SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of improving your website so it appears higher in search engine results—like Google—when people search for things related to your content. Simply put, SEO helps more people find your site online without paying for ads.

Imagine you open a bakery, but it’s hidden in a back alley. SEO is like putting up signs, handing out flyers, and placing your bakery on the main street so more people walk in. On the internet, this means making your content easier for search engines to understand and recommend.

SEO works in three main areas:

1. On-page SEO – This includes optimizing your content, titles, headings, and keywords. For example, if your blog is about “easy banana bread,” you’d naturally use those words in your post and title.
2. Technical SEO – This is behind-the-scenes stuff like how fast your site loads, whether it’s mobile-friendly, or how secure it is (using HTTPS). These things help search engines rank your site better.
3. Off-page SEO – This is about building your site’s reputation by getting other trusted websites to link to yours. Think of it like online word-of-mouth.

Good SEO isn’t about tricking search engines—it’s about creating helpful, trustworthy content that matches what real people are searching for. The better your SEO, the more likely someone finds your site when they Google a question.

SEO takes time, but it pays off by bringing in free, long-term traffic. As search engines get smarter, focusing on quality content and user experience will always be your best SEO strategy.