Last Updated on 4 weeks by Rabin Rasaili
We all are familiar with the term SEO and what potential it holds for people running businesses online.
But do you know how many types of SEO are there in digital marketing?
In this article, we will be discussing the 17 different types of SEO that every beginner needs to know and how you can leverage it to improve your website’s search engine rankings.
Let’s start with the core types of SEO.
Three Pillars of SEO
Before we explore the varied types of SEO, it’s important to establish the foundational pillars that support effective optimization.
Let’s get into more detail.
1. On-Page SEO
On-page SEO is anything done within a particular web page on the website in order to rank higher in search engines. It includes optimizing content, title tags, meta descriptions, images, and internal links.
It is one of the most critical components of SEO as it directly affects how search engines understand and rank your website.
Here you make sure that each page on your website is as search engine friendly as possible while providing the optimally targeted message to its intended audience.
On-page SEO best practices include:
- Primary keyword placement in critical areas
- Metadata (title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags) optimization
- SEO-friendly URL Structure
- High-quality, relevant content creation
- Images and media optimization
- User-friendly website design and structure
- Interlinking to relevant pages
2. Off-Page SEO
Off-page SEO is anything done outside of a website in order to rank higher in search engines. It mostly involves building high-quality backlinks. It means getting links from other relevant and reputable websites.
Search engines view these external factors as votes of confidence in your content, indicating its quality and relevance.
In other words, Off-Page SEO is all about increasing your website’s authority and credibility.
Off-page SEO best practices include:
- Building quality backlinks via guest blogging, influencer outreach, and promoting content
- Engaging with your audience on social media platforms
- Directory submissions and local citations
- Building relationships for collaborations or partnerships
- Monitoring your brand’s online mentions, responding to reviews and comments
3. Technical SEO
Technical SEO is the optimization of your website’s technical aspects so that search engines can easily crawl, understand, and index your content. It includes tasks such as improving site speed, fixing broken links, and implementing structured data.
Although technical SEO may seem intimidating for non-technical individuals, it is crucial for ensuring your website is easily crawlable and indexable by search engines.
Technical SEO best practices include:
- Optimizing site speed for faster loading times
- Ensuring mobile-friendliness and responsive design
- Creating an XML sitemap for easier indexing
- Structured data implementation for rich results
- Implementing HTTPS encryption for a secure website
- Duplicate content management and canonicalization
- Fixing broken links and redirecting them to relevant pages
Other types of SEO
Now that we have established the three pillars of SEO, let’s dive into other types of SEO that are equally important for improving your website’s search engine rankings.
4. Local SEO
Local SEO involves optimizing your website for local search results, primarily for businesses with a physical location or offering services in a specific geographical area.
It involves targeting keywords with location-specific modifiers and optimizing your Google My Business listing.
For example, A small coffee shop in Chicago optimizing its website to appear in local search results may include keywords like “best coffee shop in Chicago” or “Chicago coffee shop near me”.
Local SEO best practices include:
- Creating and optimizing Google My Business listing
- NAP (name, address, phone number) consistency across all online platforms
- Optimizing your website with local keywords and location-specific content
- Acquiring positive reviews and managing your online reputation
- Using schema markup for rich results
5. Mobile SEO
Mobile SEO means optimizing a website and its content for a better user experience on mobile devices. Globally, mobile phones make up 58.67% of website traffic, which shows the dominance of smartphones in online content access.
In addition, recently Google also announced the Mobile First Indexing update which means search engines will primarily crawl the mobile version of websites for indexing and ranking. This makes mobile SEO even more crucial if you want to rank higher in search results.
Mobile SEO best practices include:
- Responsive layout and design
- Fast loading time on mobile devices
- Easy navigation and user experience on mobile devices
- Optimizing images and media for mobile viewing
- Optimizing for voice search and mobile-specific queries
6. Image SEO
Image SEO involves optimizing images on your website for better visibility in image search results. Optimizing your visual assets, such as images and infographics can contribute to your overall search engine visibility, as they can potentially rank in Google Images.
This not only helps in driving more organic traffic to your website but also improves your overall SEO.
Image SEO best practices include:
- Using high-quality images that are relevant to your content
- Optimizing image file names and alt tags with descriptive keywords
- Compressing images for faster loading time
- Implementing structured data and schema markup for images
- Distributing your images across popular platforms like Google Images and Pinterest
7. Voice Search Optimization (VSO)
Voice SEO or VSO involves optimizing your website and content to rank for voice-based searches. With the rise of virtual assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, people are increasingly using voice search to find information or make online purchases.
Study shows that 50% of U.S. consumers utilize voice search on a daily basis. Thus, optimizing for voice search has become even more important for businesses to stay relevant and visible.
Voice SEO best practices include:
- Using natural language and conversational tone in your content
- Targeting long-tail keywords and question-based phrases
- Optimizing for featured snippets and “people also ask” sections
- Providing concise, direct answers to common queries
- Focusing on local search queries (e.g. “best pizza near me”)
8. E-commerce SEO
E-commerce SEO involves optimizing online stores to rank higher in search results and increase sales. It includes optimizing product pages, category pages, product descriptions, etc.
With the growing popularity of online shopping, competition in the e-commerce industry is fierce. In order to stand out and attract more customers, store owners must implement E-commerce SEO in their businesses.
It typically involves a combination of on-page, off-page, and technical SEO tactics specifically tailored for e-commerce websites.
E-commerce SEO best practices include:
- Optimizing product titles and descriptions with relevant keywords
- Creating unique, user-friendly URLs for each product page
- Optimizing product images and videos
- Ensuring fast load times and a mobile-friendly experience
- Optimizing internal linking and navigation to improve discoverability
- Using customer reviews and ratings to boost SERP snippets
9. Video SEO (YouTube SEO)
Video SEO involves optimizing your videos for better visibility in video search engines, primarily on YouTube. With over 2 billion monthly active users, YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google.
Thus, optimizing your video assets for search engines, particularly YouTube, has become an essential component of a comprehensive SEO strategy as it offers massive exposure and opportunity to you and your business.
Another good thing about video is that it can also appear on broader search engine results like Google by adding structured data thus driving traffic from there too.
Video SEO best practices include:
- Optimizing video titles, descriptions, and tags with keywords
- Creating high-quality, engaging videos
- Creating eye-catching thumbnails and optimizing them with alt text
- Adding closed captions and transcripts for better accessibility and searchability
- Encouraging viewer interaction through comments, likes, and shares
- Promoting your videos on other channels (e.g. social media
10. Content SEO
Content SEO involves optimizing your website content for better visibility and ranking in search engines. This includes creating high-quality, valuable, and relevant content that aligns with user search intent.
With the constant updates to Google’s algorithm, having quality content has become crucial for ranking higher in search results. In addition, it helps to attract more backlinks from other websites, which is a major factor contributing to search engine ranking.
Content SEO best practices include:
- Conducting thorough keyword research and optimization
- Creating comprehensive, well-written content that addresses user search intent
- Using headings, subheadings, and bullet points for better readability and organization
- Incorporating multimedia elements such as images and videos
- Updating old content to keep it fresh and relevant
11. White Hat SEO
White Hat SEO involves using ethical and legitimate techniques to improve website ranking and visibility in search engines. These techniques follow the guidelines set by search engines like Google and prioritize providing valuable, relevant content for users.
Some of White Hat’s SEO tactics include creating high-quality content, building natural backlinks, and optimizing for user intent. Using these tactics helps build a strong, sustainable online presence and avoid penalties from search engines.
White Hat SEO best practices include:
- Creating high-quality content that meets user search intent
- Conducting thorough keyword research and optimization
- Building high-quality backlinks through organic outreach and networking
- Following search engine guidelines and avoiding any manipulative tactics
12. Black Hat SEO
On the other hand, Black Hat SEO involves using unethical and manipulative tactics to improve website ranking and visibility. These techniques violate search engine guidelines and can result in penalties or even being banned from search results.
Some Black Hat SEO tactics include keyword stuffing, buying backlinks, and using hidden text or links. While these tactics may yield short-term results, they can ultimately harm the website’s reputation and credibility.
Black Hat SEO should be avoided as it can lead to severe consequences and damage an online presence.
Black Hat SEO practices include:
- Keyword stuffing and using irrelevant or hidden keywords
- Spamming links through automated tools or buying them from low-quality websites
- Using cloaking techniques to deceive search engines
- Engaging in link schemes or private blog networks (PBNs) for backlinks
13. Gray Hat SEO
Gray Hat SEO involves using tactics that fall in between White Hat and Black Hat SEO. These techniques may not be explicitly against search engine guidelines, but they still carry some level of risk.
Some examples include guest posting on low-quality websites or using automated tools for content creation. While these tactics may not result in immediate penalties, they can potentially harm the website’s reputation over time.
Gray Hat SEO tactics should be approached with caution, and it is best to stick to White Hat techniques for long-term success.
Gray Hat SEO practices include:
- Guest posting on low-quality or spammy websites
- Using spinners or automated tools for content creation
- Participating in excessive link exchanges or buying links
- Purchasing expired domains solely for the purpose of backlinking
- Paying for reviews
14. Negative SEO
Negative SEO involves using unethical tactics to harm a competitor’s website ranking and reputation in search engines. This includes creating spammy backlinks to competitor’s websites, duplicating their content, or hacking their website.
While this tactic may seem appealing to gain a competitive edge, it is highly frowned upon and can result in severe consequences for both parties involved. Ultimately, focusing on improving one’s own website and content is a more sustainable and ethical approach to SEO.
Negative SEO should be avoided as it goes against the principles of fair competition and can damage both parties' online presence.
Negative SEO practices include:
- Creating spammy backlinks to a competitor’s website
- Duplicating their content or scraping their website
- Hacking or manipulating their website
- Reporting their website for false violations or issues
- Generating fake reviews to harm their reputation.
15. Programmatic SEO
Programmatic SEO involves using automated technologies and data-driven processes to optimize website content for search engines. This includes using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation tools to improve keyword targeting, content creation, and link building.
Programmatic SEO allows for more efficient and effective optimization by analyzing large amounts of data and making informed decisions based on that data. It also helps with scalability, as it can handle larger volumes of content and website updates.
However, it is important to still have human oversight and input in the process to ensure the quality and relevance of the content being produced.
Programmatic SEO practices include:
- Using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms for keyword research and optimization
- Implementing automation tools for content creation, such as using templates or generating meta tags
- Utilizing data analytics to inform content strategy and optimization decisions
- Incorporating automation for link building, such as using automated outreach or backlink monitoring tools.
16. Parasite SEO
Parasite SEO, also known as “leech SEO,” is a strategy that involves leveraging the authority and visibility of established, high-ranking websites to boost the search engine rankings of a separate, often lower-quality website.
This approach typically involves creating content or assets that are hosted on the authoritative website, with the ultimate goal of driving traffic and backlinks to the target website.
While this tactic can yield quick results, it also carries risks as the third-party platform ultimately controls the content and links on their site. Additionally, algorithm or policy changes can potentially harm the parasite website’s rankings.
Parasite SEO should be used with caution and as a supplement to other SEO tactics, rather than relying on it solely for website optimization.
Parasite SEO best practices include:
- Creating high-quality content on third-party platforms and linking back to your website
- Utilizing relevant and popular platforms with high domain authority
- Ensuring the content on third-party platforms is valuable and engaging for readers
17. International SEO
International SEO involves optimizing website content and structure for different countries and languages. This includes targeting specific keywords, creating country-specific versions of the website, and implementing hreflang tags to indicate language or regional variations.
International SEO can be a complex process, as it requires understanding the cultural nuances and search behaviors in each target market. It also involves technical considerations such as hosting location and URL structure.
However, it can greatly expand the reach and visibility of a website to a global audience. It is important to tailor the content and optimization strategies for each target market rather than simply translating content.
International SEO best practices include:
- Identifying target markets and relevant keywords in different languages
- Creating localized versions of the website with unique content for each country or region
- Implementing hreflang tags to indicate language or regional variations
- Utilizing local hosting and URL structure, such as using country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) or subdirectories.
How to Figure Out What Types of SEO Your Business Need
The type of SEO strategy that a website needs depends on many factors, such as industry, target audience, and goals.
Here are some steps to help determine which types of SEO would be most beneficial for a specific website.
1. Research the target audience
Understanding the demographics, interests, and online behaviors of the target audience can help identify which types of SEO tactics will be most effective in reaching them.
2. Analyze the competition
Conduct a competitive analysis to see what types of SEO strategies your competitors are using and how successful they have been. This can provide insights into potential gaps or opportunities for your own website’s SEO strategy.
3. Set goals
Clearly define the objectives of the website, such as increasing website traffic, improving search engine rankings, or driving conversions. This will help determine which types of SEO tactics align with these goals.
4. Conduct an SEO audit
Conduct a detailed review of the website’s SEO performance, covering on-page elements, backlinks, and technical factors like site speed and mobile optimization. This will help identify areas needing improvement and help you choose the right SEO strategies.
5. Consult with an SEO expert
Talking to a professional SEO specialist can really help you figure out which SEO strategies are best for your website, considering all these important factors.
Conclusion
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to SEO, and different types of SEO strategies may be required for a website to achieve its goals. It is important to regularly assess and adapt SEO tactics in response to any changes in the industry or search engine algorithms.
With a well-rounded SEO strategy that incorporates various types of optimization techniques, you can improve your online visibility and attract more targeted traffic to your website.
So which type of SEO are you going to implement on your website first?
Let me know in the comments below.
Rabin is an enthusiastic SEO and a content creator who is also a BCA graduate. He shares easy-to-follow hacks and tips to help you make smart choices for SEO tools and strategies through his blog. Passionate about learning and sharing, Rabin’s goal is to help you navigate your SEO and blogging journey with confidence.