Article Summary – TL;DR:
- SEO helps your website show up in Google without paying for ads.
- There are two types of search results: Paid (ads) and Organic (free).
- Google ranks sites based on helpful, original, people-first content, not tricks or keyword stuffing.
- Focus on:
- Clear page titles and headings
- Natural use of keywords
- Organized website structure (like chapters in a book)
- Showing real experience and trust (E-E-A-T)
- Design matters, but content comes first; search engines need to understand what your page is about.
- Your homepage should give an overview. Subpages should cover specific topics in detail.
- Always write to help real people, not to manipulate search results.
- Bottom line: If your site is clear, useful, and trustworthy, you’ll rank better over time.
SEO for Beginners: How to Get Your Website Found in 2026
This article is for anyone new to websites or search engines who wants to understand how to get found online. If you’re just starting a business, launching a website, or simply want to understand how search works, this guide is for you. Even if you already know a bit about SEO, this is a helpful refresher.
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s the process of making your website more visible in search engines like Google. There are many strategies and tools, but the basic ideas in this article are still the most useful and widely accepted today.
1. Understanding Types of Search Results
When you search on Google, you’ll typically see three types of results. Each type influences how customers discover local businesses online.
Paid Results (PPC – Pay-Per-Click)
These results are marked as “Sponsored” or “Ads” and appear at the top or bottom of the search page. Businesses pay for these positions, and they’re charged every time someone clicks the ad.
Local Maps Results (Google Business Profile)
For searches that include a location, such as “web designer near me,” Google displays a map with nearby businesses, reviews, and directions. This is known as the “Local 3-Pack” or “Map Pack.” Local visibility is influenced by proximity, reviews, and the quality of your website. Even though 6×6 Design is located in Penfield, we regularly work with clients in nearby towns, including Webster. Businesses can strengthen their local presence by working with a local website designer Webster, NY that understands the local search landscape.
Free Results (Organic Search)
These results appear naturally based on the usefulness, quality, and trustworthiness of a website’s content. Unlike paid ads, businesses do not pay to be listed here. They earn these positions by offering strong content, solid structure, and a positive user experience.
More than seventy percent of users scroll past paid ads and rely on organic and local search results instead. That’s why investing in your organic presence and local visibility is so important.
What Search Engines Look At:
- Text-based content (words on the page)
- Headings and titles
- Internal links
- Alt text for images
- Page load speed
- Mobile usability
- Clear page purpose and topic
Text is the most important part of your website for SEO. Images, videos, and designs help users, but search engines can’t “see” visuals unless you describe them with alt text.
3. Focus on Helpful, People-First Content
In 2025, Google prioritizes content that is helpful, original, and written for people—not search engines. This is part of what Google calls the Helpful Content System.
Ask yourself:
- Does my content answer real questions?
- Is it written clearly and accurately?
- Did I create this content based on experience or expertise?
- Would a real visitor find it useful, or would they need to look elsewhere?
Avoid writing just to chase keywords or trends. Instead, write content that helps your target audience solve a problem or learn something new.
4. Keywords: The Terms People Search For
When someone searches for something on Google, they use keywords. These can be single words or full phrases like:
- “best running shoes for flat feet”
- “how to build a small patio”
You should include these kinds of keywords in your content—but naturally. Google is smart enough to understand related terms and variations, so avoid keyword stuffing.
Use Keywords In:
- Page titles
- Headings (like H2, H3)
- The first paragraph
- Image alt text
- Related phrases throughout the content
Think about what your visitors would type into Google, and write your content with those questions in mind.
5. Organize Your Website Like a Book
Imagine your website is a book in a bookstore. Each book needs:
- A clear title (your homepage)
- Chapters that support the topic (your subpages or blog posts)
- Headings and subheadings to guide the reader
Google wants websites to have a clear structure. A strong homepage should introduce what your website is about. Subpages or blog articles should go deeper into each topic.
Example Structure:
- Homepage = “Healthy Recipes”
- Subpages = “Low-carb meals”, “Quick vegetarian dinners”, “30-minute desserts”
This structure makes it easier for both users and search engines to navigate your site.
6. E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust
Google uses these principles to evaluate content quality:
- Experience: Have you personally done what you’re writing about?
- Expertise: Do you show knowledge in the topic?
- Authoritativeness: Are you a trusted source or cited by others?
- Trust: Is your site accurate, secure, and honest?
How to Build E-E-A-T:
- Include author bios and credentials
- Cite reliable sources
- Link to your About and Contact pages
- Keep your site updated with accurate info
7. What About Design?
Design helps users stay on your site, but it won’t help if they never find it.
A beautiful website is useless if no one discovers it. Focus first on content and structure. Then make sure your design is easy to use, fast-loading, and works well on mobile devices.
8. Final Thought: “What Good Is a Website If No One Knows It Exists?”
That old slogan still holds true. Many people put too much effort into visual design and too little into SEO.
Start with these fundamentals:
- Clear purpose
- Quality content
- Smart keyword use
- Organized structure
- Author trust signals
Once people start finding your site through search, then you can refine design, interactivity, and user experience.
How SEO Works with AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)
Search engines are changing fast. Tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot now answer search questions using AI, not just by listing web pages.
These tools use Large Language Models (LLMs). They read and understand billions of pages from the web. When someone asks a question, the LLM gives a direct answer using what it has learned.
Good SEO still matters, maybe more than ever.
LLMs depend on high-quality, well-structured content to generate their answers. If your website explains things clearly, includes helpful details, and shows real experience, AI tools are more likely to:
- Use your content in answers
- Link to your pages as sources
- Improve your visibility, even outside traditional search results
Key tip: Think like an AI reader.
Write content that answers common questions clearly. Use headings, short paragraphs, and real-life examples. Make sure your page has a clear purpose and topic.
When your site is helpful to both humans and AI, you win in both search and AI-driven platforms.
What’s Next?
In the next article, we’ll look at simple SEO tools to help you research keywords, write better content, and track your performance.
Want help writing SEO-friendly content for your own site? Start by defining your audience and what questions they have. Then build pages around those answers, one topic at a time. Want to talk to John Kelly directly? Contact him today.