How SEO Works: A Beginner’s Guide to Ranking on Google (Without the Fluff)

You’ve probably heard that SEO is the secret to getting free traffic. But how does SEO really work? What does Google look for when ranking websites?

In this no-fluff guide, we’ll break it down in simple terms. You’ll learn how SEO works, how Google ranks your content, and what exactly you need to do to climb to the top.

What Is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s the process of making your website easier to find, understand, and trust — especially by Google.

When done right, SEO helps your pages rank higher in search results, bringing you consistent, free, and targeted traffic.

How SEO Works (In 3 Layers)

1. Crawling & Indexing – Can Google find and read your site?

Google sends out bots (called crawlers) to explore your website by following links. These bots:

• Visit every page
• Read the content
• Store it in Google’s “index” (a giant searchable database)

✅ What You Should Do

• Submit a sitemap to Google Search Console
• Fix broken links
• Make sure your site loads fast and works well on mobile

2. On-Page SEO – Does your page match the search query?

Once indexed, Google tries to figure out: Is this the best page for this keyword?

✅ What You Should Do

• Use keywords naturally in:
  • Page title
  • Meta description
  • H1/H2 tags
  • Image alt tags
  • URL
• Write helpful, clear, well-structured content
• Link to related pages on your site

3. Off-Page SEO – Do others trust your site?

Google looks at backlinks (links from other websites to yours) as a trust signal.

The more high-quality, relevant sites that link to you, the better your chances of ranking.

✅ What You Should Do

• Reach out for guest posts or partnerships
• Share your content in relevant forums or communities
• Build things worth linking to (like tools, guides, checklists)

What Google Looks At to Rank You

Bonus: Real-Life Example

Let’s say someone searches:

“Best shoes for flat feet”

Google will prioritize:

• Pages that have this exact keyword and related terms like “flat arch,” “foot pain,” etc.
• Pages with clear product comparisons, images, pros & cons, and FAQs
• Pages with backlinks from health or footwear sites
• Fast-loading, mobile-friendly pages

Pro Tips to Win at SEO

1. Focus on search intent — Understand why the user is searching.
2. Use keyword clusters — Don’t optimize for just one keyword.
3. Create linkable content — Tools, data, stories, stats, guides.
4. Don’t over-optimize — Write for humans, not bots.

What to Do Next

Here’s your SEO action plan:

• Find what people are searching for
• Write content that answers it better than anyone else
• Optimize your page technically
• Get a few backlinks
• Track and improve over time

Want More?

In our next post, we’ll show you:

How to find keywords with 1M+ search volume using free tools like Ubersuggest, Ahrefs, and Google Trends.

Subscribe or bookmark now — and let Google work for you.

P.S.
Here’s the truth nobody tells you:
Most SEO advice sounds the same. Most blogs say the same things. And most people worry too much about being original or perfect.

Don’t.

Write anyway.
Write like you're figuring it out loud.
Write even if it feels like it’s already been written 10,000 times.
Because most people never take action. And the ones who do? They start standing out.

Google doesn’t reward clever — it rewards consistent and clear.
So keep publishing. Keep refining. And keep owning your space on the internet.

Eventually, people will start recognizing you by your writing.
And yes — Google will crawl you. Automatically.

Let’s build, write, and publish without permission.