How Does SEO Work, and What Is Just a Waste of Money?

If you ever needed a website, you have definitely encountered a thing called SEO. In this article, we will look at what SEO is, what we know about it, what is a lie and pure money grab, and what you can do to actually boost SEO.

Search Engine

Let's talk about search engines first. In this article, we will focus our talk to just Google. A search engine is an algorithm that tries to give you the best result for your query. It takes note of way more than just what you typed. For example, your location, information it has about you, what you previously searched for, and much more. This way, it tries to deliver the most accurate search result just for you, and it is really good at it.

What is SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a way of helping your website rank higher in Google search results above your competitors. In simple terms, Google has its own grading system for websites, and you gain or lose points based on what is happening on your site. For example:

• You add an article about something (+ points)
• You have large, unoptimized images (- points)
• You launch a Facebook ad and a lot of people visit your site (+ points)

Hacking SEO

Just to make sure, I’m not saying that SEO is not important—it is EXTREMELY important. But don’t get scammed. Follow the advice given in this article, and you are good to go.

A lot of web developers will try to tell you that your site will be SEO-optimized, maybe even ask you to pay extra for it. But the truth is, what a developer can do for SEO is the bare minimum. These things should be done automatically and shouldn’t cost extra. It’s like getting a house built and the workers refusing to make the roof, or a hairdresser not cutting the back of your head.

What Can a Developer Do for SEO

As developers, our job is to make your website as optimized as possible. We ensure the HTML of the page is structured correctly, optimize images, choose the right technology, and make the page mobile-responsive. As I said earlier, this is the bare minimum.

How to Know You Are Not Wasting Money with Your Chosen Web Company

Ask them directly and let them explain what they do. Here are some questions you might want to ask:

• What technologies are you using and why? They should be transparent with you. Look up what they tell you to check if they are giving you a proper solution or just selling you a cheap template.

• What SEO optimizations are you doing? By now, you should know that optimized code and images are almost the only things a developer can do. Don’t let anyone fool you with false promises.

Do This and You Are Covered

Follow these steps, and you will be ahead of 95% of websites.

Content Quality

The most important thing is high-quality content. Google ranks sites higher if they have useful, well-written, and original content. Don’t just add random text—make sure it actually provides value to visitors.

User Behavior

Google tracks what users do on your site—how many buttons they click, how long they stay, and how they interact with your content. If your content is bad, people leave quickly, and that hurts your ranking. Focus on **useful and engaging content** rather than clickbait.

Backlinks

Google values websites that are linked to by other reputable sites. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the better. Avoid spammy links - Google can tell when they are fake.

Technical Optimization

Make sure your website is technically sound. This includes fast loading speeds, optimized images, proper HTML structure, and mobile-friendliness.

Activity

Websites that update frequently tend to rank higher. Post new content regularly, update old content, and keep your site active.

Keywords

Use the right keywords in your content, but don’t overdo it. Google is smart—it knows when you're just stuffing keywords for SEO. Instead, use natural language and focus on answering what users are searching for.

By following these steps, you won’t need to waste money on shady SEO services. Just focus on good content, a well-structured website, and user engagement, and you will rank well over time.