SEO optimizes website to rank higher in Google search results. Drives free organic traffic (vs paid ads). Key tactics: Keyword research, high-quality content, backlinks, technical optimization. Takes 6-12 months but compounds over time.
SEO is long-term traffic strategy. How Google ranks pages: Content quality (does page answer query?), Backlinks (how many sites link to you?—vote of trust), Technical SEO (fast loading, mobile-friendly, proper structure), User signals (do visitors stay or bounce?). SEO strategies: (1) Keyword research—Use tools (Ahrefs, Semrush, Google Keyword Planner) to find: High volume searches (10K+ monthly), Low competition (not dominated by big brands), Commercial intent ("best CRM software" > "what is CRM"). (2) Content creation—Write comprehensive guides (2,000+ words) targeting keywords, Answer specific questions (featured snippets), Create comparison pages ("Salesforce vs HubSpot"), Build tools/calculators (interactive content ranks well). (3) On-page SEO—Include keyword in title, H1, first paragraph, Use semantic keywords (synonyms, related terms), Add internal links (link between your pages), Optimize meta descriptions (impacts click-through rate). (4) Backlinks—Guest post on industry blogs (earn links), Create link-worthy content (original research, infographics), Build tools others want to link to, PR/press coverage. (5) Technical SEO—Fast loading (<3 seconds), Mobile-friendly (50%+ traffic mobile), SSL certificate (HTTPS), Proper URL structure (/blog/post-name), XML sitemap. SEO timeline: Months 1-3: Publish 20-50 articles, minimal traffic. Months 4-6: Google starts ranking, 1K-5K visitors/month. Months 7-12: Compound effect, 10K-50K visitors/month. Year 2+: Established authority, 100K+ monthly visitors. ROI: SEO costs ₹50K-₹5L initially (content, tools) but traffic is free forever. Paid ads stop when budget ends. SEO compounds—traffic grows year-over-year.
SEO Traffic = Rankings × Search Volume × CTR. Example: Rank #1 for "startup ideas" (10K searches, 30% CTR) = 3K monthly visitorsInvested heavily in SEO content (blog, tools). Now gets 500K+ organic visitors/month. Traffic worth $5M+/month if paid ads. Built ₹5,000+ crore company largely on SEO.
Created integration pages for every app combo (5,000+ pages). "Integrate Slack with Gmail" etc. Ranks #1 for thousands of keywords. Primary customer acquisition channel.
Published 100 thin articles (300 words each), no backlinks, ignored technical SEO. Zero traffic after 12 months. Wrong strategy—need quality over quantity.
SEO is most scalable acquisition channel. Paid ads: ₹50/click × 10K clicks = ₹5L/month forever. SEO: ₹5L upfront, 10K free clicks/month forever. ROI compounds—Year 1: 10K visitors. Year 2: 50K. Year 3: 200K (same content). Best startups (Ahrefs, Zapier, HubSpot) built empires on SEO.
6-12 months minimum to see significant traffic. Months 1-3: Little traffic. Months 4-6: Rankings start. Months 7-12: Compound growth. Don't give up before 6 months.
Yes! Despite AI, Google still sends 10x more traffic than any other channel. SEO costs ₹5-10L upfront but generates free traffic forever. Paid ads require perpetual spend.
Start in-house (₹50K-₹2L/month: content writers, tools). Hire agency (₹2-5L/month) after proving SEO works. Avoid cheap agencies (₹20K/month)—usually black hat tactics that hurt long-term.
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