Before the question above is answered, let’s define first what SEO means. SEO, by definition, means ‘search engine optimization.’ This type of engine was created to allow people on the internet to find the things they are looking for in a more organized way. Moreover, people will be able to find more quality content that is relevant to the things they are looking for.
SEO was derived from the psychological theory “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.” This theory is grounded on the ideology that humans prioritize needs that pertain to basic necessities such as food, water, air to breathe, and safety. Other needs such as social acceptance and self-esteem are not of top priority because there is a greater need for the needs of basic necessities. In addition to this, those other needs cannot be achieved if the needs for basic necessities are not secured first. As an example, in a relative sense, love and all kinds of emotional needs are not to be dealt with unless you have obtained basic necessities like food and water.
Similarly, SEO functions in the same way. When people need to look for something, they prioritize looking for the most relevant of things that can be applied to the things they are looking for. People look for the basic things first to suffice the need of looking for certain things on the internet. Other references that may show some relevance to the things they are looking for will be dealt with later on for the mere option of added information.
This is how SEO works for people who casually go through the internet. However, search engines such as Google go through great lengths to organize the way a search engine looks when a person looks for a specific thing. A search engine categorizes the way it looks so that anyone using the search engine will not be confused in his/her search for a particular word. Moreover, the websites displayed on the search engine when a person searches for something is ranked by the relevance of its content to the thing a person is looking for. The relevance of content is measured by the repetition of words on a website or the website’s articles.
For example, if a person were to look for the word “orange” in a search engine, the search engine will show websites that are most relevant to the word “orange” or has a large amount of the word “orange” throughout its website. Possible websites that will show up in the search engine would be websites that talk about orange trees, the orange fruit, or the color orange. If a person, however, were to specify that he/she is looking for the “orange color” instead of the orange trees and fruits, that person will ultimately get a different array of websites that are usually only about the “orange color” provided by the search engine. The same goes for a person who looks for an “orange tree” or “orange fruit.” The selection of websites that will be provided to the person will be different because of the different words he/she used in the search engine.
How Does a Search Engine Process Information?
A search engine is organized by these three steps: explore, mark and organize, and rank. Explore ultimately means to go through the internet and look for content specific to the code (or SEO keywords) used in the search engine. The content can range from websites, links, and videos to a single image and a document file that was posted on the internet. The links of websites that show a large quantity of content that is specific to the keyword that was searched will appear.
From there, a search engine will then move on to its next step, the mark and organize. The websites are marked with these SEO keywords and will then be organized on the internet by the SEO keywords specific to these websites. A search engine also stores these SEO keywords to its internal database so that when people casually go through the internet to search for things, these SEO keywords are ready to be used if ever these people will choose these specific keywords. Once the links and websites are marked and organized by its SEO keywords, the third step will then be in motion.
As a search engine organizes its content by its specific SEO keywords, the search engine will then rank the accumulated links and websites. The ranking will be evaluated by the link or website highest in relevant content for a specific keyword. The link or website deemed highest in related content for a particular keyword will then be displayed as the first link a regular person the internet will see. The following links and websites will then be ranked from the second highest to the lowest.
This is why it is highly advisable for websites to use their SEO keywords generously to be able to be ranked higher in a search engine so that the content in their sites can be seen immediately on the internet.
Since everyone is always using their mobile phones or computer devices to go through the internet every hour of everyday, people will likely encounter just about anything on the internet. Businesses take advantage of this phenomena to show to the general public their services. They take advantage of this phenomena by creating official websites dedicated to the work these businesses produce. When these official websites are created, the companies ultimately make a name for themselves on the internet. These websites, unfortunately, are not sufficient enough to show an extensive exhibition of various links for these businesses on the internet. Online business directories, however, help businesses improve their SEO rankings.
How Business Directories Evolved
Business listings were usually written down on phone books for people to scan through the physical pages of the phone books. These phone books were referred to as ‘business directories.’ However, these days, when people look for businesses to cater to their needs and wants, they search for it online. Studies have shown that people right now do not find the time, or do not have the time, to flip through the numerous pages of phone books to look for the business they want to interact with. Moreover, people would rather go online and read through content that is relevant to their search than physically go to a business’s office or physical store to acquire information about the business.
In addition to all of this, because of the online processes that take place for business directories, these businesses get more public exposure because of these online business directories. It is more likely that a person will know about a business online than in a physical phone book. Business directories and SEO keywords work hand in hand on the internet because of the sheer purpose of public exposure. The more links and websites there are that are dedicated to a business’s services and utilize SEO keywords generously, the more a search engine will rank a business’s information higher in the SEO rankings.
This is because SEO rankings display a sense of trust on the internet. Anyone can create a business website. These people can make it seem like the services their businesses provide are of the best quality. However, without business directories and quality reviews on the business’s services, people on the internet will not be convinced of the quality of service the business provides. The service may be of good quality but, if there are no official business directories and reviews that can back up these claims, people will most likely not be able to show their trust in a business. It is essential for an online business directory to stay relevant with its specific SEO keywords in its listings. This is because the online aspect of businesses will then be configured by the search engine and will be toggled around by most relevant to least relevant in its content.
When a business is included in an online business directory, that means this specific business is recognized for its specific services. The listed businesses will be rated and ranked for its quality of services. Furthermore, it is assessed by the relevant content within a business website. As mentioned earlier, the more relevant content a business website has, the more likely that a search engine will rank a business’s information higher in the SEO rankings.
Moreover, business directories on the internet are organized in a way that lets readers see the list of businesses in a specific industry. Take the SEO keywords “local car wash” as an example. If one were to find those particular keywords, business directories of local car wash places would appear on the search engine display page. The links of these business directories and websites about local car wash places will be ranked according to the relevant content within these links.
Are Business Directories Only Good for SEO?
These business directories on the internet are also quite useful for people who are looking into local businesses that are able to serve their needs in the fastest time possible. It is sometimes challenging to physically search for local businesses in a city that are able to cater to one’s needs. This is because of the hundreds of different businesses that are scattered throughout the city. When a person looks through an online local business directory, he/she is able to find the best local businesses that can suffice his/her needs. That person will not have to go through such lengths to find a business that is close by. Also, that person can call these local businesses that can offer their services because of the short distance of the client and the business.
