The way we market, sell and deliver SEO services has undoubtedly
changed. Google's algorithm updates have made content marketing and
social media the core of a strong organic search strategy. So while the
practice of SEO evolves, the definition of SEO ought to evolve as well.
Other digital marketing tactics such as email marketing, paid search
and search retargeting have very clear, undisputed definitions. The
definition of SEO, on the other hand, seems to be just as unclear as the
practice itself.
Current Definitions of SEO
Even when you Google the phrase, "definition of SEO", nothing really concrete is returned.Wikipedia's official definition is, "the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page."
Search engine optimization is about way more than this.
Webopedia's definition is, "a methodology of strategies, techniques and tactics used to increase the amount of visitors to a website by obtaining a high-ranking placement in the search results page of a search engine (SERP) -- including Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines."
SEO is more than this too.
Is Web Presence Optimization the Evolution of SEO?
So what is an accurate description of SEO given the changes to the industry?Web presence optimization is an all-encompassing approach to optimizing an entire web presence for organic search including the website, social channels, blogs, articles and press releases. Where strategies, techniques, and tactics are still used, but content marketing and social media are strongly incorporated.
What's Your Definition of SEO?
- SEO is the ongoing process of uncovering and discovering non-branded keywords that are driving organic search traffic and conversions, then publishing content optimized for those keywords.
- SEO is the process of producing optimized content that is discoverable by the target audience as they progress through the buying cycle.
- SEO is about a prospect discovering a brand's content and web presence through search and social, and the owner of that content being able to understand who consumed the content and the impact of the content across the organization.
- SEO is the outcome of a content marketing strategy that makes use of highly converting keywords that your target audience is searching on.
- SEO is the process of enhancing the visibility of a brand's web presence in organic search.