· SEO Guide · 2 min read
How to Start Your SEO Journey - A Practical Guide
Kickstart your SEO efforts with this practical guide on keyword research, using analytics tools, and analyzing competitors.

Starting Your SEO Journey
Beginning your SEO journey involves several key steps from keyword research to setting actionable goals. Here’s a practical guide to getting started.
Sign Up for Analytics Tools
Tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console are essential for monitoring your website’s performance and understanding how users interact with your content.
Do this first and foremost, so you can start collecting data on your current site visitors. Follow our guide on free SEO tools to get started.
Keyword Research
Start by using tools like Google Trends to understand the popularity and volume of specific keywords. Assess keyword difficulty to identify terms you can realistically rank for.
Example Usage: Look for long-tail keywords with lower competition but reasonable search volume that matches your content.
Analyzing Competitors
Examine the SEO strategies of your competitors by looking at their website structure, content, and keyword usage. Tools like Ahrefs can provide visibility into their backlinks and ranking keywords.
Example Usage: Check the meta titles and descriptions of competitor sites to understand how they optimize for target keywords.
Setting Goals and Action Items
Define clear, measurable goals based on your SEO analysis. For instance, aim to increase organic traffic by 20% within the next six months by improving keyword rankings and acquiring quality backlinks.
For more detailed insights into SEO tools and terms, revisit our articles on free SEO tools and SEO terminology.