SEO basics: the 2026 complete guide

Guide identifier: seo-basics

This guide helps clarify the fundamentals before you take action. It works as a practical reference, a decision aid, and a useful starting point for prioritizing the next actions that matter most in your context.

What is SEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or organic search is the set of techniques to improve your visibility on Google and other search engines. Unlike SEA (paid ads), SEO is free but requires work.

Keywords

Keywords are the terms your customers type into Google to find you.

How to choose them:

Put yourself in your customer's shoes
Research on Google Trends what people search
Analyze your competitors
Target keywords with search volume

Where to place them:

Title (page SEO title)
Meta description (summary shown in Google)
H1 (main page title)
Page content (naturally, not excessively)

HTML Tags

HTML tags help Google understand your content:

Title - Your page title (max 60 characters)
Meta description - Summary visible in Google (max 160 characters)
H1, H2, H3 - Your page titles and subtitles
Alt text - Description of your images

Structure and Internal Linking

Organize your site logically:

Clear structure (categories > pages)
Internal links between relevant pages
Easy navigation for visitors and Google

Loading Speed

Google likes fast sites. Optimize:

Image size (compress them)
Browser cache
Your site's hosting

Create Quality Content

Content is king in SEO:

Write for your visitors, not Google
Use your keywords naturally
Answer your customers' questions
Update your pages regularly

If you want to move faster, we can turn this guide into a concrete action plan with priorities, quick wins, technical trade-offs, and next steps tailored to your project.

SEO cluster