If you're curious about a topic and want to know more, what do you do? Head to the public library to search for a book? Email an expert? Ask your parents? If you're like most 21st-century humans, you find a device with an Internet connection and "google" it. Google is just one option, of course, but in American culture at least, "to google" has come to mean "to use an Internet search engine."
You probably have a basic understanding of what a search engine is and does. When you start publishing your own websites, though, it's a good idea to know exactly how search engines work. If you understand the technology behind them, you can build the kinds of websites that search engines "like," and they will reward you by placing your website near the top in a list of search results. That means more traffic for your website and more exposure for your ideas or products!
Making a website more noticeable and attractive to search engines is called search engine optimization (SEO). When you optimize, or improve, your website with SEO in mind, you make specific choices in the development process with the goal of making your site more search-engine-friendly.
This lesson will explain some of the strategies you can use to improve your website's performance with search engines while introducing you to the field of SEO.
Question
Why is it important to consider search engine optimization for your web site?
Most people will use search engines to find the information or content they want to view rather than typing in a known web address or URL. SEO helps to ensure your website shows up in the search results, which will significantly increase your site traffic.
