the internet – depends on how quickly you can appeal to the visitor to look further on the website and then buy, sign-up, or otherwise become a customer, depending on what that means to each specific type of site. The operative word here is ‘quickly’. To create enough interest in a potential client to look further or to do an action is essential.