The 4 Types Of SEO You Need To Know (Beginner's Guide)

The 4 Types Of SEO You Need To Know (Beginner's Guide)

Feb 3, 2025

Feb 3, 2025

The 4 Types of SEO You Need to Know

The 4 Types of SEO You Need to Know

Do you want your website to show up higher in Google search results? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can help. But SEO isn't one-size-fits-all. The right SEO strategy depends on the type of business you have.

Whether you are doing SEO for your company or another one, understanding the unique nuances of the industry you're in is crucial. This knowledge will guide you in using the most effective SEO strategies. This guide will delve into the best SEO strategies for e-commerce, local, niche/media, and SaaS businesses, empowering you with industry-specific insights.

Ready to improve your SEO? Let's get started.

SEO Basics

Most SEO tips apply to all types of businesses. To get more visitors from Google, you need to:

  • Write good content

  • Build internal links

  • Build backlinks

  • Create a clear site structure

  • Fix technical problems

However, each type of business needs a slightly different approach. For example, local businesses need to build citations. Citations are mentions of your business name, address, and phone number online. This isn't as important for e-commerce or SaaS companies.

E-commerce SEO

E-commerce SEO is all about making money. It's not just about getting more traffic to your website. It's about getting the right traffic that leads to sales. More traffic doesn't always mean more money. You need people to buy your products.

The most important thing to track is organic search revenue. This is the money you make directly from people finding your website through Google, without any paid advertising or other promotional efforts.

Here's what you need to do for e-commerce SEO:

  1. Choose a fast and reliable CMS: Shopify is a great choice.

  2. Build a simple site structure: Make it easy for people to find what they need.

  3. Resolve technical issues: Verify for broken links and optimize page speeds.

  4. Find the right keywords: Focus on keywords that people use when they're ready to make a purchase.

  5. Optimize product and collection pages by incorporating your keywords effectively.

  6. Research related keywords: Find keywords that people search for earlier in the buying process.

  7. Write blog content: Target these related keywords with helpful articles.

  8. Build internal links: Link from your blog posts to your product and collection pages.

  9. Build backlinks: Get other websites to link to your site.

By implementing these strategies effectively, you can position yourself ahead of most of your e-commerce competitors, paving the way for significant success in e-commerce SEO.

Local SEO

Local SEO is for businesses that serve a specific area. This could be a city, town, or neighborhood. Examples include:

  • Real estate agents

  • Lawyers

  • Dentists

  • HVAC companies

  • Plumbers

  • Landscapers

The primary difference between local SEO and other types of SEO is the focus on location. Local businesses only need to rank well in their local area.

Google uses location to show different search results. Someone searching for "plumbers" in New York City will see different results than someone searching in Los Angeles. Google is aware of this, and it is of great importance to them.

Instead of tracking rankings by state or country, local SEOs focus on tracking rankings within a specific geographic area. Local businesses track leads. Leads are phone calls or form submissions from potential customers.

Here's what you need to do for local SEO:

  1. Choose a fast and reliable CMS: WordPress is a good option.

  2. Build a simple site structure: Make it easy for people to find what they need.

  3. Resolve technical issues: Verify for broken links and optimize page speeds.

  4. Create service pages: Make a page for each service you offer in each area you serve. For example, if you're a plumber in Manhattan, create a page optimized for the search term "plumber in Manhattan."

  5. Add links in the footer menu: Link to all of your service pages in your website's footer.

  6. Research related keywords: Find keywords that people search for when looking for your services.

  7. Write blog content: Target these keywords with helpful articles.

  8. Build internal links: Link from your blog posts to your service pages.

  9. Build citations: List your business on local directories and websites. Start with 200-300 citations.

  10. Build backlinks: Get other websites to link to your site.

By doing all these things, you will likely beat your competitors.

Niche and Media Sites SEO

Niche sites, also called media companies, focus on a specific topic. Examples include:

  • Travel blogs

  • Cooking blogs

  • Hobby blogs

These sites make money through display ads. They get paid based on the number of visitors they attract. More visitors mean more money. Many sites will also use social media to drive traffic.

As they grow, these sites often become affiliate sites. They promote products and earn a commission on sales.

Here's what you need to do for niche/media site SEO:

  1. Pick a niche you're passionate about: Choose a topic you enjoy and know a lot about.

  2. Choose a fast and reliable CMS: WordPress is a good choice.

  3. Build a simple site structure: Organize your content logically and intuitively.

  4. Resolve technical issues: Verify for broken links and optimize page speeds.

  5. Identify essential keywords: Find the keywords that people use to search for information in your niche.

  6. Research related keywords: Find keywords that people search for earlier in the buying process.

  7. Write blog content: Target these keywords with helpful articles.

  8. Build internal links: Link from your blog posts to your main pages.

  9. Build backlinks: Get other websites to link to your site.

  10. Apply for ad programs: Once you have a sufficient number of visitors, consider applying to programs like Ezoic or Mediavine to monetize your site through ads.

  11. Become an affiliate: Reach out to businesses in your niche and ask to become an affiliate.

SaaS SEO

SaaS (Software as a Service) companies offer software products to businesses. SaaS products often have long sales cycles. Businesses typically spend a considerable amount of time deciding whether to purchase new software.

SaaS SEO is not just about content marketing; it's about creating a compelling user experience. Your role is crucial in educating potential customers and enticing them to sign up for free trials. Remember, user experience (UX) is not just necessary, it's paramount for SaaS. Your audience wants the website to look good, and you can make that happen.

Here's what you need to do for SaaS SEO:

  1. Choose a fast and reliable CMS: WordPress or Magento are good choices.

  2. Build a simple site structure: Make it easy for people to find what they need.

  3. Resolve technical issues: Verify for broken links and optimize page speeds.

  4. Create a conversion page: Make a page for your main product.

  5. Research related keywords: Find keywords that people search for when looking for software like yours.

  6. Write blog content: Target these keywords with helpful articles. "Versus" and "best of" articles work well for SaaS. For example, if you have email marketing software, write articles comparing your software to competitors.

  7. Build internal links: Link from your blog posts to your conversion pages.

  8. Build backlinks: Get other websites to link to your site.

Get Started With SEO

SEO is essential for all types of businesses. By understanding the various types of SEO, you can develop a tailored strategy that suits your needs.

What type of SEO will you focus on first?

Do you want your website to show up higher in Google search results? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can help. But SEO isn't one-size-fits-all. The right SEO strategy depends on the type of business you have.

Whether you are doing SEO for your company or another one, understanding the unique nuances of the industry you're in is crucial. This knowledge will guide you in using the most effective SEO strategies. This guide will delve into the best SEO strategies for e-commerce, local, niche/media, and SaaS businesses, empowering you with industry-specific insights.

Ready to improve your SEO? Let's get started.

SEO Basics

Most SEO tips apply to all types of businesses. To get more visitors from Google, you need to:

  • Write good content

  • Build internal links

  • Build backlinks

  • Create a clear site structure

  • Fix technical problems

However, each type of business needs a slightly different approach. For example, local businesses need to build citations. Citations are mentions of your business name, address, and phone number online. This isn't as important for e-commerce or SaaS companies.

E-commerce SEO

E-commerce SEO is all about making money. It's not just about getting more traffic to your website. It's about getting the right traffic that leads to sales. More traffic doesn't always mean more money. You need people to buy your products.

The most important thing to track is organic search revenue. This is the money you make directly from people finding your website through Google, without any paid advertising or other promotional efforts.

Here's what you need to do for e-commerce SEO:

  1. Choose a fast and reliable CMS: Shopify is a great choice.

  2. Build a simple site structure: Make it easy for people to find what they need.

  3. Resolve technical issues: Verify for broken links and optimize page speeds.

  4. Find the right keywords: Focus on keywords that people use when they're ready to make a purchase.

  5. Optimize product and collection pages by incorporating your keywords effectively.

  6. Research related keywords: Find keywords that people search for earlier in the buying process.

  7. Write blog content: Target these related keywords with helpful articles.

  8. Build internal links: Link from your blog posts to your product and collection pages.

  9. Build backlinks: Get other websites to link to your site.

By implementing these strategies effectively, you can position yourself ahead of most of your e-commerce competitors, paving the way for significant success in e-commerce SEO.

Local SEO

Local SEO is for businesses that serve a specific area. This could be a city, town, or neighborhood. Examples include:

  • Real estate agents

  • Lawyers

  • Dentists

  • HVAC companies

  • Plumbers

  • Landscapers

The primary difference between local SEO and other types of SEO is the focus on location. Local businesses only need to rank well in their local area.

Google uses location to show different search results. Someone searching for "plumbers" in New York City will see different results than someone searching in Los Angeles. Google is aware of this, and it is of great importance to them.

Instead of tracking rankings by state or country, local SEOs focus on tracking rankings within a specific geographic area. Local businesses track leads. Leads are phone calls or form submissions from potential customers.

Here's what you need to do for local SEO:

  1. Choose a fast and reliable CMS: WordPress is a good option.

  2. Build a simple site structure: Make it easy for people to find what they need.

  3. Resolve technical issues: Verify for broken links and optimize page speeds.

  4. Create service pages: Make a page for each service you offer in each area you serve. For example, if you're a plumber in Manhattan, create a page optimized for the search term "plumber in Manhattan."

  5. Add links in the footer menu: Link to all of your service pages in your website's footer.

  6. Research related keywords: Find keywords that people search for when looking for your services.

  7. Write blog content: Target these keywords with helpful articles.

  8. Build internal links: Link from your blog posts to your service pages.

  9. Build citations: List your business on local directories and websites. Start with 200-300 citations.

  10. Build backlinks: Get other websites to link to your site.

By doing all these things, you will likely beat your competitors.

Niche and Media Sites SEO

Niche sites, also called media companies, focus on a specific topic. Examples include:

  • Travel blogs

  • Cooking blogs

  • Hobby blogs

These sites make money through display ads. They get paid based on the number of visitors they attract. More visitors mean more money. Many sites will also use social media to drive traffic.

As they grow, these sites often become affiliate sites. They promote products and earn a commission on sales.

Here's what you need to do for niche/media site SEO:

  1. Pick a niche you're passionate about: Choose a topic you enjoy and know a lot about.

  2. Choose a fast and reliable CMS: WordPress is a good choice.

  3. Build a simple site structure: Organize your content logically and intuitively.

  4. Resolve technical issues: Verify for broken links and optimize page speeds.

  5. Identify essential keywords: Find the keywords that people use to search for information in your niche.

  6. Research related keywords: Find keywords that people search for earlier in the buying process.

  7. Write blog content: Target these keywords with helpful articles.

  8. Build internal links: Link from your blog posts to your main pages.

  9. Build backlinks: Get other websites to link to your site.

  10. Apply for ad programs: Once you have a sufficient number of visitors, consider applying to programs like Ezoic or Mediavine to monetize your site through ads.

  11. Become an affiliate: Reach out to businesses in your niche and ask to become an affiliate.

SaaS SEO

SaaS (Software as a Service) companies offer software products to businesses. SaaS products often have long sales cycles. Businesses typically spend a considerable amount of time deciding whether to purchase new software.

SaaS SEO is not just about content marketing; it's about creating a compelling user experience. Your role is crucial in educating potential customers and enticing them to sign up for free trials. Remember, user experience (UX) is not just necessary, it's paramount for SaaS. Your audience wants the website to look good, and you can make that happen.

Here's what you need to do for SaaS SEO:

  1. Choose a fast and reliable CMS: WordPress or Magento are good choices.

  2. Build a simple site structure: Make it easy for people to find what they need.

  3. Resolve technical issues: Verify for broken links and optimize page speeds.

  4. Create a conversion page: Make a page for your main product.

  5. Research related keywords: Find keywords that people search for when looking for software like yours.

  6. Write blog content: Target these keywords with helpful articles. "Versus" and "best of" articles work well for SaaS. For example, if you have email marketing software, write articles comparing your software to competitors.

  7. Build internal links: Link from your blog posts to your conversion pages.

  8. Build backlinks: Get other websites to link to your site.

Get Started With SEO

SEO is essential for all types of businesses. By understanding the various types of SEO, you can develop a tailored strategy that suits your needs.

What type of SEO will you focus on first?