Getting found on Google
What is SEO?
Short answer
SEO stands for search engine optimisation. It is the work of setting up your website so that search engines such as Google can find it, understand it and show it when someone searches for what you offer. You do not pay per click: traffic from the regular search results is called organic traffic.
The three parts of SEO
Technical: can Google reach your pages, do they load quickly and is it clear which version is the right one? Content: does your page answer the searcher's question better than other pages? Authority: do other relevant websites link to you, and are you recognisable as a real business? All three count; a technically perfect site without good content is rarely found.
How Google decides what ranks first
For every search, Google looks for the pages that best answer the question. It considers, among other things, the page content, mobile usability, speed and signals of trustworthiness. Google does not publish the exact weighting, and it changes regularly.
What SEO is not
SEO is not a one-off trick and not a paid placement. Ads above the search results fall under SEA (Google Ads). Nobody can guarantee a ranking: Google decides the order, not the agency.
How long does SEO take to work?
It depends on the market and the website. Technical improvements often show up in Search Console within weeks; new pages on a young domain often need months before they are found consistently. Plan for a programme, not a sprint.
Where to start yourself
Connect Google Search Console to your website and see which search terms already bring impressions. Make sure every important service has its own page with a clear title. And answer, on your pages, the questions customers ask you on the phone.
Frequently asked questions
Is SEO the same as GEO?
No, but they share the same foundation. SEO targets Google's search results; GEO targets the answers of AI services such as ChatGPT and Google's AI summaries. If your SEO is in good shape, much of GEO is already done.
Can I do SEO myself?
The basics, yes: Search Console, a clear page per service and good titles. For technical work, structure and competitive markets, specialist knowledge is often faster and safer.
How much does SEO cost?
It depends on the size of your site, the competition and how much new content is needed. See our question 'How much does SEO cost?' for the cost factors.
More questions about getting found on google
- How do I rank higher on Google?You rank higher on Google by creating a page per service that answers the search query better than the pages currently at the top, by getting the technical basics right and by being visibly trustworthy, with a complete Google Business Profile and links from relevant websites.
- Why is my website not showing up on Google?It is usually one of six causes: the site has not been indexed yet, a setting blocks Google (such as 'noindex' or robots.txt), there is no dedicated page for what you want to be found for, the content is too thin, the domain is still young, or you are searching for a term with much stronger competitors.
- Which keywords is my website found for?You can see this for free in Google Search Console, under Performance and then Search results.
- How much does SEO cost?SEO costs depend on four things: the size and technical state of your website, the competition for your search terms, how much new content is needed and whether the work is one-off or ongoing.
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