The internet, is a realm of endless possibilities, especially when it comes to SEO. You inquired about the various types of SEO, and here I am, ready to enlighten you. Behold, a comprehensive guide to every SEO type known to humanity, up to the very minute!
But fret not, we’ve organized them meticulously to spare you any unnecessary headaches. Navigate through the links to delve deep into the intricacies of each SEO type.
Core SEO Categories
On-page SEO
On-page SEO refers to the optimization of individual web pages to improve their ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). This includes optimizing the page’s content, structure, and HTML elements to make it more relevant and appealing to search engines. Some common on-page SEO techniques include:
- Optimizing the page’s title tag and meta description
- Using relevant keywords in the page’s content
- Creating high-quality, original content
- Optimizing the page’s images
- Using structured data markup
Off-page SEO
Off-page SEO refers to the optimization of external factors that can influence a website’s ranking in SERPs. This includes building backlinks to the website from other high-quality websites, promoting the website on social media, and submitting it to directories and listings. Some common off-page SEO techniques include:
- Guest posting on other websites
- Building relationships with other website owners
- Participating in forums and discussion groups
- Submitting the website to directories and listings
- Promoting the website on social media
Technical SEO
Technical SEO refers to the optimization of the website’s technical infrastructure to improve its crawling and indexing by search engines. This includes optimizing the website’s speed, security, and mobile-friendliness. Some common technical SEO techniques include:
- Optimizing the website’s loading speed
- Using a secure socket layer (SSL) certificate
- Making the website mobile-friendly
- Creating a sitemap and submitting it to search engines
- Using robots.txt to control how search engines crawl the website
Technical SEO:
Mobile SEO:
Mobile SEO refers to the optimization of a website for mobile devices. This includes making the website responsive so that it can be easily viewed on different screen sizes, and optimizing the website’s content and structure for mobile users. Some common mobile SEO techniques include:
- Using a responsive design
- Optimizing the website’s content for mobile users
- Creating a mobile-friendly sitemap
- Using accelerated mobile pages (AMP)
Accessibility SEO:
Accessibility SEO refers to the optimization of a website to make it accessible to users with disabilities. This includes making the website compatible with assistive technologies, such as screen readers, and providing alternative text for images. Some common accessibility SEO techniques include:
- Using ARIA landmarks to identify different sections of the website
- Providing alternative text for images
- Making the website compatible with assistive technologies
- Creating a keyboard-friendly navigation
Edge SEO:
Edge SEO refers to the optimization of a website for the Microsoft Edge browser. This includes optimizing the website’s code and content for the Edge browser and using Edge-specific features, such as the Edge browser extension. Some common Edge SEO techniques include:
- Optimizing the website’s code for the Edge browser
- Using Edge-specific features, such as the Edge browser extension
- Creating a website that is compatible with the Edge browser
JavaScript SEO:
JavaScript SEO refers to the optimization of a website that uses JavaScript for search engines. This includes making sure that the website’s JavaScript code is properly structured and optimized, and that the website is crawlable and indexable by search engines. Some common JavaScript SEO techniques include:
- Using a JavaScript framework that is SEO-friendly
- Optimizing the website’s JavaScript code
- Make sure that the website is crawlable and indexable by search engines
React SEO:
React SEO refers to the optimization of a website that uses the React JavaScript library for search engines. This includes making sure that the website’s React code is properly structured and optimized, and that the website is crawlable and indexable by search engines. Some common React SEO techniques include:
- Using a React framework that is SEO-friendly
- Optimizing the website’s React code
- Make sure that the website is crawlable and indexable by search engines
NextJs SEO:
NextJs SEO refers to the optimization of a website that uses the Next.js JavaScript framework for search engines. This includes making sure that the website’s Next.js code is properly structured and optimized, and that the website is crawlable and indexable by search engines. Some common NextJs SEO techniques include:
- Using a Next.js framework that is SEO-friendly
- Optimizing the website’s Next.js code
- Make sure that the website is crawlable and indexable by search engines
Headless SEO:
Headless SEO refers to the optimization of a website that uses a headless content management system (CMS) for search engines. This includes making sure that the website’s headless CMS is properly configured and optimized, and that the website is crawlable and indexable by search engines. Some common headless SEO techniques include:
- Using a headless CMS that is SEO-friendly
- Optimizing the website’s headless CMS
- Make sure that the website is crawlable and indexable by search engines
Content SEO
Landing Page SEO:
Landing Page SEO involves optimizing individual landing pages, such as the home page or service pages so that they are found for specific keywords. Pages need to have the target keywords in the URL, page title, headings, and first paragraph. Calls to action and core messaging should be clear for users. Images and multimedia can also be utilized for landing pages. Testing different page formats and content helps increase conversions.
Blog SEO:
Blog SEO focuses on optimizing blog posts themselves as well as setting up the blog section of the site. Individual posts need keywords in the title, slug URL, first paragraph, and throughout. Tags and categories should be utilized logically. Linking internally between posts and externally to relevant sites improves authority. Regular publishing, sharing on social platforms, and getting backlinks help blogs gain visibility.
Content SEO:
Content SEO focuses on optimizing all of the content on a website such as blog posts, product descriptions, pages, etc. to be found by search engines. Content needs to be optimized by naturally using target keywords, focusing on a topic in each piece, and linking internally between pages. Proper headings, images, and alt text should also be used. Regular updating and publishing of new content helps sites remain fresh for search engines.
Semantic SEO:
Semantic SEO is the practice of using structured data, schemas, and semantics in HTML to provide more context about the page content to search engines. This includes utilizing things like JSON-LD, microdata, and RDFa to define things like products, reviews, people, organizations, etc. clearly on pages. Semantic markup helps search engines understand pages better and potentially show them in more relevant ways like knowledge panels or rich results.
Multimedia SEO:
Multimedia SEO involves optimizing images, videos, and other non-text content like infographics for discoverability. Things like file names, alt text, captions, and transcripts need target keywords. Images need to be optimized for size and load speed. Videos require titles, descriptions, and transcripts/captions. Social sharing of multimedia assets helps drive traffic. Embedding content optimally on pages improves the user experience.
Local and International SEO
Local SEO:
Local SEO refers to optimizing a business’s website, content, and online presence to rank highly for location-based searches on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. This helps the business attract customers within a specific location or geographic area. Some key elements of local SEO include adding the business’s address, phone number, and website URL on Google My Business and Bing Places for Business, optimizing website pages for local keyword phrases, securing local citations and reviews from third-party sites, and local linking and outreach.
International SEO:
International SEO refers to optimizing a website for users across different countries and languages other than the main language/country it was originally optimized for. It involves the translation of key pages and contents into other languages spoken in target international markets, optimizing separately for location/country-specific keywords and search habits, linking to high-quality international sites, and adhering to the cultural norms and preferences of overseas users. International SEO helps expand the business globally and tap into new international audiences and customers.
Multilingual SEO:
Multilingual SEO refers to optimizing a website to rank and engage users speaking different languages from the same target geographic market or location. It involves publishing content in multiple languages catering to the language preferences of local users. Key elements are segmented optimization and translations for local keywords and queries in each language, consistent linking and sharing of multilingual content, localized website structure, metadata, and images. The goal is to serve a multicultural local audience speaking different languages within the same city or country.
Platform-specific SEO
E-commerce SEO:
Focuses on optimizing product pages, category pages, and content for e-commerce websites to rank well for product and category searches on search engines. Key areas include product titles, descriptions, images, and internal linking.
YouTube SEO:
Optimizing YouTube videos and video channels for search engines. Important elements are video titles, descriptions, tags, and thumbnails. YouTube has its own search and recommendations engine to optimize for.
App Store SEO:
Optimizing app listings and app store pages for searches on app stores like Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Important factors are app name, description, screenshots, and keywords.
Amazon SEO:
Optimizing product listings and Amazon seller central account for ranking on Amazon search. Best practices include comprehensive titles, thorough descriptions, optimizing images, keywords, and reviews.
Etsy SEO:
Similar to Amazon but focused on crafts, vintage items sold on Etsy marketplace. Titles, tags, descriptions, and images are crucial on Etsy listings.
Shopify, Squarespace, WordPress, Wix SEO:
These are e-commerce platforms. SEO focuses on on-site elements like XML sitemaps, keyword optimization, URL structure, and site speed to rank well on Google for product/service keyword searches.
Social Media SEO:
Using keywords and hashtags strategically on social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to gain higher organic reach and rank well in social searches.
News SEO:
Optimizing online news/article pages for search engines with compelling headlines, frequent keyword-optimized updates, and internal/external linking strategies.
Specialized SEO Types
Image SEO:
It involves optimizing images on a website for better discoverability and ranking in image search results. Key things include adding relevant alt text, file names, image quality, image location on the page, etc.
Video SEO:
To optimize videos for better discoverability and engagement on platforms like YouTube and video sections on websites. Things like video titles, descriptions, tags, transcripts, etc are optimized to help videos rank better in video search results.
Programmatic SEO:
It focuses on optimizing websites, ads, and marketing campaigns for automated programmatic advertising platforms. Parameters related to landing pages, ad extensions, etc are optimized.
Holiday SEO:
Optimizing website content around seasonal topics, trends, and events like Halloween, Christmas, Independence Day, etc to leverage seasonal search demand for better visibility and sales.
Featured Snippet SEO:
Targeting website content to rank for featured snippets i.e. short summaries in the right rail of SERPs. Well-written helpful content with proper formatting helps achieve this.
Long-Tail SEO:
Optimizing long tail keywords that have low search volume but high commercial intent to drive targeted traffic. The focus is on niche, specific informational queries.
SaaS SEO:
Optimizing SaaS websites, blogs, and resources to better target keyword groups relevant to software buyers’ journeys, trials, pricing, etc to generate leads and sales.
Enterprise SEO:
Optimizing large enterprise websites, branding, and resources for commercial and informational queries of B2B enterprise buyers with a focus on lead generation, awareness, and thought leadership.
Niche SEO:
Optimizing very specific industry, product, or service-related keyword targeting to deliver ultra-targeted traffic and gain expertise/authority in that niche.
Voice SEO:
Optimizing content, snippets, and resources for delivery on voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant through relevant responses to user’s spoken queries.
AI SEO:
Leveraging AI and bots for automation and acceleration of SEO processes like content creation, link building, technical SEO, and ranking prediction to scale up efforts.
Taxonomy SEO:
Organizing and tagging website content into logical hierarchical taxonomy and connecting internal pages to help crawlers better understand the site structure and support better findability of content.
SEO Philosophies
White Hat SEO:
White hat SEO refers to ethical, straightforward SEO techniques that comply with search engine guidelines. The aim is to naturally enhance a site’s visibility by improving usability, providing valuable content to users, and designing sites with search engine crawler accessibility in mind. Examples include keyword optimization, linking, site speed improvements, mobile-friendliness, etc.
Black Hat SEO:
Black hat SEO encompasses unethical or prohibited tactics used to illegally raise search rankings or traffic. Examples are hidden text, link spamming, cloaking, scamming users onto sites, and other manipulative practices that provide little value to users. Search engines actively work to identify and penalize sites that use black hat tactics.
Grey Hat SEO:
Grey hat SEO techniques operate in a grey area between white hat and black hat approaches. Some techniques may improve rankings but could potentially risk penalties if over-optimized or detected as manipulative by search engine algorithms. Doorway pages, low-quality spun content, and thin affiliate sites are examples.
Negative SEO:
Negative SEO aims to harm a competitor’s search visibility through unethical tactics like posting negative comment spam, link schemes to lower PageRank, and other techniques intended to deceive search engines into lowering their rankings.
Sustainable SEO:
Sustainable SEO aims to provide long-term organic gains through practices that serve users and search engines. It focuses on continually creating valuable content, optimizing site experience, and building quality links to establish authority over time.
Continuous SEO:
Continuous SEO involves consistently applying strategic optimization on an ongoing basis to stay aligned with evolving search algorithms, user needs, and industry trends. It recognizes SEO as an iterative process rather than a one-time project.
DIY SEO:
DIY SEO refers to search engine optimization practices performed in-house by those without specialized SEO expertise, such as business owners and marketers. It commonly involves learning SEO basics through online resources and experimenting with implementation.
Holistic SEO:
Holistic SEO views search visibility as one piece of an overall digital marketing strategy. It aims to fully integrate SEO best practices into all aspects of a brand’s operations and digital presence like content, social media, link building, user experience design, and more for cohesive promotion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, SEO comes in many forms to optimize websites for search engines. The core categories of on-page, off-page, and technical SEO focus on the optimization of individual pages, external links, and technical infrastructure. Specific types then build on these to target elements like mobile usability, accessibility, JavaScript frameworks, content formats, and geo-targeting.
Platform-specific optimization helps with e-commerce, video, and app stores. Specialized areas leverage seasonal trends or long-tail keywords. Philosophies guide ethical versus spammy approaches. With the constant evolution of algorithms and user behavior, successful SEO demands diverse tactics applied sustainably over time.
