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SEO for beginners

SEO For Beginners

I’m often asked about SEO for beginners. Where someone should start if they want to learn about SEO? My answer is always the same. Start by understanding the basics. What is SEO? How does search engine optimization work in a broad sense, and how can you influence search engine rankings using SEO strategies and tactics? In this short post, I’ll breakdown the basic framework beginners should consider.

Keyword Research

Any successful search engine optimization (SEO) program begins with a goal. And your goal is simple – to get a website or blog to rank on page one of search results, preferrably in the first 3 postions. This may include a variety of formats, but at the end of the day, you want to appear on top.

To do so, you must first begin with a target keyword. Do you want to show up in search results when someone searches on your company name? A particular service you offer? Maybe, “hardware stores near me”?

Doing keyword research is essential to discover how users search for companies in your niche or the products/services you offer. In my top-selling book, SEO Made Simple, I share my favorite tools for doing keyword reserch the right way.

Site Audit

After you’ve identified your target keyword, the next step is to do a site audit. There are a number of great resources available to do comprehensive site audits and provide feedback on areas you can improve based on SEO best practices and technical enhancements.

The site audit serves as your roadmap for work that must be done to get your website in compliance with the latest Google Algorithm updates. Through the lense of specific keywords, your site audit provides specific “to do’s” that can improve the visibility of your website.

Depending on the size of your website, the site audit could be a few page long or hundreds of pages long. Work with a qualified SEO to determine which on page improvements should be implemented first and if there are any other structural issues that should be address (Domain structure, navigation, etc.). When thinking about SEO for beginners, don’t expect to know everything right out of the gate. Even experienced SEO’s still rely on developers for technical help.

On Page Optimization

The majority of recommendations from your site audit will be for on-page optimization purposes. Factors like meta data, keyword usage, and page load speed are all considered “on-page” factors. The great thing about on-page SEO is that it’s in your control. Some on-page factors can be easily changed and other may require a developer who works with code.

Sites like WordPress, Wix, etc. have made the implementation of on page SEO best practices much easier than in the past. Each platform provides support or training to guide you with making on page changes to your website or blog.

In addition to the basic on page factors, items like site load speed, indexing, etc. also fall into this category. Even though items like those mentioned aren’t necessarily considered “on-page”, they should be addressed as they are critical to improving your website visibility.

Off Page Optimization

Once your site has gone through a site audit and on-page factors have been addressed, it’s time to turn your attention to “off page” optimization. Off-page refers to anything done outside your website to improve rankings. Now, you might be asking, “What can I do outside my website to influence rankings?” The good news is quite a bit. Although off-page optimization is in someways more difficult simply because you don’t have direct control.

At the heart of off-page optimization is link building. When you generate links to your website from a third party website, you’re making an impact on your website’s authority. As your site authority improves, so do rankings.

Generating inbound links is as much an art as it is science. In SEO Made Simple I share a number of link building techniques helping SEO for beginners like using press releases, guest blog posts, and profiles on authority websites to build inbound links. Link building is one of those topics you could write a book about (that’s why I wrote SEO Made Simple) because it is essential to your SEO strategy and is continually evolving.

Conclusion

Understanding the basic framework of SEO for beginners isn’t difficult, but implementing the strategies effectively can be. Be patient. It takes time to learn SEO – it’s almost like learning a new language. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing. SEO has been very rewarding for me and our clients and continues to be an essential part of marketing any business online.

Michael Fleischner

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Corine RigbyCorine Rigby
SEO Specialist

Corine Rigby is the technical heart of Big Fin SEO’s search engine optimization practice. From deep-dive audits to link acquisition strategy, Corine brings precision and insight to every project, helping clients rank higher and stay visible in an ever-changing search landscape.

What do you do at Big Fin SEO?

At Big Fin SEO, I work behind the scenes to help our clients’ websites sail smoothly and rank higher. From deep-dive technical SEO audits and onsite optimizations to strategic keyword mapping, I make sure everything’s shipshape. I also lead our link acquisition efforts to help boost domain authority and increase organic visibility, so our clients stay ahead of the current.

What do you like about working at Big Fin SEO?

I really enjoy the collaborative vibe and the chance to make a measurable impact on our clients’ growth. It’s rewarding to be part of a tight-knit crew that values both smart strategy and solid execution, and where every win feels like a team victory.

When you go to the beach, what do you love to do?

I love walking along the shore collecting shells, soaking in the sound of the waves, and watching the sunset. It’s the perfect reset.

Laura AyresLaura Ayres
Chief of Operations

Laura Ayres is the operational backbone of Big Fin SEO, ensuring that every client engagement runs on time, on budget, and above expectations. As Chief of Operations, she oversees the day-to-day functions of the agency, supports account managers in delivering standout results, and keeps the entire crew aligned and moving in the same direction.

Before joining Big Fin SEO, Laura served as Executive Director at The CIO Initiative, a leadership organization dedicated to advancing senior technology executives. She held that role for nearly six years across two tenures, developing deep expertise in organizational operations, stakeholder management, and executive-level program delivery.

Background

  • Chief of Operations, Big Fin SEO (current)
  • Executive Director, The CIO Initiative (2018–2021, 2023–2025)
  • Experienced in operations leadership, account management, and team development

LinkedIn Profile

What do you do at Big Fin SEO?

As Chief of Operations at Big Fin SEO, I’m the one making sure the ship runs smoothly. I support our account managers in delivering standout results for clients, assist with day-to-day operations, and help keep everything sailing in the right direction. My role touches nearly every part of the business, ensuring we stay efficient, effective, and ready to ride the next wave of growth.

What do you like about working at Big Fin SEO?

The people, hands down. Our crew is smart, supportive, and genuinely fun to work with, and the same goes for our clients. Big Fin SEO is the kind of place where collaboration, flexibility, and good vibes come naturally. It makes every day feel purposeful (and just a little bit fun, too).

When you go to the beach, what do you love to do?

The beach is my favorite place; it energizes me. When I go, I love to lay in my favorite chair and watch the ocean while my daughter builds sand castles at my feet. Then as a family, we walk the shore to collect shells.

Michael FleischnerMichael Fleischner
Founder & CEO

Michael Fleischner is a digital marketing entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience helping businesses grow their online visibility. He founded Big Fin SEO in 2014 after seeing firsthand that agencies were being asked to deliver services they could not staff, and businesses were being sold SEO programs that produced reports but not results.

Today, Big Fin operates as a white-label GEO and SEO fulfillment partner for marketing agencies nationwide, helping over 1,000 brands achieve measurable search visibility without building internal teams. Michael leads strategy across the agency’s GEO, SEO, paid search, and website development programs.

Credentials & Recognition

  • TEDx Speaker, “The Freelance Journey”
  • Author of SEO Made Simple, The 7 Figure Freelancer, Local Marketing Made Simple, and Blogging Made Simple
  • Featured on the TODAY Show and in USA Today
  • President, American Marketing Association Professional Chapters Council (2022–2023), representing 15,000+ marketers across 70+ chapters
  • Executive Producer, “The Strange” (feature film)
  • Founder, CapitalQuest AI

LinkedIn Profile  |  Media Kit

What do you do at Big Fin SEO?

As Captain and CEO at Big Fin SEO, I navigate our skilled crew through the ever-changing tide of digital marketing solutions. My role involves charting a strategic course, anchoring solid client relationships, and ensuring we stay ahead of industry currents to reel in outstanding results.

What do you like about working at Big Fin SEO?

What I enjoy most about Big Fin SEO is our vibrant, collaborative crew. It’s rewarding to see our combined efforts help businesses ride the waves of online growth, helping them make a lasting impact. Watching our clients elevate their online visibility, expand their reach, and net significant revenue through the strategies we deploy is deeply gratifying.

When you go to the beach, what do you love to do?

At the beach, I love to explore the shoreline, relax under the sun, and dive into a captivating book. I’m always on the lookout for fresh inspiration, particularly anything that resonates with our shark-inspired branding or reminds me of adventures on the open sea!